Tarpon remain targetable in local waters
The silver rush is on.
Tarpon fishing along the Gulf beaches is in full swing now. Schooling fish can be found along the beaches of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key with frequency. You also can spot schools in Longboat Pass, at Bean Point and the southwest pass and shipping channel at Egmont Key.
This is the sport fish of kings, so don’t miss a chance to go fishing.
Live bait offerings are producing the best action on these schooling tarpon. Live pass crabs, threadfin herring or shiners are the baits of choice for seasoned tarpon fishers. “Dead baiting” with threadfin herring also is a proven method to attract a bite — especially when the tarpon are languishing, staging up on the sandy bottom. Size of tarpon catches are ranging 30-180 pounds. Early morning tides are providing the best bite, although catches are being reported through all daylight hours.
Capt. Warren Girle is targeting tarpon along the beaches of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Most mornings start up around Bean Point when fish can be found in the pass or over the sandbar to the south. Offerings of live pass crabs or threadfin herring are attracting interest from silver kings in these areas. Girle also is dead-baiting fresh-cut threadfin herring. Once the tarpon begin feeding on the chum, he produces results from pieces of herring placed on a hook and cast into the chum.
Aside from tarpon fishing, Girle is moving offshore to depths of 40-60 feet of water in search of grouper and snapper. Keeper-size red grouper as well as keeper mangrove snapper are being caught on live shiners combined with a knocker rig.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing increasing numbers of mangrove snapper being caught. Most snapper are 10-14 inches and are being caught on live shrimp, and pier fishers targeting them are catching near limits. Mixed in with the snapper are an occasional flounder or black drum.
Spanish mackerel are being caught in increasing numbers at the R&R. Macks in the 20-inch range are hooking up on Gotcha plugs, silver spoons and small speck rigs. Sunrise — the early morning tides — are the peak of the bite, but fish can be caught throughout the day. Targeting mackerel also can result in catches of jack crevalle, blue runners and ladyfish.
Capt. Aaron Lowman at Island Discount Tackle in Holmes Beach is fishing nearshore structure with good results on mangrove snapper. Mangoes up to 20 inches are being found in depths as shallow as 20 feet. To catch these large shallow-water snapper, Lowman employs a frozen chum block. By hanging the block from the transom, small particles of chopped up fish leach into the water, adding scent and attracting small baitfish. This in turn intrigues the curious snapper to rise from the bottom to investigate. Once the snapper are mid-depth, they discover Lowman’s small chunks of fresh-cut shiners on the hook. And, once hooked, these feisty fish immediately use all their strength to dive back to the bottom in search of safe refuge, which provides excellent action for the light-tackle angler. Once landed and put in the cooler, they also provide an excellent dinner for the fisher.
Along with snapper, Lowman is finding keeper-size flounder and catch-and-release grouper in the same areas. Both are responding to live or fresh-cut shiners slowly free-lined to the bottom.
On the flats, Lowman is still finding decent numbers of spotted seatrout. Free-lining live shiners over grass flats with a depth of 5-6 feet is proving prosperous. Slot and under-slot trout are frequent, with the occasional over-20-inch fish in the mix. While targeting trout — jack crevalle, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel also are coming to the party.
Finally, Lowman is targeting tarpon along the beaches of AMI and Longboat Key. Live pass crabs and threadfin herring are Lowman’s “go-to” baits. Targeting fish around Bean Point is providing a majority of the action for Lowman’s clients. Fish ranging 80-100 pounds provide his average hookup.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.
