This have been rough lately with this 30 mph Easterly wind beating we are taking here in Key West . Fortunatly for us the Tarpon fishing is EPIC and the clients are ready to rumble on board our Yellowfin Bay boats powered by Mercury  Verados and Opti Max.

I have learned something in the last few days.. Daiwa makes the best fishing reels EVER! The Saltiga is an unfair advantage..

Setting out this am I have my traps checked for bait and in the boat by 7:30 just at sunrise. We went to the line up and had our first fish in the air at 7:45. Thats what I call Service.. This fish was missed by angler error but we got a chance to watch him jump three or four times. Pretty good start to a windy morning. After we went over the mistakes we moved on.

It started to get crowded and the chummers were showing up. I set anchor for a few minutes between two of them (well, only one was a real fishing guide). Got two baits eaten by mystery fish (never saw them) and we left shortly after. Going to another little spot I used my 10 ft Power Pole blades to hook up on a deep edge  for a shot at some fish on the other side of a busy channel. Wallah we did it.. Fish ate and jumped for my 16 y/o client to bag his first tarpon ever.. 18lbs of fit and fury.. I’ll take it.. lol Fun fish, the little bugger jumped 10 times.. what a hoot. One fish spot though time to move again we went to another edge in another area.. 

Here we managed another tarpon seemingly right away. 55 lb fish to the boat in 20 minutes on 15lb test using Saltiga reels from Daiwa…. SAWEEET.. Perfect size, I will take them all day long.. Easy to fight, quick, and photographable with out hurting them. Yeah.. ! Working this spot has done wonders for me in the past so I stayed. Next thing I know.. Bam.. we are hooked up again with another fish this time a beast, at 80 lbs and testy as hell.. Tough to put down with a 35 minute roar battle and drags burning. The Saltigas were the ticket in making fast work of these fish.

Final part of the day.. Its fourth and 20. I say ok, one more bait.. The dad had two fish and the son needed another.. It was a long shot.. But… Yup… FISH ON!. A nice respectable 40 lb tarpon to the boat in 15 minutes for the 16 year old. NICE WORK! We are him by noon and done with another great tarpon fishing day.