Got out for an extended half day with Peter today. We weren’t going to focus on tarpon for long but did give it a good shot for the first hour of the day, which is when we had most of our action yesterday. We went to the same spot but unfortunately didn’t have a tarpon bite, though we did catch several sharks. Pretty much a perfect example of how the fishing has been the last month – catch ’em good one day, and then they are gone the next! Anyways after the hour had passed, the tide quit and we went and did some other stuff which wasn’t all that easy either but we did catch a few snappers for dinner and a couple trout and ladyfish. Full day focused on tarpon tomorrow, hopefully they will cooperate. 0 for 0
June 2017
6/21/17 June Islamorada Tarpon Fishing Report
Got out for a full day with Paul and his father today. Winds were out of the south still a little windy, but not quite as crazy as yesterday. We tried to fish close early where I had been having luck the last several trips, however another boat had moved in on my spot and beat me out there. Wasn’t the start to my day that I wanted! Anyways we were going to move to another area in that spot but there was even a 2nd boat there now too, so I got frustrated and just left. We ran out into the backcountry and ended up getting lucky and finding a good school of tarpon in one of the channels. We caught one on the last of the falling tide, then as soon as it started in we had 3 more bites and landed 2 more. It was a great flurry of action and to be honest with it blowing 15-20 out of the south, I wasn’t expecting it to be so good but was really just hoping we’d get a bite or two throughout the day. Anyways after 9:30 it was over, we also had caught some sharks including a big nurse shark and bull shark, as well as blacktips and bonnetheads. W spent some time reupping on mullet as I went through all the bait I had, and we then fished another channel to finish it up. Made a couple moves in there but no more tarpon action, though we did catch plenty of blacktips. After that called it a day. Have a half day tomorrow but may just do some rod bending not sure yet. Looks like the winds will be steadily getting nicer as we get into the weekend, hopefully it’ll get 10 mph and under and the backcountry fishing will fire up more! 3 for 4
6/20/17 Islamorada Tarpon Fishing in June Half Day
Got out with Christian and his dad Jim today over from Louisiana. We had a full day scheduled but it was blowing 25 knots out of the south… very snotty so I said a half day would be best just sticking close by. Most boats ended up cancelling today, so they agreed and want to get out so we went for it. Ended up hooking a big 110 lb or so tarpon within the first 15 minutes! Christian battled him well and caught him quickly within 20 minutes or so. Got some good pictures and released her to fight another day. After the the sharks moved in a little… some little blacktips, bonnetheads, and did get a nice 50 lb bull shark. We moved a few times and didn’t have any more tarpon action. I was limited on bait but we caught a dozen more mullet which was good. We tried a couple more spots, the last one we saw a few tarpon roll and the tide had started to fall so I thought we might get another shot. But unfortunately no we gave it a good 30 minutes and stayed a little longer since I knew they wanted to be out for the day, but it didn’t happen again for us. Anyways the wind was still cranking and rain storms were moving through so time to go. Glad to get one on a day like today! Back at it tomorrow, the winds are suppose to die down to 10-15 through the weekend which will be much nicer. Hopefully the tarpon get happier too! 1 for 1
