Captain Skip's Fox Sport Fishing Blog: April 2015

The weather cooperated and Tarpon fishing continued to be spectacular.

Folks ask me when is the best time for Tarpon fishing. I say March and April, but it all depends on the weather. This last 2 weeks of March it all came together. Lots of slick calm days which is a rarity in the springtime.

Tarpon migrated in from the gulf of Mexico and swarmed into the area. The bridge channels, the banks, the lakes and many channels through-out the back country. Water temps were up lto 78 degrees 2 days ago.

Now we have a little setback, a late season cold front dropped the water temp into the mid 60's in the last 2 days. But the Tarpon are here and this will be a minor slowdown in the action.

Here is a run down of what we have been catching on our www.foxsportfishing.com tackle.

March 21 and 22 I had brothers Jim and Paul Magidson. They released 8 Tarpon in the 2 days including 2 double headers. Jim also released 2 Hammerhead sharks. Plenty of action with Mangrove snappers as well after the tides became unfavorable for tarpon fishing.

Jim and Paul Magidson fight a double of Tarpon

another jumper for Paul

Jim Magidson enjoyed this Tarpon

Jim Magidson released 2 Hammerhead sharks. btw..
I do not recommend putting this much bend in you fishing rod please

Jim Magidson's Tarpon

Mugshot

nice leaper for Paul

March 23, 24 I had Ray Rogers and his son Jeff and grandson Harry. Harry is only 14 years old but managed 2 estimated 140lb Tarpon. Jeff release 2 Tarpon as well. They also had some very good light tackle action using Rage spinning rods fitted with Fox Diablo 350 spin reels. Grouper, snapper, ladyfish, spanish mackerel, and seatrout were in the mix.

3 generations of Rogers. Ray,Jeff and Harry

Harry's first Tarpon putting on a show.
The 8' sailfish trek 4 piece rod does an incredible job

Harry Rogers first Tarpon

Jeff keeps on eye on son Harry. His 2nd big Tarpon in 2 days

March 25 we did an afternoon/sunset trip with our good friends Dick and Marilyn Alt. She caught her very first Tarpon and was delighted to say the least.

Dick Alt was thrilled to watch Marylin catch her first ever Tarpon

March 26 I had Pete Rose and friend Barry, the duo had an action packed day of fishing the backcountry releasing 4 Tarpon and jumping off 6 more. Many sharks as well.

Pete Rose and good friend Barry released 4 Tarpon and
jumped another 5 off using the Fox Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combos

March 27 it was windy prefrontal conditions. Jim Riscky and Kenny Russell had incredible action.
On the way out to the backcountry I saw a large school of mullet getting blasted by Tarpon. 1 toss of the castnet and we had 30 livies and 40 more for dead bait. It was a sign to stay close to home even though the backcountry had been very good. With an outgoing tide the friends released 7 Tarpon and had LOTS of fish blowing up on the live mullet. By sunset it was blowing from the northwest at 25mph.

Kenny Russell and Jim Riscky used Sailfish Trek Rods and
Diablo 750 spinning reels to release 7 Tarpon this day

Next morning with the same crew and cold winds we ducked behind some keys and caught mangrove snapper for dinner and Jim released a large Redfish. This was quite a catch. Jim was using the Rage spinning rod fitted with a Diablo 350 spin reel and 10lb braid. Putting the rod tip under water he was able to work the large fish out from under the mangrove roots. On the way back we soaked some dead mullet on the bottom and Jim(his birthday today) hooked a 100lb Tarpon and released it after a 30 minute battle..

I went back out yesterday afternoon with Bryce Henderson from Great Britain. Even though it was cool Bryce hooked and released a Tarpon estimated at 130lbs. Bryce will be fishing the next 4 afternoons and the forecast is to warm up. I'm sure the Poons will be back on the feed.
Yesterday afternoon Bryce and I went back out. We found a nice school of mullet which we castnetted. Then we tried 6 different spots right up until sunset. We had 1 sharkbite and never raised a Tarpon to our live mullet. Water temp had dropped to 70 degrees overnight. So today we are giving it a rest. Tomorrow afternoon Bryce will give them another go.

We have caught all the Tarpon this March using Fox Sport Fishing 8 foot long , 4 piece travel,trek rods. These long rods are wonderful for Tarpon fishing as they give the angler a long reach over the poling platform and motor and also for those quick runs around the bow of the boat.. These long rods have saved countless tarpon for my guests.

And for the spinning reels I use. Diablo 750's. The toughest most dependable reels I have ever used. For casting lures to Tarpon or crabs I like the Permit Trek rod fitted with the Diablo 550.

captain skip nielsen