Tarpon season is in full swing; time to enjoy waters

Tarpon season is in full swing.

The Ladies Day tarpon tournament was successful despite windy weather. Capt. Frank Davis aboard the Native guided his sister-in-law to two silver kings and a first place win for their team. Ten tarpon were released. 

Boca Grande Pass live bait fishing has been productive with good catching in fair weather. The crabs have been running on the spring tides and fish are very active. 

The World’s Richest was awesome. I was invited to serve as one of the judges and shared duties with Islander Smitty. Fishing was fantastic and over 60 fish were caught in the eight hours of fishing by 25 boats. Capt. Wayne Joiner took us all to school with nine tarpon in two days of fishing. Capt. Sandy Melvin came in second with five fish. Everyone had bites, many just came unbuttoned. The weather was perfect and everyone had fun. The awards downtown were a great wrap-up with good music and camaraderie. Capt. Wayne also was awarded the Jay Joiner Guides Award by the Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association President Capt. Chris Taylor. 

We have plenty of fish and the season is just getting rolling. 

Expect good fish until about Labor Day at least. Beach fishing is just getting started with schools of fish moving in and out of the Big Pass. Waters are beautiful and the fish easy to observe. The big schools of frolicking fish are flashing silver around the Pass in the clear blue-green waters at high tide. It’s a sight to share with family and friends. Please, if you are sightseeing, stay far enough away from fishing boats for everyone’s safety. 

We don’t want to disrupt the fishing. 

We have back country fishing if you want something different. Trout and redfish are available for harvest and snook, in catch and release. Please always use de-hookers to release fish in order to increase the odds of survival. Also, if dolphins move in, it’s time to move on. They will never leave free lunch! 

Get out early and beat the heat. Minnows are showing up but mostly threadfins. Some fry minnows are already moving into the area. Everyone is glad to see them spawning already. 

Offshore action picks up with weekend openings for recreational red snapper fishing. Red grouper closes on June 1. For-hire red snapper opens June 1. Reservations are recommended; some boats offer split trips where you can join in for a set fee. Deep-sea fishing is not cheap. Permits, fuel, and boats are expensive. You get what you pay for the and cheapest is not the best. Runs are usually 40 miles or more offshore. Plan to set up at least a 10-hour trip for red snapper. 

It’s time to enjoy our fair weather and clear waters. The rain should pick up soon and water will turn darker with the tannin from rain runoff. Reservations are always better if you need to go at a specific time or date. Quality captains are booked well in advance, with seasonal trips. 

Capt. Van Hubbard’s column Hook, Line and Sinker began in the Boca Beacon in 1988. He lives in Placida. Email him at captvanhubbard@gmail.com