Tampa Bay, Florida

May 16th 2008 Fishing Report

Hello from Anna Maria. Well things are starting to look a lot better around here. The tarpon migration finally showed up after being about two weeks late. This was because of two late unseasonable cold fronts that blasted in, one a month ago and a another one a week later. As always I switch over to tarpon on May first and although the southern migration had not shown up we did very well on the resident tarpon. Resident fish are just as big and just as mean as the tarpon we catch out of the large migratory schools. The only difference is that I don't find the resident fish quite as exciting. That's because rather than classic spot and stalk we are sitting and waiting for a hit.

This doesn't provide the exciting anticipation factor of the perfect cast in front of a school of rolling tarpon, knowing any second you are about to get a hit. None the less we have been doing very well on the tarpon which range from 50 to 150 pounds. On better days in the last two weeks we have hooked as many as a dozen, several days better than eight. Even on the slow days two or three. We have yet to have a day that we haven't hooked a fish, despite less than perfect conditions. It's all going to change soon though, I have just started to sight fish the large migratory schools and things are going to be a lot more exciting. Massive schools of tarpon have begun to move in from down south and offshore, instantly putting us into peek tarpon time. That's how it happens every year, it's like someone turns on the light switch and suddenly they are here. Tarpon is without a doubt my favorite time of year. If I ever retire from being a fulltime fishing guide, I will still have to run charters everyday from the day the migration shows till the day they leave. I just find it so technically challenging and so exciting. Last year we hooked around 500 tarpon, from May through July, during the three month tarpon migration. I would like to up my percentages this year. Every year I tweak my tarpon rig just a little more to make it more efficient at producing as many fish as possible and every year we catch more fish. This year I have a few more tricks up my sleeve. I'm really excited to see how we fair by the end of the season, maybe we can hook 550 or 600 this year.

The light tackle fishing has also been very good lately. The snook, as usual, are very consistent. The red fishing is also picking up after a few weeks lull and trout couldn't be better. Although I have been spending nearly all my time tarpon fishing, my fellow captains have been reporting great trout catches. This is so good to hear, I think they are finally back the way they used to be.

Offshore there are still some kingfish out there and plenty of grouper. I have been seeing lots of tunny on my tarpon charters and the snapper are starting to thicken up in the bay. All in all the fishing is very good., but as usual for me, this time of year tarpon is what I care about most.
Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed my report. I still have a few tarpon days left this May through July. Expect an average day to produce 5 to 7 hook up, 10 to 15 on the good days and 2 to 4 on the slower. The average size is around 75 to 130 pounds, trophies are 150 and up. Last year we had 5or 6 fish around 200 pounds. Please feel free to call or email anytime.