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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.