Many tarpon have already spawned by July and have changed their focus from migrating and spawning to eating. I like the smaller schools of tarpon, since I think they eat better than large schools that are on a spawning mission. Tarpon is one species that you can fish in the heat of the day. You will need sunlight to fish them in shallow water, but heat won’t bother them.

Two techniques that will work best this month are drifting live baits in deep water along the beaches at first light and sight fishing tarpon in shallow water around sand bars. Tarpon may not show on the surface this month as often as they do in May and June, but drifting in their travel lane with live baits either free-lined or suspended under a float can be very effective. Although not as exciting as sight fishing, it can be productive. You should also keep a live or artificial bait at the ready to cast to any fish that roll on the surface. Flies and DOA Baitbusters are a couple of favorites of mine. Just be ready to make a quick cast directly on the line that you see them swimming. Once you are lined up, if the fish don’t show again, put your lure or fly in the water and be ready for a bite! While targeting tarpon along the beaches keep your eyes open and be prepared for little tunny, cobia, tripletail and more. They may pop up at any time so keep a rod rigged with a lure or fly so you can make a quick cast.

Targeting tarpon in shallow water is my favorite way to fish. Tarpon will follow an edge or contour along the shoreline as they cross sandbars surrounding passes. Set up in their lane and intercept them with flies, lures that land gently or live baits suspended under a float. When using live baits under a float, cast well ahead of the fish and reel your bait into place in their travel lane.

You might also find tarpon moving up into Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. Look for rolling fish or ladyfish schools to find them. Once you’ve located them, you can use the same live baits, lures and flies that you use in other areas. You might also find juvenile tarpon in some of these areas. They like to frequent canals, creeks and turning basins where they may gather to feed. I primarily use lures and flies for smaller tarpon in these areas. A DOA TerrorEyz or a smaller tarpon fly fished close to the bottom on a Depth Charge fly line will work well. Look for fish rolling on the surface and stick with them until they bite.

You’ll find snook in the surf this month, which is much like fishing bonefish on a Keys or Bahamas flat. Walk along the beach about 10 feet back from the water’s edge and look for snook cruising in the trough only a few feet from shore. Jigs or DOA shrimp on spinning tackle and a variety of baitfish and crab patterns on fly tackle will work. You might also find pompano in the same areas and they can be targeted the same way.

You’ll also find snook around docks and bridges close to passes where they can be targeted before dawn and early or late in the day. When fishing bridge channels and passes, you can drift with a live bait or bounce a jig or plastic bait along the bottom. Snook season remains closed this month, so handle them gently and don’t remove them from the water.

Reds and trout will be found on shallow flats this month. The best time of day is usually at dawn or dusk, particularly for big trout. Let the height of the tide determine where on the flat that you will fish. When the water is low, you should find them along sand bars and in potholes. When the tide is high, they will move up around oyster bars and along mangrove shorelines. This time of the year, as water temperatures heat up at mid day, reds and trout may go to deeper water and become inactive. Trout may be targeted on deep grass flats after they have left the shallows. I like jigs and flies with lead or bead chain eyes for reds and trout, such as Clouser Minnows or my Flats Minnow fly. You might also be successful with surface walking top water plugs and fly poppers and Gurglers, particularly when the tide is high or in overcast conditions.

July is a month when you might be able to catch a super slam-tarpon, reds, snook and trout on the same trip. Fish early or late in the day for the best success, except for tarpon fishing which may be good in the middle of the day. I sometimes start my day before dawn by snook fishing around lighted docks or bridges, fish the flats for reds and snook at dawn and move to the inshore gulf at mid day to sight cast to tarpon cruising along sand bars. Dawn is also a prime time of day for tarpon along the beaches in deep water.

Whatever you choose to do, do it early and remember to limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
Tight Lines,

 Capt. Rick Grassett
 Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
 (941) 923-7799
 E mail snookfin@aol.com
 Web address www.snookfin-addict.com