We've been here before, but let's remember that when tarpon are off the flats and not migrating, they stage along the bottom. Witness Boca Grande, Government Cut, etc. Their tal-slapping rolls also indicate a rapid return back to the bottom-some call this hard-rolling. When tarpon stay on top, their rolls are less circular and feature a momentary dorsal bulge.
But in any bay situation when tarpon stick to the bottom, be sure to fish your baits ALL THE WAY DOWN. It's a temptation to get those breakaway rubber jigs hopping off the bottom, but tarpon can be brought to the surface by a method of chumming and drop fishing silvery jerk baits along with mullet strips. This is very similar to yellowtail fishing off the Keys. The baits must drop alongside the chum without any line resistance all the way to the bottom. The best way to accomplish this is with 12 pound spinning racked in a oblique rod holder and fished on an open spool from your anchored boat. Pull the line from your rod tip and let it rest in well-piled fashion on the water's surface with just enough length to take it to the bottom. Use a J-Hook and watch for sudden line runoffs, which indicate a strike. Using the drop method for tarpon, I've taken as many as 7 tarpon to 100 pounds on a morning trip. Sometimes the tarpon will rise up to meet the chum, and this is the time to take out your 12 weight fly rod and drop fish a bulky chum fly with all the descending food. I find this method a great way to catch tarpon in those times of years that they are off the flats.
Jan
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