Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By ROB GORTA
Published July 12, 2006

Opportunities can come up while fishing, and being prepared can lead to unexpected catches. This has happened to me on several trips this year.

On a strong full moon tide, I was push-poling near a beach looking for tarpon. I saw a shadow in the water and started toward it. When I got closer, I noticed it wasn't tarpon, but a school of fish flashing in the sunlight. I let them swim by and wondered what they were.

Thirty minutes later, I saw another school of the same thing. I was thinking pompano, so I put on a yellow banana jig and made a cast. That led to 15 pompano before they moved on.

On another trip, I was idling around looking for bait and noticed something looking like brown moss floating next to a branch. I took a closer look, and it was a triple tail. I turned the motor off and put on a scaled sardine for bait. It took several casts because the fish would not leave the branch. My clients could not believe I even noticed that fish.

Poling a swash channel on a beach, I ran into a nice school of permit. I was quick enough to get a crab on light spinning gear and make a cast. I targeted the school several times after I found them.

When you are on the water, be prepared for everything. You never know what will swim by.

Rob Gorta charters out of St. Petersburg. Call him at (727) 647-7606 or see captainrobgorta.com.

[Last modified July 12, 2006, 09:25:43]