Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By DAVID BROWN
Published May 22, 2006

J.V. Pyvus of Thomasville, Ga., released four tarpon to win $1,000 cash in the Tampa Tarpon Tournament on Sunday at Tampa Bayside Marina.

The event benefits the University of Tampa's Marine Science program. Anglers participated in Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission tarpon research by taking fin clip samples, which provide DNA without harvesting the fish.

In the early morning, Pyvus targeted the west end of the Howard Frankland Bridge and worked the shadow lines in 7 to 9 feet of water. Close-range tactics and prevailing water conditions required strategic rigging.

"We were sight fishing, so (the tarpon) were right on top of the water," Pyvus said. "You have to keep your terminal tackle as light as possible because the water is very clear and the fish's eyesight is keen."

Pyvus used live threadfin herring, scaled sardines, pinfish and artificial glow shad on 7-foot custom spinning and conventional outfits with 30-pound line. He used 3/0 hooks and 10 feet of 30-pound fluorocarbon leader.

"All that was required was that we had to touch the leader to consider it a release, so that long leader allowed us to keep the fish in the water until we got a fin clip and let him go," Pyvus said. "We want the fish to live to fight another day, so we like to let him go like we caught him."

Jim Lemke guided Mike Rementer to second place with two releases, and Rob Gorta led Ken Jones to third place with one release.

--David A. Brown covers area fishing tournaments and can be reached at tightlinecomm@aol.com

[Last modified May 22, 2006, 01:05:14]