Florida Update

I have been guiding on the Florida Keys now for over 15 years and I can honestly say this has been one of the best season ever for both numbers and size of fish. For those of you who have been out with me will know that due to the economic climate which is far worst in America than at home has resulted in a major reduction on the fishing pressure, which consequently has resulted in a huge increase in our results. 

The year began with a bang with Tim Crew and family. In their time fishing, we managed 26 big Tarpon, as everyone caught a Tarpon up to 170LB with both David and Tim Crew each landing one around the 180lb mark. However, that was not all we even found time to land sharks over 200lb and Stingrays to 120lb, not bad for a quick trip to the Florida Keys. The most successful methods have been with both live and dead mullet along with drifting live crabs. However, I still believe the most exciting way to catch these huge Tarpon is with live baits, just the sheer excitement as the mullet start to panic with the approaching Tarpon. As an angler you can feel and sometimes I swear even taste the tension as you just know there just going to be one huge explosion followed by a screaming reel. 

This has been the first year that we changed the format to set weeks with 5 days guided fishing (Monday to Friday) I was a little concerned in the beginning but jugging buy the results and your comments / feedback it has proved to be for most a winning formula. Therefore, it will come as no surprise we are planning the same for 2010 season. 

As I said, the year started well and has continued to; along with the Tarpon, we have had many double figure Bonefish and some nice Permit up to 40lb. I believe it will take the Florida Keys sometime to recover from the economic decline as many guides have sold their boats and retired from guiding all together, so if you have ever considered fishing the Keys you will not find a better time than now. 

So far, we have only agreed and released the summer dates, so if you are thinking about returning or booking your first trip out to the Florida Keys, please be quick as we only have space for a maximum of four anglers per week. 

I look forward in seeing down in the Florida Keys soon 

Dave Plummer