It was a hot, sticky August morning in south Texas as we motored at idle speed through the darkness. The only sound we heard were surface slaps rippling out from a massive bait ball and periodic explosions as pelicans dive-bombed into the fray no farther than 20 yards off the bow of the 24-foot Skeeter. Conditions were on target for intersecting massive, migratory tarpon.
With his headlamp providing our only on-board light, Capt. Brian Barrera threw his cast net as we approached the South Padre Island jetties to load up on silver mullet. Bait was plentiful, and Barrera filled the live well with little effort, which typically is not the case. Finding the right bait can be a grind that runs late into the morning as the day heats up. We got lucky.
When it comes to choosing what bait or lure to throw, Barrera, a native Texas guide who has found a niche in targeting big tarpon, lets the conditions dictate what he uses. “Through my 15 years of tarpon fishing,
