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Snook, Tarpon Are In Spotlight

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 16, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Ray Markham.

Snook season is closed and tarpon are not considered good to eat, but because both are formidable adversaries in the realm of catch-and-release fishing, each take the limelight early this week.

The full moon at midweek is the prime reason for a hot bite scheduled on late afternoon outgoing tides. Just as anglers crowd Boca Grande Pass this week for tarpon fishing, the same goes here for anglers fishing the strong outgoing tide. Tampa Bay flushes huge numbers of crustaceans, like blue and calico crabs, and shrimp out with the tide.

Boats line up near the Skyway and in the deep hole off Egmont Key to take advantage of this occurrence. Fishing all the way to sundown when the tide bottoms out should produce fish. This heavy feeding period is brought on by the biological need to spawn during this time.

Snook fishing during this same timeframe should result in similar results. Snook are predator feeders and stage up near passes, on points, and on outside sand bars to feed.

Because snook, like tarpon, are in prime spawning periods, they also require feeding more heartily than most of the rest of the year. Eager male snook will be more active and aggressively feeding, but the larger females are at their most vulnerable time to be caught.

Special care should be taken when fighting and releasing these fish. The alternative target right now is speckled trout. Some excellent catches are coming from grass in 4 to 6 feet between Emerson Point and Bishop's Harbor.

Ray Markham co-hosts "Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live," Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. on WWBA, 1040 AM, and may be reached for charter at

(941) 723-2655.

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