Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Captain's corner

By MIKE MANNING

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2001

May starts the annual invasion of one of the largest gamefish along the flats of the west coast, silver king. These fish are numerous from Boca Grande to Homosassa.

There are several ways to catch tarpon, from live bait to fly fishing.

One of my favorite ways is jig fishing in Boca Grande pass, where we average eight to 12 hook-ups per day with fish weighing an average of 120 pounds. We use a 4-oz. breakaway jig head rigged on a No. 14 to No. 16 circle hook. The idea is to keep your jig close to the bottom, where the tarpon feed.

You can also spot tarpon in smaller pods along the clear beaches. Slower-moving pods have the tarpon more likely to feed. Present them with a small blue crab and hold on to your rod.

Tarpon also are in the Tampa Bay area around the bridges that span the bay. You can catch them day or night. At night, anchor under the bridge and use the light line. Tarpon cruise the shadow of the bridge looking for an easy meal. Use a 5/0 hook with a 1/4-oz. split shot just above the hook with a 4-inch pink tiger tail. Remember not to retrieve the jig toward the tarpon; make the jig look like it is trying to get away.

- Capt. Mike Manning charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at (800) 644-5940 or by e-mail at mmmikefishing@cs.com.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright