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Tarpon is still the big news on the North Suncoast but there is plenty of other action.
Snook results have been outstanding along the beaches and outside jetties.
Schools have gathered for their summer spawn in shallow water off Anclote Key, near the Gulf Harbors channels and along the Hernando Beach jetties. Most are the smaller males but if you get lucky you may find a group of big females, which can weigh 15 to 20 pounds or more this time of year.
The basic snook rig consists of a medium weight spinning rod with 10-to 17-pound line and a 3-foot section of 30-pound fluorocarbon leader material.
As is usually the case when daytime snook fishing, scaled sardines are the bait of choice. They can be chummed with a mixture of fish-flavored cat food and canned sardines or jack mackerel.
To fill the well more quickly don't throw your net on the first few baitfish that come into the chumline. Sardines attract other sardines so wait until you have a hundred or so before casting.
Since the water has been very clear, most of the snook schools can be located by idling around and looking for them.
Once you find them, cast a freelined bait past them and let it slowly swim into the pod. Casting directly at the fish will often spook them. In many areas wading is the most effective method of approaching them quietly.
Speckled trout are also a good possibility when freelining for snook during the summer months. The big specks are at the end of their spawning season, which also takes place along the western points of land. Many of these fish will be 4 pounds or better.
This weekend's extra strong tides should present anglers with an opportunity to find the redfish schooling along the shoreline oysterbars and mangroves.
High water helps concentrate the reds that are usually scattered during lower tides. Most will move up to places that are exposed at low tide to take advantage of the good forage available there.
Redfish will eat sardines but they will also pounce on an artificial such as a gold spoon or topwater plug.
If you are checking out a new area start out with a lure to cover as much water as possible then switch to live bait once you have found the school. Live chumming with scaled sardines can drive the reds into an incredible frenzy.
On the offshore scene blackfin tuna have shown up behind the shrimp boats in 90 feet of water or more. If you can get to these boats early in the morning when the shrimpers are cleaning their nets from the previous night's trawling you are likely to find blackfins feeding on the by-catch.
Normally tuna fishing is best in March and April but things seem to be running a little behind this year. When you get a tuna in the boat be sure to bleed it, remove the entrails immediately and put plenty of ice on it. Fresh tuna will spoil quickly if not properly cared for.
Another fish not normally here this time of year is the kingfish but there are lots of them still available in 40 or more feet of water. Grouper fishers have been been losing rigs to them regularly.
John Peppe fished in 75 feet of water last week and after having numerous grouper rigs bitten off, switched to wire leader and landed 10 kings from 20 to 40 pounds. All were caught on live Spanish sardines trolled with a stinger rig.
- Ed Walker charters out of Palm Harbor. Call 727 944-3474 or e-mail info@lighttacklecharters.com