June in South West Florida is an exciting time to fish. Along the coast is the migration of the Silver King /Tarpon. This month there should be plenty of opportunities to sight one of these high flying scaly creatures. These guys are like trying to predict the weather just wait five minutes and they change there pattern. I had the chance to talk with one of the old Boca Fishing Guides a few years ago. I asked what was the most consistent thing about tarpon fishing? He hesitated and gave a very profound answer that they are inconsistent. It was with mixed emotions - both glad and confused. With this new information, I learned that the learning curve I was on was the proper one. With most fish you can focus on just a couple of baits, but with these guys, it could be any fish that swims in the harbor, or crabs. This is where it gets fun -  thread fins, scaled sardines, squirrel fish, mutton minnows, pin fish, lady fish, pass crabs, or blue crabs. Yup, there are several and the big question is: "What are they eating today?" Then there is the tackle - seven to eight foot rods, five thousand to ten thousand reels with thirty to fifty pound line braid or mono. Circle hooks or surgically sharp hooks to penetrate their bony mouth.  It is a lot to put together to be ready for when you see them with your eyes or your depth finder. Then you have to be ready to cast so they swim up to your bait and prayerfully they eat yours. Then the fun begins tight lines and singing drags, so bow to the king. Yes, and people come from all around the world to have the opportunity to experience tarpon fishing. Here in our own back yard there is Boca Grande which is billed the best tarpon fishing in the world. And it gets crazy with boats going in every direction when they see fish roll. I like to fish on the boat along the beaches and up into the harbor where they come to the bait that has migrated in to our area. Not to ignore the other species that will be along the beaches like snook that will be migrating to salty waters to spawn. They will move to the beach and some to the close reefs to spawn out to forty five feet. Sharks, hammerheads, bulls yup - they all will be following the tarpon (their food source) as they migrate too. Permit will be on the close reefs too, just have some smaller crabs in the well. And for those that like to battle other big fish you have the goliath grouper to do battle with. So in South West Florida it is big game season if you would like to come along with Capt. Bart Marx call 941-979-6517 or e-mail me at captbart@alphaomegacharters.com And always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{