Tarpon Description: last ray of dorsal fin extended into long filament; one dorsal fin; back dark blue to green or greenish black, shading into bright silver on the sides; may be brownish gold in estuarien waters; huge scales; mouth large and points upward. Beach Tarpon- The area beaches around the mouth of Tampa Bay offer some of the best beach tarpon fishing available. Come with me as we search the gin clear water and pitch flies and live bait to the large schools of feeding fish on the shallow beaches and bars around the area. This is home to some of the real BIG ones! Night Bay Tarpon- The first tarpon of the year can usually be caught mid-February around area bridges and mud flats. Not for the faint hearted, nighttime tarpon fishing is a very explosive sport. The action is up close and personal and can be done with live or artificial baits. The fish average between 70 and a 120 pounds with a few tipping the 150 mark. Expect to see it all from the fish eating your bait to the gill rattling jumps all the way to the release. This is truly a blast; peek times are March through September. Bay Tarpon- When the tarpon enter the bay, they do so for one reason, FOOD! So let's help them. Live baits account for the larger numbers of fish but the plugs and the flies take their fair share here also. Step up on the front and cast to tons of rolling and milling fish then feel the bite and hold on. This water is shallow, so there's only one way for these fish to go and that's up! Great for pictures. There's nothing more amazing than seeing a 100+ fish flying effortlessly 10 feet into the air. Return to Top Permit (The ultimate game fish!) Description: color gray, dark or iridescent blue above, shading to silvery sides, in dark waters showing golden tints around breast; small permit have teeth on tongue (none on pompano); no scutes; dorsal fin insertion directly above that of the anal fin; 17 to 21 soft anal rays. Where Found: offshore on wrecks and debris, inshore on grass flats, sand flats, and in channels; most abundant in south Florida, with smaller specimens from every coastal county. Size: common to 25 pounds. Florida Record: 51lbs., 8 ozs. Remarks: This I will keep short and sweet. The pictures speak more than words can ever describe. The fish range from 10 to 45 pounds, with 25 pounders common. If you're lucky, maybe you'll catch one of our 50 pound giants! Call for more details, fly or bait. Return to Top Snook Description: distinct lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin; sloping forehead; large mouth, protruding lower jaw; grows mush larger than other snooks; pelvic fin yellow. Where Found: from central Florida south, usually inshore in coastal and brackish waters, along mangrove shorelines, seawalls, and bridges; also on reefs and pilings nearshore. Size: most catches 5 to 8 pounds. Florida Record: 44 lbs., 3 ozs. Remarks: Tampa's flats and estuaries offer some pristine areas to catch the slam. Snook and redfish are the norm on an inshore trip with catches exceeding an actual 30 to 40 fish. Live sardines are the preferred bait and both of the boats can carry gobs of them. This is a year round fishery with the spring and the fall being peak times. The snook range from 24 to 34 inches with some reaching up to 40 inches. The average size of our redfish seems to be growing yearly with many fish over 30 inches. Return to Top Spotted Seatrout (Saltwater Trout) Description: dark gray or green above, with sky-blue tinges shading to silvery and white below; numerous distinct round black spots on back, extending to the dorsal fins and tail; black margin on posterior of tail; not barbells; no scales on the soft dorsal fin; one or two prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw. Where Found: inshore and/or nearshore over grass, sand, and sandy mud bottoms; move into slow moving or still, deep waters in cold weather. Size: common to 4 pounds on west coast, larger on east coast. Remarks: Trout fish is at its best during late winter and into spring, when the fish school up on to the flats. This is great for those who want to keep the rod bent all day long. Return to Top Cobia Description: long, slim fish with broad depressed head; lower jaw projects past upper jaw; dark lateral stripe extends through eye to tail; first dorsal fin comprised of 7 to 9 free spines; when young, has conspicuous alternating black and white horizontal stripes. Where Found: both inshore and nearshore inhabiting inlets, bays, and among mangroves; frequently seen around buoys, pilings, and wrecks. Size: common to 30 pounds. Florida Record: 103lbs., 12 ozs. Remarks: spawns in spring and early summer; feeds on crabs, squid, and small fish. Return to Top Kingfish (King Mackerel) Description: color of back iridescent bluish green; sides silvery, streamlined body with tapered head; no black pigment on front of dorsal fin; lateral line starts high and drops sharply below the second dorsal fin; young fish often have yellow spots like those of the Spanish mackerel Where Found: nearshore and offshore, occasionally taken from piers running into deep water. Size: common to 20 pounds Return to Top Mangrove Snapper Description: color dark brown or gray with reddish or orange spots in rows along the sides; dark horizontal band from snout through eye (young only); two conspicuous canine teeth at front of upper jaw; dorsal fins have dark or reddish borders; no dark spot on side underneath dorsal fin. Where found: juveniles INSHORE in tidal creeks, mangroves, and grass beds; adults generally NEARSHORE or OFFSHORE on coral or rocky reefs. Size: offshore catches common 8 to 10 pounds. Remarks: spawns June through August; feeds on crustaceans and small fish. Return to Top Pompano Description: greenish gray on back, shading to silvery sides; fish in dark waters showing gold on throat, pelvic, and anal fins; deep flattened body with small mouth; not scutes; 22 to 27 soft dorsal rays; 20 to 23 soft anal rays; origin of anal fin slightly behind origin of second dorsal. Where Found: inshore and nearshore waters, especially along sandy beaches, along oyster banks, and over grassbeds, often in turbid water; may be found in water as deep as 130 feet. Size: usually less than 3 pounds. Florida Record: 8 lbs, 1 oz. Remarks: spawn offshore between March and September; feeds on mollusks and crustaceans, especially sand fleas; local movements are influenced by the tide, and seasonal movements are influenced by temperature. Return to Top Gag Grouper Description: brownish gray in color with dark worm-like markings on sides; strong serrated spur at bottom margin of preopercle, less noticeable in large specimens; fins dark, with anal and caudal having white margin. Often confused with black grouper; tail of gag is slightly concave, black is square; gag has white margin on anal and caudal fins, black does not; under 10 pounds, gag's spur on preopercle is distinctive, where black is gently rounded. Similar Fish: black grouper M. bonaci. Where found: adults OFFSHORE over rocks and reefs; juveniles occur in seagrass beds INSHORE. Size: common to 25 pounds. Remarks: forms spawning aggregations in water no shallower than 120 feet in Middle Grounds area, January through March; current reseach to identify similar aggregations off Atlantic coast is ongoing. Young gags are predominantly female, transforming into males as they grow larger; feeds on fish and squid. Return to Top Redfish (Red Drum) Description: chin without barbells; copper bronze body, lighter shade in clear waters; one to many spots at base of tail (rarely no spots); mouth horizontal and opening downward; scales large. Where Found: juveniles are an inshore fish, migrating out of the estuaries at about 30 inches (4 years) and joining the spawning population offshore. Size: one of 27 inches weighs about 8 pounds. Florida Record: 51 lbs., 8 ozs. Remarks: red drum are an inshore species until they attain roughly 30 inches (4 years), then they migrate to join the nearshore population; spawning occurs from August to November in nearshore waters: sudden cold snaps may kill red drum in shallow, inshore waters; feeds on crustaceans, fish and mollusks; longevity to 20 years or more. Return to Top More information: (marinefisheries.org/FishID Artwork by Diane Peebles)

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