Replies

• Kayak_Pete Posts: 191 Deckhand

  August 2021 #2

  crazy said:

  ...... How deep were they dropping there bait down?
  

  My guide guards this info like Ft Knox.
  
  

  2014 Hobie Sport
  

  0 · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
• crazy Posts: 35 Deckhand

  August 2021 #3

  Kayak_Pete said:

  crazy said:

  ...... How deep were they dropping there bait down?
  

  My guide guards this info like Ft Knox.
  
  

  
  ya, I figure I might get some responses like this. 
  

  Markk from Mi

  0 · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
• joekat46 Posts: 2,847 Captain

  August 2021 #4

  Guides from all over the state monopolize Boca through tarpon season.  I live close enough to be able to fish it daily but write it off.  Buy the $5 each crabs and fish the beaches between Boca and Casey Key.  Save you blood pressure spikes.  

  1 · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
• Scoutboat Posts: 2,575 Captain

  August 2021 #5

  Isn't Casey Key up by Sarasota??

  0 · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
• joekat46 Posts: 2,847 Captain

  August 2021 edited August 2021 #6

  Scoutboat said:

  Isn't Casey Key up by Sarasota??

  Venice.  Point is Imo fishing the beach tarpon much more enjoyable than fighting the Pass crowds.

  2 · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
• AlwaysLearningMore Posts: 223 Deckhand

  August 2021 #7

  Baits could have been crabs, squirrelfish, threadfins, jumbo shrimp or a few others.  They might have been freelining up shallow or even bobber fishing, or bombing 60 feet down depending on what the fish were doing, which varies with time of day, bait flush, tide, and other stuff that no one can figure out.

  0 · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
• Tarponator Posts: 20,505 AG

  August 2021 edited August 2021 #8

  AlwaysLearningMore nailed it.
  
  If they are dropping down, they are likely fishing a few cranks off the bottom, a bottom that varies greatly by the topology of the pass.
  
  
  
  That's where a good fish finder combined with experience tells you how deep to fish without getting snagged while keeping the bait in the strike zone and the boat properly positioned -- that is to say it's not easy but it is definitely doable.
  
  You might consider hiring one of the local guides -- it will be the best investment in how to fish the pass that you'll ever make, IMO.
  
  Good luck.

  0 · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
• Dodger Posts: 346 Deckhand

  August 2021 #9

  joekat46 said:

  Guides from all over the state monopolize Boca through tarpon season.  I live close enough to be able to fish it daily but write it off.  Buy the $5 each crabs and fish the beaches between Boca and Casey Key.  Save you blood pressure spikes.  

  Approx. how big is a $5 crab?  Just curious.  Thanks!

  0 · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
• Tarponator Posts: 20,505 AG

  August 2021 edited August 2021 #10

  About 2" across.
  
  The good news is you can catch them yourselves on the big outgoing tides in the afternoon a few days either side of the full and new moon.   All you need is a long handled minnow net as the crabs will be right on the surface riding the tide out.

  0 · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter