Tarpon and snook dominated the fishing in the waters of Southwest Florida over the last week of the month. Snook were feeding heavy on bait schools that followed the extreme high tides onto the flats and under mangrove points. Tarpon were concentrated in areas of Charlotte Harbor and Pine island Sound.
Most of this week I think that all the tarpon that gang up in the deep holes of Boca Grande Pass relocated to the shallows of Charlotte Harbor. Large schools of fish could be found over the western portion of the Harbor. Boats were scattered all across the area and most were working pods of fish. All our fish we hooked on either large Atlantic thread herring or menhaden (shad). I also watched several boats hook up on live crabs and one on fly.
Unlike in the Pass, when the fish move to the harbor you can get some distance between boats and use heavy spinning gear. You still need to be very observant to other boats hooked up and use common sense and courtesy, but it's possible to turn off the motor and relax a little. The fish are averaging sixty to one hundred pounds with the biggest one we caught this week estimated near one hundred sixty pounds.
While most fishermen are targeting tarpon the snook fishing is as good as it gets. With season closed its all catch and release. The fish were feeding heavily on baitfish over the late afternoon falling tides on bait fish flushed off the flats. Good snook reports also came from the beach from Redfish Pass down south on Sanibel to Knapp's Point.
If you like catching tarpon and snook right now is the best time to go after both. They are both ganging up for their summer spawn ritual and often in the same areas. It's possible to fish for both without running all over the place. The hardest decision could be which one to target first.
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"Catch the Action" with Captain Bill Russell