Tarpon Special

May 16, 2011 By admin

Do you like what you see in Florida Sportsman Magazine's April 2007 Tarpon Special, but need a few more details to plan a trip? Here's a

region-by-region, starter list of guides, accommodations and boat ramps servicing the areas featured. The special issue is on newsstands now.

FLORIDA KEYS: Fishing the Bridges of the Middle Keys

Suggested Guides

Randy Rode: 1-800-322-7122; www.tarponguaranteed.com

Jim Bourbon: 1-800-461-0527; www.thinktarpon.com

Bob Brown: 1-800-282-1712; www.sundancesportfishing.com

Jeff Knapp: 305-849-0548

Billy Rabito Sr.: 305-395-1943; www.floridakeysflyfishing.com

Byron Farnes: 305-743-7548

Greg Stearn: 305-393-1178

Fred Reed: 305-664-7029

Lindsay Harper: 866-451-5300, www.flyfishkeywest.com

Accommodations

>www.floridakeys.com

>www.floridakeysmarathon.com

Boat Ramps

>33rd St. in Marathon, mile, marker 49; free, excellent condition

>Bahia Honda State Park; two ramps, excellent condition, fee charged

>For more, visit www.inshore.com

BOCA GRANDE: Drifting the Grande Old Pass

Suggested Guides

Mike Anderson: 813-672-0816

Billy Nobles: 813-299-5563

Dave Markett: 813-962-1435

Greg DeVault: 727-919-8666

Artie Price: 727-639-7805

Lori Deaton: 813-967-5032

Ray Van Horn: 727-639-2486

Troy Sapp: 813-920-6928

Rob McCue: 727-534-3150

Mike Myers: 941-416-8047, www.reelshark.com

Buster Herzog: 800-950-0381

Phil Dugger Jr: 800-774-0356

Scott Boland: 863-324-5878

Scott Hughes: 941-628-4247, www.blackwatercharters.com

Boca Grande Guides' Association: www.bocagrandefishing.com

Accommodations

>Beachcroft Hotel, Englewood: 941-474-6509

>The Boardwalk, Englewood: 941-474-2346

>Days Inn & Suites, Englewood: 800-887-5412

>Veranda Inn, Englewood: 941-475-6533

>Grove City Motel, Placida: 941-474-3436

>Palm Island Resort, Cape Haze: 866-838-1653/941-697-4800

Boat Ramps

>Ainger Creek Park: 2025 Placida Road, Englewood

>Darst Park: 537 Darst Avenue, Punta Gorda

>Placida Park: Boca Grande Causeway, Placida

For more local information, contact the Charlotte County Visitor's Bureau at 941-743-1900, or visit www.pureflorida.com

TAMPA BAY: Fishing Egmont Key and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Suggested Guides

Tommy Ziesmann: 727-432-0355

Jim Lemke: 813-917-4989

Chet Jennings: 813-477-1513

Billy Nobles: 813-299-5563

Justin Moore: 941-720-6408

Rick Gross: 941-794-3308

Accommodations

>There are numerous hotels in St. Pete and Anna Maria.

>Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, on the north end of the Skyway, would be one of the most convenient, and it has its own boat docks; 6800

Sunshine Skyway Lane, St. Pete, 800-727-8047.

Two high-end destination resorts in this area:

>Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach: 866-728-2206

>Bilmar Beach Resort, Treasure Island: 877-834-0441

Boat Ramps

>Fort DeSoto Park at Tierra Verde, which also has a very nice campground.

>O'Neill's Marina, north end of the Skyway: 727-867-6701

>Maximo Park at 34th Street and Pinellas Point Drive, St. Pete.

PORT CANAVERAL: Fishing the Bait Pods

Suggested Guides

Keith Kalbfleisch: 407-671-1696; www.SAOCF.com

Jim Ross: 321-636-3728; www.captjimross@cfl.rr.com

Tom Van Horn: 407-416-1187; www.irl-fishing.com

Bob Levine: 321-784-2711; captbobfishing.com

Accommodations

>Radisson Resort At The Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd.,Cape Canaveral, FL32920 (3-star)

>Residence Inn by Marriott Cape Canaveral Cocoa

Beach,8959 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

(3-star)

>Royal Mansions Resort, 8600 Ridgewood Ave., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (3-star)

>Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Cape Canaveral, FL: 909 Astronaut Blvd. Cape Canaveral, FL 32930

Boat Ramps

>Freddie Patrick Park (formerly Central Park). No fees in this 10-acre site, located in the center of the port's south side. Three

double-wide boat launching ramps, covered picnic tables, fish cleaning tables, restrooms and extended parking spaces for vehicles with

trailers. Grills, a tasty seafood restaurant is next to the boat ramp. Rusty's, another popular seafood restaurant, is just a couple of

blocks down. Both overlook the water.

>Port's End Park: This 4-acre park also has a double-wide launch ramp and extended parking. Also, no fees for parking or launching; it has

>MacRae's of Homosassa: 352-628-2602 (tackle, ramp, motel)

>Homosassa Riverside Resort: 352-628-3450 (ramp, motel)

>Nature Coast Fly Shop (Daryl Seaton), Crystal River: 352-795-3156 (Orvis Fly Shop)

>Outcast Fly Shop (Capt. Cade Burgdorf), Homosassa: 352-621-3474 (excellent fly shop)

>Back Country Concepts (Capt. Earl Waters), Homosassa: 352-628-0359 (fly shop, rigging, boat gear)

Extend Your Range in the Salt Marsh

Videos

Extend Your Range in the Salt Marsh

Florida Sportsman Editor Jeff Weakley shares expert tips on setting up kayaks, tackle and safety equipment for inshore saltwater success. Special focus on the benefits of the new e-bike capabilities of the Old Town Sportsman BigWater 132 ePDL+

Videos

Florida's Capital Fishing

Videos

Florida's Capital Fishing

A stunning, cypress-fringed reservoir in Florida's capital city of Tallahassee is the setting for a fun day of bass fishing with friends. Plus, it's a great place to become acquainted with the ePDL drive introduced by the innovative Old Town Sportsman division.

Videos

Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 FULLY RIGGED Fishing Machine

Videos

Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 FULLY RIGGED Fishing Machine

This Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 was built to offer every single possible amenity that any dedicated bass angler would appreciate. Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen built this kayak to exact spec to catch bass on big reservoirs or small, nearly inaccessible lakes—and fish professional-level kayak tournaments. This video is the front-to-back walk-through about how everything was installed and why—hopefully to inspire you to build your dream kayak.

Videos

Mounting Forward-Facing Sonar on A Kayak: Mounts, Scanning Applications and More!

Videos

Mounting Forward-Facing Sonar on A Kayak: Mounts, Scanning Applications and More!

Thomas Allen shares some insight to mounting and applying forward-facing sonar to kayak fishing. He talks about a couple of cool and innovative mounting devices that make scanning simple, cable management and fishing application. This video offers solutions and concepts to take a sweet fishing rig to the limits with modern technology. Forward-facing sonar certainly belongs on a cutting-edge fishing kayak.

Videos

On The Water with Old Town: Bass Fishing at PRIVATE GEORGIA LAKE

Videos

On The Water with Old Town: Bass Fishing at PRIVATE GEORGIA LAKE

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen spent the day fishing with the KFF crew and other friends at Southwind Plantation in Southwest Georgia—on a lake known for producing some real big bass. The lake is full of fish, and fun was had by the entire crew. In this video, Allen catches a few fish and shares some kayak fishing tips along the way that are worth considering the next time you intend to launch the kayak to go fishing.

Videos

DECKED-OUT Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 Complete WALK-THROUGH

Videos

DECKED-OUT Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 Complete WALK-THROUGH

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen walks through his fully rigged-and-ready Old Town ePDL. This boat features Old Town's e-bike technology that offers the user pedal-assist and cruise control at five different speeds—calibrated for normal trolling applications. But that's not enough, Allen added a list of power and cool accessories to push this kayak to the limit. Here are all the details.

Videos

Dreambuild: Old Town ePDL Gets Rigged to the Hilt

Videos

Dreambuild: Old Town ePDL Gets Rigged to the Hilt

Kayak Fishing Fun Senior Editor Thomas Allen is joined by Old Town's Brand Evangelist Ryan Lilly to work some magic in building out Allen's Old Town ePDL. The duo spent a winter weekend together scheming up a plan to rig an already cutting-edge Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 by installing the kind of accessories a kayak bass tournament junky would truly appreciate.