June 2024 Fishing Report

Well June is upon us and for me that means two things. Tarpon season as well as red snapper season here locally on the west coast of Florida.

Let’s start with tarpon! The fish are here congregating in large schools in preparation to head offshore to spawn. They have been filling into the area since the end of April and the past few weeks the fish have really started to show up in numbers. The schools of fish are getting more plentiful and the size of these bunches are getting larger. Every day is a bit different, but the fish are here and ready to jump on a properly presented offering. In June, my go to baits for beach tarpon are pinfish and crabs under a cork. I also like a thread fin or scaled sardine free lined. An eight foot spinning outfit, with 40-65 lb braid and 50-80 lb leader seems to do the trick. I like a 6/O or 7/O circle hook for most applications.

Tarpon are a large and exciting near shore sport fish and are a great way to get the blood flowing with excitement, but there is something satisfying about coming in with a box full of fish. Red snapper are the sweet meat of the Gulf of Mexico and are finally open to harvest. A number of offshore honey holes hold red snapper in depths from 80-300 ft. I prefer getting out past 120 ft, and find higher numbers of larger fish more consistently in the summer out even deeper than 150 ft. There are different ways to target red snapper but my go to is a knocker rig and a frozen thread herring or sardine.

Weight size is dependent on depth and current, but I prefer just enough to hold bottom. Sometimes you can pick a few larger fish with live bait when the bite slows a bit on your spot. The same spots that hold red snapper usually have either red grouper, gag grouper, scamp, mangrove snapper or some combination of these species at the same location. Whether it’s a wreck, a ledge, piece of hard bottom or rubble, they are out there and now is the time to take advantage. It is important to check updated federal regulations when fishing in federal waters before you plan on harvesting fish offshore.

Get out there and take advantage of everything June has to offer.

The Suzuki Repower Fishing Report is sponsored by Suzuki Repower and Mastry Engine Center.

Capt. Kyle Applefield
Loaded Down Sportfishing
727-455-0809
Capt. Kyle On Facebook

Growing up fishing the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Loaded Down Sport Fishing’s Captain Kyle Applefield has become an expert of inshore and offshore fishing in the Tampa Bay Area. He was raised on commercial and charter fishing through his family who have been in the industry as native Floridians for three generations.

After years of logging hours and hands on experience, he is now a licensed and insured charter boat captain. Since returning from four years of traveling throughout Central America and the waters of the Caribbean working as a mate of a private sport fishing boat, Captain Kyle has discovered his passion to run charters. It is hard to find a better person to put you on the fish.

Working with all types of people, his love of the water, and his knowledge of fishing, we can ensure you will have a fun and memorable outing on the boat. Novice or professional, young or old, you can expect to make the memory of a lifetime on the water with Loaded Down Sport Fishing!