It’s a known fact tarpon can be finicky eaters.  For those that have beach fished for them, you’ll get it.  For those that haven’t yet, you can picture it.  There are days they chew everything you throw at them.  They’ll go out of their way to run down a bait that may not even have been perfectly cast.  You may see 4 or 5 of them flash on your bait as they fight to get to your offering.  Then there’s those days we can’t buy a bite.  I’ve chased these brutes for over fifty years and have yet to figure out how some days schools of 50 or more tarpon can swim through my perfectly presented spread of baits and not get a sniff.  I’ve used every excuse I know.  Is it the moon phase or wind direction?  The waters salinity not quite right or water temperature?  Maybe the barometric pressure is not to their liking?  Are our hooks too big or leaders too heavy?  We change what we can.  Bait being our first consideration… we’ve tried them all.  A crab or a shad, pinfish and grunts, mullet or ladyfish, large greenbacks or whitebait.  We’ll eliminate the swivel and use a line to line knot.  Heck, I’ve even painted my corks thinking those bright colored store bought ones might be spooking em’.  It remains a mystery to me, those days that school after school can cruise though my lines and not one interested in eating.  Put 50 grown adults in a room with a buffet of our favorite foods and I’ll guarantee at least some of us will grab a plate.  Go figure.  If I ever figure it out, I promise to let you know.  I guess that’s why they’re the most prized and spectacular fish we have on our coast and why we keep chasing them.

Captain Jay Mastry 

CapMel Staff
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