07-02-2002, 05:35 PM
All in all, it's been a decent year for tarpon. They arrived<br>early off the beaches, with a good appetite, and put on a<br>good show. A few days of hard west winds made it tough, and<br>some long-needed rain put us to the test but they are, after<br>all, tarpon, and few will deprive themselves of the<br>pleasure. <br> <br>Tarpon fishing off the beaches has since slowed with June's<br>full moon, when they went off to spawn. Like some years,<br>they may return in good numbers and hang around into July.<br>If not, there are other ways to prolong the pleasure. From<br>Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor and points south, there will<br>usually be tarpon that move into the bays and will spend the<br>summer months there. <br><br>When tarpon fishing slows down on the beaches, there will be<br>fish moving up into Charlotte Harbor. August and September<br>are known to be the hottest months of the year, but they're<br>also known for tarpon near Cape Haze, the mouths of the<br>Peace and Myakka Rivers and the canals throughout the<br>Harbor. The bigger fish will be in the harbor and around the<br>bridges. The smaller ones, up to maybe 40 pounds or so, will<br>be roaming the canals. <br> <br>The I-75 and 41 bridges, at the mouth of the Peace River in<br>Punta Gorda, will hold plenty of tarpon. They can also be<br>found around the mouth of the Myakka River and in the open<br>harbor. Artificial lures and flies, along with live bait<br>will work here and it's common to find them around ladyfish<br>that are terrorizing schools of baitfish. Catch the ladies<br>with a jig or spoon and attach them to a tarpon rig. Toss<br>that into the melee and wait for the tight line. <br> <br>Canals in Charlotte Harbor hold good numbers of smaller<br>tarpon. Fish from 7 or 8 pounds, up to around 40 pounds are<br>common catches. Larger fish may also be encountered in the<br>same areas. Artificial baits and flies work well, with white<br>being the preferred color and a slow, delicate presentation<br>just off the bottom will usually produce good results. <br> <br>Most of these fish won't be the big boys of early summer,<br>but some of them will draw out a good sweat. And, as is<br>typical with summer fishing, it's an early game and a<br>pre-dawn start will certainly put the odds in your favor. <br> <br>The long-awaited rains have gotten the bays stirred up<br>making sight fishing a little more difficult. The best time<br>for redfish and trout fishing will be either early morning<br>or later in the day. It's also a good time to use artificial<br>baits. Shrimp move offshore in summer to spawn, and those<br>that are available are small. Jigs and top water baits are<br>good choices. A weedless gold spoon is also good in shallow<br>water, or water with floating grass. For fly anglers, top<br>water poppers are a blast. <br> <br>Beach snook fishing has been good from Longboat Key, south<br>to Casey Key. The best times are from about 8am to noon. As<br>the sun rises, you'll be able to spot the fish and cast to<br>them. After about noon, it becomes difficult to see them.<br>Two of the best baits for beach snook are jigs and Clouser<br>Minnows. For jigs, white or gold are good colors. All white,<br>or chartreuse and white Clousers will also get their<br>attention. <br><br>____________________________________<br><br>Capt. Kevin Chamberlain<br>http://www.flatsangler.com<br>(941) 366-FISH (3474)<br><br>