by Capt. Sam O’Briant
Once again, we have made it through the transition months and are ready to start setting up things for the hot summer months ahead. This month all the fish around are pretty much our local resident fish that will be with us all summer. Of course, you will get the stray schools offshore of stragglers. So, what can we expect this month?
This is the time of year that our water temperature should be in what I consider the ideal range, 75-85 degrees. This means our trout will be back to their normal selves. The snook will no longer be just sitting there and the redfish is anybody’s guess. Baitfish will have moved inland, the tarpon should be here in droves.
This is the month that the snook will be migrating out of the back country headed for the out islands and coastal shorelines. They will be hungry from over wintering and ready to fatten up for spawning. This month you should be able to find them in just about any habitat you wish to look. Minnows will be your best choice but shrimp will also attract them. Float a cork under the overhanging mangroves.
Trout will be roaming all their usual haunts. They will be over the grass flats looking for that shrimp. The larger ones will be solitary and also may be under the mangroves. Here again a shrimp or minnow under a popping cork works great. You can use the cork to its greatest potential by popping it every so often or just use it to keep you out of the grass. Both ways work well.
If you have young kids, trout will be your best bet, especially if you can find a school. It will keep them interested until your bait runs out.
On the other hand, if you just have to catch a big fish, this and next month are probably your best chances for tarpon. They should be running just offshore in 20 – 30 feet of water daisy-chaining or all over Pine Island Sound.
When you see a group of boats offshore, please do not run through them, they are probably working a school of tarpon. Run up ahead of the school and set up. They usually tend to head north along the coast and will come to you.
For tarpon, the bait of choice is either larger live bait or half a catfish, ladyfish, crab, or mullet. Either put them under a cork or soak them on the bottom. If you are using dead baits, check them ever so often and put on fresh. The crabs and bait stealers tend to eat at the bait.
Spanish mackerel will still be cruising the passes and Pine Island Sound. They will take cut bait, shrimp, or lures. If Spanish are your main choice be sure to use a steel leader. If you do not, you will have more cut offs than you have catches.
Take the kids out, enjoy the family and have fun this month.