Tarpon Fishing Report

Overall, we had a great tarpon season; it was a breezy spring, but we had some fish around. May was my best month this year, the fishing and weather were most consistent.  There were a good amount of fish around in April this year too, but the weather was more challenging. Most of the tarpon seemed to have moved on at this point, but we still have some fish around and we should still see some big fish throughout the summer. We also have a lot juvenile tarpon around this time of year and we find them close to the mangroves or in the bait schools.   

Tourism has slowed down on the island, but the flats fishing is still great all summer. If you handle the heat, this is a great time to visit he Keys because the island is quieter and the lodging/travel rates are usually better.  Coming up we’ll be doing a lot of bonefish and permit fishing and then onto some birding trips later in the summer and into the fall.

September Fishing Report

All things considered, September was a great month for fishing in the Lower Keys.  We ended the month with a close call from Hurricane Helene, but we got lucky and it just missed us.  The weather was still bad enough to keep us off the water for a few days, but we were back out catching fish shortly after it passed.  The bonefish and tarpon fishing continue to be great and the permit fishing continues to be slow.  Most of the tarpon are smaller, like 10-30lbs, but we still have a few big fish around.  The flats fishing should be good for another month or so, until the cold fronts start and then it will get harder and less consistent.  It has started to feel like fall the last few weeks, as a lot of different baitfish schools began showing up in the backcountry and the water is also starting to cool off after these last two storms brushed past us. Also, the birds of prey began their migration south and we spotted a few Kestrels, Cooper’s Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks and a few others.

---