Florida Keys Tarpon Fishing Report
http://www.riverandreef.com/articlelive/articles/40/1/Florida-Keys-Tarpon-Fishing-Report/Page1.html
Capt. Jake Jordan
By Capt. Jake Jordan
Published on 05/16/2004
Well it is officially TARPON TIME here at River and Reef and as we post this report the winds have been blowing hard during the past weeks in the Florida Keys. Jake Jordon, a Keys guide with plenty of experience with Giant Tarpon (not to mention Guatemala Sailfish), gives us the low down on the activity this week.
Jake has a few days open for charter in June and July and you can find the dates and links at the end of his report. You can also find some Tarpon photos Jake has submitted in the gallery.
Jake has a few days open for charter in June and July and you can find the dates and links at the end of his report. You can also find some Tarpon photos Jake has submitted in the gallery.
Well it is officially TARPON TIME here at River and Reef and as we post this report the winds have been blowing hard during the past weeks in the Florida Keys. Jake Jordon, a Keys guide with plenty of experience with Giant Tarpon (not to mention Guatemala Sailfish), gives us the low down on the activity this week.
Jake has a few days open for charter in June and July and you can find the dates and links at the end of his report. You can also find some Tarpon photos Jake has submitted in the gallery.
May 11, 12, 13, 2004
Greetings from the Windy-Florida Keys:
May: 11, 2004: The wind is howling at 20 knots and gusty with small craft advisories in effect on all Keys waters. Don Butler and I fished late evening in the lee of a small island in the lower keys. This was where we saw hundreds of Tarpon move from the reef into this protected area with clear water and lots of bait.
About an hour before sunset Don hooked his first Tarpon of the day. The 120 + pound beauty jumped a dozen times before landing on the leader and breaking the 20 pound test tippet. Four hours later we quit after Don had jumped eight Tarpon and released two Silver Kings both over 100 pounds!
I took some pictures but the wind and rough weather made it difficult to maneuver the boat, land the Tarpon and take the pictures! We are headed out now to battle the 25 knot never ending wind!
May 12, 2004: Same old 25 knot wind, we tried to go in the morning but it was cloudy and very rough. It was hard to see any Tarpon that might show up. We did the same evening thing as last night and found a nice pod of fish. Don Butler jumped 5 Tarpon this evening, he landed two. His first landed fish was about 110 pounds and the last Tarpon of the trip weighted about fifty pounds. This 50 pound Tarpon jumped at least 20 times and came to the boat in about 12 minutes! The third Tarpon that ate Dons fly was a MONSTER female of over 180 pounds. She jumped 6 feet out of the water 30 feet from the boat, and then jumped halfway out so we could see her gigantic size. This beautiful Silver King then proceeded to rip off 250 yards of backing, jumped again and spit the fly back at us!
Wow, What A GREAT FISH!!!!!!!!!!
May 13, 2004: Again Don and I headed out at sunset, into 25 knot east wind and rough seas. The wind increased to 30 knots and swung to the Northeast, making it cooler and rough with small craft warnings being issued. My Friend Don Butler has been around boats his whole life and is a life long angler. When I say that these conditions where very hard I am being generous, frankly, it was scary!
We fished for 4 hours and got two Tarpon to eat the fly, the first spit the hook on the take and the other Tarpon was a 90 pound beauty. After this Silver King attacked the fly it went crazy, jumped 4 times then charged the boat. Within 5 minutes Don had wound the rod tip to within 3 feet of the Tarpons mouth. He was lifting real hard when this monster exploded out of the water like a missal, and attempted to jump into the skiff. In a split second I was staring down the gullet of one pissed off tarpon as his trajectory brought him to the same height as my head. Thank goodness my reflexes were working as I spontaneously threw out my hand and shoved the tarpon's body so it landed in the water instead of in my lap. I did manage to knock a scale from him which was a great souvenir for Don. After we released this magnificent tarpon Don and I just sat and laughed while reminiscing over this unbelievable experience.
Don left today May 14, 2004 and will return in July to continue his quest for the most incredible fly fishing species in the world! I can't wait to fish with my friend Don Butler the next time! More reports to follow!
TARPON DATES OPEN
Greetings fellow Tarpon Anglers:
As you know we have had cool windy conditions so far this Tarpon Season, just the opposite of last year when it ended early due to the early calm hot spring. I think that the Tarpon will be here in the Keys until late July or early August and of coarse that is prime time for Permit.
I have a few prime dates available for someone who wishes to catch a Giant Tarpon on fly this is a great opportunity.
Available dates are as follows and will be filled by the first angler which contacts me wishing to book some dates. June 9, and 10 Day or Night Tarpon. June 11 & 12 Daytime only, July 5 through 9, Daytime Tarpon or good Permit tides, July 10, 11, 12, Tarpon or Permit or Night Tarpon, July 16, 17, 18 Night Tarpon or Day Permit.
Please if these dates work for you let me know As soon as possible as I am sure that they will not be available very long!
Best Regards:
Jake
Captain Jake Jordan
Jake Jordan's Fishing Adventures
PO Box, 500937
Marathon FL. 33050
305-743-0501
Jake Jordans Website
Jake has a few days open for charter in June and July and you can find the dates and links at the end of his report. You can also find some Tarpon photos Jake has submitted in the gallery.
May 11, 12, 13, 2004
Greetings from the Windy-Florida Keys:
May: 11, 2004: The wind is howling at 20 knots and gusty with small craft advisories in effect on all Keys waters. Don Butler and I fished late evening in the lee of a small island in the lower keys. This was where we saw hundreds of Tarpon move from the reef into this protected area with clear water and lots of bait.
 |
About an hour before sunset Don hooked his first Tarpon of the day. The 120 + pound beauty jumped a dozen times before landing on the leader and breaking the 20 pound test tippet. Four hours later we quit after Don had jumped eight Tarpon and released two Silver Kings both over 100 pounds!
I took some pictures but the wind and rough weather made it difficult to maneuver the boat, land the Tarpon and take the pictures! We are headed out now to battle the 25 knot never ending wind!
May 12, 2004: Same old 25 knot wind, we tried to go in the morning but it was cloudy and very rough. It was hard to see any Tarpon that might show up. We did the same evening thing as last night and found a nice pod of fish. Don Butler jumped 5 Tarpon this evening, he landed two. His first landed fish was about 110 pounds and the last Tarpon of the trip weighted about fifty pounds. This 50 pound Tarpon jumped at least 20 times and came to the boat in about 12 minutes! The third Tarpon that ate Dons fly was a MONSTER female of over 180 pounds. She jumped 6 feet out of the water 30 feet from the boat, and then jumped halfway out so we could see her gigantic size. This beautiful Silver King then proceeded to rip off 250 yards of backing, jumped again and spit the fly back at us!
Wow, What A GREAT FISH!!!!!!!!!!
May 13, 2004: Again Don and I headed out at sunset, into 25 knot east wind and rough seas. The wind increased to 30 knots and swung to the Northeast, making it cooler and rough with small craft warnings being issued. My Friend Don Butler has been around boats his whole life and is a life long angler. When I say that these conditions where very hard I am being generous, frankly, it was scary!
We fished for 4 hours and got two Tarpon to eat the fly, the first spit the hook on the take and the other Tarpon was a 90 pound beauty. After this Silver King attacked the fly it went crazy, jumped 4 times then charged the boat. Within 5 minutes Don had wound the rod tip to within 3 feet of the Tarpons mouth. He was lifting real hard when this monster exploded out of the water like a missal, and attempted to jump into the skiff. In a split second I was staring down the gullet of one pissed off tarpon as his trajectory brought him to the same height as my head. Thank goodness my reflexes were working as I spontaneously threw out my hand and shoved the tarpon's body so it landed in the water instead of in my lap. I did manage to knock a scale from him which was a great souvenir for Don. After we released this magnificent tarpon Don and I just sat and laughed while reminiscing over this unbelievable experience.
Don left today May 14, 2004 and will return in July to continue his quest for the most incredible fly fishing species in the world! I can't wait to fish with my friend Don Butler the next time! More reports to follow!
TARPON DATES OPEN
Greetings fellow Tarpon Anglers:
As you know we have had cool windy conditions so far this Tarpon Season, just the opposite of last year when it ended early due to the early calm hot spring. I think that the Tarpon will be here in the Keys until late July or early August and of coarse that is prime time for Permit.
I have a few prime dates available for someone who wishes to catch a Giant Tarpon on fly this is a great opportunity.
Available dates are as follows and will be filled by the first angler which contacts me wishing to book some dates. June 9, and 10 Day or Night Tarpon. June 11 & 12 Daytime only, July 5 through 9, Daytime Tarpon or good Permit tides, July 10, 11, 12, Tarpon or Permit or Night Tarpon, July 16, 17, 18 Night Tarpon or Day Permit.
Please if these dates work for you let me know As soon as possible as I am sure that they will not be available very long!
Best Regards:
Jake
Captain Jake Jordan
Jake Jordan's Fishing Adventures
PO Box, 500937
Marathon FL. 33050
305-743-0501
Jake Jordans Website