HELP! with Tarpon fishing.

[WildBill]

I'm a pass and structure type of tarpon fisherman. I like fishing around inlets and bridges and the florida keys. The Sunshine Skyway (Tampa Bay) out through the pass around Egmont Key is awesome around the the hill tides in June. I drift the pass with crabs south of Egmount Key. Around Layton (Long Key) in the Florida Keys is my favorite spot. Channel 5 on the east side of the island to the Long Key viaduct on the west side (I typically fish the ocean side). Spring time there is when it get's rolling with May being my target month. The wind can really howl then so planning way out front can hurt you if you only tie it to one particular week.
The fish are on the spawn and you can have them within 20' of the boat typacally 20-50 in a school daisy chaining. Thats single file and some times swimming in circles while working their way to the next bridge all the way down hawk's channel into florida bay. You can expect to see a couple hundred fish a day and get quite a few shots at them.
For someone who hasn't tried it start out with a quality 20lb spin outfit with a 5-6 ft 60lb-80lb florocarbon leader (important). Cast in front of them at an angle and not over or across them or the school! Use live crabs with an 8/0 circle hook and do not use swivels (minimize all hardware). Use a bimini twist or a double on the 20 and a double overhand knot to your leader. Picking your spot is easy, when your driving over the bridges you'll see the guides anchored up on the edge of the channels. Idle through these zones so not to spook the fish or anger the guys trying to make a living. Give everybody lots of room and adjust each trip. At night drift through the bridges or anchor up and add a few live baits to the arsonal on top and on the bottom (floats,sinkers and freelining). Plan on being there around the tide changes.
Very relaxing & Very exciting.
Wild Bill