The tarpon are flying around Tampa Bay. Here’s how one angler hunts them down.
It’s the middle of May. Seas are calming, Gulf waters are warming, and tarpon are now flying.
This time of year will bring more and more anglers to the passes and beaches where one of the most sought after gamefish makes its annual migration.
“It’s been nice and peaceful for a few weeks,” said Captain Jason Wightman. “The first two weeks of May are always iffy. There’s usually a warm start to April then a late season cold front that seems to screw it up. But the beginning of last week was good.”
Wightman, who runs his charter business Grande Tarpon Charters out of Palmetto, offers tarpon trips to customers as long as the fish are around. He focuses on them earlier than most anglers, who wait for more fish to arrive later in May through the end of June.
Being an early adapter to the tarpon season gives him peace that will be lost when more boats head for the silverking.
“I treat tarpon fishing like a hunting trip, stalking them on the beaches. When I find fish I then always try to get my boat in position to let them settle and find the bait. I don’t want to be slapping baits in the middle of them, it’s not natural. By getting ahead of them and in position they can get comfortable,” Wightman described.
“With not many people targeting them it’s much easier. But I know these next few weeks there will be a lot more boats and jet skis out buzzing around and that can start to make it difficult if people don’t have courtesy.”
Schools of tarpon could be a few fish up to hundreds as they congregate and travel along the nearshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
By patiently and quietly fishing threadfin, pinfish and pass crabs on 10000 sized Diawa BG reels, Wightman was able to catch three of six hooked fish Monday and four of eight on Tuesday. Breezier days toward the middle of the week made it tougher.
Most beach and pass tarpon are between 80 and 150 pounds, but fish over 200 pounds have been caught off the west coast of Florida.
“What makes tarpon fishing great is the hunt. It’s fun, it’s challenging, and I learn something new every day. The fishery has definitely changed and it seems I need to be more technical now. It looks like this will be a great year with how everything is shaping up.”
Captain Jason Wightman can be reached at 941-759-3745.
This weekend is the 38th Annual Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament out of the Bradenton Yacht Club. The tournament will end on Sunday afternoon, with the weigh in for the Offshore Unlimited highlighting the weekend.
Last year 8- to 10-foot seasons caused rough fishing, so calm weather and mostly clear skies this weekend will be a welcomed sight. Full highlights from the event will be featured soon.
