I had just opened the blinds early Wednesday morning and noticed the needed rain. The sliding glass door was cool to the touch verifying the predicted cold front had arrived during the night yet there they were, rolling a mere 10 feet from the seawall. I felt helpless as they taunted me. After all the years spent chasing these little backyard demons, I should have known better yet moments later I was outside in bathrobe, hat and raincoat, ultra-lite in hand making cast after cast. I was suddenly Michael in “The Godfather” … “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

Would like to report that I had several bites and put tarpon in the air that morning and even released a few, but that wasn’t the case. I did feel one slight tick on the sensitive rod. Did one of them briefly inhale my tiny jig and quickly spit it or simply swim across my lite line?

One of these days I’ll have a bucket of tiny live shiners and have better luck, although I do occasionally score using tiny flies and lures, which always keeps me coming back for more juvenile tarpon punishment. Live bait is for “sissies” while we so-called “purists” live to suffer, but it’s much more rewarding when the magic happens.

Yes tarpon fans, or in my case – fanatics, they are still here and not just the little canal guys. Adult tarpon are still milling around the deep holes of Charlotte Harbor as well as in Boca Grande Pass, and are chewing on lures and ladyfish. Top lure honors this whole season definitely goes to the classic DOA Baitbuster with the Zman Herculez and various Hogy eels tied for second place.

Without too many cold fronts, many catchable adult tarpon will stay through December before packing for the long ride home to Miami, the Keys and other known and unknown points much further south. Golden-hued (tannin stained) resident fish are confused about their chrome-plated migrating cousins and often ask each other why they make that long trip while being chased by always hungry sharks along the way? These homebodies head up the Peace, Myakka, and Caloosahatchee rivers and all the various connected canal systems to eat, stay safe and winter over in comfort.

Early winter brings the various visitors like tripletail, bluefish, bonito, cobia and lots of Spanish macs, but we need a few more cold spells to get the kingfish biting in good numbers, which hasn’t happened just quite yet in local waters, but they are definitely on the way. This popular big game fish thrills anglers all along both sides of the peninsula and throughout the Gulf of Mexico providing individual and tournament angler fun.

If you want a better than average chance on a true bragging-size kingfish, Key West is calling your name. Usually starting in December this area becomes the home base of submarine-sized, trophy kingfish. Book a knowledgeable Keys guide if any are still available at this late date and take a shot at a true kingfish trophy.

Here at home wind is the offshore crew’s enemy although the fish are still waiting for your baits when the trip is possible. Big black grouper have been reported being caught along with some always tasty oversized mangrove snapper by more than one captain able to make recent safe trips.

Inshore cooling weather has turned on local trout, smaller snook, pompano and various sized redfish which, with enough water, will always be found around mangrove roots, docks or in and around potholes during low water tides this winter. Some of the best mixed species action continues to be found along the entire west wall of Charlotte harbor.

In freshwater, local largemouth bass are eating shiners and tasty South American cichlids like Mayan’s, peacocks and tilapia are providing local fun and food for the on-foot angler.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at 239-282-9434 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.