Summer fishing no sweat in morning

Due to the muggy weather, many anglers might choose to take the summer months off.

However, fishing opportunities minus the severe heat do exist. Go early in the morning, and focus on snook and tarpon regardless of the tidal level. The first few hours of daylight should be best.

Tarpon angling has been surprisingly consistent along the Suncoast.

It has been fairly easy to find decent schools of northbound fish in the morning. Good areas to look are the west side of Three Rooker, Anclote and its north bar.

For tackle, 25-pound spinning gear should be all that is needed.

Attach 6 feet of 80-pound shock leader to the main line using a bimini twist. Go with extra stout and sharp hooks in the 4/0-5/0 size. An oversized cork should be placed where the leader meets the line.

For bait, a large greenback, pinfish, threadfin or a medium crab will work. Once you've thrown a bait a couple of times, they usually get pretty tired and need to be switched.

The key to tarpon fishing is a quiet approach. Trolling motors are excellent, allowing anglers to stay near the school without spooking the fish.

Whether using trolling motors or idling, never run up the back of the fish.

Tarpon seem to be especially sensitive to commotion behind them. Instead, approach parallel to the school, sparing it lots of room. Don't gun the engine or try to rush out in front of the tarpon. Take your time.

Once you get 100 yards or more in front of the fish, turn into their path and shut down, or use trolling motors to seek position. Then, let the tarpon come to you.

Delivering bait

Having more than one rod rigged and baited is useful. Sometimes the fish will make slight changes from their path, so having a couple of baits spread in front of the tarpon can ensure they see at least one.

If you don't get a bite and the school gets by you, wait until the fish are well past before firing up and swinging in front of them again.

With snook season being closed and the fishing pressure lessened, June presents some great opportunities for catch-and-release action. Sometimes it seems the fighting prowess of the line-sider is overshadowed by its table value.

Early mornings should produce the best results. Use light monofilament tackle, 8-10-pound test, with 2-3 feet of 30-pound shock leader. Try free-lining live pigfish, pinfish or threadfin herring.

Most of the snook will be in the 10-15-pound range. Some larger females will be in the low 20s. So a reel with good capacity and a smooth drag is imperative.

Snook can be somewhat spooky and particular, so don't be afraid to switch sizes and types of bait.

When presenting baits to a nice pod of fish, you may have to wait 20-plus minutes for a bite, but it's well worth it.

-- Capt. Pete Katsarelis charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at (727) 439-3474 or by e-mail at inshoreadventure@aol.com.

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