| 2014 Florida Keys Fishing Reports |
Tarpon on Fly Report, Florida Keys
May 31, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
May 31, 2014: Rex Maurer and Joe Kristof were disappointed tonight as we fished from 3 AM to 7 AM with the results no tarpon herd feeding, no bites, no jumps, and no fish caught, for the first time this season. It may be over, don't know, I will fish a couple more nights before calling the season over, however this was something that I have not seen any night this year. Water temperature was 85, wind southeast at 10, looked good but no bait and no fish around?
During May of 2014, We fly fished for tarpon a total of 24, four hour charters during 24 nights, my fly anglers jumped a total of 132 Tarpon, and we caught a total of 53 tarpon on fly for a total catch ratio of 2.3 tarpon caught and released in each four hour fly fishing adventure. During April we fished 22 trips, jumped 110 tarpon, and caught 37 Tarpon on fly.
During April and May we fished 46 four hour trips, Jumped a total of 242 tarpon, and caught 90 Tarpon on fly. My average fish jumped per 4 hour trip was 5.3, while our average catch per night was 2 tarpon caught and released each night so far during 2014. Just as an example during my 2012 season we averaged jumping 9 Tarpon per night and released just under five tarpon per night. In my opinion, Tarpon fly fishing in the Florida keys seems to be deteriorating. Hopefully I am wrong, maybe it will get better? I hope so, I love my job, wish you were here, more reports to follow.
Regards:
Jake
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Tarpon on Fly Report, Florida Keys
May 30, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
May 30, 2014: Henry Frazer and Rob Bearfoot from Oriental NC, fly fished for Tarpon with me for the second night in a row, aboard "Fly Reel" here in Tarpon World. The wind was from the southeast at 10 knots and the water temperature was 85 degrees while we fished between 2:30 and 6:30 AM. It was very dark and the fishing was slow, however we did jump our first couple of Tarpon around 4:15 AM on the northwest corner of Pelican slew, one fish cut through the 100 pound bite tippet and the other pulled the hook.
Later after 6:00 AM they turned on and we jumped 4 more silver king on the northeast edge of Silver king bank. Bad luck as none of the 6 jumped fish stayed hooked long enough to get a release. It feels like the Tarpon fly fishing is slowing down, I hope that they turn on for my last 10 nights of fly fishing here in Tarpon World. I love my job, wish you were here. More reports to follow.
Regards
Jake
Tarpon on Fly Report, Florida Keys
May 29, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
May 29, 2014: Henry Frazer and Rob Bearfoot from Oriental NC, fly fished for Tarpon with me tonight aboard "Fly Reel" here in Tarpon World. The wind was from the south (ug) at 12 and the water temperature was 84.8 as we fished between 2:00 and 6:00 AM. We didn't see much bait in the water and never heard any silver king eating on the surface, the fishing was very slow. Both Rob and Henry had several soft bites which never came tight, and when one nice 100 pound plus Tarpon finally ate Henry's fly, the fish ran off fifty foot, jumped, and spit the fly out while it was in the middle of the jump. One jumped Tarpon on fly, this tied my worse night of this season, I am sure it will improve tomorrow. I love my Job, wish you were here.
Regards
Jake
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Tarpon on Fly Report, Florida Keys
May 28, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
May 28, 2014: Chuck Furimsky, (owner of "The Fly Fishing Show") joined me to begin fly fishing for Tarpon tonight at 1:30 AM. The seas has a light chop, water temperature was 84 degrees, wind was 10 knots from the southeast, with partly cloudy skies, and no moon showing. Fishing began with Chuck jumping a 90 pound tarpon which spit the fly after two jumps.
Fishing seemed to slow down and during the next 3 hours we got 4 more bites which were not very aggressive, and then on our last drift, a red hot 110 pound female attacked Chuck's POON BUG fly. After 6 awesome jumps and a 10 minute battle, he reeled in the leader, I grabbed the leader, and made the release of this magnificent fish, congratulations to Chuck on doing a good job catching a big Tarpon each night that we fished. I love my job, wish you were here. Stay tuned for more fly fishing reports to follow soon.
Regards:
Jake
Tarpon on Fly Report, Florida Keys
May 27, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
Today, May 27, 214, Chuck Furimsky, owner of "The Fly Fishing Schools" arrived here to spend a couple of days fly fishing with me for Tarpon. We arrived at the "Tarpon World Marina", boarded "Fly Reel", and headed out at 12:30 AM to the north western corner of "jew fish bank" channel. The wind was blowing at 10 from the east, water temperature was 84 degrees, with a light chop on the water. We had the entire tarpon world to ourselves, and the Tarpon were pounding shrimp for several hours.
Chuck used my TFO 12 weight fly rod, Mako #9550 fly reel, Rio (Clouser) WF12F fly line, 20 pound Mason Hard bite tippet, 100 pound bite tippet, and my "POON BUG" fly tied on a Owner Ahi 4/0 hook. He wore a TFO orange hat for luck and fished exactly as I instructed him (grin). The Tarpon were eating softly, we had 8 bites, of which 5 got hooked, one of the jumped fish spit the fly back at us, three broke off, one spit the hook, and Chuck caught and released one Tarpon close to 100 pounds. More reports to follow shortly, wish you were here, I love this job.
Regards:
Jake
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Tarpon on Fly Report, Florida Keys
May 26, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
The pack of crazies are gone now that the Memorial Day holiday weekend is over, no more drunks or jet skies. Tonight Bertrand Amezcua got to experience a shrimp hatch out on Pelican Channel while fly fishing for Tarpon. The wind was 10-15 from the southeast with water temperature of 83 degrees and a light chop on the water.
We began fishing at midnight and fished through four AM, Bertrand got 7 bites, he hooked, and jumped three big Tarpon, and released one Silver King close to 100 pounds. We had a good time with no other boats around, looks like Tarpon season is back in full swing with NO WORMS, and plenty of POONS. I love my job, wish you were here, more reports to follow.
Regards:
Jake
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly Report
May 24, & 25, 2014
May 24, 2014:
Maryjo and Greg Corrado were my fly anglers tonight, the wind was light, seas were smooth to a light chop, with a water temperature of 83 degrees, fishing was slow. We fished from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM and only got 3 bites. There was a worm on the worm bar this afternoon, which did something to my Tarpon tonight, they did not eat very well as we only jumped 2 silver king while Greg caught and released a 90 pounder in my Tarpon Bug. Everyone talks about the worm hatch, in my opinion it makes the Tarpon catching much harder and makes them act weird.
May 25, 2014:
Bertrand Amezcua is here to share my fly fishing adventures in Tarpon World for a couple of days, tonight the conditions looked really good with 84 degree water temperature, 12 knot east wind, and plenty of current. Unfortunately there was a major worm hatch with over 70 boats fishing in Tarpon world all day along with lots of jet skies and drunken boaters running all over my Tarpon. We fished from 11:00 through 3:00 AM and only hooked and jumped one Tarpon, tying tonight with my worse Tarpon fly fishing night of the year. Next year I will not fish on Memorial Day weekend, just too many drunken crazy people on the water. I am sure that tomorrow night will get back to normal and my fish will settle down and eat our flies. Tonight most of the hazards will be gone so I predict that Bertrand will have a great evening of catching Tarpon on fly.
I love my job, wish you were here, more reports to follow shortly. Be safe out there, please do not drink and drive in a boat or a car.
Regards:
Jake
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Florida Keys,Tarpon on Fly Report
May 23, 2014
Greetings from Paradise:
May 23, 2014: Rick and Beth Watkins joined me again tonight for another Tarpon on fly adventure, due to traffic driving to the Keys from Orlando we began fishing at 10:00 PM rather than 9:00. The wind was dead calm, the water looked like the surface of a mirror, and the water temperature was back up to 81.5 degrees. We fished for 3 hours, heard fish feeding, and I watched both Rick and Beth wear themselves out casting to sounds of Tarpon feeding.
Finally, after no bites for the first 2 3/4 hours, Beth, hooked, Jumped, fought, and lost a really big fish which put on a great show. Now that I pinpointed where the fish were located, we got at least one bite on each of the next 4 passes through "Permit Alley" . Beth hooked a 110 pound female Tarpon at 1:15 AM, about a mile out in the Gulf of Mexico, that big fish towed my boat through two bridges, and about a mile out into the Atlantic ocean, before she finally gave up and allowed me to grab her and make the release. WOW what a great fish. We finished the night at 2:00 AM after 3 Tarpon jumped and that one big fish caught and released on this beautiful calm night. I love my job, wish you were here.
Happy Memorial Day!
Jake
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| Ready to release night time Tarpon on fly, vessel "Fly Reel" Captain Jake Jordan, angler Beth Watkins, May 2014 |
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Fly Fishing For Tarpon Report
May 21, & 22, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
May 21, 2014:
The wind has dropped down to 18 knots, water temperature is up to 78 degrees, seas are down to very choppy, and the Tarpon are back. Tonight Bruce Kyle from San Francisco, and his son Kyle from NYC, joined me at 7:45 at Tarpon World marina for an evening of fly fishing for Tarpon.
The fishing on the north eastern edge of Silver king slew was going off when we arrived. Kyle hooked and jumped the first Tarpon of the night, a male of about 80 pounds, finally on the third jump, the hook came out and we got the fly back. During the next 45 minutes each angler got several bites which did not stay connected. At 9:30, Bruce hooked, jumped, fought, caught, and released a 100 pound beautiful Tarpon.
The wind came up around 10:00, and the water temperature dropped a degree, we did not see another Tarpon for the rest of the night. Total four Silver King jumped with two nice Tarpon caught and released, during our fly fishing adventure.
May 22, 2014:
Tonight my fly anglers were Joe Kristof, and Rex Maurer, both from the Seattle area of western Washington. We fished from 8:00 PM to 12:00 midnight, the wind was down to 10-15 knots from the east, water temperature was between 78.9 and 80 degrees, seas were a light chop. Joe was the first angler to hook a Tarpon on fly, it jumped seven times and towed the boat a mile through the bridge and out into the Atlantic side before Joe got his first Tarpon release.
Both anglers jumped several more fish before Rex hooked, jumped, fought, and released a 90 pound male tarpon on fly. At midnight, when the current went slack, we headed back to the dock after jumping a total of 7 tarpon from 10 bites, my anglers caught and released 2 really nice fish. I really love my job, fishing is improving with the nice weather, wish you were here. Stay tuned for more fly fishing reports to follow shortly.
Regards
Jake
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Fly Fishing For Tarpon Report
May 20, 2014
Greetings from Wind World:
May 20, 2014: Finally after 6 consecutive days of 22 to 35 knot wind, tonight the wind dropped down to 20 knots, the seas went from very rough to rough, the water temperature stopped dropping at 77 degrees, and MY Tarpon returned to eating "Poon Bugs". My fly anglers, Chet Fossum and Rex Maurer, from Washington state, joined me at 7:30 PM at the Tarpon World marina, for an evening of fly fishing for Tarpon.
We began fishing in the northeast corner of silver king slew where I had seen a few rolling tarpon as we approached. Chet jumped a 90 pound tarpon on his first cast, it ran out 40 yards, jumped again and spit the fly back at us. Next, a big Tarpon tried to eat Chet's fly, missed it and swam over and inhaled Rex's fly, we fought that jumping fish for 10 minutes while drifting over a mile due to fast wind and tide, and we were ready to release that Poon when it surged and cut us off on a bridge piling.
We had jumped 4 tarpon from 8 bites when it finally got dark, the wind picked up to 25 knots, and we moved out to the NW slew where the seas were rough. By 11:30 PM when we headed back to the dock, my fly anglers had jumped a total of 9 tarpon, broke off 3 due to the conditions, and Chet caught and released a 100 pound male Tarpon.
As I write this report, the wind has dropped down to 18 knots today and is supposed to go down to 15 late tonight, which means that the sea conditions will drop from rough down to very choppy. The Tarpon are back strong, and are still waiting for the worms which did not hatch as I predicted! I love my job, wish you were here.
Regards:
Jake
Fly Fishing For Tarpon Report
May 19, 2014
Greetings from Wind World:
May 19, 2014: Finally after canceling 5 consecutive nights of fly fishing for Tarpon due to lightning, rain, and gale force wind, the first two days, and north wind between 25 and 33 knots for the last 3 nights, I decided to give it a try. My friend Rick Pope (TFO Rods) is in Islamorada for a few days, so I invited him to drive down, to have dinner together, and fly fish for tarpon for a couple of hours. We arrived at the Tarpon World Marina and boarded "Fly Reel" at 8:00 PM, then headed out to Cormorant bank where we where greeted by 26 knot NE wind, very rough seas, and 77 degree water temperature. When I last fished on May 13, the water temperature was 83 degrees, thus a drop of 6 degrees in the last 6 days.
We made two drifts along the drop off at "Cormorant bank" , no bites, then I moved way out to Silver King slew, Rick made his first cast and shortly after he jumped a 100+ pound Tarpon, which ripped off 80 foot, made a violent jump, and broke the 20 pound tippet. We got two more bites from Tarpon during the next two passes, neither one stayed on, and then the current died, we arrived back at the Marina at 10:10 PM after two hours of fly fishing for Tarpon.
I really enjoyed spending the time with Rick, we had lots of fun. The weather was really bad for fishing, tonight the wind should swing more to the east, and drop to 20 knots (good thing), and I will be able to fish a full four hour shift. I love my job, wish you were here. Stay tuned for more reports to follow from Tarpon World.
Regards:
Jake
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Florida Keys Tarpon on fly Report
May 14 through 18, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
Sorry for the lack of fly fishing reports from Tarpon World, during the last five days, Me and my anglers were chased off of the water due to heavy lightning, thunder, very hard rain and high wind at 1:00 Am the night of May 14. Then on the night of May 15, we had another bout with lightning, rain, and wind.
The rain, lightning and thunder was through by Friday May 16, it was replaced by 25 to 35 knot north wind, very rough seas, and small craft warnings which lasted through today, March 18. There was a minor worm hatch on the worm bar in the evening of May 16, and 17, however it was too rough for me to go out and I am glad that I missed it. For those worm chasers, it looks to me that the worms may hatch in the lower keys in about 2 weeks after the new moon.
I am going to try to get back out on Monday evening June 19, to give it a try if this hard wind drops down just a little, then it is back to my normal routine every night until the beginning of June. I love my job, even with bad weather, stay tuned for more reports to follow shortly.
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Keys Tarpon on Fly Report
May, 13 & 14, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon Paradise:
May 14, 2014, Tonight I met up at the Tarpon World marina with Rick and Beth Watkins, at 1:15 AM for an evening of fly fishing for Tarpon. At 1:30 a super strong lightning and thunder storm approached with very strong rain and wind. We docked the boat and headed home, I was chased away from my Tarpon for the first time this year. No problem Beth and Rick will be back for more Poons in about 10 days. More reports to follow as the weather settles down tomorrow.
May 13, 1014, Tonight Rex Mauer and Chet Fossum, from Washington state, joined me for a night of fly fishing for Tarpon. We experienced 80.4 degree water temperature, with 15 to 20 knot east wind and lots of feeding tarpon. Between 12:30 and 4:30 AM we jumped 10 Tarpon, fought 4 to near release, and released two Silver King on fly, both were over 90 pounds. I love my Job, wish you were here, stay tuned for more reports to follow.
My Albie season, in the Cape Lookout area of North Carolina, during October and November of 2014 is booking up quickly. Many of you have shown an interest to join me for some of this awesome fly fishing for these powerful fish on fly. If you are interested and would like to join me, please contact me soon as I will be sold out shortly. Don't miss out, reserve your prime dates now.
Regards
Jake
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| Big Tarpon on Fly, Tarpon World, May 2014, Jake Jordan Photo, Blane Chocklett angler, vessel Fly Reel |
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Tarpon on Fly Report
May 12, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon world:
Tonight Blane Chocklett joined me at Tarpon World between 12:00 Midnight until 2:15 AM, while Christie slept so she could driven them up to the Miami airport at 3:30 AM. The wind was blowing from the east at 28 with gusts to 31 knots, seas were rough, water temperature was 81 degrees, and the Tarpon were snapping. Blane, now an experienced Tarpon fly angler, hooked, jumped, and fought , six, 90 to 130 pound tarpon during this two hour fifteen minute period. Blane released three big, 100 pound plus, Tarpon, all on 20 pound class tippet.
Blane asked me to catch one to show him a couple of tricks that I use for landing Tarpon quickly. I hooked and jumped a fish of about 75 pounds, while using my TFO Blue Water Medium Duty fly rod, lined with a RIO Clouser Tarpon Taper floating fly line, and a Mako #9550 fly reel, rigged with a Poon Bug fly, 100 pound bite tippet and 20 pound mason hard class tippet. I set the hook with 6 pounds of drag, then quickly dialed the drag up to 11 pounds of pressure, the fish never got more than 60 foot from the boat, we got the leader and released that green tarpon in under five minutes! I love my job, stay tuned for more reports to follow shortly.
regards
Jake
Tarpon on Fly Report
May 11, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon world:
Blane and Christie Chocklett joined me at the Tarpon world marina at 11:00 PM where we boarded "Fly Reel" and headed north, away from all of the 7 other boats full of people who, "have no clue" and are trying to find my fish but who are actually running them over and chasing them away from where they used to feed before all of this boat traffic. We traveled several miles away from the crowd, and set up in an area where my Tarpon have moved too, we set up and for the next 4 hours we spent 3 hours fighting the 9 Tarpon which were jumped and fought by Blane and Christie. Blane caught and released five big Tarpon, 85 pounds to 125 pounds, all on 20 pound class tippet. Both anglers are now learning to chill, and fight these giant Tarpon while remaining totally relaxed we had another awesome night of fly fishing for Tarpon. I love my job, stay tuned for more fly fishing reports to follow.
Regards
Jake
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| Blane and Christie Chocklett, enjoying Tarpon Paradise vacation |
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Tarpon on Fly Report
May 10, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon world:
Blane and Christie Chocklett from Virginia are here visiting me to fly fish for Tarpon for the next three days. Blane is a world class fly fishing guide, who designed many great flies including the Gummy Minnow, along with The Game Changer which changed the catching for many fly anglers. Blane also developed a great fly fishery in his home waters, for really big Musky on fly.
Blane has never caught a big tarpon on fly, while Christie has never even fished in saltwater in her life. Tonight we boarded "Fly Reel" at 10:00 PM and departed from the Tarpon World marina, heading out to the slew. Blane got a bite on our first drift, however it never came tight, then Christy hooked, jumped, and fought a 75 pound tarpon for 5 minutes before that fish came un-hooked. On the next drift Blane caught a 90 pound silver king which we released after a 12 minute fight. The wind was blowing from the southeast at 20 knots with a water temperature of 81.4 and very choppy seas.
During the next 3 1/2 hours Christie jumped 8 Tarpon and caught one of them which weighted close to 100 pounds, while Blane jumped a total of four big Poons, and got the leader on two fish between 90 and 110 pounds. The final score tonight for my two fly anglers, 12 Tarpon Jumped, three caught and released during our four hours in Tarpon world. I love my job, wish you were here, more reports to follow.
Regards:
Jake
Tarpon on Fly Report
May 9, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon world:
Tonight is the second of two nights of fly fishing for tarpon with my good friends Josh Hayes, and Dave Caldwell, from Alaska. We boarded "Fly Reel" (my 21 foot Jones Brothers, Cape Fisherman), at the Tarpon World Marina, at 9:30 PM. The wind had dropped down to 20 knots, water temperature 81.4, very choppy seas, and lots of feeding Tarpon. Less boat traffic tonight, with more bait in the water, my anglers were getting really good at understanding this fishery. We jumped 8 tarpon from 10 bites and landed 2 during the first two hours, then it got good around midnight, we began getting lots of short bites and jumping and fighting big fish on every drift.
After 3 hours we had jumped 13 and caught two big fish on fly, then Josh asked me if I had ever caught a double header (two Tarpon on fly by 2 anglers, in one boat, at the same time)? My reply was yes but not very often, would you like to try? I headed to north west bank channel, had both anglers cast there "Poon Bug" fly to a gaggle of Tarpon as I shut off the engine. Two tarpon, both over 100 pounds ate at the same time, spooking the rest of the school, and then both took off in different directions. I backed up toward Dave's fish, until he got the leader, then after the fish crisscrossed several times, I shut off the engine and my now expert anglers, landed both big tarpon from a dead boat.
Next, after several more jumped fish, Josh hooked, jumped, fought, and landed , a 125 pound pig, in about 10 minutes! Total score for May 9, 2014 was: 24 bites, 17 Tarpon jumped and fought, 6 fish leadered for the release, including a double header Tarpon on fly on 20 pound tippet. Guess what? I love My job, wish you were here, Blane and Christy Chocklett tying leaders today tonight for 3 nights, I can't wait, Stay tuned for more reports to follow.
Regards
Jake
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| Josh Hayes and Jake in Tapon World, aboard Fly Reel, after 100 pound plus Tarpon on fly double catch and release, |
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Tarpon on Fly Report
May 8 2014
Greetings from Tarpon world:
Tonight is the first of two nights of fly fishing for tarpon with my good friend Josh Hayes, and his friend Dave Caldwell, both from Alaska. I have known Josh since he was a fanatic fly fisherman working at Mountain view sports in Anchorage, as a teenager. Josh is one of the good guys, a great angler and one of the top fly fishing guides in Alaska.
The wind was blowing from the east at 25 to 30 knots, the water temperature had dropped from 84 yesterday to 81.5 tonight, seas were very choppy, and there were 7 boats out there at sundown in these rough seas. After several hours where no boats got any bites, they all left, and then I went to where the fish had moved to. We got 7 bites, jumped 5 Tarpon, and released 3 big 100 pound + tarpon on fly using 20 pound tippet, during the last 90 minutes of the trip.
Both Josh and Dave were very excited to learn my technique for hooking and fighting these big fish, and landing them quickly. We had a fun filled fly fishing adventure, I love my Job, wish you were here.
Regards:
Jake
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Florida Keys "Tarpon on Fly" Report
May 6, & 7, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
May 7, 2014, Tonight at 7:00 PM, I was joined by fly anglers Beth and Wayne Shaw, from Pennsylvania and Ocean City NJ, at the Tarpon World marina, for an evening of fly fishing for Tarpon. Clear skies, 10-15 knot east winds, 84 degree water temperature, along with happy rolling tarpon greeted us at the north west end of cormorant slew. After 15 minutes of instruction, we began fishing, five minutes later, Wayne hooked and got a good jump out of a 90 pound male tarpon, which spit the fly back at us during the second jump. Next, Betty hooked a 125 pound female silver king, that fish only jumped once and then towed "Fly Reel" about two and a half miles before, going through a bridge, turning right, and under a bridge abutment, breaking the 20 pound tippet.
Later Betty jumped a couple more fish, before she got a great bite from a nice 80 pound male which she fought to the boat quickly, took some pictures and I released that Tarpon. Shortly after we released Betty's fish, Wayne hooked, jumped, fought, and landed a Tarpon of over 100 pounds, which was our last fish of the night. All in all these people who had never landed a big Tarpon on fly, jumped a total of 4 Tarpon from 6 bites, and each angler caught and released one
Tarpon on fly.
May 7, 2014: Wayne and Betty Shaw joined me at 8:00 PM for another evening of fly fishing for Tarpon. The wind was blowing from the east at 15 to 20 knots and there were seven or eight other boats fishing in the area during the last half hour of daylight and the first hour of darkness. These other boats are either private boats or a few are charter boats, and most have no idea of what they are doing, they run over my fish time after time and drive them down and turn off the bite. Fortunately most are unsuccessful at catching Tarpon and leave shortly after dark, especially when it is rough.
We jumped several fish early, and then after dark, when most of the other boats left, I moved to another area where the fish had not been bothered, and we began to get a fish on, during each drift. Wayne caught two fish while Betty landed one from 8 total jumped and fought. All of these Tarpon were between 70 and 125 pounds, this was Wayne's biggest tarpon ready for release.
I love my job, wish you were here. Tonight May 8, 2014, I will be fishing with my old fishing buddy, Josh Hayes from Alaska, along with his friend Dave Caldwell, the wind is blowing from the east east at 25 knots, we wont have many other boats to worry about tonight. Tarpon fishing should be better tonight.
Regards
Jake
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| 125 pound Tarpon on Fly, Jake Jordan photo, Florida Keys 2014 |
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Florida Keys "Tarpon on Fly" Report
May 4 & 5, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
May 4, 2014, Today, at 9:00 AM, I headed down to the marina, where I cleaned, and fueled up Fly Reel, then took a ride out to the ocean side flats between the east and west end of the 7 mile bridge. I decided to spend an hour on the edge of this flat, so I dropped my anchor and rigged up my 12 weight TFO BVK rod with a Mako # 9550 fly reel, along with a RIO WF-12-F Tarpon Taper fly line. After sitting for 10 minutes, along came a school of about 50 happy Poons, rolling on the surface, moving very slow. when they were 90 foot from my boat and closing, I made a cast to the lead fish, a big female, she ignored my chartreuse bunny strip fly. A small 70 pound male behind her, swam past the big female, slurped my fly, I set the hook and then that fish erupted, jumped 6 foot in the air, and ripped off 80 foot of backing before the 8 pounds of drag stopped that fish. 10 minutes later I grabbed the leader and released my first daytime Tarpon of this season. Welcome to Tarpon World, Captain Jake!
May, 5, 2014: I met my fly anglers Rex Mauer, and Dick Lange, from Washington state, at the marina at 7:15 PM, this evening. After twenty minutes of instruction, we headed out to Silver King channel to look for Poons, we saw a few rolling fish as the sun set. Rex hooked and jumped the first Tarpon of the night, a 60 pound male, he set the hook like he was trying to catch a steelhead, and that tarpon spit the fly back at him. Next, Dick, hooked a 90 pound Tarpon, on his second bite, then 20 minutes and 2 miles later we got the leader and released this red hot Poon.
Rex jumped another fish and then he hooked a 100+ pound female, which fought valiantly for 25 minutes before we caught and released her. later Rex hooked a big freight train of a Tarpon, which pulled off 200 yards of backing, she jumped so we could see her, (at least 140 pounds) and spit the hook as she came toward the boat on that awesome jump. After four hours, we had jumped 6 and released two Tarpon on fly, which is why, I Love My Job, wish you were here. Stay tuned for more Fly Fishing for Tarpon reports.
Regards:
Jake
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Tarpon on Fly Report
May 2, 2014
Greetings from The Florida Keys
I was supposed to take a day off tonight, however an old friend from here in Marathon asked if we could go out and catch a Tarpon on fly, which would be his first in over 10 years. We left the dock at the "Tarpon World Marina" at 4:00 AM and headed out to Silver King bank, 18 knot south wind, with 84 degree water temperature greeted us. We arrived back at the dock this morning at 6:30 AM, after each of us had jumped 3 tarpon on fly, I caught and released 3 while Harry caught two, and broke one off due to barnacles on a lobster trap line, both of his fish were over 100 pounds, I had a 60, a 90, and 110 pound female, it felt good to wind a few in for the release. I love this job, wish you were here! More reports to follow.
On a sad note, Today, I spoke with my good friend Pat Ford, world class photographer, who has been trying to recover from Pancreatitis. Pat told me that he thought that he was in perfect health, and then in early April, he began to have
really bad abdominal pain, which put him in the hospital. He had a complete system shut down and had to be revived after near death. A week later the sent him home, however he said that he is a complete invalid, and had to go back to the hospital a week later for another period of time, where they found a large cyst in his pancreases. At this time they are trying to dissolve that cyst or figure out what to do. Pat asked that I let everyone know that he is fighting this awful medical problem. How about joining me with a prayer for Pat Ford, a good friend and well known member of our fishing community. Get Well soon, old friend, so we can fish together many more times in the future.
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| Jumping Silver King, May, 2014 Tarpon World, Jake Jordan's Fishing Adventures, "Tarpon World" |
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Tarpon on Fly Report
May 1, 2014
Greetings from The Florida Keys:
Tonight my friend Paul McGarvie brought his brother Scott to Tarpon world to fish with me, Scott had never caught a tarpon on fly, that was about to change shortly. We had 84 degree water temperature with 15 knot south wind, (not good for hook setting), with lots of sea weed and bait in the water and some feeding Tarpon. We had 8 or 9 bites, jumped 8 Tarpon, pulled the hook on 3, broke 2 off, and almost got the leader for release on one big fish 120+ for Paul, while Scott caught and released two tarpon on 20 pound tippet, one fish was about 70 pounds, while the second one was closer to 80 pounds. We had lots of fun, I really love this job, more reports to follow shortly.
Regards:
Jake
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Tarpon on Fly Report
April 30, 2014
Greetings from The Florida Keys:
Tonight My anglers were Fred Albright from Lancaster PA, and his friend Ed Vallantine from Punta Gorda FL. We met up at Tarpon world marina at 2:00 AM and headed straight out to northeast cormorant channel, where we found feeding Tarpon. Wind was south at 15 knots, with water temperature of 83 degrees, lots of sea weed and bait in the water. We had a total of 8 bites, jumped 7 and each angler got at least one Tarpon to the leader for a release. We had good fly fishing and both anglers are ready to book for next season. I love my Job, wish you were here.
This ends my April section of this 2014 Tarpon on fly season, the final score for April was as follows: 22 four hour fly fishing adventures between April 6 and April 30, We jumped 110 tarpon, and my anglers caught and released a total of 37 Tarpon on fly. We only had one night with one bite, all other nights had at least 3 Tarpon jumped on fly. In my opinion the fly fishing for Tarpon is ready to get really good, As of today I have the following dates available for someone who wants to catch a bunch of Tarpon on fly,: April, 15, 16, and April 20. Contact me now if you are interested?
Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala is getting full for the 2015 season quickly, PLEASE contact me now if you are planning to fish with me in Guatemala this coming season so I can lock in your dates! Even if you have already confirmed that you are coming this season please re confirm by phone or e-mail. Also if you are planning to return to CVL to fish in my Tournament on January, 6,7,8, with the practice day on the 5th of January, please let me know as I have other anglers trying to book boats and rooms to fish in my tournament. As I said, I love my job, lets go fishing
Regards
Jake
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly Report
April, 28, & 29, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
My angler for the last two nights has been Paul McGarvie from NJ and Marathon FL, we have known each other for many years as Paul fished in a Tarpon tournament which I started here in Marathon in the mid 1980's. Paul has also fished in my Sailfish Tournament at Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala during January for each of the last 3 years.
We began at our two nights fly fishing for Tarpon on the night of April 28, at 12;30 AM, with south winds of 15 knots, gusting to 20, and water temperature of 82.5 degrees. Fishing was slow, Paul hooked and jumped three tarpon, the first broke off after two jumps, the second was a really big Tarpon, it took out more than 400 yards of backing, jumped partway out of the water, before towing the "Fly Reel" a long way, then ran through a bridge where it cut the backing off on the barnacles of a bridge piling, we lost the fly line and all rigging. On his third fish of the night Paul caught and released a 90 pound silver king to end our evening.
On April 29 we began fly fishing for Tarpon at 1:30 AM with much improved conditions, wind from the southeast at 10-15, water temperature of 83.4 degrees, and lots of feeding tarpon. Tonight the water was cleaner, lots of tarpon were in Tarpon World, and they were eating Poon Bugs aggressively. Paul got 9 bites tonight, he hooked and jumped six big tarpon, pulled the hook on several, broke two off, and Paul caught and released a really nice Tarpon of 85 pounds. The last hour had the wind swing to the south and the fish stopped eating. We had a great time fishing together, I really love my job, stay tuned for more fly fishing reports to follow shortly.
Regards:
Jake
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| Paul Mc Garvie Tarpon on Fly, POON BUG, May 1, 2014, Florida Keys |
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly Report
April, 26, & 27, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
April 26, 2014,
Tonight at 11:00 AM I headed out with my angler Eddie Matuzak to find some Tarpon for him to catch on fly. The wind was calm, the water was calm like a piece of glass, water temperature was 82 degrees, and there were not many tarpon eating tonight. During the four hours we spent on the water, Eddie must have made 500 or more casts with the TFO, TiCr, 12 weight fly rod, the RIO WF-12-F Tarpon Taper fly line, 20 pound tippet, and my POON BUG fly. Eddie only got one bite tonight, the calm water made the fish really spooky and they ran away from the boat as we approached them. The 100+ pound Tarpon which ate the fly, ran 50 foot of line off of the Mako #9550 fly reel, with the drag set at 6 pounds of pressure, and then the hook came out, the tarpon was gone after one awesome jump. This was the slowest night of the year for me so far, preying for the trade winds to return.
April 27, 2014;
Tonight is Eddie Matuzak's last night of fly fishing for Tarpon with me this season, Wind is southeast at 12 knots, water temperature of 81.7 degrees at midnight when we left the dock. I headed over to Pelican flat and began a north to south drift, half way through the drift, Eddie hooked a 90 pounder which made several jumps before coming un-hooked. Lots of bait in the water, and the fish showed up pretty good, Eddie got a total of 8 Tarpon bites tonight, He jumped and fought six fish between 90 and 120 pounds, and had several long distance releases. We had lots of fun, he asked me to reserve a week for him to do this next year. I love this job, wish you were here, stay tuned for more fly fishing reports to follow shortly.
By the way, I have the following nights available if you want to fly fish for Tarpon with me in Tarpon World, May, 15, 16, and 20, 2014. Give me a call if you are interested.
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| Eddie Matuzak, Night time Tarpon on Fly, Tarpon World, Florida Keys, April 2014, JAke Jordan Photo |
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly Report
April, 24, & 25, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
April 24, 2014,
I fished with my good friends Tony Weaver and Joe Seelig from Alaska, the wind was dead calm and the water temperature was 80.9 degrees. We fished between 9:30 PM and 1:30 AM all over Tarpon world with the slowest results of any trip so far this year. Both Tony and Joe are good casters, and they were worn out after blind casting all night as the drifts were uncontrollable with the smooth water with no wind at all. During the full night we jumped a total of three Tarpon on fly, all three pulled the hook and came off during one of the awesome jumps. I really enjoyed fishing with these guys, and hope that the trade winds begin to blow from the east soon which makes my Tarpon happy.
April 25, 2014:
Tonight Eddie Matuzak from Pennsylvania joined me for his first night of fly fishing for Tarpon with me. We left the dock and headed to Tarpon World at 10:30 PM, the sky was dark,(no moon) and the wind was blowing from the north at 15 knots with a one foot chop on the 81 degree water. During the first two hours we looked in 5 different places without finding any Poons, then at 12:45 AM over near north west slew, Eddie hooked a 90 pound male. That fish jumped 9 times, and made some valiant runs against the 6 pounds of drag on the Mako #9550 fly reel, and 20 pound class tippet, before Eddie lifted his face out of the water with my TFO TiCr 12 weight fly rod. We released that fish and headed back to fish that same slew.
During the next two hours, Eddie hooked and fought three more big female Tarpon, between 100 and 115 pounds, two of the fish jumped, ran, jumped again and then broke the tippet. The other Silver King, was a 115 pound female which fought very hard, jumped a lot, and towed us through on out to the ocean side before we released our second Tarpon of the night. We had a great night fishing together and plan to do more of this fishing, which is why I love my Job, wish you were here. More fly fishing reports to follow.
Regards
Jake
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly Report
April, 23, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
Tonight at 8:00 PM Paul Krogvoid, and Kjell Somme, (both fly anglers are from Norway), boarded "Fly Reel" with me and we headed out to eastern Silver King bank, where my sources had seen a large contingent of rolling Tarpon just an hour ago. As we entered the area we spotted the US Coast Guard who were boarding vessels to check documents and safety equipment, and chasing boats without the proper lights on their vessels back to shore with expensive tickets. We headed over to Pelican Shoal where there was less boat traffic.
Our first jumped fish was a big Tarpon, hooked by Kjell, after a good run and one awesome 15 foot high jump, that fish spit out the fly and swam away. That is when we headed back over to eastern Silver King bank as all of the boat traffic was gone and it was really dark now. Paul hooked and fought another large jumping tarpon which we lost just before getting the fish to the boat. We went back and spotted a worm hatch with the glow worms coming off in big numbers, got a couple more bites but no solid hook ups.
At 10:50 I ran several miles through the dead calm, 80.2 degree water to the north western slew, this time as we drifted to the south, in the western side of the slew, I had Paul casting to the west while Kjell cast to the east using long slow strips. Shortly after both anglers got bites, Kjell's fish came off while Paul's 120 pound Silver King jumped 7 times and towed "Fly Reel" several miles in the gulf before changing directions and heading through two bridges and out into the Atlantic ocean. Paul did a great fighting this big fish on 20 pound tippet, we released the fish about one mile south of the Keys in the Atlantic ocean. For this four hour fly fishing adventure we had 6 or 7 bites, jumped 4 big tarpon, pulled the hook on two, broke one off, on a leader that was not mine, and we released that one really nice Tarpon. I love this job, wish you were here, more reports to follow.
Regards:
Jake
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Tarpon Fly Fishing Report
Florida Keys
April, 22, 2014
Greetings from the fabulous Florida Keys:
April, 22, 2014, Bob Clay, and his friend Ron, from Martha's Vineyard, arrived at the Tarpon World marina at 7:30 tonight to share a fly fishing adventure with me aboard "Fly Reel". I headed directly to the north end of ladyfish channel where we saw several Tarpon bust on the surface just after sunset. Ron immediately placed the fly where I suggested, and within minutes he hooked a 90 pound Poon, after a 100 yard run and an awesome jump, that fish spit the fly back at us.
During the next drift through ladyfish channel, Bob hooked a female Tarpon which headed south toward the Atlantic Ocean, this fish made some awesome jumps, and towed the boat about 2 miles before my angler Bob Clay, wound the leader in through the tip top and making a technical catch, five minutes later we released that 110 pound Tarpon after retrieving the fly.
The 5 knot west to northwest wind died down to zero, the seas were flat like a mirror, with a water temperature of 79.4 degrees. We moved a mile and a half over to Cormorant Slew, and made several drifts where both anglers jumped and fought one more Tarpon. At 10:15 PM we began to see some of those tiny (glow in the dark) worms began to hatch, and shortly later Bob Clay hooked a big female Silver King, she jumped 9 times, headed south and pulled "Fly Reel" at least several miles before we grabbed the leader and released this 125 pound awesome Tarpon.
Bob and Ron wound up jumping 5 Tarpon and releasing two fish both over 100 pounds. We had a good time, these guys will be back next year. By the way, I love my job, wish you were here, I have several openings later this season, May 15, 16, and May 20 are available prime time Tarpon on fly dates, contact me NOW if you have the desire to catch some of these awesome fish. Also I am about half way sold out during October and November during my Cape Lookout Albie season, if you want to experience this awesome fly fishing, contact me soon to reserve your dates. More Reports to follow:
Jake
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| Tony Weaver jumped Tarpon on Fly April 21, 2014 Vessel Fly Reel with Captain Jake Jordan |
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Tarpon on Fly Report
April 21, 2014
Greetings from The Fabulous Florida Keys:
After several days off over the Easter Holidays, while my boat was being worked on, I went back to Tarpon World last evening. My good friends Tony Weaver and Joe Seelig, from Anchorage Alaska, ("Champion team of the 2014 "Jake Jordan, Invitational, Sailfish Fly, Challenge"), joined me at 7:30 PM for an evening of fly fishing for Tarpon.
The wind was blowing from the north-northwest at 12 to 19 knots, with choppy seas, 79 degree water temperature, and lots of sea weed and dirty water. I had seen several good schools of Tarpon moving from the ocean side flats into the Tarpon World flats late in the afternoon, so fishing should be good. At the end of my first drift along "Pelican drop off" Tony hooked and jumped a 75 pound male Tarpon, after several good jumps the hook came out and the fish was gone.
Next drift in the same area produced a bite from a small female, over 100 pounds, which Joe hooked and fought for 15 minutes, Joe did a good job at maneuvering that fish through a bridge and out into the open ocean. He had the leader close to the rod tip several times on this big fish, then on jump #9 the hook came out giving Joe a long distance release. We got 2 more soft bites during the next several drifts, but did not hook any fish.
I then ran several miles out to "Silver King slew" where we ran into a small glow in the dark worm hatch, which stood out against the pitch black sky. I asked Tony and Joe to make a cast into the area where the worms were going crazy, both got a bite, then Joe's fish got hooked and jumped very aggressively while Tony's came off. Joe fought that 100 pound plus Poon for several miles during the next 13 minutes, took some good pictures after getting the leader inside of the tip top of the rod, and then we released that awesome Tarpon.
At 10:30 the worms left and we never saw another Tarpon, I think that they left the "slew" and followed those worms out to sea? Joe and Tony are really great guys, I very much enjoy fishing with them, Tony and I have fished a lot together all over the world, he is a world class angler as is Joe. Tony got some good pictures however I do not have them yet for my report as they are fly fishing on the flats today, I will show Tony's pictures in my next report.We plan to fish together again on April 24, when I am hoping that we have better conditions and more Tarpon, We jumped 4 and caught one for the night. I really love my job, wish you were here, stay tuned for more fly fishing reports from Tarpon World.
Regards:
Jake
I just got this report from Captain Tim Richardson aboard "Ambush" in Casa de Campo" in the Dominican Republic, Marlin fishing there has been good and is heating up. Let me know if you want to fish with a good crew and catch some blue marlin?
" Hi Jake,
The conditions here at Casa de Campo have switched around the last few days with good current pushing in, and the blue marlin have turned on as well. Over the last few days the handful of boats have been seeing up to 10-12 fish a day, and releasing up to 6.
I am off for a 2 week Caribbean expedition with the motor yacht Alfa Nero.
I will be back in Casa De Campo ready to go again on May 10-17, which is the week up to the moon. Then up to Cap Cana for a couple of months.
If you want to fish the next moon with me, I have the Ambush and condo available May 10-17
Tim "
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| Ready for Release, Night Tarpon on fly |
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Tarpon on Fly Report
April 17, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
Tonight I fished with Chris De Angelo from Italy, we fished for 3 hours as it got light before the charter was over. Chris and his partner Dominic both each jumped 5 tarpon, Dominic caught 2 while Chris caught and released four on the fly. The fish ranged between 90 and 130 pounds with the 130 pound female being the biggest fish landed this season aboard fly reel. I love my job, wish you were here, more reports to follow shortly.
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Tarpon on Fly Report
April 16, 2014
Greetings from The Florida Keys:
Tonight, my fly anglers were Alex Erikson, from Connecticut and Paul Krogvoid from Norway, both have some experience at fly fishing for tarpon at night. The conditions were good, with an easterly wind at 15 knots and 80 degree water temperature. Both anglers got 4 tarpon to bite their flies, they jumped a total of 7 tarpon, three broke off, three came un-hooked, and Alex caught a 110 pound female. Another exciting fly fishing adventure in "The Land of the Silver King"! I love my job, wish you were here, more reports to follow shortly.
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly
April, 15, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
Rick and Beth Watkins from Orlando area of Florida, joined me aboard "Fly Reel" at 1:30 AM for a Tarpon fly fishing adventure. The wind was calm while the water looked like a mirror, flat and glassy, when we arrived at Silver King bank, tarpon were rolling all around us. Our first Tarpon of the night (a 90 pound poon) was caught and released, by Beth shortly after we arrived. This was her first Tarpon on fly this year, and she did a great job on this awesome fish. On the next drift Rick jumped a really nice fish which came off after several jumps.
The next fish hooked turned out to be a 40 inch long hound fish, which Beth quickly caught and released, then on her next cast Beth caught and released a really big Lady Fish. This is known as a "Silver King Bank, Grand Slam" on fly, if she caught another species that would be a super slam (grin)!
After three hours of calm wind the temperature dropped by 10 degrees, and the wind began to blow at 15 knots from the north, the fishing turned off and we never got another bite. The score for the whole night was: 5 Tarpon jumped with one caught and released, along with one for one on Hound fish and Lady fish! Rick and Beth are really nice people and good fly anglers, we had lots of fun. I love my job, wish you were here, more reports to follow.
Regards
Jake
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| Mathew Kang, Tarpon on Fly April 13, 2014 |
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly
April, 14, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
Tonight James Kang along with his 12 year old son Mathew, joined me at 12:45 AM at Tarpon World Marina where we boarded "Fly Reel" and headed to "Dog Leg channel" to begin our evening of fly fishing for Tarpon. After Mathew caught a 60 pound Tarpon on fly, the full moon began to disappear and we witnessed a full lunar eclipse, it was awesome.
James jumped 4 and caught one, ninety pound Silver King, during the next 4 hours while Mathew jumped one more Tarpon on fly. The moon started to shine again close to 4 AM and we finished the night with six Tarpon jumped along with two Tarpon caught and released for the four hour adventure. Looks like James and Mathew are planning many more of these fly fishing adventures in "Tarpon World", in the near future. I Love my Job, wish you were here, Stay Tuned for more fly fishing reports real soon!
Regards:
Jake
Latest News: Billy Hayes, my friend for the last 32 years, (owner of Anglers Pro Shop in Souderton PA), passed away from a heart attack last Monday at 50 years of age. Billy was a very good friend to me, and a big asset to the fly fishing community, he will be missed. His family is in my prayers! RIP old friend!
Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly
April, 13, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
Yesterday, April 13, 2014, my angler for this fly fishing adventure was James Kang, and his 12 year old son Mathew. The wind was south east at 5 knots and died to zero with dead calm seas, and lots of sea weed in the water. We fished for almost 2 hours before we got the first bite, it was a 60 pound Poon which ate the fly, swam at the boat, jumped, and spit the hook. Fishing on this full moon night, was starting slow.
I headed way out to the top of Pelican bank, made a drift along the bank where my young angler got a great bite from a 90 pound Tarpon. This fish cooperated by jumping a lot, and never getting more than 100 foot from the boat, he fought it from a dead boat. 15 minutes later I grabbed the leader and released this young fly angler's first Tarpon on fly. Half an hour later James hooked, jumped, fought from a dead boat, and released a 100 pound Silver King, fishing was slow and we never got another bite. Final score was three jumped with two Tarpon caught and released on fly tonight.
On another matter, my friend Nick Smith fly fished in Guatemala during the last 3 days aboard his vessel "Old Reliable". During his 3 days of fly fishing for sailfish they raised 107 sailfish, got thirty one to bite the fly, and Nick caught and released 24 sailfish which he caught on flies.
Also, yesterday, Captain David Salazar, (owner of Casa Vieja Lodge) was fishing with conventional tackle aboard his vessel "Finest Kind", they raised 82 sailfish, got 68 bites, and released 35 sailfish. Fishing is still GOOD in Sailfish World! I love my job, wish you were here, stay tuned for more fly fishing reports from paradise.
Regards
Jake
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| Weston Polen, first Tarpon on Flt April12, 2014 |
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly
April, 12, 2014
Greetings from Paradise:
Last night, Saturday, April 12, 2014, Mr Pete Polen and his 17 year old son Weston, (Just Graduated from High School) met me at Tarpon World marina at 11:30. PM. We boarded my Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman "Fly Reel" and headed directly to "Tarpon Belly Flats". After five minutes of instruction, both anglers cast their fly to an area where I had spotted some Tarpon feeding, shortly after the younger Polen hooked a 80 pound Tarpon. Fifteen minutes later we got the leader and I released the first Tarpon of the night.
Fishing was steady for the next 3 hours, each angler jumped and fought tarpon on fly. Pete hooked a giant female Silver King, over 170 pounds. That fish pulled the boat around, did a jump where we got to see her giant size, then took off at warp speed. About 2 minutes later she had run off over 300 yards of backing, (at 6 pounds of drag), came to the knot on the arbor, and broke the 20 pound tippet, this was my biggest Tarpon so far this season.
We finished jumping The Polen fly anglers, combined for a total of 6 Tarpon jumped and they caught two Tarpon on fly, neither had ever fly fished for Tarpon in the past. That is why I love my job, wish you were here, stay tuned for more fly fishing reports.
Regards:
Jake
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| John Killian fly fishing with Jake Jordan April 11 2014 Tarpon World |
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly
April, 11, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
John Killian and I arrived at the tarpon world marina, boarded "Fly Reel", headed out to "the slew" and began fishing, at 10:30 PM tonight. The wind was blowing between 15 and 20 knots from the north-northeast with the air temperature dropping to 65 degrees, while the water temperature was 75.6 degrees when we started fishing and dropped to 74 degrees when we finished at 2:30 AM. The bait seemed to be less prevalent than during the last few days, that said, there seemed to be plenty of Tarpon in the area even with the water temperature dropping from 81 degrees 7 nights ago to 74.5 tonight.
John got several bites right away with the fish jumping and spitting the hook, then at 10:56 PM he caught his first Tarpon of the night. All in all the fishing was not red hot as we only got 9 bites, jumped 7 Silver King, and released 3 total Tarpon on fly, on 20 pound tippet. One fish was about 60 pounds, while the other two weighted in at close to 100 pounds. I love my job, wish you were here, please stay tuned for more fly fishing reports from Tarpon World.
Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly
April 10 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World:
Tonight, John Killian from South Carolina joined me to try and catch his first large Tarpon on fly. John and I left the marina aboard "Fly Reel" at 9:40 PM and arrived at the north end of "Cormorant Slew" 10 minutes later. After five minutes of instruction, John cast the Poon Bug (fly) into the 20 knot NE wind, to a place where I told him to present the fly. Five minutes later, John hooked his first fish of the night, a 70 pound male Tarpon, after a 10 minute battle we released that red hot Tarpon after 13 exciting jumps.
We fished that area for three hours and jumped three more fish in this protected area, out of the wind. Then we headed over near "Silver King Bank", where the wind was blowing at over 20 knots and there was a two and a half foot close chop on the water, seas were choppy to rough. During the next hour John jumped six more Tarpon, and landed a nice fish which weighted close to 100 pounds before we quit at 2:30 AM. This four hour fly fishing adventure produced 9 Tarpon Jumped and fought, with two Tarpon caught and released. I love my job, wish you were here, stay tuned for more fly fishing reports to follow soon.
Regards:
Jake
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| Paul Lombardi first big Tarpon on fly April 7 2014 Captain Jake Jordan |
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Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly
April 9, 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World
Last evening, April 9, 2014, Paul Lombardi, from California, and I headed out to Tarpon world at 9:00 PM, with the wind blowing from the northwest at over 20 knots. The air temperature had dropped to 66 degrees, while the water temperature dropped to 76.5 from over 80 degrees the night before. With choppy seas and lots of weed in the water, I worked an area where the water was 5 foot deep near a ridge where the depth dropped off to 9 foot.
"Cast 40 foot into the wind" I instructed Paul, he placed the fly where it needed to be and hooked a 100 pound tarpon shortly after we began fishing. After we released that fish we made another drift where a big Tarpon ate the "Poon Bug" and ripped off 200 yards of backing before jumping and breaking the 20 pound class tippet. I moved to another flat where we got 2 bites, one, the fly came out, the other fish, an 80 pounder was released after a 15 minute battle. After 3 hours of fly fishing we had caught two Tarpon from four bites, then I began to see more crabs and shrimp in the water, IT TURNED ON!
I moved over to Jurassic Park, Paul made a cast, and right away a big (120 pound) Tarpon smashed the fly, Paul fought it extremely well, after that Poon towed my boat over a mile we got the leader and took a picture. That is when a pack of bull sharks showed up, I broke the tippet and the Tarpon took off, I hope that she got away! I hate Bull Sharks.
We fished until the current stopped at 2:15 AM, hooked lots of silver king, and wound up Jumping 10 big Tarpon while releasing four on fly. Paul is a good guy and a lot of fun to fish with, we are planning more fly fishing adventures. I love my job, wish you were here, stay tuned for more fly fishing reports to follow.
Florida Keys Tarpon on Fly
April 7 & 8 2014
Greetings from Tarpon World
I arrived in Marathon on April 5, took possession of my rental home, in the same neighborhood where I used to live (Galway Bay) and moved in. On Sunday morning I cleaned my boat after the long tow from NC, then I launched the boat and put it at the marina where I will be fishing out of for the next couple of months. After getting the boat ready I rigged up all of my Tarpon fly tackle and got ready for my first Tarpon adventure. Then on Monday evening, April 7, I picked up Paul Lombardi at the Ranch House Motel at 7:00 PM and headed to the marina.
We boarded "Fly Reel" at 7:20 PM, headed out too "Tarpon World", where I instructed Paul in the proper use of a 12 weight TFO fly rod, a Mako #9500 Fly Reel, loaded with a 12 weight RIO Tarpon Taper fly line, with a 20 pound class tippet, and a "POON BUG" fly. Paul made a cast to an area where some Tarpon were swimming around. Five minutes later Paul was rewarded when a 70 pound, male, Tarpon ate his fly and ripped off 100 yards of backing while doing all kinds of acrobatic jumps. Fifteen minutes later Paul Lombardi released his first adult Tarpon ever caught on a fly.
We wound up the night at 11:30 PM after Paul had 5 bites from Poons, he hooked and fought three Tarpon on fly, He broke the class tippet on a red hot 50 pound fish, and caught two, one was about 60 pounds and the other 70 pounds.
On Tuesday, April 8, 2014, Paul and I headed down to Cudjoe Key to have a great dinner at "The Square Grouper" restaurant, as the violent weather front was coming through here between 6 PM and 9 PM, with the wind swinging from southeast to northwest and increased to 30 plus knots with strong rain. After dinner we headed out as the rain slowed and the wind settled in at under 20 knots from the north. Unfortunately, the weather and dirty water turned off the Tarpon, and although we heard several fish eating, we never caught a Tarpon tonight.
Tonight, Wednesday April 9, the weather looks like it will be much better, Paul and I begin fly fishing for Tarpon at 9:00 PM. I assume that these tarpon will put on the feed bag and we will have a good evening of Tarpon fishing, I love my job, stay tuned for more fly fishing reports to follow.
Regards:
Jake
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