Tarpon are here!
TARPON! The one fish that will change your life. Ask any keys Captain.
The time is here. Tarpon are here year round but the best numbers are inbetween cold fronts... just so happens we have 9 months with no cold fronts. The prime migration is beginning with the shift of the planet south and the water temps nearing the magic 79 degrees that triggers a massive biomass to move towards the spawning grounds. Just so happens we are in a location to get some of both the Gulf and East Coast populations as the swim to live. The Keys have several events that are unique to our location that tarpon utilize. Worm hatches, shrimp hatches, guppy hatches and more are all prime attractions for feeding tarpon. If you have seen one or more of these your in a short list. Good thing is these events aren't the only times to catch tarpon in paradise. So book now... we still have a few June and July dates available... and if we aren't we will find you a reputable guide.
We at Key West Angling and Holeman Outdoors feel very strongly about giving back as exampled with our work with CAPTAINS FOR CLEAN WATER, Spanish Fly Foundation and Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. In the last week of March Master Captain Travis Holeman invited PHD Jake and Lucus two BTT Scientists on a permit trip with Mr. John Enquist. The result was the first 2 acoustic tags for 2017 being surgically implanted in some nice sized permit. Costa sponsors #ProjectPermit and as my favorite fish to chase it was a great honor to assist in the tagging. Fast forward couple days and I ventured with Jake and Luke in the skiff provided by Hells Bay on a tarpon tagging mission. Resulting in the first acoustic tag being surgically implanted in a tarpon for the 2017 season. Now i dont know if you have ever held onto a 90# tarpon but its not easy... im uploading a photo of Jake holding the tarpon so Luke can cut it open insert device and stitch it back up.... pure hell. I get a kick out of the moments that are making history and the journey to them. Jake and Lucas have become good friends and its my great honor to help BTT and friend make sure they get a sample set of enough fish to gather data at a rate that will help anglers, law makers and guides maintain tarpon as a resource for us to share. If your reading this I strongly urge you to get involved and donate so we can make sure the future holds the same wealth of waters and fish as it has for the past users.
Be well, smile often and play like today is your last,
Master Captain Travis Holeman
305-906-0301