June in Tarpon Springs

Question
I'm bringing a kayak to Tarpon Springs in mid-June.  What can I target at that time with a reasonable chance at catching and how stout of tackle will I need? (I'm from Michigan)

Answer
June in Tarpon Springs Area. There are a few places that will work great for you during that time of year. SO let me elaborate on a few things, SEASON, SPECIES, AREAS, BAITS/LURES and TACKLE(Rods/reels, etc...), and lastly some TIPS on fishing saltwater.

1. SEASON: Summertime hot. Best fishing times are the Magic hours (The Hour or two just after sunrise and the hour or two just before sunset.) So if your here just vacationing you could be on the water at 0630 and done by about 9am, and you can spend the rest of the day going to the beach or doing whatever. The water will be very warm and the fish will be very active. Fast retrieves, top water and some good jerk baits will do the trick. Remember sunscreen (NOT BULLFROG) even though it is the BEST SUNSCREEN ON THE MARKET. It is also the best fish "DETRACTANT" on the market. A pair of POLARIZED Glasses (These are just great no matter what your doing it makes seeing the shallows and bottom changes that much better.). Last thing be careful in the water on the shore and where you launch oyster beds are like a filed of razors and will tear your feet up.

2. SPECIES: Kayak on the flats and over the grass early can yield SNOOK, REDFISH, TROUT and LADYFISH. That time of year the TARPON will be rolling near Howard Park and Sunset Park and along the deeper water in those areas. You could possibly find a Spanish Mack or two also.

3. AREAS: Tarpon Springs has great flats all along it and there are a few places you can launch from and make things a little better.

HOWARD PARK is a nice park with an ABUNDANCE of parking along the road on the way out.
SUNSET PARK is another location that will get you right to the fish. As far as paddling you don't have to go far and I wouldn't try to go to far from shore without knowing the tides and letting someone know where your headed.
ANCLOTE PARK is a Very Busy boat ramp area but can get you to some nice little flats areas near the south side of the channel heading into the inter coastal.
Paddling is not going to be that difficult watch the tides and don't go super far out, check out some of the local fishing charters for TARPON SPRINGS, TAMPA and other areas to see what their fishing reports say, watch the winds and for Summer time storms especially around evening. The rain is refreshing but the lightning here is famous so be careful. Make sure you have the proper safety equipment (Life Jacket, Whistle(noisemaker) and s few other niceties (small First aid kit, light, knife). Also dress to get wet cause the fish will splash you, and a large brim hat, light long sleeve shirt and Sunglasses. Neck Gators are the thing down here in the summer, their light and you can cover up your neck and it helps. (if your down here look for the light weight ones for saltwater fishing)

4. BAITS/LURES and TACKLE: Small 1/2oz or lighter jig heas with a plastic swim tail work great. Look for Red/White, Chartruese/White. Gold, Silver, Green Metalflake, and any other color that looks bright and flashy. These colors can be the jighead, swim tails and any combo of the two.

If you want to go with live bait (whitebaits will be hard to come by from a kayak but pin fish will be plentiful witha  small hook and a piece of frozen shrimp and a bait bucket you should have enough as needed) Live shrimp are available at just about all bait shops for about $5/dozen depending on size. Red/White popping corks with about 24-30" leader under it with a small 1.0 hook should be good.

TARPON will prefer a pin fish free lined right in front of them BUT will also take a Shrimp and Jigs.

TOP WATER: Zara Spooks, Top Dog, Bagleys Jumping Finger Mullet, some other top water poppers that swim like your walking the dog will work.

LINE: Most fisherman around here will use power pro line or the other equivalents (fireline, spider wire) with Monofilament leaders of up to 6ft in lengther. tied line to line with the less hardware items (swivels, clasps etc..) the better. Use about a 10lb no heavier than 15lb test and the monofilament can be a size heavier than the mainline or lighter depending on your preference and your reel. brown, green and even white or water camo color is the best. If your after a mixed bag of fish use about a 20lb with a 25lb leader and you should be able to handle a large Redifish or Snook.

RODS/REELS: 7'.5" medium action or 7' light action will be best for this type fishing. A heavy Action Rod with 35+lb will be needed if you run across a Tarpon. If your using a Saltwater Reel it will take the saltware beating better and should be washed with Fresh after every encounter with saltwater. Freshwater setups will last your one trip down here even if you wash them they will rust and the salt will eat them up.

5. TIPS: Don't get too excited when that fish is following your lure keep it steady and he will follow. OR throw back to the same spot and try again. Use hook outs and other tools to release, sometimes a thrashing fish will end up hooking you too. Tarpon will run and you need to chase them if you can or they will spool you unless you have heavy Tackle. SNOOK are CLOSED while your here BUT you can catch and release. Pay attention to the SLOT limits when keeping fish the Game Wardens love waiting for you to come back in. IF you have questions while your here ask the Bait shops they are all helpful and don't mind answering questions and telling you where and what is biting.  Search for local fishing sites. Google search these Terms ("Tarpon Springs Fishing", "Tampa Fishing", "Tampa Trout Fishing", "Tampa Redfish", "Tampa Snook"

Feel Free to ask Follow up questions if these answers make you curious about anything else. I fish this Area on a regular basis, Matter of fact was just out there Saturday Morning catching Redfish and Trout.