Snook, Redfish, Tarpon and Trout

July is here and the snook, redfish and monster trout are biting.  We have been catching some very nice fish on artificials.  The redfish are averaging 3 to 8 pounds.  The snook are averaging about 3 to 10 pounds and the trout are huge - 18 to 24 inchers!  We are catching a mixed bag of reds, snook and big trout up on the flats - throwing artificial lures.  Some really great summer action.

 

The big migratory tarpon are still here and we caught 2 nice fish in the 100-110 pound range a couple evenings ago.  These large migratory tarpon are nearing the end of their season here.  They will disperse throughout the Florida region over the next couple months and in the fall they will school up for their migratory run to the Caribbean and warmer waters for the winter.  We still catch the smaller baby tarpon (5 to 35 pounders) all year.  The large migratory fish will return in the spring.  

 

The Keys backcountry fishing in the summer and fall offers many species.  The most abundant fish in the area are - redfish, snook, trout, snapper, tripletail and sharks to name a few.  For those who want to target what we call the "Glamour Species" - Tarpon, bonefish and permit are good this time of year as well.  The bonefish and permit will be targeted in the daylight hours.  Sight fishing is generally the most productive way to pursue a catch - and one or two fish caught in a day is good.  The bonefish here are some of the largest found in the world (8 to 11 pounds is the average size).  The permit range from 10-30 pounds on average size.   The tarpon are the easiest of these three to catch - especially if you fish in the evening.  It is not uncommon to get multiple tarpon in the evening.  If you are looking for a trophy - go for the "Glam Species"  If you want to catch lots of fish - I suggest trout, snapper, reds and snook. 

 

Great fishing - hope to see you on the water!

 

   

Thanks,
Captain Steve Murray
Phone:  305 - 393 - 1641
Email:  stevemurray126@att.net
Website:  www.tarponheadquarters.com

June Fishing in Islamorada

The tarpon bite is still going strong.  There have been lots of huge tarpon rolling all around the boat the last few evenings and when the dinner bell goes off - hang on.  I had a young lady on the boat who landed her first tarpon and it was a whopping 140 pounder.  Not bad for a first timer. 

 

The trout and snapper have been great action and also great tablefair.  We've been catching some nice snook and redfish in the back.  Artificial baits are producing well for those who are good casters and the live bait has been producing around the deep holes. 

 

For those who want to catch JAWS.  The shark action is hot and heavy.  Bulls and Lemon Sharks up to 300 pounds and lots of them.  Hang on! and don't dangle your feet in the water!

 

Headed out again today on a 3pm-10pm trip.  Looks a little windy today - but we will make it work!  Tight lines.

 

  

Thanks,
Captain Steve Murray
Phone:  305 - 393 - 1641
Email:  stevemurray126@att.net
Website:  www.tarponheadquarters.com

June Fishin in Islamorada

Ok, here we go - summer weather is here.  It's warm and the fish are feeding.  The evening tarpon bite was great on Thursday - we caught two nice 110-120 pound fish and lost one other.  One thing about that evening tarpon fishing - you don't get cooked by the sun, it's a beautiful sunset trip - and we catch tarpon almost every evening! 

 

Friday we caught some nice mangrove snapper to start - then we located a nice school of trout and hammered them for an hour or so.  Got some good fish for the dinner.  Then we hit the flats for some redfish and snook action.  We boated four nice snook and one 10 pound redfish all on artificial.  From there we hit some deeper holes with live bait for 3 more redfish, 4 nice sheepshead and a load of mangrove snapper.  Summer weather is here and the fishin is goooood!!!

 

Tomorrow we fish 3pm-10pm.  Afternoon fishing for trout, reds, snook and snapper - then transition into the evening tarpon - life doesn't get any better than this!!

 

Keep those lines tight!  See ya soon.

 

 

Thanks,
Captain Steve Murray
Phone:  305 - 393 - 1641
Email:  stevemurray126@att.net
Website:  www.tarponheadquarters.com

Fishing May/June in Islamorada

I haven't kept up with this blog lately because I've been fishing pretty much every day.  So, here is a recap of what has been going on - and what is yet to come.

 

The later part of May we had some good evening tarpon fishing.  Some of the evening trips that took place around the full moon were a little slow.  The fish are still averaging 100-150 pounds of pure fury.  Lighting fast runs, screaming drags, fantastic jumps with the tarpon crashing into the water like a small car dropping from the sky and the look of amazement on everyone viewing the site.  This is something every angler should experience at least once in their lives.  We will have plenty of great tarpon action through June and into early July.

 

The backcountry continues to get better as summer arrives.  The trout bite is still great with all the rod bending you want.  Mangrove snapper is pretty much the same - all you want to catch and some nice 2-3 pounders showing up.  The redfish have been excellent.  Several trips I had in the later part of May where we targeted reds - we were catching 10 to 12 nice redfish a day up to 10 pounds.  We were having a problem with some huge 200-300 pound sharks eating the redfish before we could get them to the boat.  When the sharks show up like that - we either set up the shark rod and battle those big bruisers or we pack up and move to another spot.  No sense in feeding those sharks all our nice redfish!  On some of the really light wind days we have been getting some nice tripletail out in the Gulf area and a few cobia as well.  

 

There is plenty of great fishing action here in June and July.  Come on down and enjoy the fun!

 

 

Thanks,
Captain Steve Murray
Phone:  305 - 393 - 1641
Email:  stevemurray126@att.net
Website:  www.tarponheadquarters.com

Tarpon Time in Islamorada

The Tarpon are here and in full force.  More fish then ever.  We are catching multiple tarpon almost every evening.  These fish are averaging 80-150 pounds.  Last Friday evening was the slowest bite - we still hooked and lost one huge tarpon before the wind kicked up to 30mph and totally shut the bite down.  Saturday evening we landed two big fish - a 90 pounder and a 100 pounder and lost two others.  Sunday evening was "game on" with 3 landed - 110, 120 and a 150 pound monster.  We lost one other.  The trout bite was on early in the day - we caught all the trout we could handle.  The guys kept enough for a nice dinner - then we were off for the tarpon action. 

 

The last few days we have targeted the backcountry for trout, reds, snook, snapper and big sharks,  The trout bite is constant action.  Lots of trout, jacks and ladyfish in the mix.  The mangrove snapper are loaded up in all the deep holes and we are catching some nice reds and the snook are starting to show up in some of the shallow water spots for the first time this year.  Plenty of big sharks in the backcountry too.  Lemons and Bulls mainly - up to 250 pounds.

 

The next 10 days are booked with afternoon/evening trips and should prove to be some great fishing.  These monster tarpon will be here through early July and June is a perfect month to catch your fish of a lifetime!

 

Tight Lines!

 

 

Thanks,
Captain Steve Murray
Phone:  305 - 393 - 1641
Email:  stevemurray126@att.net
Website:  www.tarponheadquarters.com

May Fishing in the Keys

The tarpon bite is better than I've ever seen.  Multiple catches almost every evening.  The fish are ranging from 80 to 150 pounds.  Lots of sore arms and happy anglers.  It's normal to have multiple hook ups - but we are hooking more fish than ever.  Some really great tarpon fishing to be had this year and it will last through mid July.  If you want to catch the fish of a lifetime - now is the time to come.  I have a couple days left open in May and June hasn't filled up yet.

 

The backcountry is producing some great catches as well.  The bonefish were all over the flats yesterday.  More fish than I've seen in years.  We had several shots on schools of 25-30 fish.  We hooked 5 and landed 2 beauties - a 6 pounder and a 9 pounder.  The trout and snapper bite has been fabulous with as many as you want to catch - they are great table fair as well.  We caught a few snook the other day and the reds are biting too.  If big sharks are your thing - they are here and eating - over the last few weeks we have landed several sharks (Bulls and Lemons) ranging from 80 to 250 pounds!

 

It's "Game On" for fishing this spring.  I'm sure the fishing will be great this summer too - if you want to beat the heat - now's the time.

 

Thanks,
Captain Steve Murray
Phone:  305 - 393 - 1641
Email:  stevemurray126@att.net
Website:  www.tarponheadquarters.com

May Fishing in Islamorada

The tarpon are here and so is the warm May weather.  With warm May weather comes some hot May fishing.  The last week produced some excellent fishing.  The tarpon were on fire in the evenings.  Fish averaging 70-140 pounds.  Fisherman with some sore arms.  I had an angler early last week who was wore out after landing two - 100 pound plus tarpon.  With time left on our trip - he weakly breathed out the words " I'm done, lets go in".  He beat two beautiful tarpon - but the tarpon left war wounds on the angler.  His arm would be sore for a day or two - and the memories of those huge silver fish leaping and screaming out the drag ingrained in his mind forever.  Every evening has produced trophy tarpon and they will be here until mid July.  Now is the time to catch your trophy.  Fish will average 100-150 pounds.  Be ready for intense battle!

 

The trout and snapper bite has been off the hook during the day.  We are catching a few nice reds and good numbers of large 100-200 pound sharks.  The bonefish have been good - we boated a nice 9 pounder  last week.  Sight fishing takes some experience and very good casting.  If you want to catch a trophy bonefish - this is the time.  But be prepared to make perfect casts and be patient.  Bones here average 8-11 pounds.  

 

 

Thanks,
Captain Steve Murray
Phone:  305 - 393 - 1641
Email:  stevemurray126@att.net
Website:  www.tarponheadquarters.com