Florida Keys Fishing Report Page 2

1/06/06

Captain Rick Killgore
1-800-698-5773
killgore@bellsouth.net
Fish-Killgore.com

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A Good Season, considering the tough cool weather and 10 last minute cancellations due to illnesses.

The tarpon fishing was a little off this year due to some late season cold fronts, which created unseasonable cool waters. Often the winds will blow 20 to 30 knots. Lots of guides were canceling trips because they are fishing
small flats skiffs.

However, “We were fishing every day!”

Catching tarpon and other fish in my big boat, the 23’ SeaCraft.

While our average catch of tarpon was off, the “big” snapper and “keeper” grouper fishing was great – right where we are tarpon fishing! Take another rod and throw a live bait on the bottom - BAM! Your rod is bent, great little fight, and a diner. Good fun while we are tarpon fishing. The snapper are 3 to 6 lbs and the grouper are up to 15 lbs. Catch a few of these and you have enough to take home.

172 tarpon released!

We caught them in 68 FULL DAYS OF FISHING. This is done live bait fishing the channels. I do not use "dead bait on the bottom

This was averaging just over 2.5 tarpon released per FULL DAY of fishing, which was the lowest catch rate we have had. We had some strange days of were we had more than 10 fish striking the baits, hooking quite a few and only catching 1 or 2 tarpon. Now this does happen, especially with novices, but usually even beginners release 50% of the fish hooked up. Experienced anglers will 80% or more. This is why my live bait technique is so important Typically we average just over or under 4 tarpon released per day

Considering the cool weather, this was good tarpon fishing action, with numerous strikes and fish jumped off. We averaged just more than 6 tarpon “striking the baits” per day, while “hooking and fighting” 4 tarpon a day, then catching 2.53 tarpon per full day.

Typically we have hot fishing action. In prior five seasons (1999 - 2003), we averaged just under 10 tarpon “striking the baits” per day, while “hooking and fighting” 6.5 tarpon a day, then catching 4 tarpon per full day. (1999 was the best year. We averaged just about 5 tarpon released for 9 tarpon “hooked up” for 14 tarpon “striking baits” per day. Check past fish reports for details). Ironically, during the coolest 2 seasons

We have our “Best Day Ever:” 11 tarpon released and catch the largest tarpon yet: 190 lbs. Julie Prince of Arizona catches the 189 pounder to the utter amazement of her husband Lance and their three young kids (5 to 9 years old). Now the fish weight formula (girth squared x length, divided by 800) is plus or minus 5%. If you add 5% to 189 lbs. it comes out to 198.45 lbs or 200lbs! However, I sincerely estimated this fish not near 200 lbs., but I believe it was as the fish formula calculated: 189, so I called it 190 lbs. I am very good at estimating fish weights. Even fish I am not used to seeing, like the two swordfish I caught last year. The smaller swordfish I called at 90 pounds. When we weighed it at the dock three hours later it was 98 lbs.

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