Weather Conditions

Air Temperature: 81°F Water Temperature: 81°F

Wind: 8 knots NNE Wave height: 1 ft

The Catch

Permit

Tarpon

Barracuda (Great)

Redfish

Summary

Fall is upon us here in the Lower Florida Keys. That means one thing. Backcountry Fishing.

Whether you are an experienced fly angler or a casual angler on spin, you are in for a treat when fishing in the back country waters of the Florida Keys.

Surrounded by mangroves and skinny water we call "the flats" it's a wonderland of fish.

Permit, bonefish, sharks, barracuda, redfish and tarpon are more than plentiful in the months of November through January.

Come aqua hunt this fall with us.

We are outfitted with fly rods, spin rods, bait, tackle, licenses, an 18ft. Hell's Bay with a new 115 Mercury. Stealthy and gets you close to the fish for that perfect shot.

Come experience the backcountry waters of the Florida Keys.

Book your trip with Boneafide Charters - 18' Hell's Bay Skiff

Fall is that magical time of the year when large schools of mullet and menhaden flood the inshore waters of South East Florida and found along beaches and inside Biscayne Bay in Miami. With the lack of annual storms we have had consistent weather for finding tarpon, bonefish, permit and mutton snapper.

Recently the evening fishing in the Fort Lauderdale area has provided consistent fishing for snook and tarpon of all sizes. Keith Kloss found this 20lb snook while drifting large live mullet along channel edges.

Biscayne Bay provided steady action on a cloudy day for the Boscia's with 2 permit and 2 bonefish coming boatside. Marine Artist Mark Johnson sight fished 2 feisty bonefish and had shots at permit. While live chumming channels yours truly was able to find plenty on mangrove and mutton snappers using menhaden flat-lined behind the boat.

Follow me on Facebook at Carl Ball or Instagram at @awolfishing.

Like any good love affair, chasing tarpon in the estuarine forests of Gabon is meant to leave you at least a little broken; racked with boatloads of longing, lashings of self-doubt and maybe even a smidgen of regret. Chewed up and spat out by the Silver King, veteran saltie Mc Coetzer reveals how at least he found succour and good company on a recent trip.

What's got an in-depth interview with filmmaker Rolf Nylinder, Fatties & Mombakkies with Jazz Kuschke and Andy Coetzee, The 40-Year-Old (flats) Virgin photo-comic with Warwick Leslie and Andre Van Wyk, Jungle Fever in Gabon with Mc Coetzer, High 5s with Nic Schwerdtfeger of Norwegian Flyfishers Club - River Gaula, a Lifer with Marcelo Pérez of Tsimane Lodges, an unusual Wishlist Fish with Jo Stephenson Fishing & Flies, Fluff with Platon Trakoshis, the Blue Ribbon Umgeni with Andrew Fowler, plenty of new gear, a new rum from Flip Pallot and Oliver White, beers, beats and more?

You got it Miss Marple. Issue 11 of The Mission is is live online and free for our fans all over the world while free print copies will shortly be winging their way to stores and clubs across South Africa.

Can we get a hell yeah?

Of all the different species of fish that can be caught here along the Nature Coast of Florida, Tarpon are by far the most sought after. Anglers from all over the world continue to flock to the crystal clear flats surrounding Homosassa and Chassahowitzka this time of year in search of one last shot at landing a fish of a Life Time. So what makes Tarpon fishing so popular? After all this is a catch and release species with no table value what so ever. To put it simply they get big, they fight hard, they jump and they can be caught in shallow water (this is where you would drop the mic).

Seasonal anglers visiting Homosassa know that it’s not a matter of “IF” you are going to hook into a fish of a Life Time it’s only a matter of “WHEN”. Targeting fish ranging from 100-180lbs is the fishing pinnacle for most visiting anglers and challenging fish of this size during some of Florida’s warmest weather requires determination and stamina. Anglers armed with 12wt fly rods and reels with enough backing to cover 2 football fields will have one more month to try and pull of this feat as most of our Tarpon begin migrating out of the area. Late season flies of choice are all big EP Baitfish patterns in Black and Purple or Black and Red. The bigger the fly the better right now as most of these fish are gearing up to feed one last time before heading to cooler offshore waters to spawn.

Speaking of warm Florida weather do you know the best way to stay cool in July? Try Scalloping. It’s like going on an underwater Easter egg hunt that results in a bag of tasty scallops to cook up. Here along the Nature Coast we’re fortunate enough to have 2 of the best scalloping destinations found any where in Florida right in our backyard. The waters off of Crystal River and Homosassa normally run in the range of 3 to 6 feet making this the perfect location for Scallopers of all ages and skill levels.

When scalloping, finding areas of sea grass with sandy potholes is key. Also, not all sea grasses are productive for finding Scallops. Grasses that are shorter and thinner that grow in white sand typically will offer better scalloping. A scallop looks like the Shell gas station sign with a dark top shell and a white bottom with 20 pairs of little blue eyes. When you see them in the grass the darker side is up and the opposite when they are in the sand most of the time. Florida regulations allow 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell, or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person with a maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell, or half-gallon bay scallop meat per vessel. The season is from July 1 to Sept. 24 and all you need to enjoy this awesome under water activity is a mask, snorkel, fins, and a catch bag to put scallops in.

Scalloping Tip: Visiting Scallopers will find that the last part of the outgoing tide and the first part of the incoming tide are ideal for finding Scallops. The lesser tide will position sea grasses in a more vertical setting giving up Scallops hiding closer to the sandy bottom. This is also a great time to hit those deeper spots that can be more challenging to get down to.

Capt. Kyle Messier

(352) 634-4002

kylemessier@yahoo.com

WWW.FLORIDAFISHINGADVENTURES.COM

WWW.CRYSTALRIVER-FLYFISHING.COM

Get your game on folks its finally tarpon fishing season here along the Nature Coast! Windy conditions have prevailed during the start of our season in Crystal River and Homosassa as everyone gets ramped up to target the Silver King on the flats, in the rivers, and rolling through the ditches as they migrate their way up the State of Florida. With May’s new moon finally behind us the tough days of getting a bite on a nice tarpon should diminish as each sliver of the moon comes back.

Opening up this first week of June our local winds are pushing 10-15mph out of the West. This pattern is extremely atypical for this time of year, as extreme tropical weather has established itself over the western Gulf of Mexico for the last week. The good news is that it’s looking like the consistent winds of May will finally weaken this week allowing for more of a typical sunny slick calm weather pattern to sight fish for the Silver King. Thankfully the major migration is in full swing and the good news is that the fish are extremely hungry.

Here in Homosassa most captains are hard at it fishing 7-8 hour trips to ensure numerous shots on both spin and fly for out clients. Even with the higher than normal winds most Tarpon guides have still been able to target tarpon, albeit baby tarpon in the Crystal and Withlacoochee Rivers. Fishing small black Clouser minnows and green Murdich minnows on lighter 7wt and 8wt gear has been a blast landing tarpon ranging from 10-25lbs. As much as all tarpon anglers love the solid hook up of a 100lb fish, it still a blast watching a baby tarpons acrobatics. In most cases these smaller fish jump more frequently and on those windy days when anglers can’t get out on the flats, those jumps are what helps to cure those Silver King blues.

Many think that June is the end all for tarpon fishing season here in Crystal River and Homosassa but most anglers would be shocked to know that the months of May, June, July, August and even January are all great months to catch Nature Coast tarpon. Certainly the earlier months are better as fresh fish seem to swim onto our flats everyday but tarpon fishing in early July while all of the visitors are scalloping can be just as productive. The later in the summer you go tarpon fishing the better chance you have at our Nature Coast fishing slam where we try for Tarpon, Redfish and Snook all in the same day.

Capt. Kyle Messier

(352) 634-4002

kylemessier@yahoo.com

WWW.FLORIDAFISHINGADVENTURES.COM

WWW.CRYSTALRIVER-FISHING.COM

The unique variables and ever-changing conditions of fishing are what set it apart from most other sports. Basketball goals don’t move, football fields are basically the same, and tennis courts never change. Fishing on the other hand, is constantly affected by the wind, tide, moon, sun, barometric pressure, temperature, and other hidden variables.

The flight of a golf ball might be affected by the wind direction and velocity, but the placement of the cup isn’t determined by the moon phase. So how does one master the art of angling? The truth is that NO one ever does. Productive anglers learn to instinctively read the conditions and act on what is within their control. Right now staying flexible might be the one constant. Nature Coast anglers will find that arming themselves with an assortment of rods, baits, and lures to cover several scenarios on the same outing is essential.

During our latest week of trips my anglers found great success catching a variety of species while drifting for Speckled Trout around the grass flats extending from Crystal River and into Homosassa. Jigging Mirrolue Lil Jon’s and Berkley Gulp! Shrimp led to some great catches of Spanish Mackerel, Redfish, Flounder, Pompano, Black Drum and the intended target Speckled Trout. For those anglers looking for something on the larger side while making long drifts try suspending a live Pinfish under a cork to entice a strike from either a hungry Snook or Cobia. The time is NOW to be ready for the unexpected.

Backcountry Report:

Anglers venturing into the backcountry waters of Ozello have found some impressive numbers of Redfish in recent weeks. As these Redfish schools start to swell in numbers and size most anglers will find great success following the mullet schools from one mangrove laden shoreline to the next. Targeting Redfish with live shrimp and pinfish will surely draw bites but for those anglers looking for a challenge Fly Fishing for Redfish is about as good as it gets this month. During a recent week long stretch of fly fishing I had the pleasure of guiding Orrin Dayton to numerous shots at tailing fish in the extreme shallows. Although tailing fish are not unusual for the Nature Coast the amount of fish that we saw over our days was truly impressive.

What’s up next?

Tarpon time begins next month! Our long awaited Tarpon migration will occur during the months of May and June and anglers will be coming to Homosassa from all over the World to target some of the largest Tarpon on the planet. Although Fly fishing is the preferred method for targeting these massive fish, spin fishing anglers will find opportunities as well. Anglers can expect numerous shots at fish ranging from 80-150 pounds and the possibility of putting a fish in the air exceeding 180lbs is a real possibility.

Capt. Kyle Messier

(352) 634-4002

kylemessier@yahoo.com

WWW.FLORIDAFISHINGADVENTURES.COM

WWW.CRYSTALRIVER-FLYFISHING

What's got an incredible profile on fly fisherman, chef and near death experience comeback kid Eduardo Garcia, a Lifer with Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn, mythical Garden Route forest trout with Jazz Kuschke, a glimpse backstage at Astove Atoll with Kyle Reed, Taimen and Mongolian miles with James Topham, brook trout and eels in New Zealand with Leonard Flemming of Feathers and Fluoro, a DIY Death March in Oz with Conrad Botes, a High 5s with globetrotting guide Francois Botha, fat Namibian Wishlist Fish Steenbras with Richard Wale, Gabon with Tudor Caradoc-Davies, an Emerger with Tim Leppan, the Reaper with Alec Gerbec of Alphonse Fishing Company, Texas-flavoured beats from Howler Brothers, beers from Drifter Brewing Company, loads of gear and a whole lot more?

You got it Magnum. Issue 8 of The Mission is live online.

What's got an epic GEAR OF THE YEAR feature, an interview with Fly Fishing Nation's Stephan Gian Dombaj, a High 5s with Taba 'West' Phiri of Kalahari Outventures, 'Two boys and the other yellow' with James Mason Topham and Craig Pappin, a visit to Kamchatka with Dean Oelschig, a Wishlist Fish caught by Meredith McCord, a Lifer with Danie Pienaar of South African National Parks, Canepoon with Keith Rose-Innes of Alphonse Fishing Company and Troy Jacques of Thomas & Thomas Fly Fishing, a contentious loan with Brendan Becker and Nic Isabelle of FlyCastaway, Enter Sandman with Ras Kolnikov and Mc Coetzer, A Motivational Carrot with Swift Fly Fishing, the ultimate fly fishing mountain bike with Salsa Cycles, Fluff with Joe Blados, gear, beer, beats and more?

You got it Jessica Fletcher. Issue 6 of The Mission (our birthday issue) is now available online for any of our peeps all over the world, while print copies are winging their way to stores and clubs across South Africa.

Cover: April Vokey - Anchored giving new meaning to a braided loop. Photo: Stephan Gian Dombaj.

Capt Jerry here back on the water after Irma's visit to the FL keys fishing is starting to normalize again and the fish are hungry. I had a half day trip the other morning and we crushed the baby Tarpon. These little guys are great for fly anglers who are looking to start fly fishing in saltwater sick eats and acrobatic jumps are hard to beat!

What's got an exclusive with Lefty Kreh, a Lifer with Marco Pierre White, a High 5s with James Mason Topham, Sean Christie's Fishing Without Honour, a demilitarized zone with Platon Trakoshis, Low-Riding Avocado Salma Hayak with Andre Van Wyk, Da Riddim Stick with Swift Fly Fishing, SpongeBob Kobpants, Competition Fishing with David Karpul, Wishlist fishing for Gurnard, gear from Thomas & Thomas Fly Fishing, Sage Fly Fishing, Fish G.Loomis, Rio, Odyssey, Flymen Fishing Company, Xplorer fly fishing, Loop Fly Tackle, Redington, Maui Jim, beers, beats and more?

You got it Kojak. Issue 5 of The Mission is now available online for any of our peeps all over the world, while print copies are winging their way to stores across South Africa.

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is pleased to partner with Nautilus Reels to host the Nautilus Reels Micro-Film Contest, open to professional and amateur filmmakers. We encourage anglers of all ages and experience levels to submit their best micro-films telling stories from the world of fishing and conservation. The top videos, selected by BTT and Nautilus staff, will be played and voted on during the Nautilus Reels Art + Micro-Film Festival on Friday, November 10th at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s 6th International Science Symposium in Weston, Florida.

Each winner will receive a *Nautilus reel* along with other prizes.

Rules:

1) Two Divisions: Amateur and Pro (anyone who has submitted videos to one of the film tours, is sponsored, or anyone defined as such by staff).

2) Suggested Themes:

Conservation: What does BTT mean to you?

“I'd rather be bonefishing”: Open to all species and habitats - what do you fish for when you can’t stalk bonefish on the flats?

The Rookie: Fishing with the next generation.

3) Videos must be no longer than one minute. Each contestant can submit only one video.

4) To be eligible, the contestant *MUST* post his or her video to Instagram, tag Nautilus Reels and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, and use the hashtag: #BTTSymposium

The filmmaker whose micro-film receives the most likes on Instagram between July 7, 2017 and November 10, 2017 will win a limited edition BTT Simms Headwaters Tackle Bag.

Submit your video by emailing it to BTT Director of Development Mark Rehbein mark@bonefishtarpontrust.org

Sitting at the doorstep of the Florida Keys, Miami is the most convenient stop off to fulfill that flats slam dream. A thirty minute ride from Miami International airport gets you to Key Biscayne where the commute to world class flats fishing is literally only minutes away. Check out my website for more detailed information.

The Heat is on here along the Nature Coast. With average high temperatures hovering around 90° most anglers and especially fish will be in search of a reprieve from the summer heat. For those anglers looking for the best fishing action, early morning departures are a must this time of year as most of the best fishing action will occur during the early morning low light hours. Snook, Tarpon, Speckled Trout, and Redfish will continue to be our top targets this month as they actively feed early and often on a variety of live baits, artificial lures, and fly’s.

For those anglers that prefer casting topwater plugs NOW! is Prime Time for some exciting surface explosions. Early mornings and overcast days are perfect for targeting Snook, Speckled Trout, and even Tarpon on topwaters. These three species primarily feed on prey that reside on the upper portion of the water column making these baits ideal for targeting these big fish on the surface. Walk the dog style lures such as Mirrolure Top Dogs, Heddon Zara Spooks and my personal favorite Rapala Skitterwalks are prime top water baits for this time of year. The walk the dog motion of these lures drives surface feeding fish nuts as they mimic an injured baitfish. Most of these lures come in 3”-5” patterns and as the old saying goes “Big Fish like Big Lures”.

As the heat of the day kicks in savvy anglers will continue to have options both in and out of the water to fill a cooler. Anglers that are still interested in bending a rod once that sun comes up need to look no further than our near shore waters. As the sun rises and the water begins to warm both Speckled Trout and Tarpon will begin to move out of the backcountry and onto our grass flats. The deeper water combined with a faster current allows these flats to stay cooler during the summer heat. With most of our near shore depths averaging around 6-15ft of water these areas are perfect for free lining a pinfish or pigfish under a cork or blind casting Mirrolure Mirrodines or Lil Jon’s. Just don’t be surprised if you are geared up for Speckled Trout and a Tarpon grabs your bait. Prepare for the unexpected!!

SCALLOP REPORT

If the summer heat is to unbearable to continue on with a great day of fishing think about jumping in the water for some of the best Scalloping Action found anywhere in Florida. The crystal clear waters off Crystal River and Homosassa are considered by many to be the “Mecca” for harvesting tasty bay scallops. Bay Scallops prefer our local waters due in part to the pristine conditions of our grass flats and sponge beds. These two distinctive bottom landscapes are highly sought out by scallop hunters as they make great habitats for scallops to live and feed.

Scalloping the Nature Coast is a great family friendly activity that everyone is sure to enjoy. The shallow waters ranging from 3-5ft are ideal for young and older swimmers and if its planned right scalloping during the low or slack tide will yield the best results.

With so much fun going on in and out of the water NOW is a great time to hit the water for a great outdoor adventure.

Capt. Kyle Messier

(352) 634-4002

kylemessier@yahoo.com

WWW.FLORIDAFISHINGADVENTURES.COM

WWW.CRYSTALRIVER-FLYFISHING.COM

Fly Fishing for Tarpon in Boca Grande

MAY 17, 2017 BY BENJAMIN CARMICHAEL

tarponflyfishingbocagrande.bencarmichaelweb (3 of 91)

On the hunt for the elusive tarpon.

Well, it was a great time together. We learned a few things. It was good family time.

We’re all familiar with the excuses that follow a good skunking; they focus on the positive, and emphasize the bonding and stories that come from unfulfilled expectations. They’re the précis of a half time talk after a good whomping.

And so it was on the plane ride back from Boca Grande, Florida, where we had gone in search in tarpon, or for those with a liberal arts degree and aren’t afraid to show it, a megalops atlanticus. But all we came home with with a megalackofiscus.

Our first trip here, a few years ago, had been a success: we caught a 95 lbs tarpon the first day (see my post here) and, being blown out on the second day, chased fish in the interior. We felt triumphant, and determined for more.

To read the full story, visit: http://newenglandonthefly.com/2017/05/17/fly-fishing-tarpon-boca-grande/

WOW! It’s hard to believe that we’re already heading into the second week of June and only a couple weeks away from our “World Famous” Scallop season. Before Nature Coast anglers start looking ahead to Scalloping local spin and fly anglers are still finding “World Class” Tarpon fishing along the shallow grass flats ranging from Crystal River to Homosassa. With the Nature Coast Tarpon season running from May 1st-July 1st now is the time to get on some of the Best Big Time Tarpon fishing found anywhere in the WORLD!!

The later part of our May Tarpon season was highlighted with great weather and tons of Large Tarpon showing up early on our local flats. The cool foggy mornings of May have quietly given way to the heat, humidity, and afternoon showers that June Poon Chasers are accustomed to. Most anglers visiting the area this time of year will be hoping for Chamber of Commerce weather days but most Tarpon fishermen know that it’s the impending weather days that create the most memorable fishing experiences. Such was the case when I had the opportunity to fish with Neil and Sean Forest who made the trip down from Tallahassee, FL recently. Both Neil and Sean have fished with me in the past and Sean actually landed his first Tarpon on fly with me 2 years ago. Over our two days of fishing we were dealt with every weather condition possible in Florida. Wind, rain, clouds, fog and calm seas were all conditions that we experienced and surprisingly the fluctuating weather pattern was a catalyst for two incredible days of fishing. Over a our two day stretch we averaged close to 30 shots a day with Sean putting 4 fish in the air before landing a beautiful 120lb Tarpon that would be considered a trophy by most fly anglers.

The changing weather patterns of June will mean changes coming to the migration patterns of our Nature Coast Tarpon. Baby Tarpon will start to become more prevalent in our backcountry waters and many bass fishermen will be shocked to find baby Tarpon staging around many of the same productive docks found in both the Crystal River and Homosassa Rivers. The real changes will be evident in the large migratory Tarpon that are roaming the deeper flats at this time. As water temperatures steadily climb towards 90° most fish will begin to find new foraging grounds on shallower flats closer to mangrove laden islands. The St. Martins Keys will become a prominent feeding ground for many Tarpon looking for one last meal before heading offshore to spawn. Savvy anglers will find free lining Live Pinfish, Pigfish, Whitebait, and Blue Crabs to hungry Tarpon will be a sure bet. Fly anglers will continue to have a plethora of opportunities as long as the offshore grasses stay offshore. With NOAA’s long term forecast calling for east winds for the next 10 days most of the flotsam should continue holding further offshore allowing for Black and Purple Toads and Chartruese Megalopsicles to continue to be the best bets for flies.

SCALLOP SEASON 2017 BEGINS JULY 1, 2017

BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE TODAY!!

Capt. Kyle Messier

(352) 634-4002

kylemssier@yahoo.com

WWW.FLORIDAFISHINGADVENTURES.COM

WWW.CRYSTALRIVER-FLYFISHING.COM

WOW! It’s hard to believe that we’re already heading into the second week of June and only a couple weeks away from our “World Famous” Scallop season. Before Nature Coast anglers start looking ahead to Scalloping local spin and fly anglers are still finding “World Class” Tarpon fishing along the shallow grass flats ranging from Crystal River to Homosassa. With the Nature Coast Tarpon season running from May 1st-July 1st now is the time to get on some of the Best Big Time Tarpon fishing found anywhere in the WORLD!!

The later part of our May Tarpon season was highlighted with great weather and tons of Large Tarpon showing up early on our local flats. The cool foggy mornings of May have quietly given way to the heat, humidity, and afternoon showers that June Poon Chasers are accustomed to. Most anglers visiting the area this time of year will be hoping for Chamber of Commerce weather days but most Tarpon fishermen know that it’s the impending weather days that create the most memorable fishing experiences. Such was the case when I had the opportunity to fish with Neil and Sean Forest who made the trip down from Tallahassee, FL recently. Both Neil and Sean have fished with me in the past and Sean actually landed his first Tarpon on fly with me 2 years ago. Over our two days of fishing we were dealt with every weather condition possible in Florida. Wind, rain, clouds, fog and calm seas were all conditions that we experienced and surprisingly the fluctuating weather pattern was a catalyst for two incredible days of fishing. Over a our two day stretch we averaged close to 30 shots a day with Sean putting 4 fish in the air before landing a beautiful 120lb Tarpon that would be considered a trophy by most fly anglers.

The changing weather patterns of June will mean changes coming to the migration patterns of our Nature Coast Tarpon. Baby Tarpon will start to become more prevalent in our backcountry waters and many bass fishermen will be shocked to find baby Tarpon staging around many of the same productive docks found in both the Crystal River and Homosassa Rivers. The real changes will be evident in the large migratory Tarpon that are roaming the deeper flats at this time. As water temperatures steadily climb towards 90° most fish will begin to find new foraging grounds on shallower flats closer to mangrove laden islands. The St. Martins Keys will become a prominent feeding ground for many Tarpon looking for one last meal before heading offshore to spawn. Savvy anglers will find free lining Live Pinfish, Pigfish, Whitebait, and Blue Crabs to hungry Tarpon will be a sure bet. Fly anglers will continue to have a plethora of opportunities as long as the offshore grasses stay offshore. With NOAA’s long term forecast calling for east winds for the next 10 days most of the flotsam should continue holding further offshore allowing for Black and Purple Toads and Chartruese Megalopsicles to continue to be the best bets for flies.

SCALLOP SEASON 2017 BEGINS JULY 1, 2017

BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE TODAY!!

Capt. Kyle Messier

(352) 634-4002

kylemssier@yahoo.com

WWW.FLORIDAFISHINGADVENTURES.COM

WWW.CRYSTALRIVER-FLYFISHING.COM

Finally! Tarpon Time is here along the Nature Coast. This long awaited season has been highly anticipated since the banner season of 2016 came to a close last July. With all of the warmer than usual weather this winter myself and many of the other local Tarpon Guides from the area had all wondered what this season would bring. Would the Tarpon show up early this year? Would the season run extremely short? Would the fish even show up at all? These were just a few of the many questions we had all wondered after the unusually warm winter and dry spring we faced this season.

The Good news is that the Tarpon never strayed from their relatively reliable migratory pattern. Yes! There were a few schools of Large Tarpon that showed up during the later portions of April only to be shell shocked by a couple late season cold fronts. That’s the beauty of the checks and balances system in the world of Tarpon fishing. A warm winter is usually met with a late season cold front that keeps the Tarpons northern bound migratory pattern in check.

May 15th symbolically has been the starting date for what I would consider the Prime Time for Tarpon fishing the Nature Coast. Its during this time frame that most of the lingering cold fronts have a tough time making it this far south and it’s also this time when our local water temperatures reach that magical 74°-76° water temperature. Water temperatures are critical for Tarpon as they are considered tropical fish that require a certain water temperature to feel safe and actively allow them to feed. The cooler the water temperature the slower a Tarpons metabolism will be. The higher the water temperature the higher a Tarpons metabolism will be for feeding. When our local air temperatures find the 90° degree mark and our water temperatures hit 80° look out Homosassa, The Tarpon World will be on FIRE!!!

At this time visiting anglers are finding great Tarpon on fly action in and around the Homosassa and Chassahowitzka areas. These areas of lightly colored sandy bottom and vast areas of grass flats make up the perfect staging grounds for hungry Tarpon looking for one last meal before heading offshore to spawn. Shrimp, Crabs, Pinfish, Pigfish, Needlefish, Threadfin Herring, and Ballyhoo all make up a Smorgasbord of prey options for Nature Coast Tarpon. Flies of choice for this time of year are Black and Purple Toads, Burnt Orange EP Baitfish Flies, and Chartreuse Megalopsicls.

As the season progresses and these Tarpon continue on their migratory path up the Nature Coast bait fishing anglers in Crystal River and Yankeetown will find Tarpon cruising just offshore of some of the most westerly islands. Mangrove Pt. in Crystal River and Porpoise Pt. in Yankeetown are two great areas for those anglers that are interested in tossing small crabs and pinfish to Tarpon. The key when fishing these areas is to look for and spot rolling fish. Rolling fish typically are on a migratory mission when these reach these areas so anglers will need to get way ahead of the traveling fish and gently present their bait’s of choice. Patience is key and often the bite of a Tarpon can be very faint. I prefer using 60lb Fluorocarbon leaders tied on to a 4/0 extra heavy wire circle hook. The circle hook does wonders for taking the guessing game out of a Tarpon Bite.

Captains Tip: Just because one or two fish are spotted rolling doesn’t mean that there are only one or two fish in a school. It’s not uncommon to find 100 fish schools this time of year. Approaching traveling fish from a distance is key when targeting Tarpon this time of year. Electric motors or push poles are a must.

Capt. Kyle Messier

(352) 634-4002

kylemessier@yahoo.com

WWW.FLORIDAFISHINGADVENTURES.COM

WWW.CRYSTALRIVERFLYFISHING.COM

From the guys who brought you Damnation, Denali, and the Kamchatka Steelhead Project comes this epic film about tarpon season. 120 Days follows David Mangum's lifelong passion for what many call the greatest and most challenging fish to catch on fly.

Stop what you're doing, go full screen, and turn up the volume. This is a truly fantastic film from this years F3T line up, and will be plaguing the minds of any fisherman for years to come!

Tarpon Fishing Florida Keys

Are you ready to get on the tarpon? It's time to gear up and get ready to stalk the silver kings of the sea.

Fly rods✔️

flies tied✔️

Crabs ✔️

Minn Kota I pilot✔️

We are ready for you to get down to the Florida Keys and get on the poons.

Peak season is April and May with the highlight of the full moon to induce the famous palolo worm hatch.

If you have never witnessed drunk tarpon on palolo worms, treat yourself to a southbound ticket to the Florida Keys.

It's a definite bucket list item.

Hope to get you out fishing this spring, you will have a blast!

Congratulations to the Founder and President of DIYFishing, Rod Hamilton, on releasing his second fishing book "Fly-Fishing The Yucatan." Rod's first book, "Do It Yourself Bonefishing", was a great success so lets hope this book gets just as much love! Fly Fishing the Yucatan offers nitty gritty specifics, including details such as exactly what rods, lines, reels and flies are must-haves for the angler. This book could not have been completed without the help of Rhett Schober and Nick Denbow. Thank you to everyone who has supported DIYFishing and continues to do so. You are turning dreams into realities.

We would like to say thanks to everyone who spoke out against the sale of our public lands. If it wasn't for public land our art would not be possible. With our art we work on combining fish with a landscape. It's not always about how many or how big of fish you catch. Remember to take a look around you. The scenery can be just as beautiful if not more spectacular then the fish. Be aware of where that fish took you to catch it. And remember keep it public. Www.troutbandits.com

For the third consecutive year in a row, it has been the hottest year on record. This is no coincidence. Humans are causing and accelerating climate change at unprecedented rates and the result of our actions is having serious negative impacts on fisheries across the planet. Additionally, we live on a planet with finite resources, and with a population that continues to grow, it is absolutely necessary to take action now. But what can you do? If you are a consumer, you can choose to buy products from brands that are socially and environmentally responsible. If you are a brand, you can begin to minimize your environmental footprint and make more responsible products.

The reality is that twenty years ago we wouldn't even be having this discussion, but times have changed, thanks to the internet and social media, and now consumers can find just about anything on a company or product. They are more educated and are demanding more socially and environmentally responsible products. In fact, there are many studies that now show that consumers are willing to pay more for responsible products and and remain loyal to brands with purpose. As the market becomes saturated with new brands with similar products, it is more important than ever to differentiate and let consumers know that your brand actually cares.

It is also critical for the successful brands of the 21st Century to minimize their own impacts on climate change if meaningful progress is going to be made towards protecting fisheries for future generations.

As an industry, fly fishing depends on a healthy planet and healthy fisheries for its survival. I believe the fly fishing industry has a massive opportunity to become the world's first sustainable industry, which will not only help individual businesses, but protect what we all love so much.

I hope you enjoy this article, and for the record, I am openly challenging the fly-fishing industry to become the world's first sustainable industry! The good news is...if we act NOW we can make sure the fly-fishing industry stays alive for many generations to come because no fish = no fly-fishing industry.

Tarpon season in the keys

Every spring in Florida and the keys , we get to witness one of the most spectacular and exciting angling events in the fishing world: the annual tarpon migration. These fish begin their migratory journey south to the Florida keys, for their annual spawning ritual, coming from places as far north as Virginia in the Atlantic coast and Texas in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Starting around early March, millions of fish start flooding the inlets, passes, bridges and backcountry areas of south Florida and the Everglades. By mid April, these fish start moving out of those staging areas in big groups and begin their southbound journey along the ocean side shorelines and flat edges of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

While traveling southbound, These fish stop at the many bridges, passes, banks and backcountry basins that divide the gulf from the Atlantic to feed and rest, providing a myriad of opportunities for fisherman. By late May-early June most fish have already spawned and will start moving back up north to all the places where they came from.

There is nothing more exciting than watching a school of tarpon swimming over gin clear water coming right at you, or a tarpon laying motionless in a backcountry edge or basin while your guide maneuvers the boat on the pushpole to give you that perfect angle to capitalize on your shot. Without a doubt, this is one of the most challenging forms of fishing there is, as these traveling fish are not in a feeding mode but rather into a migratory pattern. You almost have to put the fly or lure right on their faces in order to trigger a reaction bite.

Tarpon are by far my favorite fish to target and Needless to say, I look forward to spring time every year. From April through early July, I find myself in the keys, fishing mostly fly fisherman during the day and running a few bait trips at late afternoon, into the night.

During any given day, we throw flies at the traveling schools of tarpon in the ocean side, travel to the Everglades backcountry to throw flies and plugs at rolling and laid up tarpon or drift live crabs and mullet in the bridges and passes that divide the Atlantic from the gulf. We have a constant traffic of fish and is not uncommon to see a couple hundreds or even thousands during any given fishing day. It is safe to say that there is no other place in the world to sight fish for tarpon like the Florida keys.

Tarpon season is the busiest time of the year for guides in south Florida and the keys. Most tarpon guides in the keys have a long time repeating clientele and are booked a year in advance by the same clients, year after year. Do not expect to find an open guide during prime tarpon time if you don't book your trips months in advance. Most fisherman book their guides for several weeks or days in a row so it doesn't take many people to max out a fishing guide's calendar during the season. That being said, it is absolutely necessary to book early.

Anglers from all over the world flock to the keys in the spring to try their luck at the mighty silver king. Although I have to honestly say, the word "luck" has minimum influence in this game, specially when it comes to flyfishing. Fishing for migratory tarpon in the clear waters of the keys demands casting ability and fishing skills that are only obtained with practice and time on the water. If you have never done this and never have picked up a rod bigger than a 9wt, do not expect to show up to the boat without previous preparation and have your guide do the magic for you.

If that is your case, start practicing your casting several weeks or months before the trip, book at least 3 days with the same guide and keep realistic expectations. Tarpon fishing is not a numbers game. During any given day you might have over 40 shots at fish, see a couple hundreds and only get a couple or more to eat, depending on your expertise and casting ability. Then some days you get the opposite, the fish won't push as good, the weather won't cooperate and shots will be few in between. You will need to take full advantage of those few shots and make them count. It also takes experience and skill to learn how to spot fish, present the flies, properly feed the fish, set the hook and clear the line. Once you hook one, you will also need to use the proper fighting techniques to break the will of a 100 pound animal attached to a fly rod, in the least amount of time.

You need to be able to properly double haul and cast 50 to 70 feet of line with a maximum of 3 false cast. It's almost always windy in the keys. In fact, the fish are less spooky and eat way better when the wind blows so you will need to be able to cast during windy and lousy weather conditions. Being able to develop line speed by proper double hauling is imperative and the only way you will be able to handle windy days. Tarpon fishing in the keys, as well as permit and bonefish demands your A game. Do not take previous casting training and preparation lightly. Practice your casting before the trip, not on the boat when the fish are passing in front of you.

This may sound complicated at first but as you do it, with the help and coaching of your guide, your odds of success will greatly increase. the reward of watching a 100 pound plus silvery animal, eat a 3 inch fly, in clear shallow water, and then sky rocket after ripping 200 yards of line off your reel, make it all worth it. It's a very compelling game and when you get it done, puts you at the pinnacle of the angling world.

I am a certified fly casting instructor (IFFF) and I have been passionately pursuing these fish at both ends of the skiff for several years. I can help you tune up your casting skills and guide you to the tarpon experience of your life.

As I'm writing this, I have open 2 days in April (22-23) 5 days open in May (17th through 21st) and 2 weeks in June. All prime tarpon time during the heart of the season in the keys.

Contact me and I'll be more than happy to help you make your tarpon dreams come true.

Tight lines and bow to the silver king!!

Capt Alex

www.silverkingcharters.com

Imagine a world where the jungle meets the coast and the fly fishing is incredible. That's Costa Rica. Follow angler's Mark Martin and Alex Beck as they attempt the impossible, Costa Rica's first Grand Slam. What is typically thought of as primarily a great tarpon fishery, Captain Mark has discovered untouched waters which hold permit and bonefish. But after a week of jumping and loosing many 100+ pound tarpon, they find themselves with a chance to make history. The only thing standing in their way... the giant tarpon that have given them nothing but trouble all week. Come along for the ride to see if history will be made. Only at IF4 in 2017!

Filmmaker: Capture Adventure Media & Anglers Eye Media

The election is over and the draining of Lake Okeechobee is stopping for now, but this is not the time for complacency. We need to press on and continue demanding solutions that will prevent these types of environmental catastrophes from ever happening again in the future. It is our responsibility to the state of Florida, our environment and the generations that come after us.

Set in the verdant hills above the Caribbean coast of southern Belize, Belcampo is a sanctuary from the everyday world. The definition of agritourism-chic: a Jungle Lodge, organic farm and a 12,000-acre nature reserve, Belcampo Belize offers the best in local food and culture, saltwater fly-fishing, active adventures, wildlife viewing and world-class hospitality. Whether you want to catch a permit on fly or spend time hiking, bird-watching, kayaking, horseback riding or learning to make chocolate on Belcampo's farm, there is truly something for everyone here.

The way you live your life, survive the work week and react to the conditions on the water say a lot about you and can make you fall into certain categories. Whether you’re more like a bass or a tarpon isn’t up to us, but who you are.

This is a serious thing to consider. What if you’ve been living your whole life thinking you’re like a regal rainbow trout only to find out that you’re really more like a feral musky that EATS rainbow trout for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That could create quite the existential crisis. Proceed with caution, we’re not responsible for identifying the species you truly belong to, that’s all you.

Practicing proper catch and release is an important part of being a good steward of the flats fisheries. How you handle fish in a catch and release fishery has an impact, and can make a difference in whether a fish survives or not post-release. Just because a fish swims away from the boat doesn't mean they are in the clear!

Read on for some great tips based primarily on our research on bonefish, which can also be applied to tarpon, permit and other flats species.