Snook and tarpon fishing is great.

[Captain Van Hubbard]

Snook and tarpon fishing is great.

Sorry I’ve been to busy catching tarpon and snook to keep up here.

Finally we have enjoyed some good weather and fishing. We’ve had some challenging days too. Tarpon are thick; snook and reds have blessed us too. The temps are hot but so is the catching. This years weather is stranger than ever but it’s helped also. Fresh water and cloudy days have kept us save from red tide so far.

Tarpon have been abundant, schools of big fish everywhere. Some days they bite well, others they seem to have lockjaw. Today we saw lots of fish but no takers. Reports of red tide, north of us may be a big influence here. We have not had a problem or dead fish around here. We have had some big tarpon recently. Fishing has been so good sometimes Merry Beth and I went out after my charter last week. we caught and released a huge silver king estimated at 175. We came home and compared the day’s catch to a 150 pounder on our wall and felt sure it was every bit of 175 or more. This is the full moon in June week coming up and I expect excellent fishing. The rain has held things back so far but tomorrow promises to be a sunny day.

Snook finally came out to the passes and beaches. The catch and release fishing has been excellent. Bob and Clayton Call had and excellent trip on the 15th. They caught and released reds and snook all day long. It was the best day we’ve had in years. Sight casting to both species in the clean clear Gulf waters. Some of the reds were even small enough to keep for dinner if desired. We released everything. They had several big snook in the mid - 30 inch range and a couple at 40 inches. Thomas Rutland and Dr. Norval Marr of St. Pete. Fished yesterday and since tarpon just teased us we bailed out the trip with an hour of hot snook and redfish action. We had a couple of slot fish for their dinner.

We did slip out and located a few permit on Sunday thanks to Captain Travis of Stump Pass Marina. He was generous enough to point us in the right direction. We caught one and left them for future trips. Life is easier when we help each other. There were some nice cuda to play with next time also.

Lots of baitfish have been pushed our way by red tide north of us. We did lose some of our baitfish last Monday but things appear fine for now. With so many tarpon around I still expect some red-hot tarpon action for 4th July. We have been challenged by weather so please watch the thunderstorms. Be safe and have fun. Let’s Go Fishin’ soon, Captain Van Hubbard