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Bait Schools Attracting Tarpon

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2008

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

September is one of the best months of the year for tarpon fishing. Schools of glass minnows and small shad are all over Tampa Bay right now, and the tarpon are feeding heavily on them.

Last week, during the strong easterly winds, I found hungry schools of tarpon roaming the ship channel going into the Apollo Beach power plant. Casting a 77M MirrOlure or the MirrOdine XL into the bait schools resulted in an instant hookup. Also feeding in the bait schools were Spanish mackerel and bull sharks. We caught three bull sharks up to 6 feet long by drifting a fresh mackerel into the bait schools.

Baby tarpon can be found in the Hillsborough River north of the University of Tampa. These tarpon can be very finicky feeders. Anchoring uptide of the rolling fish and chumming with white bait will usually result in some hookups. Slow-bouncing a soft plastic jig off the bottom will also work.

Redfish schools are roaming the Fort DeSoto area. Mullet Key Bayou, Bonne Fortune Key and Tarpon Key have been producing good redfish action on the incoming tide. Live bait has historically been the bait of choice, but recently the old-school technique of soaking fresh-cut bait on the bottom has been working well.

Good redfish reports are coming from Hudson anglers fishing Sand Bay, Fillmons Bayou and Salt Springs Run.

Captain Bill Miller hosts "Hooked on Fishing" on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. on Bright House Networks Catch 47.

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