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Captain's Corner: Great conditions to catch tarpon

 
Published May 24, 2013

What's hot: Tarpon fishing should be strong coming off the full moon. Extremely strong outgoing tides will pull crabs and other baits from the bays and backwaters in the late afternoon and evening. Add a rising moon around sunset, a solunar period and relatively light winds, and we might be in for something special. Tarpon often chew best during these scenarios, and there seems to be plenty to go around.

Tips: Schools of migrating tarpon have been rolling off the beach of Sand Key in Clearwater. There has been a good flow along St. Pete Beach and the Manatee County coastline. Some fish have stacked up on Bean Point at the north end of Anna Maria and others in the passes on either side of Egmont Key. But the beaches aren't the only game in town. There had been a batch on the "bulkhead" inside Anna Maria, and the Skyway will have fish all summer. Tarpon have been cruising the channel leading into Port Manatee and a few hanging around the artificial reef outside Snell Isle.

Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.