Trophy Tarpon Swarm The Harbor In March

Since the temperatures in Key West have risen with the arrival of spring, trophy Tarpon have swarmed into the harbor. I just got off the horn with our skipper of the Outcast, Capt. Bill; one of his anglers has a Tarpon hooked right now. We've been guiding plenty of excursions to fish the channels of Key West Harbor; they've had tremendous success, snagging Tarpon up to 150 lbs. Our typical tarpon setup includes 30-lb. test line, 50-lb. leader, and cut bait on 5-aught circle hook.

On Tuesday, I headed out to the reef with a group; the party scored a bunch of Bonita and Yellowtail Snapper. One lucky angler pulled in a 22-lb. Kingfish.

Tony Miller, skipper of the Coolwater, has guided many charters to fish the flats for Lemon Sharks and Nurse Sharks. These predators invade the flats every spring to spawn. Tony's anglers have caught Nurse Sharks weighing up to 300 lbs. The Coolwater will be heading into the Gulf on Wednesday to fish for the Blackfins that follow the shrimpers.

The best month to fish deep sea for Sailfish is April, so come on down and join us for a charter to hunt these feisty billfish.

Tight lines and trophy trips,

Captain Damon Santelli