Key West | DIY Baby Tarpon & Peacock Bass

[Rob Snowhite]

We're driving to the Conch Republic in early April. My goal is to catch a baby tarpon. 

If anyone has info, Google Map drop pin, rumors, urban legends, etc on catching a baby tarpon from Bahia Honda to Key West I would be grateful. No need to share here, you can e-mail me directly. I've been looking at Google Maps/Earth for some spots with moving tides, dock lights, lights at night, restaurants with lights, and channels to prep for fishing. 

I also plan on chasing peacocks south of Miami for an hour or two on the way down and back. Hoping to meet up with a friend that lives on Biscayne Bay and see what swims around him. 

Any suggestions on things to see and do or eat? I plan on stopping at Robbies and World Wide Sportsman on the way down. I'll get a hoagie at Publix to see if they are as good as everyone says. Wife is interested in seafood and fresh fruits. 

Based on recent reports I'll be tying up some saltwater versions of the Snowhite Damsel. 

Rob Snowhite 

[Yambag Nelson]

That's going to be a tough goal, especially without a boat.  I have a friend that caught one wading near the vaca cut. The restaurant with light thing is probably not a good idea.  There are a number of restaurants that have tarpon around them, mainly because they feed them.  It would not be a good look if you showed up with a flyrod trying to catch them. 

As far as restaurants, Lorelei in islamorada is a classic place at least for a drink as a lot of guides hang out there.  I like the island fish company in marathon for seafood.  The sunset grill at the end of the 7 mile bridge is a good place to have a drink and watch the sunset.  I've only had oysters and stone crab claws there so can't vouch for food much beyond that but they were good.  Another great and classic keys stop is the no name pub in big pine.  Tons of character there.  

Don't eat at the restaurant near world wide sports.  Its good for a drink but the food is not good.  

Sandy Morets flyshop is just down the road from world wide and is a great shop.  They may be able to recommend some fishing sports.  if they send you to mile mark 76 flat don't waste your time.  

If you are interested in fish other than tarpon i can add a few more wade friendly spots that you can catch fish like snapper or cudas.

[John Smith]

Rob, The family and I spent a couple weeks on Big Pine Key in 2016 and we kept going back to the Square Grouper bar and grill on Cudjoe Key for eats. No Name Pub on Big Pine is kinda of cool place to visit too although I didn't think the Pizza was as good as advertised (its the bar with the dollar bills pasted all over the walls). The key deer will show up around that bar on occasion. I took my boat along on that trip so that really helped me get around down there, but I'll send you an email of a spot you may be able to access on foot especially after the hurricane went through there a couple years ago and looks to have cleared some real estate. John

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4:33:21 PM UTC-5, Rob Snowhite wrote:

[robert mills]

I go down to Key Largo to dive, and wade fished when they called off dive days due to swell or I needed a day to offgas from tech diving. I got so frustrated watching fish run away from me that I bought a gheenoe and trailer for $500 in WV gutted it and rebuilt it as a poling skiff with a $500 15hp I rebuilt and remote controlled trolling motor I got as a demo from west marine. Tarpon, especially baby tarpon, are super skittish, I had more luck with the occasional snook, I haven't been back down but based on my experiences on pangas in Mexico and Belize I think I have 100x more chance to get at tarpon with the boat. 

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4:33:21 PM UTC-5, Rob Snowhite wrote:

[peter odell]

I dont have specific places to fish, but I think you'd be far more likely to catch a baby tarpon up at the beginning of the keys, Homestead, and Florida City.  We've done very well with a guide out of Flamingo visitor center in Everglades national park.  

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4:33:21 PM UTC-5, Rob Snowhite wrote:

[Josh Thomas]

Check in with Fly Shop of Miami for advice on Peacock - there are a ton of canal systems in south Miami that should give you a good shot at Peacock - if you have a friend down by Biscayne fishing is like everything else in Miami its always better to know somebody.

Juvenile Tarpon should be abundant in April withe some migratory fish there as well not sure of how much time you have but I would definitely recommend getting a guide if you can out of Islamorada - its a great way to catch fish and really see the islands 

For food recommendations I agree with the Lorilei its an awesome spot lots of local guides there - but if you are driving down my two favorite spots are definitely Alabama Jacks on Cardsound road (best conch fritters in the keys) and you can not beat the view 

And then on Stock Island right before Key West is Hogfish Grille get the hogfish sandwich on cuban bread its redonkulous

JT

 

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4:33:21 PM UTC-5, Rob Snowhite wrote:

[Nick]

Rob
Santiago’s Bodega is a great Cuban tapas place that you should check out in Key West. Give me a call or DM me and I can give you some thoughts on fishing spots. Was just down there over Christmas. You should be able to find some tarpon and bonefish.
Nick

[Misha Gill]

If you still end up getting to travel, go get an milkshake at Robert Is Here near Homestead (https://robertishere.com). I got a canistel strawberry milkshake and it was ridiculous - I just asked the staff member for a recommendation because they have a ton of exotic fruit flavors. The place has an interesting story too.

[ALarge]

A lot of guides down there are facing cancellations. I know my regular guide Brandon Cyr has had a who ton of cancellations and will be able find someone to accommodate, if he can't. He's a third generation Keys guide and is honestly one of the best guides on the island. He can get you on baby tarpons, bones and/or permit, no doubt. His number is (305) 797-5076. https://www.instagram.com/brandoncyrkw/?hl=en

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4:33:21 PM UTC-5, Rob Snowhite wrote:

[Yambag Nelson]

Problem with guides in the keys is the price.  Most are charging $700-$750 a day now.  Some even more.  Throw on a tip and that is an expensive day.   It’s fine if you are going down there once and want to book a day, but it’s tough to justify making a trip of it unless tarpon fishing is at peak.  The fishing for bonefish and permit just isn’t good enough.

[Alex Large]

The price is a tough pill to swallow, agreed, Yambag; but to your other point:

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[Yambag Nelson]

I was mostly speaking in generalities, but yeah the tarpon fishing is still well worth the money imo.  April 10 seems a bit early to be considered prime time in my opinion but you can definitely have good fishing then if weather is good.

On Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 12:09:28 PM UTC-4, ALarge wrote:

The price is a tough pill to swallow, agreed, Yambag; but to your other point:

On Tue, Mar 17, 2020 at 11:54 AM Yambag Nelson <northstreet...@gmail.com> wrote:

Problem with guides in the keys is the price.  Most are charging $700-$750 a day now.  Some even more.  Throw on a tip and that is an expensive day.   It’s fine if you are going down there once and want to book a day, but it’s tough to justify making a trip of it unless tarpon fishing is at peak.  The fishing for bonefish and permit just isn’t good enough.

On Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 9:44:32 AM UTC-4, ALarge wrote:

A lot of guides down there are facing cancellations. I know my regular guide Brandon Cyr has had a who ton of cancellations and will be able find someone to accommodate, if he can't. He's a third generation Keys guide and is honestly one of the best guides on the island. He can get you on baby tarpons, bones and/or permit, no doubt. His number is (305) 797-5076. https://www.instagram.com/brandoncyrkw/?hl=en

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4:33:21 PM UTC-5, Rob Snowhite wrote:

We're driving to the Conch Republic in early April. My goal is to catch a baby tarpon. 

If anyone has info, Google Map drop pin, rumors, urban legends, etc on catching a baby tarpon from Bahia Honda to Key West I would be grateful. No need to share here, you can e-mail me directly. I've been looking at Google Maps/Earth for some spots with moving tides, dock lights, lights at night, restaurants with lights, and channels to prep for fishing. 

I also plan on chasing peacocks south of Miami for an hour or two on the way down and back. Hoping to meet up with a friend that lives on Biscayne Bay and see what swims around him. 

Any suggestions on things to see and do or eat? I plan on stopping at Robbies and World Wide Sportsman on the way down. I'll get a hoagie at Publix to see if they are as good as everyone says. Wife is interested in seafood and fresh fruits. 

Based on recent reports I'll be tying up some saltwater versions of the Snowhite Damsel. 

Rob Snowhite 

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[Yambag Nelson]

Also that post has me looking at flights.  Cheap fares to Ft. Lauderdale...

[spst...@gmail.com]

What do you all think of setting up a Slack workspace with different channels – I find it hard to read TPFR messages sometimes because of the email threading / when the messages are delivered.

 

It also allows for searching, tagging, pinning – there’s a mobile app, a Desktop app, and Web access via browser.

 

Just a thought.

 

-Sean

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[Tamara Hatley]

That is a great recommendation Misha...I love Robert is Here!!!

I was impressed by Wynwood Walls near Miami if you like murals and graffiti art.