Spring time action is in full swing. It's almost like which style of fishing should I do first. Offshore for sails, kings, dolphin, blackfins, or inshore for tarpon. Should I fish the Inlets or in the Bay for the tarpon? The easiest decision to cover both is an afternoon/evening trip. The advantages are that you don't have to get up at oh dark thirty to get everything together and get out on the water at first light. You can take your time getting everything in order and still have plenty of fishing time.
Let's start offshore. The sails have been pouring through and are willing to eat most any of the popular baits. They are taking both kite and flatline baits so don't worry if you would rather not fool around with the kite. The kings are ravenous on most days. Some have been on the small size so make sure you measure them if in doubt. The dolphin have started to come through on a more regular basis. Don't forget, it's the spring and you don't have to make those long gas consuming runs offshore to find them.
Inshore, the tarpon are still consuming plenty of shrimp. The shrimp have been running on most nights on both tides. If you find shrimp in the water, the tarpon are not far behind. The action at the Inlets has been best during the dusk period and after dark. In the Bay it's been well after dark and the action has been fast and furious. Every trip that I've done at the Inlets and Bay have produced tarpon with the exception of one trip when despite my best efforts, the tarpon evaded me all evening long. There have also been large jack crevalle, spanish mackerel, and good size mangrove snapper eating the baits while we wait on the tarpon to turn on.
Justin Kavounas, Chad Graham, Jason Orrock, and Josh Perkins fished two trips with me. We had plenty of tarpon action with 8 fish hooked and 4 successfully released in the Bay and 1 at the Inlets.
Mike and Brian Boehm caught kingfish and spanish mackerel on their half day trip.
Tony Tavares and his friend Mike Riccardi had one whale of a tarpon trip. Tony has fished with me before and knows the power and wild antics of the tarpon. This was Mike's first experience with them and one that he will never forget. We started with 3 for 5 tarpon at the Inlets. When the tide got right, we moved into the Bay and Mike got the first fish. It was a very strong, active, feisty 50 pound fish. So active in fact that on one of its jumps, it joined us in the boat. Mike ran for his life as the fish thrashed its way to the back of Knot Nancy and proceeded to flop around wildly. Once it settled down, I put it back in the water and it swam off like a shot. Once we cleaned the cockpit area up, we went back to fishing and the action continued. Final results in the Bay was 3 for 8 tarpon.
Steve Phillips and his son Steven went 1 for 3 on tarpon along with a nice hog snapper.
Gene and Ray Walsh, Tom Zappulla, and Tom Coulovris experienced kingfish, mutton snapper and bonito action offshore and finished their trip with tarpon action going 2 for 3.
Glenn and Brenda Foden started their evening trip by catching dinner in the form of a large mangrove snapper. When it got dark, the shrimp ran and the tarpon action started. Final score at the end of the evening was 3 for 5 tarpon.
Tony Terrasse and his sons Weston and Ry along with their friend Steven Phillips saw tarpon action with 3 fish. They caught and released two of the tarpon.
Paul Allison and his girlfriend Karen Kennedy enjoyed some hot Bay tarpon action. We started at the Inlet and had a tarpon beat us to the drop off. This resulted in a broken line as it dropped over the edge. We moved into the Bay and it was steady action. The final count was 3 for 8 and two amazed anglers who now more than ever appreciate the strength, power and beauty of the tarpon.
Patrick Savard and his father Clem started their tarpon trip with spanish mackerel and bluerunners. Then it was one tarpon on and off on its second jump at the Inlet. We moved into the Bay and things got better almost immediately. Final count in the Bay was 4 for 5 tarpon in the 30 - 50 pound class.
Gary Benivegna and his sons Mike and Matt enjoyed an afternoon/evening combo trip. Offshore, we caught a kingfish and both Mike and Matt each caught and released a sailfish while slow trolling baits on flatlines after the wind died off and we couldn't fly a kite. Next, we tarpon fished at the Inlet. This was to be an evening when the tarpon evened the score on us a bit. We got the action with 2 tarpon at the Inlet and landed one. Then we went into the Bay and had 2 fish on. The first fish tied us up in some obstructions and the line finally broke. The second fish came jumping at us immediately after taking the bait and gave us back our hook. At that point, they shut off so it was 1 for 2 at the Inlet and 0 for 2 in the Bay.
Shaun Byrd, Mike Mason, and Jason Carr did battle with a nice 40 pound amberjack we caught off the downrigger bait. Add to that kingfish and bonito.
Bob Wegner and Charlie Fancher braved some windy conditions out of the NE/ENE @ 20 - 24 knots on their afternoon/evening trip. During the offshore portion of the trip we caught bonito, barracuda, kingfish, dolphin, and topped it off with 2 sailfish caught on the kite. The tarpon part of the trip was a piece of cake sea conditions wise compared to the offshore. We started off with a large jack crevalle. Then the tarpon action began. Mike got the first tarpon and it stayed in the shallow water. After releasing the 50 pound tarpon, it took two drifts before Bob got his turn. His fish also stayed in the shallow water and moved toward the beach. It too was released after a great battle and with the wind picking up, the decision was made to head back to TNT Marine Center.
That brings me up to date. I'll be doing more tarpon trips for the next 3 nights as the wind starts to calm down. Whether you want to fish offshore or inshore for tarpon, the good action will continue on through the Spring and into the Summer. Blackfin tuna fishing will pick up dramatically during May and June, so if you want to get in on that fishery, now's the time to book that late afternoon trip. Combine it with tarpon after it gets dark and it can make for some sore arms and backs as well as some great table fare. Call me 305-965-9454 or email me nkostyo@bellsouth.net to book your trip.
Captain Dave Kostyo
Knot Nancy Fishing Charters, Inc.
305 965-9454 Cell
www.knotnancy.com
nkostyo@bellsouth.net
