|
|
|
|
|
|
Florida Keys Outfitters Newsletter |
Forward to a Friend |
Greetings!
Between January and April, most years see a week here and a few days there of warm calm weather which brings good but sporadic tarpon fishing to the Florida Keys. Not so in 2010. The long cold winter lingered holding tarpon at bay through April, but on May 4th someone turned on the heat! I mean they pulled the plug! Tarpon fishing flew absolutely and totally off the chart with many, many long time guides and anglers reporting the best tarpon fishing they had ever seen ever! Comments like, "Jumped eight, released four; fourteen bites with eight to the boat and lost count of the shots" was common terminology around Florida Keys Outfitters at the Green Turtle Bar & Restaurant in Islamorada last week.
Photos by Ross Reeder (Miami) of tarpon brought boat side by Collin Ross (Aventura)
We're hoping this great tarpon fishing will hold for several months and lots of this newsletter will be devoted to Tarpon Time! Diana Rudolph's insights into tarpon fishing are also featured this month along with Capt Marshall Cutchin's super analysis on fighting big fish with a fly rod.
|
|
Sandy's Angling Tip of the Month
I normally use an 11 weight fly rod for tarpon, but on calm days I'll sometimes go lighter, often to a 10 weight. Calm winds allow tarpon to hear sounds and feel vibrations more easily and therefore become very spooky. A heavy fly line landing on the surface often sends them to the horizon! Stop your forward rod tip stroke at about 45 degrees, letting the line, leader and fly fully unroll, then float the tip to the water with the line. That lighter fly line lands softer and can be deadly on flat calm days.
|
|
New Product Highlight
Sandy Moret's Florida Keys Outfitters Quick Change Leaders
Sometimes you hit it just right and tarpon are pouring through a spot.... After you make a few perfect presentations and get a few refusals it's time to change flies. Our Quick Change Tarpon Leaders will make that happen fast and easy. Leaders have a loop formed at the end of the Bimini Twist for loop to loop with your fly line butt section. The class tipped is tied with an improved blood knot. Available in several Class/Shock Tippet alternatives... Cortland PE+ Crystal Fly Line
On those white hot flat calm days when tarpon are really spooky, try a clear floating Cortland PE+ Crystal Fly Line. This line is not really fair to tarpon if you know how to visualize where your fly is in relation to the fish. Two weeks ago, using the clear line with Capt Craig Brewer and veteran angler Irwin Gordon of Dallas we had half a dozen fish on, then this seemingly innocent looking Royal Tern on two consecutive presentations swooped down and picked up the fly as a tarpon was rising up to eat it.... Not sure who was more surprised; the tarpon, the Royal Tern or the three of us in the boat! I have never seen this happen on the flats before and the bird made no connection to fly, line or us.... Tarpon Tapas Tarpon flies have evolved smaller over the years and we have had great success with these tasty tarpon tapas! Tapas rarely foul, are easy to cast and land extremely quiet. We have them tied on a small but stout Gamakatsu SL 12-S 1/0 which is a very sticky hook. Barred olive, rust & chartreuse are great colors in clear water. |
|
Tournament Updates
14th Annual Spring All Tackle Bonefish Tournament Islamorada, April 13, 2010
Exaggerated reports of massive bonefish kills from our recent record cold winter were put to rest during the 14th Annual Spring All Tackle Bonefish Tournament. Seven weight fish (bones over 8 pounds) were officially weighed and released during 3 days of intense bonefishing. Thirteen releases were also carded during windy and cloudy conditions. The winning team of Captain Chris Jones and angler Gary Parsons. Read the full tournament wrap-up.
The 30th Annual Keys Spring Invitational Bonefish Fly Tournament, April 14 - 16
The 30th Annual Keys Spring Invitational Bonefish Fly Tournament was a classic case of anglers outdoors, dealing with nature as it comes. Fishing Wednesday, April 14th, Thursday and Friday, these 21 hardy sportsmen and their hard-poling guides braved high winds, low light and heavy chop to pursue their passion of catching bonefish on fly. Winning anglers Mitch Howell and Capt. Dave Denkert. Read the full tournament wrap-up.
Results for the Northern Territory Barramundi Classic, Redbone @ Large La Siesta Sunset Tarpon Tournament and The Gene Doyle Memorial Tournament should be available soon!
Upcoming Florida Keys Outfitters/IGFA Inshore World Championship Qualifying Events are:
The Outback Golden Fly Tarpon Tournament - May 17- 19, 2010, Charlotte Ambrogio (305)-942-0428
Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament - June 6 - 11, 2010, Charlotte Ambrogio (305)-942-0428
View a complete listing of this year's qualifying events for the Florida Keys Outfitters/IGFA Inshore World Championships. The Inshore World Championships will be held in Islamorada on July 13, 14 & 15, 2010. It is a multispecies tournament with outstanding guides and anglers during prime fishing time. Check out the anglers to see who's going to be competing. ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series will be on hand to film the event!
|
|
Florida Keys News
Diana Rudolph's Insights on Tarpon Fishing
In 2004 Diana Rudolph became the first woman to win the Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament. She is a regular masthead instructor of the Florida Keys Fly Fishing School and currently holds seven International Game Fish Association fly rod world records including the largest tarpon ever caught with flyrod by a woman. Read more of Diana's insights into tarpon fishing...
Fighting Big Fish
No need to reinvent the wheel - or break rods and tippets - when fighting big saltwater fish and landing them quickly. Use the proven tactics developed over the past 50 years. Continue reading big fish techniques and tactics...
|
|
Monthly Photo Contest
Congratulations
to Dan Haesche for submitting this great snook shot as April's Photo of the Month. The fish was caught in a very shallow
canoe area and Dan's expression says it all! For winning Dan will receive a
$100.00 gift card from Florida Keys Outfitters.
Give us your best shot for May's photo of the month! Entries must be received via email, no later than 6:00pm EST the last day of the month. Please include full name and mailing address. Photos must be at least 300 dpi with minimum dimension of 3" x 5" (900 x 1500) and a maximum dimension of 8" x 10" (2400 x 3000) and submitted in JPG format.
The staff of Florida Keys Outfitters will review all entries and determine the monthly winner. Consideration will be given to originality, composition and image quality. Their decision shall be final. Photos submitted will become the property of Florida Keys Outfitters and used at its discretion. Winners receive a $100.00 gift card from Florida Keys Outfitters.
|
We've
devoted so much of this month's newsletter to tarpon I almost forgot to mention
that May is one of the best bonefish months of the year in the Florida Keys!
Well, tough choices are what it's all about and I hope you can take advantage
of them through the summer. Please call
the shop or visit our online store for anything you need and hope to see you on the water soon. Tight Loops, 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
