Doug Hemmer's fishing tips: June 15

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By Capt. Doug Hemmer - 727-347-1389

WHAT'S HOT: June is one of the best months to tarpon fish. Most of the bridges in Tampa Bay, the 11ft line along the beach and Egmont Key are all holding good numbers of tarpon.

During most of our trips we have been casting free-lined threadfins and crabs to schools of rolling tarpon. This method works best in the shallow waters along the beach. When fishing the deep hole along Egmont Key, I found going old school worked better. The old timers in Boca Grande used a release weight and dropped the bait to the bottom of the hole. They did this when the rolling school was in line with their drift. They knew the tarpon would dive to the bottom of the hole after the roll. Dropping the bait until it hit the bottom and then reeling 3 times would put the bait in front of the school. I have been using this system in the Egmont hole to great success.

TACKLE: Use 50lb line and 80lb leader on a heavy rod rigged with a 6/0 hook. Tie the line to the leader with a 50lb swivel. Use a strand of thin wire and twist it through the swivel. Then slide the weight up the wire and twist the wire around the leader. This will release the weight when the tarpon jumps. Remember, when the tarpon roll they go straight to the bottom. Having your bait there will increase your hook-ups.