You haven't fished until you hook the
Silver King of the Florida Keys
Tarpon Season 2008 April May & June ...
Book Early Call 1-800-461-0527!
Tarpon, The Silver King, are large
coastal fish prized by anglers that can grow up to 8 feet in length
weighing over 200 pounds. When swimming in oxygen poor water,
tarpons can breathe air from the surface.
Prime Tarpon Fishing Season: April -
June
Book your 2008 Tarpon Trip today by
calling 1-800-461-0527!
As I arrived home today, I thought of
the incredible fishing trip I had at Bahia Honda Bridge. Your
professional manner and great experience in fishing for Tarpon
directly related to my catching a Tarpon.. You never give up and
your will to succeed in catching these Tarpon is infectious. Thanks
for the greatest fishing experience I ever had. These powerful and
giant fish can really take all the energy out of you after 40
minutes fighting them. Thanks for guiding me along the way to catch
that 120 pounder. I'll tell all my friends about Bahia Honda Bridge
and hope to get back and see you again for the best Tarpon fishing
in the world. - Thanks for a Great Time, LTC Robert T
McLaughlin Jr., Rhode Island
A friend of mine has a place in Key West and when we visit we always
book a trip to tarpon fish from Bahia Honda. I have to say I enjoy
those trips most of all. I just love sitting there waiting for the
Silver King to fly out of the water on the other end of my line! And
the challenge to get them to the boat is so exciting. I don’t know
which is worse to face.... going in and out of the bridge or getting
ravaged by the sharks!! Either way, it’s a great time. Alex and Jim
are great captains to fish with. They are very knowledgeable about
what they are doing, they work hard to get you fish and they are fun
to fish with as well. - Jennifer Brower
 About
Tarpon Fishing Key West Florida
With 20 years experience at the same
location, Capt. Jim Bourbon, Capt. Alex Reagan, and Capt. Rick
McKenna are a group of captains who love tarpon fishing at Bahia
Honda, one of the greatest tarpon fishing spots in the whole state
of Florida. They know the area, and they know how to make it
produce. They are known for their courteous and professional
attitude. Fish with them once and you'll want to fish with them
again.
eMail:
captbourbon@embarqmail.com
Captain's Trip Information
We have some of the best tarpon fishing
you can find anywhere and will do everything possible to make your
fishing experience with us the best and most exciting you have had.
The price of a 4 1/2 to 5 hour guaranteed trip is $425. This
includes all bait, tackle and fishing licenses. All you have to
bring is food and drinks. We guarantee that you will get to fight a
Tarpon or we will take you fishing again for free (this rarely
happens). All our trips are run by me, Capt. Alex or Capt. Rick. We
are confident in guaranteeing you one of the best fishing
experiences you have ever had.
The Florida Keys
The Florida Keys is one of the most
unique and beautiful seacoasts in the country. This area offers some
of the best tarpon fishing in all of Florida. Our tarpon fishing
takes place just minutes from the dock in the calm protected inlets
between the islands. The Bahia Honda bridge provides an exciting
challenge to tarpon fishing. During the spring it is not uncommon to
see hundreds of tarpon feeding on the surface of the water. The
average tarpon is about 80 lbs. However we see many larger than that
ranging up to over 150 lbs. Whether average or giant, a jumping
tarpon can strip all the line from a reel if you’re slow to give
chase. More than one angler has said, "this is the most exciting
fishing I have ever done". My boat has a very large cockpit to give
you plenty of room to work when fighting the Silver King. The boat
is equipped with all electronics and safety equipment. I run two
trips per day, one early morning and the other late afternoon.
Tarpon tend to like the shadowy part of the day but I will fish
whenever necessary to catch them even all night. We supply all
tackle and live bait. You only need to bring your food, drinks and
enthusiasm. My goal is to catch tarpon and give you an experience
you will always remember.
The Keys are readily accessible by air and land. Marathon airport
has frequent commuter service from Miami International Airport.
Flights take only about 35 minutes and usually run twice a day. By
car, Marathon is about 3 hours from Miami. The drive will take you
through the scenic chain of islands leading to Marathon. When not
fishing, the Keys offer a wide variety of activities; there are
white sandy beaches in Marathon, Bahia Honda and Key West. In
addition there are several snorkeling and scuba diving options. Many
dive shops offer full or half day excursions to experience the coral
reefs. There are hotel accommodations ranging from economy on up. If
I can help you find the right accommodations to suit your needs just
let me know.
Tarpon Fishing
Newsletter ... a look back at many seasons of fishing!
 Tarpon
Fishing Season 2006
Good News for the Keys: No Hurricanes
After several destructive hurricane
season we were all holding our breath. The weather bureau was
predicting another season of large storms. Thankfully, they were
wrong and the Keys sailed through hurricane season without a single
named storm. The local motels and businesses that suffered damage
from Wilma's Flood in 2005 are now repaired and up and running.
Everything is back to normal-including tarpon fishing which promises
to be as outrageous as ever.
Hot Fishing for the McDonalds
Tournament
The McDonalds tournament is a yearly
charitable event that raises money for the Ronald McDonald house.
I'm proud to say I've fished this tournament since the beginning.
I've met a lot of really nice people in it but admit I am not a fan
of tournament fishing. Rules: only fishing two lines, set fishing
times, and no bridge passes cramp my style. This year was similar to
the past. During the first two nights we hooked up plenty of fish
but didn't have much luck getting them to the boat. By the last
night we had only caught a couple of fish and were low in the
rankings. With only a couple of hours left we started to get a lot
of crab bites and were able to land four tarpon. This put us in a
point tie with the first place boat. With only five minutes left we
hooked up a fifth tarpon. We managed to fight him through the bridge
and into the bay. After a long hard fight the tarpon worked us back
to the bridge and broke us off. We ended up winning for the night
and tied in tournament points. In that event, the time the fish is
caught decides the winner - which knocked us out of first place.
Still, it was a great tournament and a great night of fishing.
Tarpon
Fishing Season 2005
The Year of the New Boat.
The
first thing I have to say about this past season is "I love the new
boat". The added space makes things so much more comfortable for
everyone. Also, the new four stroke 225 Hp Suzik is another plus,
its speed makes the long ride to our fishing spots so much shorter
(small joke). The only problem with the new motor is that it runs so
quietly sometimes we were at anchor with the motor running - we just
couldn't hear it! Nothing like the old two stroke 185 Hp Johnson
which was heard all the way to the dock. Another thing I don't miss
about the old motor is all the smoke and fumes. This new Suzuki runs
so clean - it's just great. Yup, I love the new boat!
Fishing was very good this past
season. April had a lot of good early bites and May was also quite
productive - as usual. But June, my favorite month to fish, hit a
bit of a snag when the first tropical storm of the season rolled
through. That was on June 9th. Now, we all know that hurricane
season starts June 1st, but you just don't expect to see a tropical
depression in the first week - it's unheard of! As it turned out, it
was the beginning of one of the most active seasons in history. I
have to hand it to the Hinz party. Steve and Karen were fishing
during that period and we did have some rather nasty weather.
However, we managed to get out and fish most of their trips. I guess
those Colorado people don't scare easily. The storm hurt the fishing
for about a week but luckily it came back strong and we had a great
ending to the month of June.
Tarpon Fishing Season 2004
A Hurricane
Season to Remember.
Now that the
hurricane season is over there is time to look back and reflect; as
bad as it was, it could have been much worse. The areas where these
storms came ashore were devastated and it will be a long road back.
Unlike areas further north, the Keys were spared most of the damage.
Still, it will take a while for them to recover completely. We lost
all our trees and were without electric (which means no ari
conditioning or water) for 11 days. I have a new respect for those
old times who lived here without those comforts that we all take for
granted. They were certainly a tough group of people. Luckily, when
the wind and rain died down our boats were still afloat and we are
now getting ready for next year.
Looking back
at the 2004 Season.
Once again
at Bahia Honda the tarpon didn't disappoint. They still did their
usual wild thing. We had a great season. It started off a bit windy
in March and April. Never the less the fishing stayed strong through
the endless wind of the early season. By May, it was calming down -
the fishing was excellent and stayed that way through the end of
June. My last trip was June 28. We caught four nice Tarpon and one
Permit. Once again, the crab was the surprise bait of the season.
They have always been a good bait in June and add a lot of fun to
the fishing. In the past few years, however, it's been a surprise
that crabs have been so successful in May. In fact they have
converted some of my hard core mullet anglers to fish both mullet
and crab. I've had anglers for the past 10 to 15 years who would
fish nothing but mullet. These guys are now asking to have crab for
bait - I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.
A new Look
at the dock.
After
fishing my Biddison 22' for eight seasons it's time for a change.
This coming season we will be fishing a 26ft Roablo center console
with a T-top. The new boat will have a lot more room both fore and
aft. This will make it possible to take out larger parties when
necessary without being too crowded. Although it's never really that
rough in Bahia Honda it will make what little chop we get in the
channel easier to deal with. I'm looking forward to some exciting
fishing chasing Tarpon in and out of the bridge on the new boat. A
better ride with more room you can't go wrong.
 Tarpon
Fishing Season 2003
Let's talk
bait.
Tarpon
season 2003 is behind us and once again we had a great season with a
lot of really exciting fishing. However, just as in past years the
tarpon did manage to throw us a few curves. As most of you know,
Mullet is the bait of choice in the early part of the season,
changing to crabs and pinfish more towards June. This year crabs
were the hot bait from beginning to end. That's not to say mullet
weren't getting bites, they were, but the talk at the dock was how
many bites were being made on those little crabs. For some reason
that only tarpon know, crabs were the delicacy of 2003. As the
season progressed demand for crabs increase dnad so of course did
the price. But who cares? You just had to have them. Once again
those pesky tarpon showed us when you think you have them figured
out they have something new to teach you. Well no matter what the
tarpon are looking for, when Alex and I leave the dock you can be
sure that there will be plenty of mullet, pinfish and crabs on
board.
Breaking in
the new guy!
Former Capt.
Dave Dillon of the 101st Airborne Division has been fishing with us
for twelve years. At a resent reunion of his Viet Name unit in Key
West Dave go talking to his guys about his tarpon fishing
experiences in the Florida Keys. This year when Dave and Vickie came
for their annual tarpon fishing vacation they brought former Sgt.
Mike Finnegan and his wife Mary Pat along with them. The Finnegans
made the trip all the way from Chicago, IL. Mike was fishing with
Capt. Alex on the new boat, the Mullet Man. With the luck of the
Irish, they hooked into a 125 lb tarpon early in the trip. They
battled the tarpon in and out of the bridge for an hour and a half
when finally, with Mike's tank on empty, they lost the fish to a
pulled hook. They did get to fight several other fish to make it a
great trip. According to Mike it was the best fishing experience he
has had and the most exhausting. We sure would like to thank Dave
and Vickie for telling their friends about us. We're glad we were
able to show them a great time.
Tarpon Fishing Season 2002
Hot fishing
during a hot spring.
I don't have
to tell anyone that in 2002 we had an extremely warm winter and
spring - especially in the east. It goes without saying that the
weather has a major effect on fishing. Although the Tarpon fishing
was quite good, it was not your average season. First of all the
fishing seemed to start early - with the migratory tarpon arriving
in great numbers. In fact, we had some very exciting fishing in
April. The month of May proved to be awesome - which is typical. As
June approached we saw the biggest indicator of an early season -
The Poloma worm hatch. This is a big event in the Tarpon season -
Sort of like a Thanksgiving meal for tarpon. The worm hatch, which
usually occurs in June around the full moon came about three weeks
early - probably due to warmer water temperatures. Typically this
marks the beginning of the end of the tarpon migration. This took
the edge off the late June fishing, which I feel is some of our best
Tarpon fishing. I guess mother nature has her plan and we just have
to work with it.
Something
New a the Dock!
As many of
you know, Captain Alex Regan has been running fishing charters on a
T-Craft the Outcast. Alex will be back again this year, but will be
running a different boat. Capt. Jim Hunter, owner of the Mullet Man
retired this past season. We have acquired his boat for our anglers
and also many of his anglers. So, the old T craft will be replaced
with a 25 ft. Parker powered by a 200 hp. Yamaha. We know you will
like the change.
Tarpon Fishing Season 2001
As the new
season approaches we are all looking forward to some great tarpon
fishing. If the trends of the past few years continue, I don't think
we will be disappointed. In the last few years we have seen an
increase in the number of tarpon in the Florida Keys.
There are
two factors that contribute to this. First is the tarpon kill tag
law which has slowed the killing of these great fish. The other
factor is the net ban on mullet that went into effect a few years
ago. Mullet are at the bottom of the food chain and the large
increase in their numbers has certainly helped to increase the
number of any fish who eat them - including tarpon.
Shark,
Shark, Shark, and the old conch remedies.
We are all
aware of the large number of shark attacks and sightings along the
Florida coast as well as the entire east coast of the U.S. The most
common sharks seen are bull and hammerhead sharks. For those of you
who have fished at Bahia Honda in late April or early May, this is
not much of a surprise. During this part of the season the bull and
hammerhead are looking for tarpon to eat. This past season was one
of the worst. It seems like no one could get a tarpon to the boat
without having 3 or 4 bull sharks jump the fish - often right next
to the boat. In early May, after several weeks of heavy shark
attacks, the old Conch tale of how to get rid of sharks surfaced
again. As the story goes catch a shark, gut him, tie him to a bridge
and all the other sharks will leave. After a very busy week of
fishing (with many shark attacks) a couple fo anglers hooked into a
shark. After a long fight they got it to the boat. Having heard the
old conch tale they decided to try it. Well, you should not laugh at
those old tales because after they tied the dead shark to the bridge
the change was dramatic. In the morning you could not get a tarpon
to the boat without it being eaten by a shark. By afternoon there
were no shark attacks - and it was many weeks before we saw another
shark.
I know it
sounds like an old wives tale, but I guess the old Conchs know a
thing or two about fishing after all.
Tarpon Fishing Season 2000
It's that
time of year when we get ready for the upcoming season. I've been
busy working on the boat and motor making sure they are ready for a
long hard season of heavy duty tarpon fishing.
Yes, as the
winter settles in it is the time to get busy preparing for the new
season. In addition to the boat and motor, all the rods and reels
need to be serviced. The reels have been taken apart, cleaned and
lubricated with any worn parts replaced. When the fishing starts
there will be very little time for broken equipment, so we try to
anticipate any problems before they occur. One positive side effect
of this work is that it sure does get me fire up to begin the new
tarpon season. Hope to see you this April, May or June. I can't
wait.
Tarpon
season 2000 looking back.
Every Tarpon
season has it's own characteristics. This past 2000 season was no
different. As I look back two events stand out in my mind. The first
was the number of big fish that showed up last year. I heard the
same thing many times from the other captains at Bahia Honda "Did
you see the size of that Tarpon?" Yeah, I heard it a lot and saw it
quite often. What is a big Tarpon? In my mind from 130 lb. and up
are 'big fish'. Last season we fought many that were 150 lb. plus,
and at least three over 175 lb. Let's all hope that this is a trend
of the future. The Florida kill tag law ahs been in effect about 10
years maybe it's starting to pay off.
The second
event was the annual Poloma worm hatch. The typical hatch is in June
on the outgoing tide with a full moon. This year it was on an
incoming tide with a new moon. There was a large hatch of
worms. The worms, which swim toward the ocean, began to stack up in
the tide. This led to a huge amount of Tarpon on the surface eating
the worms. In all my years I have never seen so many fish on the
surface at one time. It was quite a site to have hundreds of Tarpon
swimming around the boat. We even got them to eat a few crabs. It
was a night to remember and a lesson. Just when you think you have
seen it all there is always something new to see. That certainly
holds true with tarpon fishing.
Beloved Waters: For Steelhead and
Salmon, Bonefish and Tarpon by Paul Ford (Author)
Book Description - Beloved waters is
about the unforgettable where fantasy is transformed by magic to
reality. It is of tidal water and rivers, fish and fishers. You will
wade a small tidal flow in foggy silence where chinook and coho of
incredible strength come to the fly. You will see a lithe, silver
ballerina dance white-capped Stilliaguamish riffle water, and
ferocious Dean River steelhead destroy a fisher's bragged-on new fly
reel. You will smile as an angler on Isla Holbox off the Yucatan
hooks a giant tarpon without so much as a cast. You will encounter
the charge of a giant trevally and hear the guide intone, "Better he
take bonefish than come eat us." And always within beloved waters,
as with life itself, you will be touched by the uncertainty of
certainty.
"... has nothing on me when it comes to
chemical warfare. Fishing on the big water is good if the wind is
down. We see fish and jump plenty-catching the few we deserve. When
the wind is up we run to the mangroves and try for baby tarpon. ..."
ISBN-10: 1571882995
ISBN-13: 978-1571882998
The Big-Game Fishing Handbook by Len
Cacutt
"... of the deep.' Grey, who first fell
in love with tarpon fishing and then with the big-game fish he
encountered in the ..."
Book Description - 100 color photos 8 x 11 * Guide to big-game
saltwater species, tackle, techniques, boats, destinations
Beautifully illustrated in full color . This large, handsome
reference contains everything the aspiring big-game angler needs to
prepare for marlin, sailfish, tuna, sharks and dozens more saltwater
species.
Comprehensive in scope, it includes a brief history of the sport,
profiles of all the main species, explanation of big-game tackle,
bait, and equipment-including boats-and a guide to the big-game
fishing centers of the world, featuring a two-page world map.
Whether you're planning a trip or just dreaming, this book is a
treasure.
Len Cacutt, a lifelong fisherman, is author of the Collins
Encyclopedia of Fishing, British Freshwater Fishes, and several
other fishing titles. He lives in Surrey, England.
ISBN-10: 0811726738
ISBN-13: 978-0811726733
Tarpon on Fly by Donald Larmouth, Rob
Fordyce, and Flip Pallot
"... systematic comparison of both knots
over three full seasons of tarpon fishing showed a greater
percentage of hookups with the improved Homer ..."
Book Description - "There is nothing that you need to know
about tarpon and pursuing them with flies that is not contained in
this book."
-Flip Pallot, in the Foreword
Tarpon On Fly draws from two primary
sources-the observations and knowledge that come with Rob's nearly
20 years' experience as a professional tarpon fishing guide, and the
journals and the curiosity of lifelong fly fisherman Donald who came
late to tarpon fishing but has savored every hour of it. The
knowledge and experience of these two men has led to the definitive
book on fly-fishing for the Silver King. Tarpon On Fly includes:
in-depth coverage of tarpon biology and behavior; tackle; rigging
up; flies for tarpon; setting up to cast; aiming and casting;
retrieving; striking; fighting; guides and anglers; tournaments;
references; and so much more. Clear illustrations and photography
further enhance this classic. We couldn't have said it any better
than Flip.
About the Author - Donald Larmouth began fly-fishing in
saltwater after half a lifetime of freshwater fishing. A typical
“tourist angler” in many respects, his saltwater fishing experience
began with Flip Pallot in 1985, and he has fished with Rob Fordyce
yearly since 1991. Though chronically infested with tarpon fever, he
also fishes for snook, redfish, bonefish, jacks, and other saltwater
game fish—as well as for trout, steelhead, salmon, small mouth bass,
and many other freshwater species in the continental United States,
Alaska, British Columbia, Ontario, Labrador, England, Costa Rica,
and the Bahamas. He has also published articles in Salmon Trout
Steelheader magazine and wrote a biweekly fishing column in
Wisconsin’s Great Outdoors, drawing stories and anecdotes from
outdoor journals he has kept since childhood. A former Dean of Arts,
Sciences, and Graduate Programs, he retired in August 2000 as
Professor Emeritus in linguistics and scientific & technical
communication at the University of Wisconsin—Green Bay.
Captain Rob Fordyce is a professional
saltwater guide with nearly 20 years’ experience guiding anglers for
big tarpon as well as permit, bonefish, snook, and many other
saltwater gamefish. He grew up fishing in South Florida and the
Everglades and won a Master Angler Award while still in high school.
Widely regarded as one of the best tarpon guides in the Florida
Keys, he has won or placed among the top three finishers in more
than 20 premier tarpon fly tournaments, including the prestigious
Gold Cup Tarpon Fly Fishing Tournament, the Don Hawley Invitational
Tarpon Release Fly Tournament, and the Yamaha Outboards Women’s
World Tarpon Fly Championship, most recently winning the Hawley
tournament in June 2001 with angler John Tebbetts. He guides 300
days a year in a typical season and often presents seminars on
saltwater fishing to sportsmen’s clubs. He is also a consultant for
several boat and tackle manufacturers and recently produced a
knot-tying videotape, No Wimp Knots, especially for saltwater
fly-anglers. He has appeared frequently as a guide in saltwater
fishing television shows, including Captain Rick Murphy’s
Sportsmen’s Adventures on the Sunshine Cable Network, Shaw Grigsby’s
One More Cast on TNN, and Flip Pallot’s Walker’s Cay Chronicles on
ESPN.
ISBN-10: 1571882707
ISBN-13: 978-1571882707
Fish Fights: A Hall of Fame Quest by Bob
Rich
Book Description - One man's quest to
catch ten record big-game fish.
From the Back Cover
"A fishing challenge, a first, a Hall of Fame" are the baits used to
lure Bob "Bubba" Rich out onto the waters of south Florida and the
Bahamas. If he can catch ten of the most sought-after gamefish in
this mecca for saltwater sports fishing - the sailfish, barracuda,
bonefish, permit, black bass, wahoo, tarpon, dolphinfish, marlin,
and snook - he will become the first angler inducted into the
twenty-five-year-old Metropolitan South Florida Fishing Tournament
Hall of Fame.Fish Fights is a rollicking narrative of Rich's quest
to achieve this goal in just one year, although the award was set up
to honor lifetime achievement. With the Florida Keys, the
Everglades, and the islands of the Bahamas as his backdrop, Rich
chronicles his dogged pursuit of these elusive fish. Yet, this is no
mere fishing tale. It also recounts the history of conservation and
the development of a catch-and-release ethic by saltwater anglers.
Most important, though, it is a rich adventure with an intriguing
cast of characters, among them the intrepid Rich himself, the
taciturn Rusty, his conch fishing guide, and, of course, the
slippery fish with which he tangles.
ISBN-10: 1585742325
ISBN-13: 978-1585742325
Flyfisher's Guide to the Florida Keys
and the Everglades by Ben Taylor
Book Description - This is the most
comprehensive travel/flyfishing guidebook to be published on
flyfishing in the Keys. Captain Ben Taylor uses his profound
knowledge and experience to write a solid guidebook which covers the
Upper, Middle and Lower Keys, the Fringe Keys, Key Largo, the open
water of the Everglades, as well as the Marquesas and Dry Tortugas.
Fish included are Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Redfish, Snook, Seatrout,
Sharks in addition to illustrations for more than 25 game fish with
descriptions and tactics.
Included are over 120 detailed lake and
river maps showing lake depths, river access and areas of special
interest in addition to hatch charts, stream facts and recommended
flies and leaders, gear and tackle. Also includes information on
tides, charts, and Florida Keys ethics. In keeping with the
guidebook series, this book also includes essential travel
information such as accommodations, campgrounds, listings for fly
shops, boat rentals, vacation rentals, RV sites and campgrounds,
restaurants, car repair and rental, hospitals and much more.
About the Author
CAPTAIN BEN TAYLOR is the Keys Editor for Florida Sportsman Magazine
and internationally published as a writer and photographer. He
served on the state board of the Coastal Conservation Association of
Florida during the fund raising period for Florida’s hugely
successful inshore net ban campaign. He resides in Tavernier, FL.
ISBN-10: 1885106742
ISBN-13: 978-1885106742
Florida Fishing Information - snook, redfish, tarpon and more
fish as well as tips, baits, gear and the Venice ... Information has
information on fishing for snook, redfish, tarpon and more fish, as
well as weather, tips, baits, pictures and it is home to Venice
Florida's only Fishing Report!
Tarpon Fishing Tips from the Experts - Tarpon come to our area
from the gentle waters of the Gulf of Mexico as well as the depths
of the windswept Atlantic Ocean to engage in the annual prehistoric
spawning rites that regenerate their species. On a calm morning, it
is not uncommon to see dozens of fish "daisy chaining," or swimming
in tightly knit circles, with the males fertilizing the discharge of
egg-laden females. Marine biologists say that ripe females will lay
as many as one thousand eggs.
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