Looking to put that tarpon notch in your angling belt there is still time this summer to make it happen. The big schools of fish that pass by earlier this summer maybe long gone but some decide to stay and mix in with our local residents. Our coastal rivers have good numbers of tarpon from fun size up, to real beast. Early weekday mornings are the best time to spot rolling fish that are usually in the deep channels of the rivers. One way to target them is with half of a mullet on the bottom. I like to use conventional tackle with 40lb.test and a 60lb. leader. A quality 5/0 or 6/0 circle hook works best and if there is some current use the minimum amount of weight to keep it near the bottom. Another method is to troll shallow diving plugs after dark in the deep holes and channels. Two plugs trolled off the stern work best with one about sixty feet and one at eighty feet. Redfishing continues to be good on the incomenig tide, I have not gotten into any school fish yet but could happen any day. The mangrove snapper bite is good on the shallow rocks and scalloping continues to be hit and miss for some but good for others who keep moving after working a spot for some time. Incoming tide will be midday this weekend.
- Nature Coast - March 23, 2024
- William Toney - February 29, 2024
- Nature Coast - February 14, 2024
