KING ARE COMING TO CLEARWATER AND TARPON SPRING!
Capt. John O'Hanlon
November 3, 2013
Clearwater - Saltwater Fishing Report
November 2013;
Today hosted the one of the many cold fronts that will move through Tarpon Springs, Florida. These fronts will bring in our beloved KINGFISH. Within the next thirty day's we will see the migration from the northern waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The seas do get a little rough during these times. But it is the price to pay to enjoy this type of fishing.
The KINGFISH are hard hitting, fast and furious fighters that make your line sing with the beautiful sound of line spooling off your reel. So it becomes important to have your reels serviced and ready to go. We like to use light tackle to be able to enjoy the good runs and tugging at the end of the rod.
Live white baits are showing up in good quantities that we catch to use as live bait. The threadfin and green backs offer the KINGFISH a tasty treat that they cannot pass up. However most anything that swims will do a good job enticing the KINGFISH. Depending on the day we may stop at Tarpon Springs Artificial Reef and Jig up some Blue Runners to use. For Tournaments we almost always try to use the bigger baits, as they lure in the bigger KINGFISH.
We use what is called a stinger rig. Where on 18" or so of coffee colored wire is attached to a swivel on one end and the other is attached to a live bait hook, with 3-5" of wire to the live bait hook and a treble hook to the other end. The live bait is then hooked through the nose. I like to let the treble hook swing free most of the time, but occasionally pin it in the back of the bait. Larger baits like Mullet, little Spanish Mackerel, and Ribbon fish may require several stinger hooks. The stinger will help when the KINGFISH strikes a little short of the head of the bait. Then we tie swivel of the stinger to 50 pound test fluouro carbon leader to the reels base line.
Where to fish is always the question? We have some great areas close to Tarpon Springs to locate KINGFISH. The artificial reefs are great places to start looking. You don't have to be very deep either. Two great areas a little to our south are the beaches off Mandalay Beach Condos (15-20) and also the hard bottom due west of Clearwater. When locating the KINGFISH, look for diving birds. They are after the same baits and scraps left by the Mackerel. I say mackerel because many times the Spanish are in the mix swimming with the Kings. The water should be clear and clean, so keep moving offshore to look for cleaner water. I like the condos when we have an east wind, it is usually clear with the protection of the land. Captains John O'Hanlon and Jeff Hart won 1st place in the first annual Clearwater Rotary Club KINGFISH tournament.
Captain John O'Hanlon has won and placed in Kingfish tournaments in the west coast of Florida area. To book an exciting KINGFISH charter, give Capt. John a call at 727 942 9636. Or visit www.captjohnohanlonfishingexpeditions.com
Target Species:
KING MACKEREL
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