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By JAY MASTRY
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 30, 2000
Of the 40-some years I've been tarpon fishing, few have started off more memorably than this one. Sharing the excitement of 14-year-old Jason McGrath's first fish, a 149-pounder we caught in the Manatee River on opening day of the Suncoast Tarpon Roundup, was equaled when we gaffed 68-year-old Don Kearney's most recent one, a 155-pounder a couple of days later.
Other trips last week included a couple of silver kings in the 140-pound class and a half-dozen releases of smaller fish. Sarasota Bay has been productive and our most recent trip, Saturday to Longboat Key, produced a 139-pounder and another we let go that was nearly as big.
Though I've spent my time south of the Skyway, and so far exclusively used fresh but dead shad for bait, others have done well as far north as Honeymoon Island and have rocked them flylining live baits.
Anglers at Redington Long Pier caught and released as many as anywhere last week using live bait. Greenbacks, ladyfish, pinfish, grunts and even pumpkin seeds will work when suspended from their "out lines." Live bait works best at the Skyway too, except during slack tides when you are able to keep a shad, mullet or ladyfish on the bottom.
Though some fish will stay in the bays, bayous, and harbors most of the summer, look for the flow of fish along our Gulf Beaches to increase the next couple of weeks.
Remember, try to find your own school of fish when idling down the beach. If you do have to share a pod, be courteous and patient, and allow plenty of room to fellow anglers.
- Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.