Count down to the Keys - Tarpon capital of the World - Islamaroda

[cohoho]

Well looks like I am at 10 days til I depart for Florida to the Keys to battle, Shark, Tarpon, Barracuda, Mahi-mahi, Groupers and hopefully a sail fish or two....  Excited as heck, this year all self guided no guides for any of our trips.  Rented two boats for six guys, hotel and moorage right on the glades side for some late night Tarpon action.  Shark are a four mile run straight off our dock.  Got 15 - 18/0 hooks all cabled up and ready to go, even put 6 foot 300lb mono leader to prevent cuts when the big buggers roll..  Hopefully the hardest part of the trip will be keeping the Colorado Kool-Aid cold....   

[SemperFidelis97]

Sounds like a blast we go down every spring just to take in some nice weather I have always wanted to do some fishing there maybe one of these years I will get a chance.  Looking foreword to hearing the stories when you get back.

[dkecoleman]

Tarpon fishing is awesome, I caught a 6 footer off the coast of Georgia a few years back, best fish I have ever caught. Like catching a 130lb largemouth. Hope you guys have a great trip and good luck.

[carpsniperg2]

Good luck and keep safe.

[Bmcox86]

Good luck, tarpon are a blast, I caught many 30-80 lbers when I was stationed in Puerto Rico, don't get frustrated when they throw hooks! Just keep at it, my average was 8-1 for hooking to landing!

Added some pics to get you pumped up!

[cohoho]

Good luck, tarpon are a blast, I caught many 30-80 lbers when I was stationed in Puerto Rico, don't get frustrated when they throw hooks! Just keep at it, my average was 8-1 for hooking to landing!

Added some pics to get you pumped up!

Last year I went five for five, with the biggest being 150+ class.  Bad ass fish for sure....   Pump and drop when they jump is rule #1 on tarpon...

Love that Mahi-mahi picture on the dock!  Awesome!

[ribka]

big tarpon are fun the first few minutes then it becomes work

Have fun take lots of pics to post here when you return.

[Mfowl]

Good luck! Have a blast! Do you know the waters? Is the rental boat to save $ or the challenge of tackling the fish yourself? What type of boats do you rent? Sounds interesting.

[cohoho]

We went guided the last time,.7 charters in 6 days at about 1,600 per person except airline.  This year will be 1K each minus airline and we will fish more......  Alot more!!     The boats we are renting are in-shore shallow water 21 footer Makos with 115 Yamaha's.  Will be ok for the edge of the reef and that is about it.  But on the glades side, game on 100%.  In fact the best Tarpon fishing was right out our hotel about 2 mile down...  Shark and Barracuda within 4 miles of the hotel.  We will hit the open water on one trip on the big charter boat for Mahi-Mahi, but everything else will be us.  A couple of the charters we went on last year were pretty basic regarding techniques.  Not a lot different than Sturgeon fishing.  Heck, we had to convince the guide last year to try a few things.  We each are bringing three rods, one for bottom fish and shark, one for tarpon/barracuda and one for reef fish.  I got two Avets 5.8 and 6/4 on Trevala Med and XXH rod ready to be tested..... Three of the other guys have gone for several years in a row and this will be my second of this future annual planned trip for me.

[Mfowl]

Nice, its a goal for me to get down there and fish tarpon along with other species but I would be happy to go guided. I didn't realize you could rent boats and fish on your own like that. Sounds like a great vacation! Have fun, share a bunch of pics with us!

[Ripper]

Have fun Cohoho, I can't wait to see the pics.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Just got back yesterday from a 10 dayer down that way. Awesome fun! Tarpon rule!

[cohoho]

Just got back yesterday from a 10 dayer down that way. Awesome fun! Tarpon rule!

Pics, pics, pics!!!!!  Come on dude, I need to see some action shots...  How was the weather? 

[wildmanoutdoors]

Heres a small one at 180ish! 

[wildmanoutdoors]

Weather was awesome. 87 to 90. Wind came up 3 days so we couldent make the 25 mile jaunt to the Mahi grounds. Bonita, Mahi, Black fin, Wahoo and had a sail jumping off our stern but couldent get him to bite.

My friend down there has a 24 foot Proline so we could only get out on the nice days. Had to go to about 1000 feet to find the Pelagic fish.

Tarpon are everywere right now as they are in there spawning migration to tarpon springs via the keys.

Should have no problem getting hooked up! 

[cohoho]

That one is awesome......  What  pig!  I am stoked for our repeat trip of last year.... 

[cohoho]

Packing is done, rods in case, just got to get off to the airport this evening, drink a couple cold frosty mugs and sleep on the red eye.........  So stoked again...

[wildmanoutdoors]

Wednesday night is flip night at the Ocean View! Flip a coin for your drink. You win the flip the drink is free!

Try the Conch sliders at the Whale! (My favorite bar).

No reason to say "have fun" How can you not in the Keys!

[cohoho]

Started off rough weather - off shore trip got cancelled and they almost didn't let us rent boats due to the horrible conditions.  aka Rain....  Finally the guy realized we really were going to fish in the down pour.  One foot wind waves was all and the big boys never ran.  We literally were the only boats out and about for the first two days.  Seemed like we were the talk of the town after that.  Crazy Washington and Oregon guys out fishing.    We still did pretty good on those days with Shark and Barracuda.  Finally day three we were able to run out to the reefs and catch ogles amounts of Yellow Tail Snappers and Groupers.  We ran out of chum, the bite stopped.  Back in for Tarpon, Shark and Barracuda.  The Tarpon bite was dead during the nasty front, ended up with only one.  We got 12-15 shark, but only 6-8 foot Nurse, no Lemon or Bull this time. Next day back to the reef for more Snapper and Groupers..   Finally our rescheduled off shore trip on the last day, we got 36 Mahi, but no Tuna, almost no boats brought in Mahi again they figured the weather front.    Wonderful time again this year despite weather. I love it there, but maybe Costa Rica next year.....

[Mfowl]

Nice work! Too bad about the tarpon bite! Any pics? Did you bring any fish home? Any goliath groupers? 6-8' sharks sounds like a blast!

[MLBowhunting]

Pics