Again this week the open water areas were the place to look for fish feeding frenzies. Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande Pass were areas where a smorgasbord of predators and bait were found. The primary subjects were Spanish mackerel and bonito, but bluefish, jack crevalle, tarpon and shark were also tormenting fleeing bait schools. The days I was around Boca Grande Pass the activity was easy to locate, look for birds, often lots of birds. Once you spot them diving down and plucking scraps from the surface then you will notice the white froth from lots of small bait fish running for their lives with toothy critters right behind. We caught bonito (little tunny) up to twelve pounds with double hook-ups; it would be hard to convince me that pound for pound there is a harder fighting fish in the water. An absolute blast on light tackle!
We finished up trout season with good catches in southern Charlotte Harbor. Free-lining live shiners (pilchards) on the outgoing tide where bait schools where pushed against open water sand bars produced fat trout with the largest measuring twenty-three inches. Bluefish, large ladyfish, jack crevalle, cobia and tarpon were also hooked or caught with the trout. No, we did not boat the tarpon, but we did get a lengthy fight, four great jumps and her right up to the boat before the undersize hook pulled out. The angler was visiting Florida for the first time from Denmark and that first tarpon jump (very unexpected) was a thrill I don't think he will forget anytime soon!
As long as the weather remains relatively mild an over abundance of bait fish will remain in our waters. I know we have mentioned it often as of late, but it can be too good of fishing to pass up. Unlike snook or red fishing where you are probably going to catch a snook or redfish, get around the bait pods and you never know. That's the fun of it!
