Tarpon Fishing Using Diablo 750 Spinning Reels.

My guests have landed a fair number of Tarpon in the last week even though we have had fluctuating water temps due to late season cold fronts. Jim Riske and Kenny Russel had a big day last Wednesday releasing 5 Tarpon. Jim was so impressed with how tough the Diablo reels are that he bought 2 to take back home.

Kenny Russel's Tarpon rolling

Kenny Russell and Jim Riske had a big day releasing 5 Tarpon

Jim Riske's Tarpon battle stopped traffic

Jim Riske hooked his 150lb + Tarpon within sight of
world famous Bud n Marys Marina

Jim Riske gets a Tarpon release using the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo

Jim Riske doing battle with a Tarpon

Jim Riske bought 2 Diablo 750 spinning reels to take back to Texas

Jim Riske battles a Tarpon well over 150lbs while Kenny Russell pilots

at the boat for Kenny

fast action

On Friday Paul Magidson caught a good Tarpon while his 16 year old son Charles released a big Bull Shark. Again we used the Diablo 750 spin reels. Saturday we had Paul's good friend Rob and his son Cole. What fun they had catching and releasing Sharks.

young Cole really enjoyed catching this
Blacknose Shark

Tarpon were not biting but the Spinner Shark action
was great for Rob and Cole

16 year old Charlie Magidson caught this Shovelnose
after a big battle with a huge Bullshark.
He used the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750

Charles Magidson battles a huge Bull Shark
using the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo

double header of Spinner Sharks

Paul Magidson catching a nice Tarpon

Sonny Rinehart and Jon Svoboda fished the last 3 mornings and caught Tarpon on every trip. Sonny and Jon both have used baitcasters in the past. Using the Diablo 750 spin reels and 8 foot Sailfish Trek 4 piece travel rods the guys were very impressed. The 8 foot rods allowed ease to move around the motor and bow of the boat when the Tarpon made sudden moves. Sonny spent a long hour battling a 150+lb Tarpon as did Jim Riske . The Diablo reels never miss a beat. I have been using these super tough reels for 4 seasons now and have Never had a handle break or a gear stripped. Pretty incredible with what I put the reels through day in and day out.

Sonny with 1 of 3 Tarpon he released

Sonny was amazed at how much pressure he could put
on a big Tarpon using the Sailfish Trek rod and Diablo 750 spin reel

Sonny Rinehart using the Sailfish Trek 4 piece travel rod 
on this jumping Tarpon

Sonny releases Jon's Tarpon

Sonny battles a huge Tarpon for over an hour

Jon Svoboda spent his birthday catching Tarpon

Jon and Sonny ate Cobia for 2 days

So all in all pretty good fishing but looking to see a major push of Tarpon in the next couple weeks.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Decent week of Tarpon fishing

Tarpon fishing picked up for me this past week. Last Wednesday the water temps were still low following last weeks cold front. Kelly McCormick and Paul Riddle had some fun fishing in the Backcountry. Redfish, Snook and Trout gave the friends plenty of light tackle action. Thursday we gave the Tarpon a big effort. We finally had action in the afternoon fishing live mullet but after a few takes and some cheap shots never did keep one attached.

Kelly with a nice Snook

Crevalle Jacks swarmed us while
Tarpon fishing at the bridges

Kelly McCormick with a nice Redfish,
Fox Sport Fishing Bonefish Trek rod and Daiblo 350 spin reel

Friday morning Debbie and Rich Riolo joined me. Tarpon fishing was happening this morning. The pair released 3 big Tarpon using Fox Sport Fishing Tarpon Trek rods fitted with Diablo 750 spinning reels. As the tide softened and the bite slowed we took advantage of the calm winds and headed out to a wreck in the Gulf of Mexico. There Rich released  a large Bullshark over 200lbs and Debbie released a fat Goliath Grouper. On the way back we made a stop for Mangrove Snapper using the light tackle Bonefish trek rods and Diablo 350 spinning reels.

Rich with another jumping Tarpon

Rich Riolo battling a Tarpon using
Fox sport fishing Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo

jumper for Rich

Debbie Riolo having a great time

Debbie Riolo using the 8 foot Sailfish Trek 4 piece travel rod 
and Diablo 750 spinning reel

Goliath Grouper action

Rich with another jumping Tarpon

Tarpon release for Debbie Riolo

Saturday Scott Barco and his friend Jeff joined me. Tarpon fishing was on fire once again. Jeff caught his first and second ever Tarpon and Scott got one as well. These Tarpon were all well over 100lbs. Great fishing.

Scott Barco doing battle with the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo
with Jeff driving

Jeff used the 4 piece 7' Tarpon Trek rod on
this high jumping Tarpon

Black Grouper was a surprise for Jeff while snapper fishing

Jeff had 2 Tarpon releases

Yesterday Rich and Debbie Riolo fished again. Wind was up SSE gusting over 20. We made the run to the backcountry and fished hard. Debbie and Rich each released a Tarpon. 2 for 2. And plenty of Sharks. With the wind blowing I was very happy with the day.

Tonight another cold front is rolling through. Tomorrow winds are forecast 20mph north. That's fishing.

Captain Skip Nielsen

When the winds blow you find a lee in which to fish...

Back to back cold fronts have slowed the Tarpon fishing the last few days. I have heard of a few being caught including a nice 30lber on a Bonefish Trek rod and Diablo spinning reel by Dick Alt. That was last Wednesday. He also released Redfish and caught a limit of fat fine eating Mangrove Snapper. That was on a day with the winds whipping up to 25 mph out of the north west. He asked me about leaving the dock that morning. Is it possible to catch anything at all? I replied "there is always a lee somewhere here in the keys". We had a fun filled morning fishing the island motes of the backcountry and were able to run in the lee of the banks.

Thursday and Friday I had Will and Craig Balsam as my fishing guests. The winds were still howling but we had plenty of light tackle action in the backcountry. Using Fox Sport Fishing Bonefish, and Tarpon Trek rods and Diablo 350 and 750 spinning reels the father son team caught a little of everything. Redfish, Barracuda, Lemon Sharks, Seatrout, Ladyfish and Jack Crevalles made for a couple action packed outings.

On Friday morning the Magidson family joined me. Paul and 15 year old son,Charles and Jim and his son Jack (7). The day began with calm seas finally. We headed to one of the Bomb Craters out in the Gulf of Mexico where I had seen a big school of Snapper not long ago. This was a great place to take young Jack. He learned to use the Bonefish Trek rod and Diablo 350 spinning reel in no time. I was very impressed how quickly he picked it up. Casting and hooking Snapper after Snapper. We even let a few Gag Grouper go at that spot as well.

Now 15 year old Charles wanted a big Shark. It was still pretty calm with light winds out of the south so we headed out further to a wreck located near Cape Sable.

This was great fishing. Charles got his big shark, about a 200lb Bull which he caught using a Tarpon Trek spin rod fitted with a Diablo 750 spinning reel. After re-anchoring and setting up again Charles landed two 100lb Goliath Groupers. Jim and Paul caught a mixed bag of Pompano, Lookdowns and Seatrout and tons of Crevalle Jack. Now the wind was up so we headed back to the calm of the island motes where we ended the day catching some more snapper for young Jack. Jim saw a big shark cruise by. I set the Boatrod XT and EOS Trolling reel out baited with a ladyfish. It wasn't long before our big fish man Charles was doing battle once more to end the day with a big Lemon Shark.

During the night a line of storms rolled thru and by morning it was blowing 25 out of the north and pretty chilly. 65 F is cold to me..

But again we fished the lee-side of islands in the backcountry catching small sharks, seatrout, snapper and jacks. by noon the wind was down to about 15 and the sun was out and we fished the close in patch reefs. Using the Bonefish Trek rods and Rage Ultralight rods we had fun catching grouper, yellowtails and porgys. To finish we found a hot bite of Crevalle Jack and Big Ladyfish and Spinner sharks. An action packed 2 days for the Magidson family.

Took today (Saturday) off. Started out chilly in the low 60's. The rest of the week is supposed to warm up. I can't wait to get back on the Tarpon.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Dick Alt hooked and landed this 30lb Tarpon using a
Bonefish Trek rod and a Diablo 350 spinning reel

7 year old Jack Magidson with his
first shovelnose Shark

15 year old Charles whipped a  200lb Bullshark using a
Fox Sport Fishing Tarpon Trek rod and Diablo 750 spinning reel

after the Tarpon Dick caught and released
this Redfish using the same gear

Charles ended the day with a nice big Lemon Shark,
He used the Fox sport fishing Boatrod XT and
EOS 30 reel to make the catch

Jack helps his dad,Jim, hold up his Spanish Mackerel

Craig Balsam loved using Fox Rage
ultralight spin rod to catch this Redfish

Charles Magidson released 2 big Goliath Grouper

Jack shows off his Mangrove Snapper

looks like dinner to me

Paul Magidson with a Lookdown

Will Balsam caught this Redfish on a
Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

young Jack did it all by himself to catch his Black Grouper

Will Balsam used the Sailfish Trek rod fitted with a
Diablo 750 to release this Lemon Shark