Spring Break is a very busy time here in the Keys.

Ben Friedman and his ladyfriend Mallory took a break from college for some Sharkfishing. Ben has been shark fishing in the keys since he was a little boy and is fascinated by them. Off we headed to Cape Sable way across Florida Bay. At the mouth of one of the rivers we set up using frest mullet for bait on an incoming tide. At days end the couple had released 7 Bulls, 4 Lemon's and 2 Blacktips for a baker's dozen. Some sore arms there. The couple used the Fox Trek Boat rod XT's fitted with the EOS 50 reels. These rods really did the job on the sharks today. Ben called me the next morning and said later they fished that night off their dock and caught 2 more Lemonsharks. Wow you would think they might have been tired.

Ben and Mallory using the Fox Trek Boat rod XT's
on a double header of Bullsharks

Backcountry Bullshark

another double of Sharks on the EOS 50 reels and Fox Trek XT Boat rods

Mallory's first Shark. Ben did the wiring

On Friday John Wachter joined me. He had never caught a Tarpon so we gave it a try. After castnetting some very lively mullet for bait we set up shop in a nearby channel. John used the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo today for his fishing. His first Tarpon of the day was a giant estimated at 150lbs. We chased and fought this fish for over 2 hours and ended up 2 miles offshore in  the Atlantic headed for Cuba. John did an excellent job with the 8' Sailfish Trek. After that we set up and again John hooked another Tarpon. This one over 100lbs.  We then spent an hour poling some flats hoping to get a fish to take a fly. Not much luck there.  To finish we caught fresh bait and headed back to the same channel and John caught yet another Tarpon giving him 3 releases for the day. I think he is spoiled for life now. He loved seeing them jump.

first ever Tarpon est. 150lbs.

John Wachter used Fox Sailfish Trek Diablo 750
combos on 3 Tarpon he released

John Wachter with his third Tarpon of the day

My next 2 days were spent with Bryce Henderson. He is visiting from the UK. We fished yesterday evening down at Channel 2. Bryce released 2 Tarpon on this trip using the Tarpon Spincast EOS 30 combo. We had a couple more fish on but one chaffed thru 100lb trace and the other jumped off. This morning after catching a dozen live mullet Bryce caught his first Tarpon of the day by 8:30.  Then the wind switched to the South West. Tarpon were rolling everywhere but we could not buy a bite. Not giving up we ran down to Channel 5 bridge and at noon Bryce hooked and landed his second Tarpon of the morning. 2 for 2. Slow fishing but great results. Bryce used the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo on this on. All Bryce's Tarpon were hitting live mullet on the surface and gave us a great show.

Mid morning Tarpon Channel 5

this morning's trip produced 2 more Tarpon releases for Bryce Henderson

Bryce Henderson released 2 Tarpon this afternoon using the
Fox Trek Tarpon Spincast fitted with an EOS 30 reel

just when Bryce thoutht the Tarpon was done
he rolled and got a breath of air and a fresh start

A weather change tonight but nothing major, plenty of fish are in town.

Captain Skip Nielsen