John Rawle
Angling Charter Captain
Bradwell on Sea, Essex
Tel 01621 776445
Mobile 07860 920 964
Mobile 07860 920 964
Bellropes,
Maldon Road, Bradwell on Sea, Essex. CM0 7HY
Tel 01621 776 445 Mobile 07860 920 964
Tel 01621 776 445 Mobile 07860 920 964
Florida Keys Fishing Reports
simply the best...................
better than all the rest...........
January & Febru
ary
20
09
The last UK Winter was the coldest for a few years and despite the best cod fishing we have seen in the Southern North Sea for over 20 years it was nice to get back to the Florida sun. Because of the current economic climate the airlines had all seemed to drop their prices which is good for everyone who wants to travel.
Carole and I flew out in January to get the house and the boat ready for our first guests who were regular customers of mine both in Florida and the UK. John, Neil and Dave had a great time catching lots of different species including king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, snappers, sharks of different species, groupers, trout, jacks, lady fish and many more. They also collectively fought and released a huge sawfish approximately 16 foot long weighing about 800 lbs. It was a tag team effort between the three of them that lasted over an hour. These fish are monsters and are becoming more common in one or two particular areas.
Over the next 2 or 3 weeks the fishing was quite good with the usual variety of fish with plenty of light tackle action which is what this time of year is all about. Good fun, nice and relaxing with a few bigger fish thrown in for good measure. Also over at this time were some local lads from back in my marina in the UK. John, Steve, Nigel and Mark got plenty of fish including one day out in the Gulf when they got over 20 groupers and 4 cobia. Chris , Doug and Rob also got plenty of fish, with Chris getting his first tarpon also. Tony and Dave tried this time of year to add to their species list and they finished their trip with 41 different species of fish.
March, April & May 2009
Mid Feb we popped home for a spell before returning in mid March for the main tarpon season. All the guys out the first week had been before. Although he weather did try and mess things up a big everyone caught tarpon, sharks and the usual mix of smaller species. English Ed excelled one evening catching 4 tarpon in an hour and a half.
The next week we had 2 regulars and 5 new clients. Trevor and John had been before and had their best week ever. Trevor caught a lot of tarpon to 175 lbs including 5 in one session twice! Trevor also got lots of sharks to over 400 lbs. Ian and Elizabeth both lost their tarpon virginity catching several to 140 lbs. Elizabeth in particular done exceptionally well continually annoying her partner Ian by catching more than him. They also had some excellent shark fishing as well catching lemons to over 300 lbs. Bernie, Roger and Kevin were also on their first trip with us. They also done well catching lots of tarpon and sharks including 9 tarpon in one session and 6 in another. We finished that week with 40 hundred pound plus tarpon and a lot of sharks. Bernie, Roger and Kevin also booked a day offshore and got 2 sailfish and lots of dolphin.
The next couple of weeks were also very good for tarpon with lots of 4, 5 and 6 fish catches in one session. There were several big ones landed in this period as well. Mick got a 180 pounder and he also got a 500 lbs plus bullshark 10 minutes after getting a 200 pounder and while Mick was fighting his big bull shark his fishing partner Keith got a 75 lbs tarpon, an 80 lbs blacktip shark and an 80 lbs nurse shark in the hour that Mick was battling with his fish. On another trip Mick got 13 sharks in one session. During the same week Des, Adam and another Mick also had a great week catching lots of tarpon and sharks including 5 in a session twice. Again that week we finished with over 40 hundred pound plus tarpon.
The next week the excellent fishing continued with regulars Arthur, Dave, Ron and Paul joined by newcomers Robert and Geoff all catching their fair share of the big tarpon, with catches of up to 8 in a session.
The following week I was put under real pressure. Three skippers from my local area were out for their first go at tarpon fishing. Stewart, Paul and Dave and Chris, Derrick and John had to struggle a little bit with bad weather but still managed plenty of good fish. They all got their first tarpon and plenty of sharks and one afternoon Chris, Derrick and John got over 20 big sharks up to 500 lbs and 2 stingrays the best of which was a 200 pounder for Chris. I must have passed the test because they are coming back again next year.
The following week saw Mark and Liz back for their sixth consecutive year and they beat all of their previous trips by getting 15 tarpon up to 170 lbs and in two afternoons 21 sharks to over 300 lbs. They also booked an extra trip to go out in the Gulf which they kindly invited Carole and I along. We had a great day catching over 30 groupers of various sorts up to over 100 lbs - great fun! Phil and Keith were also out that week with their better halves and they also got a lot of big tarpon and sharks including 12 in one short afternoon session. On one offshore trip they got over 60 dolphin and tuna.
The following week two groups of old clients Mark and Ray and Gerry, Creighton, Richard and newcomer Nick. They all had plenty of fish and Nick on his very first tarpon trip got 4 to the boat in less than 2 hours! We finished that week with over 30 tarpon and 20 sharks over 100 lbs.
The next week was one for the record books. Marcus, Jamie, Ben and John were on their 5th tip with us and caught 86 tarpon and a 40 plus permit in 6 nights fishing. This included Jamie getting 15 on the fly. On one night Jamie fishing with me hooked 7 and landed 7 all on the fly rod. That is one hell of a nights fishing. We have developed a technique over the last few years of catching big tarpon in the dark on fly and the results this year showed it is working really well.
The last week of this years trip was again with regular clients Barney, Dave and Colin. They had their best week ever releasing 18 100 lbs plus tarpon, a few sharks and Barney topped it off with an absolute monster - a goliath grouper that weighed over 400 lbs. Alan and Steve also that week got several tarpon including a monster for Steve which at over 200 lbs was our biggest of the year. Another catch of note was a 7 foot hammerhead shark.
Another year done and statistically it was our best ever year for tarpon releasing 355 fish with a high percentage over 100 lbs. The shark fishing wasn't quite as good as usual but the other general fishing including the big groupers was also better that usual. We are already planning ahead for next year and have ordered a brand new boat to be launched the first week of January. It is a 24 foot Pathfinder, the same make as the old boat but a little bigger and with a massive 250 hp Yamaha on the back of it. It will do 60 mph flat out and cruise a lot faster than the old boat. I can't wait to get my hands on it! We are already getting well booked for next year and 2011 so if you fancy a trip look on the website for available dates and give us a call.
The last UK Winter was the coldest for a few years and despite the best cod fishing we have seen in the Southern North Sea for over 20 years it was nice to get back to the Florida sun. Because of the current economic climate the airlines had all seemed to drop their prices which is good for everyone who wants to travel.
Carole and I flew out in January to get the house and the boat ready for our first guests who were regular customers of mine both in Florida and the UK. John, Neil and Dave had a great time catching lots of different species including king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, snappers, sharks of different species, groupers, trout, jacks, lady fish and many more. They also collectively fought and released a huge sawfish approximately 16 foot long weighing about 800 lbs. It was a tag team effort between the three of them that lasted over an hour. These fish are monsters and are becoming more common in one or two particular areas.
Over the next 2 or 3 weeks the fishing was quite good with the usual variety of fish with plenty of light tackle action which is what this time of year is all about. Good fun, nice and relaxing with a few bigger fish thrown in for good measure. Also over at this time were some local lads from back in my marina in the UK. John, Steve, Nigel and Mark got plenty of fish including one day out in the Gulf when they got over 20 groupers and 4 cobia. Chris , Doug and Rob also got plenty of fish, with Chris getting his first tarpon also. Tony and Dave tried this time of year to add to their species list and they finished their trip with 41 different species of fish.
March, April & May 2009
Mid Feb we popped home for a spell before returning in mid March for the main tarpon season. All the guys out the first week had been before. Although he weather did try and mess things up a big everyone caught tarpon, sharks and the usual mix of smaller species. English Ed excelled one evening catching 4 tarpon in an hour and a half.
The next week we had 2 regulars and 5 new clients. Trevor and John had been before and had their best week ever. Trevor caught a lot of tarpon to 175 lbs including 5 in one session twice! Trevor also got lots of sharks to over 400 lbs. Ian and Elizabeth both lost their tarpon virginity catching several to 140 lbs. Elizabeth in particular done exceptionally well continually annoying her partner Ian by catching more than him. They also had some excellent shark fishing as well catching lemons to over 300 lbs. Bernie, Roger and Kevin were also on their first trip with us. They also done well catching lots of tarpon and sharks including 9 tarpon in one session and 6 in another. We finished that week with 40 hundred pound plus tarpon and a lot of sharks. Bernie, Roger and Kevin also booked a day offshore and got 2 sailfish and lots of dolphin.
The next couple of weeks were also very good for tarpon with lots of 4, 5 and 6 fish catches in one session. There were several big ones landed in this period as well. Mick got a 180 pounder and he also got a 500 lbs plus bullshark 10 minutes after getting a 200 pounder and while Mick was fighting his big bull shark his fishing partner Keith got a 75 lbs tarpon, an 80 lbs blacktip shark and an 80 lbs nurse shark in the hour that Mick was battling with his fish. On another trip Mick got 13 sharks in one session. During the same week Des, Adam and another Mick also had a great week catching lots of tarpon and sharks including 5 in a session twice. Again that week we finished with over 40 hundred pound plus tarpon.
The next week the excellent fishing continued with regulars Arthur, Dave, Ron and Paul joined by newcomers Robert and Geoff all catching their fair share of the big tarpon, with catches of up to 8 in a session.
The following week I was put under real pressure. Three skippers from my local area were out for their first go at tarpon fishing. Stewart, Paul and Dave and Chris, Derrick and John had to struggle a little bit with bad weather but still managed plenty of good fish. They all got their first tarpon and plenty of sharks and one afternoon Chris, Derrick and John got over 20 big sharks up to 500 lbs and 2 stingrays the best of which was a 200 pounder for Chris. I must have passed the test because they are coming back again next year.
The following week saw Mark and Liz back for their sixth consecutive year and they beat all of their previous trips by getting 15 tarpon up to 170 lbs and in two afternoons 21 sharks to over 300 lbs. They also booked an extra trip to go out in the Gulf which they kindly invited Carole and I along. We had a great day catching over 30 groupers of various sorts up to over 100 lbs - great fun! Phil and Keith were also out that week with their better halves and they also got a lot of big tarpon and sharks including 12 in one short afternoon session. On one offshore trip they got over 60 dolphin and tuna.
The following week two groups of old clients Mark and Ray and Gerry, Creighton, Richard and newcomer Nick. They all had plenty of fish and Nick on his very first tarpon trip got 4 to the boat in less than 2 hours! We finished that week with over 30 tarpon and 20 sharks over 100 lbs.
The next week was one for the record books. Marcus, Jamie, Ben and John were on their 5th tip with us and caught 86 tarpon and a 40 plus permit in 6 nights fishing. This included Jamie getting 15 on the fly. On one night Jamie fishing with me hooked 7 and landed 7 all on the fly rod. That is one hell of a nights fishing. We have developed a technique over the last few years of catching big tarpon in the dark on fly and the results this year showed it is working really well.
The last week of this years trip was again with regular clients Barney, Dave and Colin. They had their best week ever releasing 18 100 lbs plus tarpon, a few sharks and Barney topped it off with an absolute monster - a goliath grouper that weighed over 400 lbs. Alan and Steve also that week got several tarpon including a monster for Steve which at over 200 lbs was our biggest of the year. Another catch of note was a 7 foot hammerhead shark.
Another year done and statistically it was our best ever year for tarpon releasing 355 fish with a high percentage over 100 lbs. The shark fishing wasn't quite as good as usual but the other general fishing including the big groupers was also better that usual. We are already planning ahead for next year and have ordered a brand new boat to be launched the first week of January. It is a 24 foot Pathfinder, the same make as the old boat but a little bigger and with a massive 250 hp Yamaha on the back of it. It will do 60 mph flat out and cruise a lot faster than the old boat. I can't wait to get my hands on it! We are already getting well booked for next year and 2011 so if you fancy a trip look on the website for available dates and give us a call.
Only a few places left for 2010 now booking for 2011
.JPG)
