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July Heat and Tarpon

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 11:54 am
by fsh4fun
Hello All,
I recently returned from a trip down to the Sarasota area. I was there the middle two weeks of July, it was HOT (fishing was less so!)
A couple of things I noticed, and would appreciate any advice or thoughts on:
1. Not as many snook along the beach as usual. Also not as much bait as usual also. Due to heat? I would use pinfish, and 1/0 circle hooks, ended up going to fairly light (12 lb fluro) to get them to eat. I usually hook the pinfish in the nose, but seemed to only have a 50% hook up rate, after letting the snook swim off and slowly tightening up. Is there a better way to hook pinfish, and what size circle are most people using?
2. Tarpon were around, but also seemed to be fewer in numbers, than previous years? There was an awesome full moon the second week, could this be the reason for fewer around? I always fished first thing in the morning, just off the second sand bar... jumped 6! one morning, caught 2. I say caught, I touched the leader. I play them close and then just break them off while they are still green. I had one hit by a big bull shark a while back, and hope to never have that experience again. I broke that one off quick and she got away...scary. So my question is.. is it best in the morning along the beaches, or is there a particular tide or moon I should be looking at for better success? One day, I waited until I saw some rolling (around 11:00am), and then went out and managed to jump one and land one. I found the fish tired very quickly this year? Could this be the heat? I mean I'd have a good size fish and have it kayak side in 7 minutes! This happened on more than a few fish. They would make that first screaming run and jumps, then I'd pull hard and have them whipped? I remember having usually 20-30 minute battles in years past?
3. Pinfish for bait. They seemed to like eating the pinfish for me. I watched about 5 tarpon eat my bait this year. One I saw coming, and reeled into to about 5 feet in front of my kayak, and watched him surge and inhale the bait, I just held on and let him set the hook. I'm using 7/0 and 8/0 Gamagatsu octopus circles, hooking the pins in the nose. Is this the best way to hook them? I was thinking of trying a bridal needle and having the hook (may be a small one?) exposed. I saw these bridle clips, anyone use these?
4. Boat etiquette? So, I have a powerboat at home, and would never do this... twice, same solo guy in a boat motored down past the second sand bar (tarpon alley) first time, right up to me, and asks "seeing any"? Then he goes about 150 yards north of me...(for some reason, I see most tarpon coming from the north) and uses his electric trolling motor to go in and back just up from me, basically blocking off any fish coming my way.... We were the only two boats out there, in a huge Gulf, he must have wanted some company? I didn't see any fish those days.... I should be grateful, last year two douche bags in a tinny stole my floating bait well, and anchor from just past the first sand bar... Karma will get them, their little outboard was just faster than I could paddle!

Re: July Heat and Tarpon

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 5:50 pm
by bluebill
Wow here we are in November and this blog seems very dead?

Re: July Heat and Tarpon

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2017 10:41 pm
by crookedsnook
." Boat etiquette? So, I have a powerboat at home, and would never do this... twice, same solo guy in a boat motored down past the second sand bar (tarpon alley) first time, right up to me, and asks "seeing any"? Then he goes about 150 yards north of me...(for some reason, I see most tarpon coming from the north) and uses his electric trolling motor to go in and back just up from me, basically blocking off any fish coming my way.... We were the only two boats out there, in a huge Gulf, he must have wanted some company? I didn't see any fish those days.... I should be grateful, last year two douche bags in a tinny stole my floating bait well, and anchor from just past the first sand bar... Karma will get them, their little outboard was just faster than I could paddle!"

"Boat etiquette" does not exist. In fact the word "etiquette" is being dropped from dictionaries as it is no longer used or understood in the English Language.

Re: July Heat and Tarpon

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:59 am
by bluebill
I am waiting for spring to hit the Matlacha and Pine Island flats because the motorboats are thick out there in the middle of the "tourist" season.

If I do go I try to avoid them by staying in very close to the mangrove walls and in little cuts where they could run aground. I know, that is not help when you are trying to line up on some tarpon.

I hooked a nice baby tarpon yesterday while fishing a fresh/brackish water canal from the bank.