Tarpon Fishing Tampa’s Skyway Bridge – April/ May 2011
The word is out about the tarpon fishing along Tampa’s south end Skyway Bridge. Tampa Tarpon Report has been recieving good reports since early March of tarpon being taken on the south end. Many of those tarpon have been well over the hundred pound mark.
On April Captain Sean Hagen of Shamrock Fishing Charters reported good tarpon action on Tampa’s north end of the Skyway Bridge. After tarpon fishing the Skyway’s crowded south end for over an hour with no results, captain Sean Hagen pulled up anchor to tarpon fish the Skyway’s north end. Upon dropping anchor north of the north end dolphins on the incoming tide, Captain Sean and Chicago fire fighter Kevin Luder immediately began to see numerous tarpon rolling around their boat. Within 20 twenty minutes Kevin jumped his first tarpon ever! A 150 pounder, unfortunately the bruiser poon left Kevin with nothing more than a happy memory. Kevin quickly jumped another tarpon in the 70 to 80 lb range, but like Kevins first poon the fish pulled a Houdini leaving Kevin rushing with adrenaline.
After repositioning of the boat on the start of the outgoing tide Kevin jumped his 3rd tarpon, a smaller poon around the 50 lb mark. This tarpon made sporadic and uncharacteristic runs before heading under the boat, then pulling a u-ee and freeing itself during a rocketing midair jump and violent headshake. This behavior raised suspicion of a potential shark threat. The shark threat was confirmed 10 minutes later when Kevin hooked his 4th and final poon of the day. Like the last tarpon this poon was also around the 50 lb mark, the perfect size for hungry bull sharks. After a good jump, Kevin’s 4th poon made for the boat with a 7-8 ft bull shark in tow. The small poon came out of the water and almost into the boat as the bull shark side swiped the boats port side! The tarpon and bull shark then made a crazy figure eight motion before the bull pinned the young poon against the boat’s gunnels and raked him with a toothy grin. The tarpon at this point was about half way out of the water and half way into the boat. Captain Sean lipped gaffed the poon and pulled it out of the sharks mouth and into the boat. After a quick run to the Skyway’s center span and a few pictures of Kevin and his first tarpon, the young poon was recuscitated and swam away!
TARPON ARE NOT THE ONLY FISH BITTING AT TAMPA’S SKYWAY BRIDGE!
Tarpon fishing at the Tampa Sunshine Skyway has really began to pick up.Tarpon in the 50-150lb range are being taken on both ends of the bridge. Most tarpon anglers have concentrated tarpon fishing on the South end shadow lines. Free-lining live threadfins has been getting it done for Tampa’s Skyway tarpon anglers. Incoming or out-going has not made much of a difference as long as there has been good tidal flow.
Tampa Skyway jewfish have been gourging themselves on anything that swims. Most Tampa jewfish taken at the Sunshine Skyway have been around the 150 to 200lb mark. Heavy tackle is a must if anglers intend to bring these big boys boatside. Live jack crevalle, ladyfish, rays, or spanish mackerel will entice these brutes out of their holes. What happens next is up to the angler. When fishing for jewfish anglers must practice caution for these fish have extreme pulling power and must be fought with little or no drag. In addition to jewfish the gag grouper bite has been on fire. gags are often a welcomed by tarpon fishermen. About 1 in every 10 is keeper size. Remember a big bait will land you a big gag grouper!
Tampa Goliath Grouper
The snook fishing along the Skyways lower bridges is really beginning to fire up. Breeder females have shown up and are an absolute blast to catch. These big girls can be taken fishing the out-going tide using live ladyfish, big pinfish, grunts, or sardines. Freeline baits with the tide and hold on! Remember, there is still a moratorium on snook. When caught, these fat girls should be handled with care, recuscitated and released promptly.
Vist www.tampa-fishing-report.com for more great Tampa & St Petersburg inshore fishing reports. Up to date Tampa area inshore fishing reports for tarpon, snook, redfish, trout, cobia, shark, grouper, kingfish and more!
Captain Sean
Shamrock Fishing Charters
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