Capt. George Tunison

Knowing that adult sized tarpon are starting to show up in Boca Grande and Captiva passes, as well as a few sightings around the 20-foot holes in Charlotte Harbor, only added to my already bad case of tarpon fever. After deciding the only remedy was not to sit and wait for the gang to arrive but to pack up and head south to the Keys where the tarpon bite is in full swing which was a good, no great, decision.

Fishing day and night around the Keys’ 7-Mile Bridge and Bahia Honda using a variety of live baits including pinfish, mullet and live crabs, as well as large Bomber lures and Hogy soft plastic eels, completely cured my tarpon fever resulting in big smiles, sore backs and arms, as many of the seemingly endless supply of big tarpon took to the air trying to shake hooks while also trying to avoid being eaten by the ever-present army of bull sharks (and one monster-sized hammerhead) that always accompany the Keys spring migration.

If you absolutely need your early spring tarpon fix but don’t have time to get to the Keys, then closer to home Miami is calling your name. While there, split your trip between city dwelling silver kings as well as the huge night snook that inhabit the area’s unlimited docks and canal targets.

Another even closer April tarpon trip would find you exploring the waters below Naples in the 10,000 Islands where the action is heating up as well, but be prepared to not only fight tarpon, redfish and snook, but waves of the worst flying, biting, no-see-ums and mosquitoes I’ve ever experienced, which only gets worse as spring heats up. You’ve been warned!

For those not interested in battling high jumping, early season tarpon, spring offers another great bucket list angling opportunity. Although we are a little far north in their range, bonefish are occasionally seen and caught here in Southwest Florida. Better to hit the road and visit close by Biscayne Bay or further south to Islamorada where some of the best guides on the planet pole the shallows for big Florida bones.

Want to see a hundred yards of spinning line disappear in the blink of an eye? Want to get scary deep into your fly reels backing? Hook an amazingly powerful bonefish. My first, just over ten-pound Keys bone took nearly every inch of line from my reel’s spool several times before coming to the boat.

Although usually associated with fly fishing, you don’t need to be an expert fly caster to catch them as they hit fresh cut shrimp and small jigs. I definitely recommend hiring a competent local guide otherwise you might fish the flats for days without catching or even seeing these ghost-like chrome missiles.

There are several exotic bonefish destinations worldwide that provide lots of action but not always size. Of the six species of bones listed in IGFA records, the Caribbean species world record of 16 pounds was caught in the Bahamas. Hawaii has good numbers of larger Pacific bones. Record hunters might find themselves fishing in Zululand, South Africa, where a 19-pounder was taken in 1962. The drag-burning bonefish should definitely be on every anglers’ bucket list.

Far from Zululand, Cape Coral snook, reds and trout are biting but other than a few exceptions, still running on the smaller side.

Weather permitting, try trolling Clark spoons, plugs or live baiting king mackerel which, before the recent front, where right off the beaches and available to the small boater.

Haven’t caught a king yet? You’re in for a treat as these big and beautiful spool-emptying speedsters provide an always exciting fight, but due to high mercury content not recommended to consume.

Local snook are gathering along the beaches which can provide great fun for the patient walking angler sight fishing the surf zone.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at 239-282-9434 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.