Tarpon continue to highlight the activity along the Suncoast.
Tidal movement, lacking during last week's first quarter moon phase, will change dramatically with this weekend's full moon. Stronger-than-normal tides will stimulate activity and arouse the silver kings appetite.
Though we caught and released tarpon during the daylight hours this week, the most productive hours may be after dark this weekend.
The brightness of the moon on a clear night may not be enough so bring a spotlight and a backup just in case.
The big schools seen migrating along the gulf beaches this season have dissipated.Smaller pods and singles are the norm. Soaking dead baits on the bottom along the "edge" or dropoff along the gulf beaches from 10-20 feet has become more productive than sight casting with live bait.
Whether fishing the beaches of Redington, Indian Rocks, Pass-A-Grille, Anna Maria, or Longboat Key, I prefer a stretch of beach along the tarpon path that has some structure.
While migrating fish cruise the length of beach, a rocky bottom will often cause them to mill around for a snack.
Along with more than 300 reported releases during the Suncoast Tarpon Roundup, there have been three tarpon more than 170 pounds caught the past two weeks and two of those were caught in the dark.
Elsewhere, anglers on the fishing piers of Fort De Soto are catching mackerel in the morning and those using yellow jigs have been getting pompano. Jack crevelle move in later in the day to take advantage of the juvenile sardines and greenbacks that stack under the structure.
Those fishing the Skyway piers have been wrestling with mackerel, pompano, mangrove snapper, and occasionally get wrecked by a hungry tarpon.
Redington Long Pier, the premier hot spot for land-based tarpon anglers has continued to draw multiple hookups. Those looking for something a little better to eat have enjoyed some success with flounder and trout. After sunset, catch-and-release snook fishing picks up a notch. Snook can be seen stacked under the lights at many of the bridges leading to the gulf, but until Sept. 1, you have to release them unharmed.
- Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.
