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Tarpon absolutely on fire

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By BILLY NOBLES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 6, 2009

GO FISHING is a look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Billy Nobles, left, with "Reel Animals" partner Mike Anderson.

As you know Captain Mike and I are in Boca Grande until the end of this month and maybe a little into July. The tarpon are everywhere; I have never seen so many fish on the beach in my 15 years of making the annual pilgrimage to the tarpon capital of the world.

The fishing last week was unreal. I fished Ray Thill, Nate "The Whooper" and Dominic Cendric with one of the best trips this year. These guys hooked up a whopping 23 tarpon. I think they slept well that night.

We even had a close call with a 17-foot giant hammerhead, a black behemoth, and captured the whole thing on video. The secret to catching these fish on the beach and up in the harbor is to get by yourself, don't pull in and get in the crowd. It seems that when the fish are on the hill the pass mentality sets in and the pods of fish get overrun with boats and fishermen who just don't know better. There is a big difference between 50 feet of water and 10.

Offshore, Captain Mike has been whaling on the kingfish up to 40 pounds. I think his smallest is 25 with several 30- to 35-pounders. It seems that every wreck is holding permit with different size fish on different wrecks. For example one wreck will hold 10- to 15-pounders, another 20 to 30 and some 40-pounders. The farther wrecks are holding great numbers of amberjack, scampi, black and red grouper, and snapper.

Our typical day is tarpon in the morning, interrupted midday for the offshore stuff and then one last rally with the silver king in the afternoon.

Catch Billy Nobles and Mike Anderson on the "Reel Animals Fishing Show" on Saturdays from 6:30-7 a.m. and Sundays from 11-11:30 a.m. on NBC, Ch. 8, and on Sundays from 8-10 a.m. on 1040 AM. To book a charter, call 1-866-GAMEFISH or visit www.reelanimals

fishingshow.com.

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