My wife Lori tells me that every year you’ll see the first tarpon along our beaches when the first sea turtle nest hatches. The first nest hatched on July 17th and true to her words the first tarpon were spotted feeding on pods of pogys. Word got out quickly and for the next few days there were boats all over the nearshore waters fishing for tarpon, a.k.a. the Silver King. Then we had some heavy rain and some wind which dirtied the water and the fish seemed to be gone. I do however expect the fish to be back as soon as things calm down and the water clears up.
Because the tarpon you’re fishing for will range anywhere from 40 to well over a 100 lbs you’re going to need some heavier tackle. Preferably an 8 ft rod, either spinning or conventional, that is in the 30 lb class. Your reels should also be able to hold 30 lb line. Thirty lb test line is a good size choice. Onto that line you’ll want to attach about a 3 ft leader using of 60 lb test. A double or triple surgeons knot can be used to attach line to leader. A 6/0 wide gap circle hook, you can go larger if you like, is tied to the leader. The hook can be placed through the back, nose or under side of the bait.
The next thing is to find a small school of pogys to throw your cast net at. One throw should be enough to fill your live well. Once it is full go look for the larger schools of bait, they usually have tarpon on them. The tarpon will make themselves visible by rolling at the surface or coming out of the water while feeding on the school.
Keep your boat on the outer edges of the bait pod and cast into or around the edges of the pod. Next it’s just a waiting game. If you find the fish are down a little deeper you can try adding a split shot to your line. Bring plenty of leader and hooks because you’ll lose them to sharks and other toothy critters. It’s a good thing to have a boat with a trolling motor because these bait pods are constantly moving. The noise of a boat engine can shut the bite down.
On the inshore waters the flounder bite continues to be good. The best trout fishing seems to be at night under dock lights. Snook fishing remains good and should stay that way until the water gets cold in the late fall. John Inman and I explored new waters last week and in 2 ½ hours had 6 snook to 7 lbs while throwing artificial baits.
Roy Mattson at Roy’s Bait House reports Joe Walkup with 2 flounder that each weighed 4.03 lbs. Cindy Stark - 18” red, 2-14” flounder, 20” black drum. Dutch Dewick has been limiting out nightly on trout. Roy Earl - 7 flounder between 15” and 20”. Chris Nielsen - 26” trout and a 20” flounder.
Jake Jaquish at Flagler Bait and Tackle reports king mackerel, pompano, and black drum are being caught off the pier. Jake also reports that red fish, trout and snook are being caught in the high bridge area.
Because the tarpon you’re fishing for will range anywhere from 40 to well over a 100 lbs you’re going to need some heavier tackle. Preferably an 8 ft rod, either spinning or conventional, that is in the 30 lb class. Your reels should also be able to hold 30 lb line. Thirty lb test line is a good size choice. Onto that line you’ll want to attach about a 3 ft leader using of 60 lb test. A double or triple surgeons knot can be used to attach line to leader. A 6/0 wide gap circle hook, you can go larger if you like, is tied to the leader. The hook can be placed through the back, nose or under side of the bait.
The next thing is to find a small school of pogys to throw your cast net at. One throw should be enough to fill your live well. Once it is full go look for the larger schools of bait, they usually have tarpon on them. The tarpon will make themselves visible by rolling at the surface or coming out of the water while feeding on the school.
Keep your boat on the outer edges of the bait pod and cast into or around the edges of the pod. Next it’s just a waiting game. If you find the fish are down a little deeper you can try adding a split shot to your line. Bring plenty of leader and hooks because you’ll lose them to sharks and other toothy critters. It’s a good thing to have a boat with a trolling motor because these bait pods are constantly moving. The noise of a boat engine can shut the bite down.
On the inshore waters the flounder bite continues to be good. The best trout fishing seems to be at night under dock lights. Snook fishing remains good and should stay that way until the water gets cold in the late fall. John Inman and I explored new waters last week and in 2 ½ hours had 6 snook to 7 lbs while throwing artificial baits.
Roy Mattson at Roy’s Bait House reports Joe Walkup with 2 flounder that each weighed 4.03 lbs. Cindy Stark - 18” red, 2-14” flounder, 20” black drum. Dutch Dewick has been limiting out nightly on trout. Roy Earl - 7 flounder between 15” and 20”. Chris Nielsen - 26” trout and a 20” flounder.
Jake Jaquish at Flagler Bait and Tackle reports king mackerel, pompano, and black drum are being caught off the pier. Jake also reports that red fish, trout and snook are being caught in the high bridge area.