Tarpon run yields bonanza around Interstate 75 bridges

via Herald Tribune

Brian Pollice of Detroit and Steve Miggs of Atlanta probably didn't have a clue what they were in for when they stepped aboard Chris O'Neill's boat Saturday.

They knew they would be fishing in the dark because O'Neill, who runs Tail Chaser Charter Services, has been on a hot bite at night.

They found tarpon rolling all over the place as they neared the Interstate 75 bridges up the Peace River.

"Tarpon were busting ladyfish and pilchards as far as you could see," said O'Neill, who lives in Englewood. "They were so thick that it looked like Boca Grande Pass during the full moon in June."

Pollice and Miggs landed three fish -- all of which were 100 pounds or more.

In addition, they landed a number of black drum to 53 pounds.

While the night bite was hot, action just after dawn wasn't too shabby, according to O'Neill. Pollice and Miggs landed three more tarpon over the century mark on live shrimp in the Peace River.

Mike Balfe of Venice and James Walsh of New Hampshire fished with O'Neill on Monday. They got out a couple of hours before dawn and landed 12 tarpon to 50 pounds and five black drum from 35 to 57 pounds on hand-picked shrimp.

After dawn, they caught redfish to nearly 10 pounds on shrimp around mangroves in Bull Bay.

The bite in the inshore Gulf of Mexico has also been hot.

Robert Lugiewicz of Fishin' Frank's in Charlotte Harbor said kingfish, Spanish mackerel, little tunny and a variety of sharks have been cooperating.

"You can find them from just off the beach out to 2 miles from Captiva Pass north," said Lugiewicz. "The farther north you go, the better it is."

Guide Robert Moore, who operates out of Fishin' Frank's, took his sons out Saturday and had nonstop action. They caught 12 kingfish to 15 pounds, little tunny to 12 and sharks to 7 feet in length.

Mike Mahan of Castaway Charters out of Fishin' Frank's has also been doing well on kingfish, Spanish mackerel and little tunny, according to Lugiewicz.

Spanish mackerel are starting to move into the harbor.

"Most are just inside Captiva Pass," Lugiewicz said.

Ladyfish and bluefish can be found in schools in the open harbor. When you find them, you will also find tarpon and sharks just underneath.

Tarpon also can be found at night around the U.S. 41 bridges between Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda and at El Jobean.

Angel Torres of Vicious Strikes Charters out of Fishin' Frank's had tarpon tackle, but he did not expect to use it on a snook outing early in the week. However, his clients kept getting manhandled by snook.

So, he went to the heavier tackle and they landed snook to 12 pounds, according to Lugiewicz.

Anglers are the Placida trestle are encountering snook, tarpon, shark, sheepshead, redfish and whiting.

At Jobean, it has been tarpon and a few snook.

Offshore action slowed because of rough seas after Wednesday's cold front.

In fresh water, bass are rated good on shiners and plastic lizards in the North Port canals and around Rotonda. Bluegill are hitting worms around culverts and spill dams.

The accompanying map is designed to help readers find out what fish are hitting where.

1Gulp Shrimp are producing redfish around mullet schools on flats along the west wide of Lemon Bay.

2Kingfish, Spanish mackerel and little tunny are hitting live baits and lures within 2 miles of the beach.

3Spanish mackerel are plentiful in and around the pass.

4Snook, tarpon, shark, sheepshead, redfish and whiting are cooperating at the Placida trestle..

5Redfish, snook and spotted seatrout are available in the backcountry.

6Snook and tarpon are hitting at night.

7Tarpon and snook are the best bets around the 41 bridges.

8Tarpon, snook and black drum are rated good on large live shrimp.

9Redfish and snook are rated good along the east side of the harbor.

10Tarpon, shark, ladyfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel can be found in the open harbor.