They’re here! Tarpon made themselves known today as we found several schools migrating from north to south. This type of Tarpon movement is typical for the month of May. Patience is definitely the key to hooking these beautiful fish. Getting out early in your local inshore area and sitting and watching for fish to roll down the beach is what it takes. Having multiple live baits can make the difference from getting a beauty in the boat to getting no bites at all.
Best bait and tackle for catching Tarpon in May
Threadfin herring, horse minnows, pumpkin seeds (aka bumper and pinfish) are the go-to baits underneath a cork. We are using 6 foot of 50 lb fluorocarbon with 24in 80 pound fluorocarbon with a 5 or 6ot Gamakatsu circle hook.
Quick tip: Get the Silver King on the line!
Once you see fish roll be patient as they are not showing well and are moving slow so don’t jump the gun to get on the fish and let them come to you for that shot at success with the silver king.
Red Fish on the Flats!
Also Red Fish have been out on the flats & they are feeding on just about anything. Cut bait, live bait really doesn’t matter just get it on the line and in the water. Tips of sand bars points on spoil Islands have been holding the best numbers of red fish.
Snook are also in the same areas as the passes and jetties start looking the shoreline edges as the snook will be working the beaches more and more as the month goes on.
Trout fishing has been hit and miss with lots of small speckled trout ranging from 12 to 14 in a few bigger fish have been on structure off the beaches.
It is definitely time to book a tarpon charter to catch that fish of a lifetime.