Captain's corner

By JAY MASTRY

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 15, 2000

With a little help from our friends, we managed to win the Reckless Abandon Tarpon Tournament on Saturday. Some we knew. Several we didn't. But because of conscientious and considerate boaters, we made the weigh-in by minutes.

Fellow anglers helped direct boat traffic and one retrieved the anchor and buoy we left a mile behind during the hour paddle to the boat ramp.

Fighting a 142-pounder at noon in the Manatee River on a weekend day can be a challenge. Fortunately, alert boaters stayed clear and allowed us room to land our fish.

With tarpon season in full force, be aware these monsters can run 200 yards. If possible, stay clear of anchored boats. Most tarpon anglers are dredging or fishing on the bottom using six or eight rods and casting them in all directions 50 feet or more. Anglers on area bridges and piers get cut off by boaters who unknowingly are too close to these structures. Swing wide when approaching a fishing pier and, if possible, cruise the up-tide side of a bridge to avoid anglers' lines.

Reports from other successful tarpon anglers during the weekend came from Pass-a-Grille, the Sunshine Skyway bridge and the areas surrounding Port Tampa and Port Manatee.

If dead-baiting them, nothing outperforms a fresh shad. Live bait favorites include greenbacks, whitebait, pinfish and grunts.

-- Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.

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