Captain's Corner

By Jim Huddleston
Published July 1, 2007

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Tactics: Having different types of bait choices is key in summertime fishing on Florida's west coast. The main species that inshore anglers pursue during these hot months are redfish, snook and tarpon. Each type of fish has preferred bait. With the redfish, pinfish and cutbait, such as ladyfish, works well when cast under the treeline of mangroves. The snook favor pinfish and large threadfin worked in the strong current of major passes. Clearwater Pass and Hurricane Pass are well-known haunts of larger breeder-size fish during the summer spawn. From Fort De Soto beach to Anclote Island, there are well-traveled paths for tarpon. These silver kings cruise just outside the sandbars in search of an easy meal. Pass crab, threadfin and silver mullet are surefire baits for tarpon.

Tackle: When filling the livewell for a day of fishing, get an early start in order to get a lot of bait. A well-built cast net enables anglers to catch more bait. A 10-foot radius with 3/8-inch stretch mesh is ideal for larger bait on the grass flats. Find a net that has flat leads instead of ball weights on the bottom; it minimizes tangling and holds up longer. West Coast Nets and Calusa make high-quality nets. Tropical fish meal mixed with menhaden oil is a great chum mix to draw in bait choices.

Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at (727) 439-9017 or at jim@captainhud.com