This June morning was a special one: no charters, no camera man, just Tim Booth, owner of the Silver Ring Cafe, Rolando and myself on a fishing trip. It’s not often we get to go fishing just for fun, without any pressure from clients or a TV crew expecting us to catch fish on every throw. I had decided to go for the big Reds hanging around Tarpon Key. We met around 5 a.m., stopped for our second cup of coffee at the local gas station, and headed west towards Tampa Harbour Marina where I kept my boat. We told stories about the big ones we had lost and the ones we were going to catch today. A short trip to catch bait at our secret spot, and from there it was off to Tarpon Key, one of my favorite spots for large Reds this time of year. Once we reached the no motor zone, I lowered the Great White trolling motor and, with a twist of the handle, 106 pounds of thrust came to life propelling my Sheaffer boat in the direction of Tarpon Key.

Many islands and keys in Tampa Bay are protected areas and one must use either a trolling motor or a push pole. We slowly worked our way to the northeast point of the key and here we anchored and waited for the school to appear. Patience is important since the school can appear in a moment’s notice. We were prepared for action; 2 rods with live pinfish suspended just below the surface of the water, and 2 other rods with greenbacks free-lined just beyond our floats.

The sun’s rays were slowly breaking into the crystal-clear water and you could see movements of small pinfish darting in and out of the grass and mullet starting to jump. I could tell by Tim’s look he was ready for action, and so was I. Just beyond our reach, we could see a small wake as if a jet ski had buzzed by. We both looked at each other and, without a word, prepared for an attack.

The Reds were coming, with the first strike going to Tim and, within a split second, mine was next. Two hook ups and no one around to see; it was great. We had them all to ourselves for over 3 hours. We battled Reds, winning some fights and losing others. Looking at our watches, it was only 11 a.m. and we had fought over 20 fish. The school had broken up and, from past experience, it would take several hours for them to regroup, so we decided it was time for brunch for us and our guest, and to tell some tall tales back at the marina. Large schools of Reds will congregate around mangrove islands; some schools are so large they form a red wave as they push through the shallow waters of the flats. My two favorite baits for these large bruisers are 3-5 inch pinfish or dollar-size pass crabs.

Casting distance is a must and medium tackle works best. I prefer to use 15-pound test OHero braided line, which gives great line capacity on a medium reel such as a Daiwa SS2500C and 7-1/2 foot OHero rod. The combination is a perfect match for catching large Reds and Snook on the flats and mangroves. Reds in shallow waters will spook easily and the stealth system works best; this means keeping a safe distance from the school and being quiet. Remember, sound travels 7 times faster through water and the slightest noise can break up schooling fish. I prefer to fish the start of an outgoing tide for Reds, because as the tide drops they are forced into the cuts and potholes around the mangrove island, creating a private casting pond for my clients. First, get there early, ahead of the tide change.

I have sat and waited for an hour for fish to move in and it has been well worth it. While other boats are trying to follow the fish, let the fish come to you. Never cast into a school of fish. Always cast ahead of them and let them come toward your bait. On days with strong currents, I will use a float and let the current drift my bait towards the fish. In the heat of the day, looking for keeper size Reds around deep water structures, offshore reefs, or bridge pilings can produce good catches of reds. The deep water Reds will strike large pin-fish, cut large blue crabs, and live shrimp. It takes heavier tackle to land these fish, so always be prepared. Wade fishing is the best method for fishing the flats, but remember to do the stingray shuffle and wear some protective wading shoes. Artificial baits such as D.O.A. or Crystal Minnow by YO-ZURI work great for the purest at heart. Here are some hot spots to try around lower Tampa Bay: back side of Rattlesnake Key, Flounder Pass, Beville Point and Kay Point. Good fishing and tight lines.

A native resident of Tampa,Captain Sergio Atanes has been fishing the waters of Tampa Bay to Boca Grande for over 40 years. Owner and operator of S & I Charters, with 45 professional captains on staff, Capt. Sergio is host of Outdoor Fishing Adventures Radio Show on ESPN 1040 AM radio Saturday mornings 8 to 10 AM. S & I Charters, Inc. (813) 973-7132 www.reelfishy.com