By Jay Mastry, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
What's hot: There are days when sight-casting for tarpon along gulf beaches is textbook. Large schools can be seen slow-rolling on the surface. Workable schools will show every 60 seconds or so and track straight as they migrate down the beach. Then there are days when tarpon act like tarpon — unpredictable and, at times, downright moody. Some show once or twice and not again. Others zigzag as they cruise down the beach, making them nearly impossible to set upon. Still others travel fast, seemingly on a mission to get somewhere and in no mood to chew. It always has been my theory that if I can't get ahead of them at idle speed, then I won't bother with them.
Alternate approach: On days when the schools are sparse, I'll anchor and let them come to me rather than spend hours cruising the beach looking for the right bunch. On a given day, the majority of tarpon tend to travel at a certain depth. Observing and dialing in to that is key.
Payoff: Tuesday morning at first light, we saw rolling fish in 16 feet off Anna Maria. Shortly after anchoring, Tony Cellamare released what we estimated to be a 150-pound monster after an epic 45-minute battle. As the sun rose, the main flow of fish moved out a bit. Moving to 19 feet paid off with another 100-plus pounder we let go. Both fish inhaled small blue crabs suspended beneath corks.
Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.