Fish Logs

I want all of you to remember that this is Memorial Day Weekend which means, more boaters, jet skis, skiers, wake boarders, picnics, hot dogs, burgers, brats, beer, horseshoes…well you get the picture.  While all of this is going on just take a few minutes, not long, close your eyes and think of all of our boys and girls who have served and those that aren’t here for the brats and family fun because they gave their lives so that we could enjoy our families and our freedom to do pretty much as we please.  Also go slow and watch out for the other guy as this is one of the busiest weekends on the water and we all want to have a good time and trust me it’s hard to have a good time in the emergency room.
 
The tarpon bite is still happening up and down the beaches of west Florida.  The off shore wrecks and reefs are still holding plenty of fish from cobia, kingfish, permit, grouper and plenty of snapper.  This weekends full moon the snapper bite at night will be on FIRE!!!  We have had reports of Mango’s to 9 pounds hoards of yellowtail being taken as well.
 
Earlier in the week Mike and I had the pleasure of fishing Tampa Bay Lightning Goalie, Mike “The Tarponater” Smith and his family.  Smitty hooked a 180 pound tarpon, Cody O’Conner, Mike’s mate, threw the hammer down on the drag.  I really feel for the Lightning’s competitors because Smitty whipped that fish, done, upside down, boat side, over, tapped out in only twelve minutes.  I’ve been fishing tarpon in Boca for 19 years and I have never seen anyone do that, ever.
 
 
Be sure to tune in on Saturday mornings at 6:30 on News Channel 8 WFLA for The Reel Animals Fishing Show and listen to Captain Mike on 970 AM WFLA from 6-9 am on Reel Animals Saturday.  Call in on Sunday’s to WDAE 620 AM The Sports Animal for the T.A. Mahoney Reel Animals Fishing Show to win some cool fish gear from 7-9 am.  Also visit our website @ www.reelanimalsfishingteam.com or call 1-866-GAMEFISH to book your fishing trip of a lifetime and until next week, “Do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’."

Boca Grande is on absolute fire.  Tarpon are migrating in every day.  There are fish in the harbor, sound, pass, and beaches.  In short they are everywhere.  The preferred bait for these is live blue crabs.  Pass or calico crabs will work but just aren’t as hardy as the baby blues.  The reason that the crabs work so well is that for thousands of years tarpon have migrated to this area to do two things.  Spawn and eat crabs.  I mentioned the calico or pass crab earlier, on the full and new moons we have what is called a “hill” tide, it’s the strong out going tide in the afternoon and goes on into the night.  These silver kings can be heard slurping crabs off the surface all around.  The key to catching these fish is the same with any other…..TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!  If you go slow, don’t run the fish down, and fish to the front of the school…let them come to you….you will hook up.  So many times on the water as well as the highway people think there is no one but them on the planet and treat others poorly.  If you don’t believe me drive down Dale Mabry at rush hour.  The main tip I can give is go slow don’t chase or drive over the fish and be nice to the fish and the other fishermen and every one will be successful.  If you see another boat working a pod, let them they’ll hook up pull their fish out of the school, then slide in and get one yourself, or find your own pod….they are everywhere.  Some people can, I can’t hook a tarpon in a mass of boats that have been racing the school.  It just doesn’t work.  Find that pod that hasn’t been harassed and it seems every bait get eaten.  Try this approach and I’m sure that you will be doing battle with the silver king soon.
 
Be sure to tune in on Saturday mornings at 6:30 on News Channel 8 WFLA for The Reel Animals Fishing Show and listen to Captain Mike on 970 AM WFLA from 6-9 am on Reel Animals Saturday.  Call in on Sunday’s to WDAE 620 AM The Sports Animal for the T.A. Mahoney Reel Animals Fishing Show to win some cool fish gear from 7-9 am.  Also visit our website @ www.reelanimalsfishingteam.com or call 1-866-GAMEFISH to book your fishing trip of a lifetime and until next week, “Do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’."