Thursday, August 17, 2006

Well, it has been quite some time since I’ve updated the fishing report.  I have been on a grueling stretch of days on the water and now I have a little time off.  Tarpon season started out with a bang, early May the fish were on fire.  We had a few bouts of west wind and low pressure, which drove the fish offshore, but for the most part we had a great season.  This one gave me a good early morning wake up call.

I am certain you have all heard about the giant Hammerheads caught right here in the pass.  I only had one shark encounter and it was about a 12 – 13 foot Hammerhead in the harbor of all places.  The real bummer was that he destroyed one of the biggest fish I had on all season. 

As for the fishing right now, I can’t really complain.  Some fish definitely left on the full moon to go make baby Tarpon, but they will return shortly with a great appetite.  We have been spared major rain events so the water is still very clear making for great sight casting conditions.  We are still primarily feeding them 3/0 Enrico’s, with black/purple and brown getting the most strikes.  However, in the past few days I have had success on a small brown cockroach.  The biggest concentrations of fish are located on Boca Grande beach and in the northern part of Charlotte Harbor around the mouth of the Peace and Myakka Rivers. 

As for the Snook, they are loaded up on the beaches and around the passes.  Small and white is the ticket here.  DT Specials, small white deceivers, Enrico’s finger mullet, and floating Gummy Minnows are your best bets.