South Bay Loop parking is located at Tarpon Shores Marina (formerly Crabman's, and is where the casino boat docks) and you can unload at the water's edge to the right of the store and boat ramp. I think there's a sign saying to pay, but every time I've launched they haven't charged me when I asked.
Cutter's Loop (commonly referred to as Lighthouse Lakes, and is the most popular of the launches) parking is located within Lighthouse Lakes Park. It's free and like Tarpon Shores you unload near the water and park elsewhere.
Redfish Loop (also referred to as Electric Loop) is located off Harbor Island Rd. Pretty much you park alongside of the road near openings in the bushes.
Here's a Google Map of launches:
Click
I fish Cutters and South Bay Loop the most. Cutters Loop I access the first large lake and head towards the back of it and set up drifts. The water should be about knee deep or a little less. The mouth can be good when tides are moving, but it's usually covered in horse mullet. Then I'll start exploring back lakes and shorelines. If you have a GPS I'd bring it or at least print out a map with the trails and markers on it, because you can get a bit disorientated if you're new to fishing there.
South Bay Loop I typically start off early looking for tailing reds after I cross the shrimp channel and get past the island. If no tails then I'll setup for drifts.
Lures keep it simple:
- Bone topwater (I prefer Spook Jrs, but Skitterwalks and She Dogs are great too)
- Robert's Red Head or JW X Eyes Strike Pro Hunchback (a little pricey, but work extremely well especially if you don't know how to work a topwater)
- Plum/Chartreuse, Pumpkinseed/Chartreuse, Strawberry/White, and Salt & Pepper/Chartreuse soft plastics (Norton, Bass Assassin, H&H, Down South Lures, and TTF are good brands. In other words they all catch fish.)
- 3" New Penny Gulp Shrimp
- Nite Glow 3" DOA shrimp
- 1/4 oz weedless gold & silver spoons
- 1/16 & 1/8 oz jigheads
- A wire cigar float (such as a H&H TKO) for fishing the Gulp or DOA shrimp. Use some line from your reel to make the leader so the shrimp stays just above the grass or bottom when fishing.
