Hey Cap Mel,

Do we ever have baby tarpon in  our area? Would love to get a small one on a fly!!

William Warzybok
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Dear William:

We do indeed have numerous baby tarpon in our area -- especially during spring. They usually can be found in residential canals, creeks and rivers.

For more on catching baby tarpon in a fly and with other baits, check out these articles on CapMel.com:

http://capmel.com/targeting_baby_tarpon.htm

http://capmel.com/BabyTarpon.htm

http://capmel.com/baby_tarpon_flies.htm

http://capmel.com/TarponinTampaBay1.htm

Thanks,

Capt. Mel Berman

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I just moved to the Tarpon Springs area from Cocoa Beach.  I have fished Anclote Key a couple times but don't seem to have any luck. I have a 17' Key West flats boat and I hear people talking about Grouper inshore. How and where do I find them?

Also, I just got a GPS/Fishfinder for Christmas. I don't know ANY reef coordinates at all. Any Tips?

Thank you
Richie Mclellan
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Dear Richie:

The best and most efficient way to learn how to fish in new waters is to do so with a local angler experienced in catching fish there. In that regard, you have a number of options from which to choose.

Fortunately, you live in an area that has one of the best local fishing clubs called the Hurricane Pass Angler’s Club. When you join you’ll be able to meet up with several highly experienced anglers who will be more than happy to take you under their wing and more than likely invite you to go fishing. This should provide the opportunity to learn how, where and when to fish your new local waters.

Another option would be to join our CapMel.com web site fishing forums. It’s free, available 27/7—and boasts almost 5-thousand members with whom you can communicate about fish the waters off Tarpon Springs.

And certainly, the optimum suggestion would be to hire one of our excellent local guides (See our Tampa Bay Area Charters Page at http://www.capmel.com/tampa_bay_guides.htm )  You will not only enjoy a great and productive day on the water, but also learn just about everything you’ll need  to know about fishing our local area.

Thanks for making our CapMel.com site one of your Internet fishing destinations. 

Capt. Mel Berman 

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Good Afternoon Captain Mel, 

Any thoughts on the following: 

When fishing a reef or a wreck, turn off your sounder because the fish sense the signal and may not bite. I have recently heard this from a friend and will test this theory myself, however I thought that you might be able to shed some light on this subject yourself. 

Always enjoy and recommend your column,

Captain John Guy

Fishermen's Headquarters, Bradenton
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Dear John: 

Your friend is absolutely right. According to our electronic expert, Bill Schuster of Sigma Marine, fish (and humans too) do hear the sound of depth sounder transmissions underwater. Many species that become familiar with these threatening noises will really turn off when they hear these specific sounds.

My suggestion is to always mark your spot with a jug or other kind of marker. Then, as you back down on the anchor, turn off the recorder. 

Mel 

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How does one clean stingray for cooking...Also any recipes for stingray wither on the stove top or grilled.

George
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Dear George:

Just use a very sharp fillet knife  and carefully cut out the pieces of meat from the wings.

In any event, most don't bother with trying to clean stingrays because of all the extra effort involved. They simply get dinning catching more conventionally configured fishes.

Here if your are determined to try cooking one, here is a concoction featured on our Recipes Page for Sting Ray:

Stingray Quiche

In my old "Capt. Mel's Seafood Cookbook" there is a great recipe for "stingray quiche" from outdoor writer Richard Gilmore. Here's the Gilmore recipe:

Prepare a crust by working 3 tablespoons of butter into a cup of whole wheat flour to which half a teaspoon of salt was added. Add 3 tablespoons of water and form into a ball. Press the dough into a 9-inch quiche dish to form crust.

Into the uncooked crust/ sprinkle evenly:

3 cups oiled stingray meat
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup almonds, thinly sliced
1/2 CUP sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 oz. mushrooms, sliced and drained

Pour the following egg mixture over the ingredients in the crust:

3 eggs, beaten
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup cream (or milk)

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until a toothpick thrust into the middle of the mixture comes out fairly clean. Let cool for 30 minutes or so. It's good hot or cold. 

This quiche is tangy in spite of the fact that stingray, like most seafood, tastes milder than red meat.

Gillmore says that "stingray has such an undeservedly rotten reputation that, if I were you, I wouldn't tell my guests what they were eating until after they try it and find out how good it is."

As they used to say in the old commercial – “Try it – you’ll like it!”

Mel 

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