2010 Tampa Bay Tarpon Fishing

So, Tarpon season is officially over for me. Sure, there are still a few fish still lurking around in the bay, but the water temperatures have seemed to have pushed most of these bruisers out, especially after this last cold front. If you’re into fighting the juvenile poons, one always has the rivers and creeks. Fighting the small guys is really not for me, I prefer to fish for different species when the weather starts cooling down. Grouper, snapper, and redfish; I will write about how that’s been in the very near future.

Reflecting on this year’s fishing has me already thinking of next year and the new techniques and areas being fished, but that’s a write up for next year.

In 2010, I went out much more prepared. Only having fished for tarpon for three years, this was my best year yet. Fishing with others and acquiring tips and fighting techniques helped immensely, and the tackle I used, in my opinion, helped land me some big fish.

I figured I would share some pictures of the good times had over the Tampa Bay tarpon season. There is a story that goes with each trip, but why beat a dead horse, all have already been posted. 

 

On our first trip, Sean Rice, Sean Hagan and my buddy Tom and I boated our first tarpon on April twenty seventh at the Skyway Bridge. I was surprised they were ready and willing to eat that early:

 Next, the group of anglers I usually fish with waited for the first moon cycle in May, and the word was the fish were hungry and willing to eat. These fish were big; bigger than last year at this time, but not as many were around at the time. That weekend a bunch of us got into the action, including my daughter, and her short attention span. Here are a couple of shots:

I got to fish with new acquaintances that I can now call friends. Here are some pictures taken by Captain Rachel Nobbe-Cato before Memorial Day weekend. We had a great day on the water but it was way too hot out there.

Immediately following Memorial Day weekend it was pay dirt again. Nick and I went for a quick trip. Check this big girl out:

 

With the next moon phase approaching, it was time to put a great friend of mine on some tarpon action. Needless to say, the day was slow and frustrating but he managed to get his first silver king in for a few pictures, after a long day.

The following week, the family and I decided to take a vacation to Key Largo and I didn’t fish once, believe it or not. The condo we had was sick, and free! We had a blast. I will be back with my boat soon, only to fish. On the day we drove home, I made sure it was early, wanting to get to Tampa and go hit the hill tide, as it was the last hill in June. This day was extremely special to me as I brought a nice poon to the boat-my boat. Losing many at the bow for a couple of years, I finally had a picture of my boat in the background of a nice picture with a big old threadfin. I threw a couple in of the condo for good measure.

The next day, it was down to Boca Grande with Nick for my first drift. I didn’t hook up, as our boat missed a good bit of the bite due to storms, but the chaos that takes place there was unbelievable. Plus the Grove City motel and Juniors just can’t be beat. What accommodations and entertainment. Sorry, no pictures of the nightlife.

Fishing with Captain Todd Foucer was the next voyage. On the first hill tides of July we brought two to the boat. Here he is wrestling mine, and fighting his.

The best trip of the season was two days later, a quick evening trip. Nick and I had four pass crabs. Pulling a drift we hooked three fish, and got two boatside in about an hour and some change. We were back at the marina early, talking about this trip with a couple of cold ones; I have a feeling this one will be talked about for years.

I had the chance to fish with Captain Nick Winger and Sam Root on the last hill tides of July. The storms were ferocious that weekend, coming out of nowhere. Even with the conditions, all of us had a blast, I caught a tarpon and so did Nick. Sam even caught bait, plus a couple of shots of Nick reeling in a tarpon while I drove the boat. Usually he drives the boat, at least so I hear.

In August I took a good friend from work out for his first tarpon. I didn’t get many pics, but Sam saw us and took a pretty cool shot. My reel’s bail roller took a major beating that day, but at least we handled our business.

The rest of the summer I went out sporadically. The storms and wind seemed to ruin the party, making the best tides painful to fish.

Bottom fishing rock piles took precedent afterwards, but I was happy for a little change of pace. All in all, my tarpon season was great. Not fishing as much as last year, I didn’t hook major numbers of fish, but out of all the fish I did, I only lost one. I have attributed this to the braid, leader, hooks and knots I was using, maybe even better fighting ability. Last year I went one for twelve, this year, nine for ten. Definitely not many for most; for me, not a bad turnaround. Already, visions of tarpon breaking the waters are by now starting. Waiting for next year is going to be painful.

It’s been a long year, I haven’t written as many reports or articles as I would have liked, fished as much, and had a little bit of bad luck. As Sam would say, “sometimes life gets in the way”.

Look for more reports to come, as the folders of write ups for the fall fishing are starting to overload the hard drive.

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