By: Capt. Dave Stephens
It’s summertime here in Southwest Florida, and not only is the temps outside hot but so is the fishing! This time of year, the fishing opportunities are absolutely endless as there are so many different species of fish to pursue. Some of the questions you may want to ask are; do you want to focus on the fish of a lifetime, or would you prefer to go out and catch as many fish as possible? Do you want a few for dinner?
This is the time of the year that the schools of tarpon move back up into the upper harbor. The past couple of months, they have been out on the beaches and in the passes. Mating season has now come to an end, so now it’s time to feed. I strongly recommend getting an early start, first light if possible. These guys tend to show themselves in the early morning hours, and in the calm waters tarpon can be spotted rolling on the surface. Many people confuse this habit for feeding, but these fish are actually taking in air from the surface. And you can expect other anglers to be looking for fish also, so be as respectful as possible.
For the anglers that want to take a few fish home for dinner. Well, the mangrove snapper bite has been very good. These little fish can be tricky to catch at times, and you may need to downsize your leader and hook size. If they seem a little spooky, try a 20# leader and a #1 hook. As the summer rains continue darkening the water the fishing should pick up. The darker water helps with spooky fish.
The other reason you may want to get an early start to your time out on the water is the summer storms tend to kick up as the day goes on, so don’t forget to keep an eye out for storms that can sneak up on you quickly. Enjoy the fishing and stay safe!