OPINION: VAN HUBBARD
If a local captain is repeating a suggestion, you aren’t hearing it
Spring fishing is not to be missed.
We currently have an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. Local fishing is on fire. The water has warmed up and our fish are hungry. Traffic has lightened up and tarpon season will be cranking up soon.
How do you take advantage of this fishing? By hiring a local experienced guide. It seems expensive but a guide costs less than a rental. Do your homework to enjoy an experience that matches your expectations and skill level. Consider that the captain provides license, gear, and extensive knowledge. Factor in that they are on the water frequently and understand what the fish are doing. Ask about what is best for your desire and skill level. Listen to the captain’s suggestions. If he is repeating the suggestion, you are not hearing it. Guides want to help you enjoy the best experience possible.
Going with friends that have boats can work, if they know what they are doing. Some have experience, others have no clue and everything between. If it’s a good experience be sure you help clean up. Remember you do need a fishing license unless your professional guide has it for you.
Please don’t bring unrealistic expectations. We have good fishing but hundreds of thousands more people than those glory days you remember or read about. We still have great catches every day. With less fish and more boats, you want to take advantage of the bites you get. Bait has been tough so far. Shrimp are expensive and not always available. Minnows require time, effort, fuel, chum, skill and a boat ride. Guides prefer minnows but can’t always get them. Many captains are learning to get by on a lot less minnows. Chumming birds with minnows doesn’t help your catching. In fact, it scares the fish!
The days of filling your freezer are history. A few offshore boats can usually bring back some fish to freeze, but inside species are severely restricted. Snook tastes great but a slot fish is not always available. Reds are available, and lots of smaller trout but most are under slot. You can usually get dinner. Spanish mackerel offer liberal bag limit targets. Kings also if available. If you want exciting fish and dinner to share, mackerel are your best bet. Ask if these are available. Weather dictates outside fishing.
Tarpon are spectacular gamefish, not food fish. If you manage to enjoy fair weather days, silver kings are available. Expect hero or zero. It is a gamble, but you can’t win if you don’t play. Our best fishing occurs when we locate happy, not chased, fish. Tarpon will start to push into our area with each big moon phase. If you encounter them first, enjoy great action. Exercise caution as you approach new fish. Happy fish bite best. As others discover, you should expect to work harder for bites. Every time the fish are spooked it gets harder to fool them again.
If sharks attack your trophy, please break your fish off ASAP! The fish has a better chance without your line restricting it. I understand it is hard to do, but consider just observing for a while or finding a new school. Please don’t feed tarpon to sharks.
We do have two distinctly different styles of tarpon fishing. Pass fishing, drifting Boca Grande Pass, is the best way to start out with a local guide. Ask your prospective guide how they fish, how many years’ experience they have, and credentials. The other style is beach fishing, where you locate and stalk schools of tarpon. This is broken down to live bait, lures, or fly. Skills are helpful here.
