07-12-2001, 06:01 PM
Capt. Kevin Chamberlain<br> <br>Tarpon action slowed for a couple of days after July 5th's full moon, but seemed to rebound by the following Monday. Cooperative schools, from Anna Maria Island to Venice, may indicate good fishing thru July. Some of these fish will be moving fast and not show as much, so the trick is to find a milling school and stick with them. They'll most likely take live baits as well as flies. <br> <br>Canals in Charlotte Harbor are also holding good numbers of smaller tarpon. Fish from 7 or 8 pounds, up to around 40 or 50 pounds are common catches. Larger fish may also be encountered in the same areas. Artificial baits and flies work best, with white being the preferred color. D.O.A.'s Baitbuster and TerrorEyz, and bunny flies are all effective. <br> <br>The I-75 and 41 bridges, at the mouth of the Peace River in Punta Gorda, are another option for tarpon. Artificial lures will work there, but live bait is probably the best choice. They'll roll at the surface around the bridges, and can also be taken by tossing live baits between the pilings, where they're rolling. Schools of big jack cravalle may be cruising the area, too and top water lures like MirroLure's Top Dog series and fly rod poppers will make for some good surface explosions.<br> <br>They can also be found around the mouth of the Myakka River and in the open harbor. It's common to find them around ladyfish that are terrorizing schools of baitfish. Catch the ladies with a jig or spoon and attach them to a tarpon rig. Toss that into the melee and wait for the tight line. <br> <br>Most of these fish won't be the big boys of early summer, but some of them will draw out a good sweat. And, as is typical with summer fishing, it's an early game, and a pre-dawn start will certainly put the odds in your favor.<br> <br>Thanks,<br>Capt. Kevin<br> <br>To see photos from recent trips, click on http://www.flatsangler.com.<br><br><br>