Capt. Bart Marx
Hello fellow anglers, June in S.W. Florida. Early May the Gulf was full of unusually close to shore species. June and the rains will change things out into the Gulf. The tarpon should be in full eating mode preparing to head offshore to spawn. Yea, they come to the passes to fatten up on their journey North. Along with these schools of tarpon, there will be sharks of all sizes and makes. If you have the patience to stalk tarpon, the hookup is amazing, then they jump! If your hook is in a good place, you have a battle on your hands. Depending how long you take to get control of the fish there may be some sharks looking for a tired-out fish that is easy prey. This happens frequently; I have seen a 6’ tarpon eaten in two bites – yes two. These are the times when you keep your feet and hands out of the water; they will come from under the boat and scare the woo-ha out of you! If you have a fish alongside the boat retrieving the hook, be careful and quick.
Also, along the beaches and nearshore artificial reefs the will be snook. This is the time of year they migrate from their feeding areas. Like snook from the rivers move into the harbor where the water is saltier. And snook from the harbor migrate to the beaches and nearshore reefs. Also, this time of year the white bait should be plentiful in the normal areas where they gather. It is time you can get those big threadfin hearing, snook really love those things. There are those days when you know the winds will be offshore in the morning and onshore in the afternoon and there some great grouper and snapper out there in the 100’ range. Out in these waters it is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. There should be some good yellowtail snapper in these depths too. And the scarce American red snapper opens this month June 11th, thru July 25th. This was true at the time of this article being written. Check yourself before you head out to harvest these fish as to what the regulations are. Also, I’m booking red snapper trips on the newest member of our fleet “REEL JOB”. A thirty-foot SCARAB with twin motors that cruises around thirty miles an hour. If you want to come along on the REEL JOB give me a call or shoot me an email: captbart@alphaomegacharters.com And always remember that singing drags and tight lines make smile. <*(((((>{
