Contributing Writer Capt. Alex Moran
SpiritFly Fishing Charters
Good morning fellow denizens of the inshore flats and back-country wonderland that we call home here in Southwest Florida, this is your captain speaking with earnest news from the land of fables. It seems as though, we will once again have a "cage match" between Jesus and the Easter bunny this year for the title of "Tarpon King", the loser of which will fall from the 20' tower of power and land in utter defeat on a bed of decorated hard-boiled eggs, releasing a stench of vinegar and sulfur hitherto unrecognized by the grace of mankind.
My money is on the bunny. Everything rhymes when it's tarpon time. Ok, no more iambic pentameter, onto the poon.
April is usually when I'm expecting our first big couple of rains for the year but this winter, as previously stated in other articles, has proven to be a wet one. The good news is that it seems as though the influx of fresh water has sparked early movement of fish around Charlotte Harbor. It's not a proven fact or anything, but I've always thought that perhaps a certain salinity level in the water triggers the fish to begin their seasonal shifts??? Seems "sciency" so I'll let water doctors figure that out for me.
This is the time of year when I ALWAYS have at least one 10wt rod (and usually another 11wt) on board rigged for tarpon. It's also not a bad idea to have a second ready to roll for monster snook. They're moving towards the passes every day as it gets warmer in anticipation of the summer spawn. Turning a thirty five plus inch fish away from the mangroves in a split second can be a daunting task. More on those guys next month.
So during April we'll see a change in the poon as the month pushes on. Our resident fish have been pushing out of the rivers slowly since early March. The dead giveaway for these guys is their super dark backs from spending the winter up in the tannic brackish waters, also they on average are MUCH larger than the migratory that come to the harbor in summer. The true giants hang out early and late in the year, so while you might not get as many shots it's your best chance to throw at 80-130lb fish.
Generally speaking, these early season fish can be pretty snappy. Perhaps they want to shake off the winter doldrums? This is when I'll switch to slightly larger flies than I would during the migratory months. Big dark (black, purple, or dark olive) seaducers tied on 2/0 or even 3/0 hooks can be the ticket.
My theory is that they're bulking up for the migration that's about to kick off in a few short, warm weeks. Look for these guys sulking on sandbars before the tides change. Take note of the current's direction as generally they face into the movement when they stage up. If you can find one floating high in a backwater basin there's a good chance they'll entertain a dinner date with your fly. Just make that 60ft cast into the wind and land it in a shoebox. Super easy!
If the weather stays warm for us, the back half of April is when the first strings of "migratory" fish. You can always tell these guys because they're backs are green and sides are turbo, just polished silverware for the holidays that your mom uses once a year and now the whole room smells like chemicals and the fumes make you feel funny so it's nap time, shiny.
By the time fish show up for their annual Charlotte Harbor pit stop they've been hit on the head with jigs, dead mullet, run over by boats, and harassed with every fly imaginable. This is when it's a good idea to downsize to a size 1/0 or if things get desperate a stout size #1 fly. Something with a slim profile that lands softly but stays in the strike zone.
I've had good luck with white bunny leeches in recent years but that's not to say another color won't tear it up this year. The key to feeding these fish is finding a dumb one out of a bunch. It's a numbers game, as tarpon typically feed at night, so you need to get a kid out of a string that doesn't like to follow the rules very often. The ocean fish are HOT so hang out and enjoy the show when they do eat.
When you're building your fly leaders you should always have a "weak point" just before the bite tippet. The IGFA refers to this as a "class tippet". For my leaders I'll do a 7ft 60lb butt section, an 18" 20lb section, and then 15" 60lb bite tippet. I use a "slim beauty" knot to connect the sections of thicker fluorocarbon to the thinner, as the doubled line helps fill the gap between the diameters of leader material.
The reason for the weak point is for the safety of the anglers, but also the fish. Say you're clearing the line and a half hitch gets thrown around your finger (I've seen it happen)..... something tells me you'd rather still have your finger than catch that fish. Also, SHARKS we have a ton in our waters, that's why I don't go swimming anywhere near my tarpon haunts.
If you hook a fish and there's a shark on it, the fuse we built into the leader allows you to clamp down the drag and break it off so hopefully the fish can get away. If you are to land a large tarpon and put your hands on her, it is your responsibility to take the time to revive that fish. You owe it to them for making a dream come true.
Alright I'm done rambling again my brain is in a fish fog.... damn charters keep kicking my butt (which is a good thing!). If you want to hop on my boat this tarpon season and chase giant herring with a feather, I've still got some dates available so feel free to give me a call.
Take care out there, let's get on the water soon.
Capt. Alex Moran
Spiritfly Fishing Charters
SW Florida
