Tarpon Time

Offshore: Let the fun begin! Plenty of tarpon from the pass mouths out 3 plus miles, 16-30 ft. of water. Can't change much from last weeks report but that maybe a good thing. Fish to a 100 plus lbs. typical. Best baits pinfish, threads, grunts. All available on Sabikki rigs over the close reefs at the bridges and while boiling under the birds. Just keep your eyes open and look for rollers. Deadsticking works as well. There are poons in the passes, a surprise catch for surf angler, hold on brother! The deep water bites are very good with plenty of grouper, the biggies are in the 60-70 plus ft. marks. Lots of good cobia reported moving from mark to mark. Spanish, kings and bonito are hacking livies and eating spoons as well as shallow running plugs. Backbay: The redfish action has picked geometrically with plenty of slot fish reported in Estero Bay, Pine island Sound and Charlotte Harbor, good stuff all around. Trout are chewing and will take flies, scented plastics and of course shrimp. Snook are on the beaches, under the pass docks and in the feeder creeks, livies are the sure ticket but plugs and flies are working during low light periods. Capt. Ron Kowalyk www.fishswfla.com [email protected] 239-267-9312