http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/captains-corner-tarpon-ready-to-take-advantage-of-bait-migration/2321876
Warm water has triggered large schools of baitfish to enter Tampa Bay and move farther inland. Tarpon will take advantage of this annual spring migration and concentrate where baitfish are plentiful. Bridge structure fits the bill. If you fish for tarpon after dark, head for a bridge. Bridges with lights attract baitfish, and tarpon will feed aggressively within inches of bridge structure when the tide is moving. Make short casts to sighted fish that are large and acrobatic. Rather than tie or anchor your boat, use an electric motor to get in position and also to get you away from tackle-wrecking structure after hooking a large fish. Size 1 to 1/0 white flies with 40- to 60-pound shock tippet should be attached to a 20-pound class tippet. If you prefer day fishing, tarpon will roll and show themselves early and late. Their time spent on the surface is usually brief, so use a rod rigged with a full sinking line, leader as above and same-size weighted flies in darker colors. Flies that are black, purple and combinations of these colors are effective. Cast and allow the fly to sink before beginning a retrieve with short, tantalizing strips. Keep your offering close to the bottom using a countdown method popular with jig fishermen.
Fly fisherman Pat Damico charters lower Tampa Bay and can be reached at captpat.com or (727) 504-8649.
- Capiains Corner. Damico - December 26, 2023
- Pat Damico - December 21, 2023
- CaptainsCorner: Pat Damico - November 27, 2023
