Report June 07
June has finally shaped up with weather that we would have enjoyed months ago. Great numbers of Tarpon have moved in and the fishing has been fantastic, anglers have enjoyed fifty or more shots per day at laid up fish and moving fish in big schools. Some schools having fifty or more fish in them actually turn the flat black and most fish can be spotted well over 100 yards.
Last week anglers landed two fish over the 100 lb mark and a handful of others that ranged from fifty to one hundred pounds. There are truly some monster Tarpon swimming around and the fishing we have all been waiting for is here now (two months late).
Snook and Redfish have been heavy to say the least, large numbers of fish have been in the Back Country and also cruising the beach. Beach fishing has been productive with small baitfish patterns in white and green. All in all the fishing in June has been excellent day and night. I’m getting prepared for a shark tournament so im going to leave you with these things to think about.
Some things to think about: Most of the Tarpon fishing in the Back Country consists of casting to stationary fish (laid up) but fishing the outside points requires other tactics. Moving or migrating fish that are swimming at various speeds requires the angler to judge how far the cast needs to lead the fish. The fastest of the swimmers seem almost like they have F16 jets attached to them and you have to cast twenty to thirty feet in front of them. This might seem like a long way, and it is, these fish very rarely take a swipe at it but it can be done with the correct presentation.
Fish that are swimming at a moderate rate of speed can be lead 10 to fifteen feet comfortably and these fish will normally bite pretty well. These fish are my favorite because they are swimming fast enough that they have to make a decision to eat quicker than a slow moving fish.
Slow moving fish can be caught with a cast that is between five and ten feet in front of the fish depending upon just how slow they are swimming. Often these fish are rolling and elevated making things even tougher on the mental side of the equation for the angler.
All of these different scenarios fast, medium and slow moving fish and the presentation that needs to be made takes time for the angler to adjust to and is very hard to practice at home. Experience on the water is best but keep these things in mind while out practicing in the yard (you have been practicing….right).
Report Mar-Apr-May 07
Fishing ReportMar-Apr-May 2007Tarpon season has been filled with some great and memorable moments. But the main story has been weather and I am starting to think that Montana has followed me down here for the spring. I appreciate all of the clients who have come this year and endured some very challenging windy, wet, cold weather. The weather this season has made Tarpon fishing marginal at best pushing them off shore and making them travel North faster. The wind has also made it very difficult for laid up fish because they don’t seem to want to lay up as high in the chop. Long time guide Capt. Bob Paulson of Sugarloaf Key Florida said that it is the worst weather he has seen in all of his years guiding in the Keys. When the wind blows under 20mph and the temperature gets above 80 degrees the fishing has been fabulous and anglers have landed some great fish.Night fishing with Jason Lozano a sales rep for Scott, Scientific Angler, Ross Reels and Patagonia yielded some huge fish. One Tarpon took the fly, leader, Fly line, backing and well left us standing there with a Nautilus reel and a Scott rod with real stupid looks on our faces. Reports are in that the fish was spotted off the coast of Cuba still swimming south, I hope he gets to where he’s going soon. Jason also landed some great Snook and a nice South Western Florida Redfish.Speaking of great fishing Mike Agee returned to fish with a client and friend Cory Funk from South Lake Tahoe Ca. We spent all day fishing beaches for Snook and then caught a great tide in the evening and smashed the Snook and Redfish. Total we estimated that we landed between 40 and 50 Snook and Redfish on fly that day, it was truly awesome, Great work guys!Also to see some truly amazing video of a Laid up Tarpon eating a fly go to my website www.marcoislandflyfishing.com and click on the link below the picture of the Tarpon jumping. WARNING!!! There is some offensive language in this video, so if you get offended easily don’t watch it or turn off the volume on your computer. The video was shot on one of the very few calm days that we had in April and the angler Mike Kane made a beautiful cast. The fish weighed more than one hundred pounds and was truly one of the best Tarpon eats I have seen to this day, it was just luck to capture it on film.I hope you enjoy the video and pictures and anyone that is willing to come on fairly short notice I have openings in the last two weeks of June.Most of you I will see in Montana some I won’t. If you fished with me this year that week will remain you’re week and if you need to change you’re week please let me know well ahead of time so that I can switch you with someone if they are willing. Hope all is well and look forward to hearing from you soon.