Mid June Fishing Report

6 foot juvenile Tiger Shark is beautiful

My favorite time of year. Loads of bait, hungry fish and lots of options. I have been taking my guests to the far backcountry of Everglades National Park the last 10 days. Baitfish such as pilchards and silverside ballyhoo have flooded the flats and are choice baits for Snook, Trout, Red-fish, and Tarpon. Lots of fat mangrove snapper have moved into the grass flats as well providing great action and good food. Snook have started their summer migration along the Cape Sable beaches. Medium and large Tarpon are in the backcountry channels. Not swarming but if you are patient you will get a couple on the right tides.

Fox Sport Fishing Trek rods and Diablo Spinning reels continue to do the job for me day in and day out. 

Here are some pictures as of late. A thunder storm chased us in giving me a  little time to post the report. Going back out for the outgoing tide when it clears up.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Bobby and his first ever Tarpon release.
He caught it using the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo

David Kubert caught this beauty using the
Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo

great snook fishing, 20 released on day 2 for Joe Kubert

Happy Father's Day to David Kubert  the father
and sons caught Tarpon and Snook and Sharks

Huge Redfish for Wendy Sims on the
Permit Trek travel rod and Diablo 550 spinning reel

interesting double header, Paul points his rod at a 100lb Tarpon
while Bobby gets a rare backcountry Tiger Shark release

Joe Kubert released this jumbo Snook he caught while
Tarpon fishing with the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo

John Kubert used Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo
on his 100lb Tarpon release

Lots of big Mangrove Snapper in the mix.
Bobby caught this one on the Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

Paul releases this Snook.
Fox Sport Fishing Permit Trek rod and Fox Diablo 550 spin reel
 were used to make the catch

Paul with his first ever Tarpon

Randy Soth did a great job of angling.
Fox Sport fishing Bonefish Trek rod on a 50lb plus Goliath Grouper

she's a real Beauty

Paul's 2nd Tarpon was over 100lbs and he caught it
using the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo

Snook bite was on for Stanley and Bobby

Stanley McJunkin gets a Tarpon release

Stanley McJunkin releasing Bobby's Tarpon

Tom got a big Redfish as well

Tom Sims caught his Snook on the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo

Using Permit Trek rods and Diablo 550 spin reels filled with 30lb braid
The rods were great. they allowed us to get the snook

Wendy Sims with a great Snook on the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo

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

Tarpon Season Shifts Into High Gear

Tarpon season is getting into high gear but we have been fishing for variety as well.

Stanley McJunkin and Jeff Turner fished 3 days and had very good fishing. Lots of Snook, Redfish and Tarpon to report. Jeff released a Tiger Shark and a couple Bull Sharks that gave the Tarpon Trek and Sailfish Trek rods a thorough workout. One of the Bulls' was around 300lbs. That is a great catch on a 4 piece spinning rod. The  Diablo 750 spinning reels loaded with 50lb Fox braid handled the job. Stanley caught a big Goliath and a Mud Marlin and a few big Sharks as well. On one day the pair released over 30 Snook using Bonefish Trek rods and Diablo 350 spinning reels.

Fox sport fishing's 8 foot 4 piece Sailfish Trek rod and
Diablo 750 spin reel is an ideal combo for big Saltwater fish

Tarpon putting on a show for Jeff Turner

Stanley using a Tarpon Trek rod and Diablo 750 reel 
on a jumping Spinner Shark

Stanley McJunkin wires Jeff Turner's first ever Tarpon

Lot of Bull for Jeff

Jeff Turner getting a release on one of his Tarpons

Goliath Grouper on a Tarpon Trek rod Diablo 750 spin reel
for Stanley

Mug Shot!

Stanley used a Fox Sport Fishing Boatrod XT fitted
with an EOS 50 Trolling reel to best this Mud Marlin

Jeff caught Snook, Tarpon and  Reds for Backcountry Slams
2 days in a row

Jeff Turner and Stanley got into the Redfish

Stanley released over 20 Snook on this day using
the Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

lots of Snook for Jeff Turner as well

I had Dr. Joanne Mahoney and Dr. Mark out on Friday. They released 25 Snook and then we caught a limit of tasty Mangrove Snapper. It was a slick calm day and the water was crystal clear. Jo released a feisty Red Grouper she sight-fished.

Mark holds a Snook for Dr. Mahoney on the
Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

Joanne Mahoney and Mark had a great day releasing over 25 Snook

Joanne spotted this Red Grouper on the bottom and lowered a
bait down and caught it on a Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

Mark's largest of the day caught on the Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

On Sunday I fished my wife Cyd. She released a Tarpon around 90lbs on her fly rod. We were poling amongst laid up Tarpon early in the morning. The tarpon were all around us and it was thrilling for Cyd to have one take her well presented fly.

Saturday evening Bryce Henderson fished with me. Right at sunset he hooked a huge Tarpon. This fight lasted well into the dark. I estimated this Tarpon at 175 plus. Easily the largest Tarpon beside my boat in the last couple of years. Congrats Bryce.

Bryce Henderson caught this Crevalle Jack while sunset Tarpon fishing

Bryce Henderson fought an est. 175lb Tarpon
well into the dark before getting  a release

He used Fox Sport Fishing Tarpon Trek boat rod and EOS Trolling reel to make the catch.

Captain Skip Nielsen