Tarpon Are In The Mix

Tarpon are in the mix. Even though a couple vigorous cold fronts have pushed through the Keys fishing remains in the Spring phase.

Martin Chambers, a keen fly fisherman visiting from Colorado, fished with me this past Monday. We spent the morning poling edges of banks near Man-O -War key in the backcountry of Everglades National Park. We spotted numerous Sharks and a few Tarpon. No luck feeding any the fly though. At mid-morning we had solid cloud cover and opted to do a little blind casting along the edge of a channel. Martin was casting with a Fox Sport Fishing 12 weight fly rod. He came tight to a fish after 20 minutes of casting and the battle was on. Two quick jumps in the beginning so we knew for sure it was a huge Tarpon. After an hour fight with wild changes of direction and greyhound rolling and some great jumps Martin had his fish of a lifetime alongside my boat. congrats Martin.

Martin Chambers doing battle with the
12 weight Fox sport fishing Fly rod

end game

catch of a lifetime for Martin Chambers
using a Fox Sport Fishing Fly rod

back at the dock Martin with his
  Fox Sport Fishing Fly rod and a replica Tarpon
that is much smaller than the one he released

During my next few trips this week we did not do any more fishing for Tarpon but had some pretty great light tackle catches.

Jim Magidson was using an ultralight Fox Rage rod fitted with a Diablo 350 spin reel when he did a great job of landing and releasing a large Red Grouper. Lance Schillizi used a Permit Trek 4 piece rod with a Diablo 550 spin reel with 20lb Horizon braid to catch and release a 150lb Sawfish. He was targeting a big Snook and fishing with a live pilchard for bait when the prehistoric fish took. These mud marlin are getting more and more numerous thanks to the outlawing of inshore gill netting in Florida state waters. We have one of the best inshore fisheries  in the world if not the best thanks to the voters of Florida.

A little while later Lance , using the same outfit, caught and released a 30 lb Goliath Grouper.  And then a nice Cobia. What a day for Lance.

Lance Schillizi and  George Witts released
Goliath groupers and Sawfish while pursuing Snook

a quick release boatside

a big Red Grouper for Jim Magidson on a
Fox sport fishing Diablo 350 spinning reel

Friday David Curtis and friend Nate joined me. It was a mixed bag kind of day. Using Fox Sport Fishing Bonefish Trek rods and the invincible Diablo 350 spinning reels we caught Snook , Seatrout, Barracudas, Lemon Sharks and Crevalle Jacks for lots of action.

Nate's first Snook

Nate's first fishing trip to Islamorada
was a great experience

Nate with a Lemon Shark in the crystal clear
backcountry waters using a Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo

Dave Curtis with a really nice Snook on the
Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

a fat Seatrout for Dave Curtis using the
BonefishTrek Diablo 350 combo

catching Barracuda on the flats was great
action for my anglers Dave and Nate

Some really great news here in Islamorada is that Rick Berry of Key Largo Rod Shop is now a dealer of Fox Sport Fishing Diablo spinning reels and has all three models in stock at his store at mile marker 82.5.
Go try one out for yourself. He is offering some great prices.I will be glad to show you the reels that I have been using for 4 years now. I have never had a gear or a handle break. And there is no anti-reverse springs to replace like in so many spinning reels. Stop on by Bud 'n' Marys marina in Islamorada and ask for me. I'll be glad to show you all my Fox Sport Fishing tackle and how I have it rigged.

Captain Skip Nielsen