Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Snook And Tarpon Make The Beaches Fun

Summer Is Here, Snook Are Too!!!

7/8/2008

Well folks, summer is here! You don't need a calendar to tell that. It is hot and humid. Just the way I like it! The fishing can be pretty predictable too. The Trout are on the flats with moving water, the Snook are along the beaches and points, and the Tarpon are rolling around off of the beaches as well. So, here's what I'm doing out there.



Snook
are really fun right now. I am lowering the trolling motor and running along the troughs just at the sands edge of the beach. They are usually schooled together and easy to see. They are also following large schools of baitfish, plowing through them every few minutes. That is a sure sign they are eating. I throw a pinfish or a sardine right in the middle when I see that. These fish range in size from 22 - 36 inches. The big Snook are in a little deeper at the drop offs around the points. Freelined pinfish are a great bait to get a hit.

Trout are on the flats with good tidal flow. Greenies with a #1 hook has worked well. Also, small plastics like Old Bayside Shadlyns with a 1/8 jighead is unbeatable. When you find the Trout, almost every cast can get a hit.

The Tarpon are still around the passes and on the beaches. It has been a good year so far. I recently took Brice Pace, 10, and his dad Mike, fishing around the Skyway Bridge. Brice hooked a Tarpon on a threadfin but like they tend to do, the fish came off after a great jump. He was at least able to feel the power of that fish and will have a memory he won't soon forget. Crabs are working great and dead shad if you can get them. Soaking them on the bottom in a known hang out is a good way to get the Silver King!!!

Redfishing has been a little slow for me. I can usually dig up a few keeper fish, but the large schools we had in the spring have thinned out. The deeper docks are holding a few as well as the mangroves on the higher tides. The flats can heat up to over 90 degrees so they seek shelter in these areas. Dead baits work well in those situations. We are going to see the schools improve a little later heading into fall.
That is what's happening. Please call to book a trip before the kids go back to school. I have several openings for August. See you on the water!

Capt. Brian Caudill
727-365-7560
braincandle2@yahoo.com
http://www.captbrian.com/

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