Tarpon Fishing in St. Petersburg; A Day with Peter Miller
When it comes to fishing, St. Petersburg, Florida has it all. Sunny days, warm weather, and most importantly, plenty of clear waterways filled with fish ready to bite. Recently, Peter Miller and his crew had spent a day on the water with their sights set on catching tarpon.
Everyone on the boat was decked out in Salt Life gear and accessories that not only looked great, but also helped them fish better. For example, Peter Miller was rocking Salt Life’s prescription sunglasses. These glasses allow him to see into the water better, spot fish faster, and avoid glare from the sun.
Knowing they wouldn’t get very far without bait, the first stop of the day was to stock up on threadfin. With a cast net, these anglers could catch a ton of bait at once. The cast net covered such a large area in the water that it only took a few throws to get all of the threadfin that they needed for the day.
Next up – the crew headed out looking for signs of tarpon. In more open waters, Peter spotted a school of tarpon, and the crew decided they were ready to start fishing. The boat moved closer, and everyone rigged up to start casting their lines.
Trying To Catch Tarpon
The tarpon were really teasing the fishermen. It was easy to see the fish come up to the surface, and there were a lot surrounding the boat - but no one could get a bite! Finally, there was a tug at the line. Everyone worked together to reel in a tarpon that was fighting hard not to be caught. Unfortunately, the tarpon won that battle when the hook came off the line.
It wasn’t long before another giant tarpon was on the line. The fishing rod was passed around as crew members strategically attempted to get the fish to the boat. All of a sudden, the line snapped! Every person on the boat was shocked.
Attentions turned to attempt number three. It was another long fight, and the tarpon even jumped out of the water while it was hooked. But in the tussle between fisherman and fish, the line snapped.
A New Hunt
After three failed attempts to bring in a tarpon, Peter suggested a change. He spotted cownose rays, the perfect bait for sharks.
The cownose rays were an easy snag and, when used as bait, gained a lot of attention from the sharks. This change in location and target was a great suggestion - the fishing lines went crazy! One after another, the crew hooked sharks. This unplanned endeavor was a great way to boost morale and have some fun.
Back To The Tarpon
The crew wanted to try their hand one more time at catching a tarpon. They settled into a fishing spot, and before long, a tarpon took the bait and jumped right out of the water!
Everyone stayed calm and composed as the tarpon fought hard to get away. As the line reeled into the boat, the tarpon was jumping all over the place. Patience and focus payed off when the tarpon was reeled close enough to the boat to catch.
A whole day of fishing was definitely worth the excitement and achievement of catching a tarpon. After congratulatory cheering and, of course, picture taking, the tarpon was released safely back into the ocean.
One More Catch
Pumped up and not ready to head back to shore yet, the crew took the boat to shallow waters to fish for permit.
A great day in St. Pete got even better when a permit was reeled into the boat. Just like the tarpon, it was a struggle, but it ended in success! The permit got its picture taken and was put back in the water, swimming off happily.
To say it was an excellent day for Peter Miller and his crew in St. Petersburg is an understatement. Everyone on the boat worked together and stayed positive, which resulted in some incredible catches. These are the kinds of fishing trips that are remembered fondly for decades!
Take a sneak peek into a day on the boat with Peter Miller over on the Salt Life YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there, so you never miss a video!