Fly-Fishing for tarpon in the Keys is
hard to beat for excitement. I'm Captain David Applegate (Cap'm
Apple) and I do a lot of flats and back country tarpon fishing,
sight fishing tarpon, both oceanside and backcountry flats and
channels. I fish Islamorada, Key Largo and Marathon areas - more
than 20 years in these areas.
Staking out on known tarpon freeways
between flats and along banks is a good way to get plenty of shots
at fish that can be seen from a distance, often far enough away
to allow the fly fisherman or spin fisherman time to calm his
nerves and heart rate a little before the cast.
The easiest way to catch them is bait,
then spin fishing then fly fishing. For all three methods, the
surest way to catch tarpon is at night. Consequently, I offer
night tarpon trips, and fortunately, have an understanding wife.
A
good guide knows the tides, flats and chanels, and the tarpon,
and where they are today or likely to be tomorrow.
After trip safety, these are probably
the most important functions of a guide.
Only after that comes the experience
in knowing how to catch them. Many of my customers have caught
a great many fish and are already versed in that aspect. That
is good for me, because I have been able to learn much from my
customers over the last 30 years, and am able to pass those experiences
along to my current ones.
Cap'm Apple out late with
the Girls again!

(Photo by a customer. If you recognize this, let
me know and I will credit you for the shot)
This flats
tarpon was not happy about seeing the skiff.

(Photo by Cap'm Apple)
How Big do Tarpon
Get? Even bigger than chubby below.

Photo by Hanson Carroll, Islamorada, Fl.
Big enough that
caution is the best policy, partiularly when hooked close to the
boat.
I only lost one
friend (no customers) to a tarpon over the years; but , like Alfred
Hitchcock, Hanson Carroll, the noted photographer and good friend
from Islamorada, was on board and had his trusted brownie camera
on hand to record the incident.
Photo by Hanson and Jay Carroll, Islamorada and Washington State.
My friend and fishing
buddy, Jim, just took a tarpon video of one of my good customers
catching a small tarpon on Apr 16, '09 using a fly on a 9 weight.
Chris had caught one of about 90 lbs before the sun came up when
it was too dark for the camera.
But even small tarpon
are fun on a fly or light spin tackle. The video has been shortened
to 5 minutes, but it's still 28 MB so it requires cable or DSL
to see.
VIDEO
Tarpon on a Fly Rod
Peak season is May and
June and it's coming up quick. So give me a call if you are after
some really fun fishing. My open dates change daily, so you'll
have to call. The number below is my cell phone, which is with
me in the boat, and I return calls in the order received, if I
can't talk at the moment.
Have a great fishing
season! And when in doubt, just keep cranking!
Home,
Dolphin