irish_bball3 asked:


Im looking for specific details like hook type and size and anything else you can think of…

WERPIRE BABY!!! asked:


Im going fishing this weekend what kind-a-bait should I use.

Ill be in Key West. Thanks-

During a recent vacation in the Florida Keys, I decided to hire a guide and go fishing for the day. We had gone snorkeling the day before in John Pennekamp State Park, the water was crystal clear from the lack of rain and I wanted to take pictures of Key West.

The clarity of the water enticed me to try fishing for tarpon before heading down to party on Duval Street in Key West. The boat captain picked me up at the dock of the waterfront lodge we were staying at around 7:30 in the morning in a 17′ Maverick, powered by a 90HP Yamaha.

When we arrived at our fishing destination our intention was to fish live crabs and sight cast to tarpon but it was a still early for the tarpon bite so we moved at little in shore for bonefish.

The Maverick I was fishing from had a forward casting platform and since there was only a slight chop on the water, I thought I’d give it a try. Now, most people wouldn’t be so worried about standing on a platform two feet off the deck of a boat that measured a mere 18″ x 18″ but for a middle aged guy carrying a few extra pounds, it was a bit of a challenge. After only a few minutes on the platform I felt confident and the extra height gave me a better view of the fish.

When we moved out to deeper water to chase the tarpon we encountered activity right away. The first tarpon I cast to was a single fish, the cast was ok but not perfect and the tarpon moved on. The next fish I spotted moved through the flats so fast I don’t even think he saw my bait, what can you do?

Shortly after that, a pod of 10-15 tarpon came swimming right at us. My first cast was a little short, as the fish moved around the boat, I reeled up and got ready to take another cast. The guide yelled “Pick out on fish and cast to it” but there were so many and my heart was pumping so fast that I ending up casting into the middle of the pod just to watch them swim around it.

Shortly after that an inconsiderate boater moved up on us and it was time to relocate so, just a short boat ride later and we had moved to a different flat.

The next flat looked just as promising as the first because we saw fish right away. Then my shot appeared, I cast the live crab to a fish about 50-75 feet ahead. The tarpon saw the bait and inhaled it. As the guide advised, I waited for the line to get tight and raised the rod tip. The fish jumped seven times in the shallow flat before making it to deeper water for the remainder of the fight which lasted about twenty minutes.

The guide estimated that the fish weighed around 45 pounds. Tarpon always look bigger in the water and I would have thought it was closer to 60 pounds, but he was the expert.

I’ve caught a few tarpon through the years and hooked many more, including a spring ocean fish that may have gone over 150 pounds while trolling live bait for kingfish, but this was my first in the crystal clear waters of Key Largo and one I’ll remember for years to come.



By: Kirby Collins

About the Author:

Fishing is a favorite pastime for many people. What makes it so interesting is the fact that there is always something new to be learned when out at sea. It also engages both the body and the mind thus making it a healthy undertaking. Finding good fishing ground online can be tricky but not when you have information about the Key West Fishing. Key West Fishing is one of the best fishing programs offered online. Run by Key West Captains who know everything there is about fishing, it is comprehensive, offering the best practices in organized fishing charters.

 

Key West offers different types of fisheries with different fish species. Shark fishing for instance is done on flats and channels where the waters are between 4 and 5 feet deep. Shark fishing is an exclusive type of sports and is done using flat boats and/or light tackle boats. Fly rods are used to catch these fish which can be as heavy as 400 lb. Shark fishing is most fruitful between February and July. Another top species is the bonefish. Although bonefish live in tropical waters – which makes it hard to find them – they usually move to shallow flats so as to feed. At Key West Fishing, they are a main highlight as they can be found here in plenty especially during early fall.

 

 Other types of fish that make it worth trying out Key West fishing are Permit, mostly found between March and July; Sailfish which can be found between January and March; Mangrove Grouper between April and August; Blue Marlin best caught during fall just like the Barracuda and the yellow tail snapper. Other types of fish found at Key West include the tuna (both black fin and yellow fin), tarpon, mutton snapper and the Wahoo among others.

 

The Atlantic Ocean offshore provides the best Key West fishing outdoors experience. Here, the widest range of fish can be caught. It is easy to make sure that you do not miss the fun in the sports by observing the waters consistently for signs that fish may be on their way up. You can do this by being on the look out for weed lines, color changes in the water, diving birds among other indicators.   

 

Fishing at Key West can also be done in groups whereby you can join any of the groups going on fishing trips in the various locations. One of these is the Sunset Shark and Tarpon Trip which is normally a nighttime outdoor activity. It is one of the most engaging sports given the number of fishing enthusiasts who attend and the hard task it is trying to catch such big animals. Other trips are the Gulf Shrimp Boat Trips which are an early morning outdoors activity and the Gulf of Mexico Towers Charters which takes fishing to the restricted Gulf Coast Towers waters. The famous Gulf of Mexico Wrecks are a sanctuary to many fish and therefore offer the widest range of fish found in any single place.



By: Frank Miller

About the Author:

Gareth asked:


im either going to go in the summer or in december
also if you have any charter captains you would recomend say them here
my target species are in order what i want to catch most – least

dorado(dolphin, mahi mahi)
tarpon
wahoo
sailfish
permit
big grouper
snapper
snook

Fishingidiot asked:


2 questions about the fly shop fishermen’s World, in Tarpon Springs.. (1500 Us Highway 19 Tarpon Springs, FL)

1. Does this place have a website..? And if they do what is it?

2. Is it a nice place in there? Are they well stocked on flies and other fly fishing equipment (Fly tying kits, leaders, ETC.) And I am getting a lesson with one of the guy’s on Saturday. Do they give good lessons..?

I am just curious….
Thanks for your answers!
Have a great holiday and a great new year!
-Fishingidiot-
@Stop_makin_cents thank for that tip. I will have to do that. Yeah I just wanted to get my fly casting better.
-fishingidiot-

Kent S asked:


Most of the fish will max out at 50LB. Expect barracuda, Kingfish, mackerel, odd tarpon, odd snook.

Ab asked:


i went fishing in the gulf of mexico today, and we fished by mangroves in tarpon springs….so anyways we caught like so many snappers, something tails i forgot LOL. We used shrimp as bait, but why cant we catch any red fish.

What bait do they like?

Edit: a guy like maybe 25 yards from us got a 26 inch red

What The Buc? asked:


What would be the best bait to use? There’s redfish, flounder, brown trout and tarpon that primarily live there.

Adam asked:


Anyone know any good reefs for speafishing and fishing on the gulf side of marathon? If so would you mind sharing some GPS numbers.