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Tarpon bite in Boca getting a little odd

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By BILLY NOBLES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 20, 2009

Updated: 06/20/2009 12:11 am

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.

Well, the tarpon bite in Boca Grande this week just plain got weird.

They didn't really want to chew the first part of the week, but captain Mike said Thursday was pretty good in the harbor, with the best action of the week.

For the past couple of weeks, threadfin herring has been the bait of choice, which is unusual, because tarpon go to Boca to spawn and eat crabs.

Offshore was pretty insane Thursday, as well. We took Jim and Kim Crawford out, and our first stop yielded amberjacks up to 40 pounds. Jim kept getting robbed by a huge goliath grouper every time he would hook a grouper.

The next stop brought more amberjacks, scamp and yellowtail, mutton, mangrove and vermilion snapper. Earlier, we had caught plenty of American red snapper on the spot, but I guess they heard the season was open.

Captain Gunner Gause is hammering the big snook on the beaches, with his clients wade fishing using live greenbacks. They are catching fish over the 40-inch mark.

I spoke with captain Rodney Martin of Tampa, and he reports that tarpon fishing in the bay is "off the hook." Fishing the Sunshine Skyway, they are catching plenty of tarpon mixed with cobia, king mackerel and grouper.

The cool thing about fishing there is that no matter how hot it gets you can sit in the shade until your line gets tight. Martin said there hasn't been much time to sit in the shade with all the hot action.

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, Channel 8, and Sundays from 8-10 a.m. on 1040 AM. For a charter, call 1-866-GAME-

FISH or visit reelanimals

fishingshow.com.

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