Lake Tarpon Fishing Report (Best Bass Fishing In West Florida)
Robert Ceran
June 14, 2021
Lake Tarpon - Freshwater Fishing Report
Lake Tarpon in North Pinellas county (just a few miles away from Palm Harbor), offers some of the best largemouth bass fishing in Florida. In fact, it has been voted among the top 10 bass lakes in the sunshine state by biologists. So if you're passing by this neck of the woods, be sure to throw a few lures in Lake Tarpon.
In addition to a thriving largemouth bass population that regularly produces fish over 10 pounds, Lake Tarpon also offers great crappie, catfish and bluegill fishing. The 2,500 acre lake is almost nine miles long, and has held the state record for biggest largemouth bass caught on a wild shiner for many years.
Lake Tarpon is a popular location for bass tournament fishing, and since tournaments are hosted here almost every weekend during the peak season, it's better to fish during the week if possible. That way you'll avoid the hustle and bustle of the weekend, and can fish in the top spots without a crowd.
The lake is characterized by weedy edges and extensive grass beds, as well as several deep basins in the center of the lake. In combination, this provides a perfect habitat for largemouth bass to thrive and grow fast.
Another reason why the bass population is so healthy in Lake Tarpon is because they not only have the local shad population to feed on, but also countless tilapias, which have been introduced and thrive in the lake. So if you decide to fish here, make sure to throw a few tilapia colored lures as well as shad colored ones.
In addition to optimal foraging conditions for the bass, there are also strict regulations to protect the fish population. The daily limit you're allowed to keep is 5 bass, and only one of them can be over 22 inches long.
Some of the most productive tactics at this time of the year are slow rolling spinnerbaits along the edges of bars and weed beds, as well as plastic worms fished on a texas rig. Another tactic that regularly produces trophy fish is using live wild shiners to drift through grass beds.
The grass beds are also great spots to target crappie, ideally with tube jigs and small spinners that you can either cast or troll in these locations. Finally, Lake Tarpon also boasts a healthy population of redear sunfish, that you can catch with maggots or crickets fished with a bobber rig.
Boat ramps are available in the two county parks that border Lake Tarpon: A.L. Anderson Park and John Chestnut Park. In addition to their boat launching ramps, these parks also have fishing piers, so you can try your hand at catching bass from shore, which can work well in spring.
The parks bordering the lake also offer other recreational facilities, such as picnic areas and cycling trails, so it might be worth bringing the family along. Finally, if you want to cook your fresh catch, there are grills available to barbecue them.
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