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Tarpon Fishing: Islamorada
Fishing Charters
Florida Keys with Live Bait
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Phenomenal Ten Tarpon Fishing Seasons:
Over "2,000" Tarpon Released
After 2006, the First Eight Tarpon Fishing Seasons
1,641 tarpon released in 567 full days of fishing
That's an average of "almost 3 tarpon released per full day" of fishing.
(All catches are verified by
the anglers signing the fishing log.)
(In 2006 we had totaled 1,641 tarpon released in 8
seasons. That is an average of 205 tarpon per season. Keeping and analyzing this
data is very time consuming. The past seasonal tarpon results, all currently
posted in prior years "fishing reports," document what the tarpon fishing is
like fishing with me. So I have decided to "stop" keeping detailed tarpon
fishing data and doing the season results.)
This is HOT FISHING ACTION: lots of strikes, and fish on and jumped off.
The typical year we average 6.2 tarpon on and 9.3 tarpon strikes per full day.
THESE ARE BIG TARPON: Check out the percentages
Tarpon over 80 pounds: 61 % of the catch.
Tarpon over 100 pounds: 40 % of the catch.
Tarpon over 120 pounds: 15 % of the catch.
Tarpon over 140 pounds: 6 % of the catch.
Tarpon over 50 pounds: 92.5 % of the catch.
MANY DAYS, WE CAUGHT A LOT OF TARPON (to name a few):
11 Tarpon released in 1 day
10 Tarpon released in a day: on 2 different days
9 Tarpon released in a day: on 8 different days
8 Tarpon released in a day: on 14 different days
7 Tarpon released in a day: on 21 different days
6 Tarpon released in a day: on 27 different days
An Incredible Day: hooking-up 19 tarpon out of 30 tarpon "striking the baits", and releasing 7 tarpon that day.
HOW AM I DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS?
I catch fresh, live bait daily (and 95% of the time, "before your trip"). I do not use tired, "store bought" bait like most of the other guides or fish carcasses. It is an action packed fishing trip with big tarpon "blasting" live baits "on the surface" within 50' of the boat (sometimes 10' away).
We are fishing from a comfortable 23' Sea Craft, open fisherman. It has a big canvas t-top (lots of shade) and ample seating (maximum: 6 anglers). It is stable boat with a dry, comfortable ride, and it can fish any tarpon spot on any wind (where the other skiffs cannot go when it is windy). Ask about the hook-up guaranty.
This lady angler's first tarpon (est. 80 pounds) up on the bow of my 23' SeaCraft I just finished rebuilding.
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A TOP DAY, but SECOND PLACE
10 tarpon released
Michael Cassidy, from "Field and Stream", and his friend Tim Cliggott, hunting guide from Texas "smoked 'em" that day.
We even had to leave early (2:15pm) so they could catch a plane.
They had four tarpon weighing between 80 lbs. to 100 lbs., four at 60 to 70 lbs., and two at 40 to 50 lbs.
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13 tarpon in two days and only one was under 100 lbs.;
That is what "Bill Bud" Reynolds and Julie Santilli caught on their 2 day trip. "Bill Bud" is shadowed by this + 120 lbs. tarpon. Julie stands next to her + 90 lbs. tarpon
Julie fights another one of her 4 tarpon she caught the first day.
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5 tarpon, for 8 on, and 8 strikes, that is what Rosetta Servideo and Brian Hassel released one day.
Big Brian Hassel stands in front of his 145 lbs. tarpon. It’s deceiving. Compare it to me while I lift only half of it.Rose released this 130 lbs. tarpon.
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HOT ACTION
8 tarpon caught, for 17 on, for 24 strikes; done in one full day combined with a sunset trip. Ryan Eidelstein (14 ½ years old) had a heroic battle with a 140 lbs. tarpon on #20 spin which lasted 1 ½ hours mostly because there was a good fray in the line near the double line. We wanted that picture and fish measurements. Even after the long fight, the fish revived quickly and swam off. Matt and Ryan Eidelstein along with their father Gary released these tarpon. Gary insisted the boys catch all but one of the tarpon, which his weighed +85 lbs. |
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Five tarpon in one day, all between 140 lbs. and 100 lbs. Bob Shubert releases a +100 lbs. tarpon he caught on #20 test Spin. |
My former best friend, now my favorite brother-in-law, Rick, shows his110 lbs. tarpon. We caught 4 tarpon for 9 on for 11 striking tarpon. |
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Mitch Lackey fights a big tarpon close to the boat.
Mitch had a great afternoon trip, catching 4 out of 6 tarpon on (100lbs., 80lbs., 60 lbs., and 60lbs.).
But the next day he was hurting, after a night at the TIKI BAR. He caught 2 out of 9 tarpon on, and was pissed!
Don't celebrate untill the "fat lady sings" !!!
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| My little nephews get a close look at my sister's big tarpon before I release it. |
My sister, Beth, catches a nice tarpon. My little nephews partake in the thrill of the battle. I life long impression, check out the "art by kids gallery". |
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GREAT HALF DAY Mom, Dad, and I catch 5 tarpon, for 6 on, for 8 strikes on my birthday.
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Dad whips a nice one quickly. He can still wield that #30 test effortlessly, even though all he does now is fly fish for bones. After catching hundreds of billfish, you never lose it. |
| Mom puts the wood to that tarpon. A great angler, she has caught around 60 sailfish, numerous bonefish, countless dolphin, along with many other fish over the years. |  |
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| 4 tarpon caught,
for 8 on, and 16 strikes,
that is what Rick Colberson and his son, Matt, did one day.
Young Matt is thrilled by his +100 lbs. tarpon.
Rick caught one at around 140 lbs., but we could not get a photo of it. |
5 tarpon, for 8 on, and 8
strikes,
that is what Brian Hassel and Rosetta Servideo released one day.
Another big tarpon for Brian that day.
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Dr. David Wingfield stands next to his big +160-lbs. (est.) tarpon on #30-lbs. test. This fish made some "bad to the bone" jumps and a tough fight through rough water. This fish measured out to be 153-lbs. on the "fish weight formula", but I think it was heavier because of its girth back to the anal fin. I have caught 112 blue marlin for clients, and I have been good at judging weights of big fish back at the dock in the past. |
Jeff Wingfield standing with his tarpon of 110-lbs. (est.), which he caught the same night his brother caught the giant tarpon. |
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Joe Culler really likes feeding the tarpon before he finally wants to catch one. It took some "strong encouragement" from Jim Obinour and I to get Joe to hook this 120 lbs. tarpon. Joe may have thought he had a rubber hook for awhile. |
Michael Cassidy catches 80 pounder during a quick trip out before we get chased back to the dock by heavey rain squalls. |
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| Tony Carter catches a near monster tarpon. This fish I estimated at about 140 lbs. | Drew Wertheimer stands next to his Dad's, Jay's, +130 lbs. tarpon. |
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A "spring breaker" out for a "Bigger Time" |
Lou Barone with a big tarpon. |
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Keith Hetrick catches a nice tarpon on #15 test during October.
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Joe Szewczyk with his 90-lbs. tarpon (est.) which made a great 40 min. fight through the lobster traps and bridge pilings. |
Releasing another nice tarpon. |
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Releasing a big tarpon at night.
Fighting another great tarpon at sunset.
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