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Sports

Tarpon Reported by Tierra Verde

Dominic Caro from Southeastern Fishing Tackle Liquidators Thursday gave a report to help Westchase-area anglers land a lunker.

Dominic Caro from Southeastern Fishing Tackle Liquidators at 2907 North Florida Ave. said tarpon have begun to show up on the channel by Tierra Verde Island, which is just north of Pass-A-Grill. “The only thing I've heard is that there have been sightings,” Caro said. “But they're not in pods yet.”

Pods have, however, begun showing up under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge piers.

Caro said local anglers are gearing up for tarpon and kingfish, as well as for gag grouper (the recreational season in state waters – within 9 nautical miles offshore – opened Friday).

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“Guys in here today said they caught a couple kingfish of good size, and they're starting to see cobia,” he said.

Caro said it was a great year last winter in upper Tampa Bay for redfish. There continue to be smaller redfish by Rocky Point and the causeway. The big redfish have moved farther offshore, he said.

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Caro said he also has had good success with some bigger trout. His secret? Shallow water.

“A lot of people think you have to go to the deeper flats,” Caro said. “I found them in shallow flats, in 2-3 feet of water.”

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