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Tarpon will be the focus for many anglers this month. It is truly big-game fishing, as these fish may weigh as much as 200 pounds. Tarpon migrate to our area during this time frame, gathering in passes and heading offshore to spawn during full and new moon phases. There are also resident tarpon that move out of rivers, creeks and backcountry areas to join the migratory fish.

They usually travel parallel to the beach and fairly close to shore, so I try not to travel in that zone to avoid spooking them. Many factors must come together for anglers to be successful — tides, sunlight, wind and timing all play a role.

Once you’ve chosen a spot, wait for the fish to show up and cast live baits, such as crabs or baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters, a mullet imitation. Drifting a live crab under a float when tarpon are not showing well on the surface also is a good strategy.

Use tackle heavy enough to land fish quickly, and when selecting a location, give other boats several hundred yards of space since the fish may travel either north or south.

Snook also will be spawning during this time frame, gathering in passes during full and new moon phases. They also can be found in the surf, especially near passes, and around lighted docks and bridges close to passes.

Anglers can target snook with live bait in the passes or by walking the beach and sight-casting to fish in the surf using lures or flies, including CAL jigs with paddle tails or white baitfish fly patterns.

Tides will be higher in June, and redfish and larger trout will spend more time in shallow water because of the abundance of baitfish there. During high tides, anglers may find fish along mangrove shorelines, around oyster bars or cruising over shallow grass flats.

Spin anglers can use live baitfish, such as pilchards, or CAL jigs with paddle tails. Fly anglers should have success using baitfish fly patterns like my Grassett Flats Minnow, which is my go-to shallow-water fly.

Anglers also will find trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and pompano on deep grass flats this month. I like to drift and cast ahead of the drift using a CAL jig with a paddle tail or a baitfish fly pattern, such as a Clouser Minnow, when fly-fishing.

Once I locate fish, I shorten the drift to better target the area. When bluefish and mackerel are mixed in, I increase my leader size to 40- or 50-pound fluorocarbon.

Anglers also may still encounter Spanish mackerel, false albacore, cobia and tripletail in the coastal Gulf while searching for tarpon. Look for fish feeding on the surface or, in the case of tripletail and cobia, around channel markers or cruising on the surface.

Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at myfwc.com/.

There are plenty of fishing options this month. If battling a large tarpon isn’t for you, there are still many productive inshore opportunities to enjoy.