I just returned from a four day trip to Tavenier, Fla. which is a few miles south of Key Largo.
I had previously arranged to hired a flats guide who told me when I booked him, this was the best time of year for Tarpon, Bones and many other flats fish. Man OH Man, was I taken in.
I fished Last week 3-20, 21 & 22. & only managed to land one small 15# Tarpon and a small Bonnet Head shark (similar to a Hammer head) We must have travelled over a hunderd miles in three days looking for fish. We only saw three big bones which were moving fast. We did see several really big Lemon sharks. But we were using 12# takle and had no wire leaders so we didn't try.
The only exciting thing to happen was on the last day. The guide took us to a small wreck near Cotton Key to try for Mangrove Snapper. We caught plenty but none were large enough to keep(10"). While reeling a 6" snapper A large sliver flash came from under the boat and devoured the snapper. Since I was using 12# test and no leader, I let the 3to4 foot Cudda run. He nearly spooled me and came back directly at the boat. When he reached us, he dove under the boat and peeled off about 50 75 feet of line and then jumped out of the water about 6 feet. Of course no cameras were ready. The Cudda then came back and under the boat. When it cleared my side, it turned and jumped again, right at me and the boat. The guide had warned me that Cuddas do this. In fact I think it went for my throat. Coinsidence or not?
I put up my arms to fend it off. It bounced off my arm and back into the water and broke the line.
The guide told us that the usual flats fish were not active due to the 95 degree heat. The water temp was 89 degrees. I think he was a lot of BS.
I'm sticking to deep water from now on.
Lazybones
I had previously arranged to hired a flats guide who told me when I booked him, this was the best time of year for Tarpon, Bones and many other flats fish. Man OH Man, was I taken in.
I fished Last week 3-20, 21 & 22. & only managed to land one small 15# Tarpon and a small Bonnet Head shark (similar to a Hammer head) We must have travelled over a hunderd miles in three days looking for fish. We only saw three big bones which were moving fast. We did see several really big Lemon sharks. But we were using 12# takle and had no wire leaders so we didn't try.
The only exciting thing to happen was on the last day. The guide took us to a small wreck near Cotton Key to try for Mangrove Snapper. We caught plenty but none were large enough to keep(10"). While reeling a 6" snapper A large sliver flash came from under the boat and devoured the snapper. Since I was using 12# test and no leader, I let the 3to4 foot Cudda run. He nearly spooled me and came back directly at the boat. When he reached us, he dove under the boat and peeled off about 50 75 feet of line and then jumped out of the water about 6 feet. Of course no cameras were ready. The Cudda then came back and under the boat. When it cleared my side, it turned and jumped again, right at me and the boat. The guide had warned me that Cuddas do this. In fact I think it went for my throat. Coinsidence or not?
I put up my arms to fend it off. It bounced off my arm and back into the water and broke the line.
The guide told us that the usual flats fish were not active due to the 95 degree heat. The water temp was 89 degrees. I think he was a lot of BS.
I'm sticking to deep water from now on.
Lazybones
