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Tarpon

Though tarpon are year round residents, they are much more plentiful during the warm summer months. Larger, adult fish start to show up in our area in April as the water temperatures start to reach the lower 70's. These fish will be spread out over the deeper flats of lower Tampa Bay. These fish are harder to target since they tend to be alone or in very small groups as they feed in preparation for their upcoming spawn. However, if you can get the fly in front of one, they have the tendency to eat.

 As the water temperature reaches the mid 70's, the tarpon start to gather in schools and spill out into the Gulf of Mexico and along our local beaches. This is the beginning of the summer tarpon run along our coast and it is the best time to catch the silver king on the fly. This golden time runs from about mid May through early July. During this time, tarpon gather off the beaches and passes to feed and also engage in spawning behavior. During each full and new moon phase, some of the tarpon will leave the near shore waters and head off shore to spawn. This will continue until the first full moon in July. At this point, their spawning is finished and the schools break apart as the fish move to various locations along the gulf coast for feeding during the remaining summer months.

Tackle requirements for gulf coast tarpon are as follows: 11 to 12 weight fly rods with matching reels with good drag and line capacities, weight forward floating or sinking tip lines, and a tapered leader system about 10 feet in length.

Redfish

Redfish are plentiful throughout the year and offer fly anglers a great challenge to test their skills. Tampa Bay redfish are very spooky since they receive lots of fishing pressure. They can be as hard as any Keys bonefish to fool on the fly. If you can catch a central west coast Florida redfish on fly while sight casting, you can catch one anywhere in this fish's natural range.

We don't get too many tailing redfish here in the Tampa Bay area as locations farther down south, but we do get our opportunities. The majority of our fish are "cruising fish". Most of Tampa Bay's bottom is composed of sand, so the redfish's food items are located on top and can scooped up as they swim by. There isn't a need to root around in softer, muckier bottom in order to get at their prey items. Thus, not too may tailing fish. However, this harder bottom offers a unique way to pursue these challenging fish and that is by exiting the skiff and wading. This method can be very exciting as the take can be as close as the leader in the tip top of the rod. There are times that you feel you are in the Bahamas as the fish come in to your location, only the fish are of a different color.

Tackle requirements for Tampa Bay redfish are as follows: 7 to 9 weight fly rods with matching saltwater fly reels, weight forward floating line, and 9 to 12 foot tapered leader depending on water clarity.

Snook

Snook are a tropical, warm water species whose northern most range extends just to the north of the Tampa Bay area. Snook are available all year, but can become difficult to catch during the colder, winter months. Once water temperatures dip below 60 degrees, the snook tend to become lethargic. However, give them a few days of warm stable weather and they will become voracious feeders.

The snook is an excellent fly roder's adversary. They posses a blistering first run, jumping acrobatics, and tremendous power. Sight casting to these linesiders in shallow water is a challenge all its own. Once a snook has spotted you on the bow of the skiff, the game is up. To tip the balance in the angler's favor, one can chase these fish after dark. Snook will gather around lighted docks in residential canals throughout the Tampa Bay area. Here they feed on the baitfish and shrimp attracted to the lights. This is no place for light tackle since the angler must be able to pull the fish from the dock before you get your leader cut off by barnacle and oyster encrusted pilings. Regardless if you pursue this fish during day time or in the dark, it is one of fly fishing greatest fish to catch.

Tackle requirements for snook are as follows:

Sight casting on the flats: 7 to 9 weight rods with matching saltwater reel, mainly floating line but clear sinking tip my be used at times, 9 to 12 foot tapered leader with 30lb shock tippet.

Night dock light fishing: 9 to 10 weight rods with matching saltwater reel, floating and/or clear sinking tip line, 7 to 9 foot leader constructed out of a section of 50lb tied to 30lb.

Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout are a great way to get the day started out on the right foot. They are generally very plentiful and easy to catch on the fly. Thus Speckled trout are great for the novice to cut their teeth in saltwater fly fishing.

Most "Specks" are around 12 to 17 inches in length, and will readily take a weighted fly fished over the deeper edges of the grass flats. In the winter, when the water gets to about 60 degrees, the larger trout start to move into the shallows. These "Yellow Mouths" or "Gator Trout" are generally 20 to 26 inches in length with a few specimens reaching close to 30 inches. These trout can be sight fished as they lay in ambush near sandy spots on the flats. Your presentation has to be precise and delicate in order to connect with one of these adult fish.

Tackle requirements: 6 to 8 weight fly rods with matching saltwater fly reels, floating line in water less than 3 feet of depth and clear intermediate sinking tip line for water deeper than 3 feet. 9 ft tapered leader.

Please E-Mail or call me @ (813) 361-8801 if you have any questions that were not covered by this website. I will be more than happy to discuss any inquiries or concerns about a future charter with me.