By: Capt. Billy Norris
The past months brought a major shift in operations as we relocated down to Bahia Honda in the Florida Keys, just south of Marathon, to intercept one of the most exciting fisheries of the year – tarpon migration! April and May are prime time in this zone, with massive schools of fish funneling through the bridges, and this season did not disappoint!
Fishing the Bahia Honda Bridge, we focused primarily on live crab presentations, drifting baits naturally through dense schools of migrating tarpon. On many days, we were surrounded by thousands of fish rolling and pushing through the current. The action was consistent, with multiple hookups per trip and several quality tarpon brought boat side. We landed a solid number of fish, including some true heavyweights, though as expected in tarpon fishing, we lost our fair share.
One of the biggest challenges during the migration was dealing with large predatory sharks. Hammerheads and bull sharks were a constant presence, often shadowing hooked tarpon and attempting to take advantage of an easy meal. Successfully landing fish required quick pressure, smart boat positioning, and a bit of luck to beat the tax man!
Back in Southwest Florida, the transition into summer is well underway, and the local bite is heating up across the board. Snook are a primary focus right now, cruising the beaches and staging heavily around structure. Anglers are finding good numbers of fish, with some larger snook holding tight to nearshore wrecks and passes.
The snapper bite has been particularly productive in recent weeks, providing steady action and quality table fare. In addition, cobia have been showing up consistently, offering exciting opportunities for sight fishing and live bait presentations. Tarpon are also present in the area, giving anglers a second shot at these powerful fish closer to home.
Inshore and backwater fishing remains strong, with the usual summertime lineup in full effect. Snook, trout, and redfish are all active, along with juvenile tarpon and aggressive jack crevasse providing plenty of action. The warmer water temperatures have the fish feeding actively, especially during early mornings and late afternoons.
Offshore, both snapper and grouper bites continue to produce, with anglers finding solid numbers and good size. As we move deeper into summer, we anticipate the arrival of the larger jewfish, which will open up opportunities for anglers looking to battle truly massive fish.
Weather-wise, the typical summer pattern has settled in, with hot mornings followed by regular afternoon thunderstorms. While the daily rain can be a factor for planning trips, it also helps to cool things off and keeps water temperatures in a productive range. Looking ahead, there is some discussion of an El Nino weather pattern deleting, which could influence storm activity later in the season. For now, conditions remain favorable, and fishing opportunities are abundant.
All signs point to a strong summer ahead across Southwest Florida. With a wide variety of species active both inshore and offshore, anglers can expect consistent action and diverse opportunities in the months to come!