This is just some of the video we shot on are Tarpon charters. This video was on a hill tide. A hill tide is when the new and full moons in the months of April through the end of July when the tide is extra high and starts going out, when the tide gets to a certion point the crabs, bait, and shrimp start to pour out of the bay with the Tarpon waiting for a easy meal. If you are looking for some great Tarpon fishing just call at (813) 917-4989 or email us at [email protected].
Chasing Silver King with Capt Jim Lemke
Chasing Silver King with Capt Jim Lemke. A Testimonial by Keith Collins
Chasing King silver with Capt Jim Lemke.
Testimonial by Keith Collins
I first fished with Capt Jim Lemke 6 years ago, I have fished with him many times since then and I have not used another tarpon guide since.
Why, you might ask?
Capt Jim has put me on more tarpon, consistently, than any other guide.
The crucial difference boils down to the fact that he is the expert at fishing for tarpon day or night.
And let me explain those differences and their benefits for you:
Typically you meet at the boat ramp at about 11.00pm, perhaps midnight, depending on the tides (not during the baking heat of the day, it is comfortable fishing). You are fishing under Tampa’s bridges, about an 8 minute sail away for tarpon that are cruising the shadow line ambushing baitfish lit up in the street light from the bridge above you (not 45 minutes sail time, and then start looking for fish, so you get more fishing time).
Capt Jim quietly move in and ties up the boat under one of the bridges, and the tarpon cruise the shadow line RIGHT in front of you. You will usually be straight onto fish. Fishing the bridges with Capt Jim is like nymphing for trout, but these are not trout, they are tarpon 45” to 75” long.
Think of casting 15 to 20 feet, this is not a typo (Not “give me 70ft at 11am” into a 10 knot wind).
You will routinely get 50 to 70 shots at fish, with precision, because you are sight casting so close to the fish, and quite often you will get more. (Not 3 to 5 shots on an average day, 8 to 10 on a good day).
IT IS VERY EXCITING!
You can reasonable expert to jump 3 to 5 fish a night, sometimes more. How many fish you get to the boat is up to you!
Here are some tips to improve your success:
Capt Jim will supply a rod, reel and line however it’s preferable to use one of your own that you are comfortable casting. Practice casting very short lines, nothing more than 25’ maximum, before you go to fish.
I strongly recommend use a #12 weight and that you will be under gunned. I say that tarpon fishing for night is like shooting elephant with a .22 rifle. These fish can easily run to 175lb, I would not and will not fish a #10 weight.
You are sight fishing for BIG fish right at your feet, I now cut the front 4 feet off my flyline to give me a more aggressive taper because it makes a 12’ to 15’ cast easier to execute.
I routinely fish light to increase hook ups: a 40lb fluorocarbon leader (yes, that’s light), 6 feet long, straight through. I tie a perfection knot at one end for the fly line junction and tie the fly on using a uni-knot. No biminis or snelling (believe me, I am quite capable of building complex leaders but it is just not worthwhile unless you are chasing IGFA records). I pre-tie 15 leaders for a night’s fishing and load them onto a spool. After 1 bite from a tarpon a leader is wrecked, so when this happens I simply cut it off, pull a new pre-tied leader off the spool and re-rig quickly, saving time.
Capt Jim will provide tried and proven ties specifically tied for Tampa Bay tarpon by Ron Cavalier, probably one of the best saltwater fly tyers on the planet. If you want to tie your own use tarpon capable hooks and tie relatively small, the baitfish under the bridge are not large. The largest hook we use is a #2/0. The longest fly we fish is 3”, 2.5”-3” being the norm sometimes down to 2”. Fish larger and you will get refusals, these fish are selective.
To close, let me repeat: THIS IS REALLY EXCITING FISHING!
I can strongly recommend fishing with Capt Jim. I have enjoyed fishing with him in the past and I will continue to fish for tarpon with him in future.
Capt. Jim Lemke
813-917-4989 cell
Explosive Night Tarpon
I met my friend and client Tommy at the boat ramp for a little night Tarpon fishing. As we pulled away from the ramp he asked if the Tarpon are thick yet, i told him i will let you answer that question your self at the end of the trip. I put the Maverick up on a plane as we headed south for a 10 min run to the Bridge we are going to fish on the incoming tide with a light east wind so every thing sets up perfect. As we setup we see a 60lb Tarpon swim 5 feet in front of the boat so i grab a spinning rod with a Daiwa Saltist spinning reel with a DOA Baitbuster on it and told Tommy the next Tarpon that comes by lead it by a few feet and reel and if he eats it set the hook sideways. Will it didn’t take long as i was rigging a fly rod i hear Tommy scream I’m on and it’s a pig. I unhook and start the motor up and start to chase the Tarpon down as we head out the tarpon turns around and starts heading back to the bridge and starts to jump and it look to be around a 120lb fish as Tommy fights this tarpon i get my gloves on so when the fish comes to the boat we can unhook it quick . As Tommy gets the Tarpon close i reach down and grab him and it was a pig around a buck twenty a nice Tarpon as we release it I asked him are you ready for more he said its your turn on the fly as we pull up to a new light we ease in and jackpot a stall of Tarpon around 20 to 30 Tarpon milling around as he held the skiff i laid the fly in front of a fish and I’m on the tarpon jumps and comes unbuttoned so i get ready for the next one to come bye and its a little 30lb and i tossed the fly in front of him and he follows the fly and inhales it I’m on this tarpon gos nuts and starts jumping around in the stall and 5 mins later i get him boat side and released as the night goes on we jumped 12 tarpon and boated 6 not bad for a night of Tarpon fishing so i asked Tommy so do you think there thick yet.
Capt. Jim Lemke
813-917-4989 cell
Tampa Bays Premier Tarpon Fishing Charters
Mikes Jumping 115lb Tarpon at Tarpon Fishing Tampa.com
Capt. Jim Lemke offers the best Tampa Bay Tarpon and Permit fishing on the west coast of Florida. It is perhaps the greatest thrill of all inshore angling in the world. These powerful fish flood the beaches off Tampa Bay every spring,, moving into the bay in the summer and remaining until fall. Of course there also are resident fish that remain year-around so while there are optimum times of the year to fish them, Tarpon are always an option in this part of the state.
There are numerous ways to fish these amazing creatures and anglers can take their pick based on their skill level. The beauty of tarpon is that despite the huge challenge they present to expert anglers, they also are easily handled by beginners with the proper technique and the help of your guide Capt. Jim Lemke.
Tampa Bay is the secret fishing hole for Tarpon. It’s like Las Vegas, it turns on at night, and night fishing for tarpon under the bridges around Tampa really turns on through late spring, summer and fall. This is without a doubt your best chance to catch your first tarpon, or a trophy silver king to remember for a lifetime. Period. Fish over 100lbs are common- see the photo gallery on this site. And remember, we measure these fish here in feet, not inches.
