Fishing Florida flats and backcountry with Capt. Kevin Chamberlain, a Florida fishing guide located in Sarasota. Fishing the flats and backcountry of Sarasota, Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. A Florida fishing guide for tarpon fishing, snook fishing, redfish fishing and trout fishing.

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On occasion, a fish will "wake" and show you the direction he's moving. On extremely low tides, a redfish will tell you his intentions by "tailing". Right here is where a good cast will mean the difference between a bulldog, drag-burning run, or a school of redfish exploding as they push off the flat.

Snook and redfish can also be seen cruising or laid-up under the overhanging mangrove branches, and a big snook knows right where all the snags are as he tries to wrap you around them. And many times he does. It's just you and him.

In late spring, early summer, tarpon begin to show up. They will be seen laid-up in places like Bull Bay, Turtle Bay and Pine Island Sound, probably resting up from a long journey from more southern locations and waiting for their runs out off the beaches.

Some of the best tarpon fishing in the world takes place right off our beaches in Southwest Florida. They move in schools, sometimes large schools, usually less than a mile from shore. As they move, they'll roll on the surface and gulp air before going back down. Once positioned and within casting distance, a live bait, a fly or other artificial lure can be laid out in front of them. A strike can be very subtle for such a giant, but you do feel the weight of this massive creature. And, when he feels the sting, it's reward time. He'll immediately head for the sky, rattlin' gills and shaking his head. Then he'll head for Mexico.