April 20, 2015 Report (Tarpon!)

Dean from TX has fished with me several times before and has lost his tarpon every time for different reasons and we were both looking to today as being the magical day. Leaving the marina in the dark we set up on our tarpon spot and waited. Eventually, among a number of rolling tarpon, one of the rods goes off and Dean is on! Ten grueling minutes into a fight that had us dragging the big tarpon away from structure with the boat and he makes one last jump and comes off. Oh no! I'm starting to feel the pressure now but 10 minutes later one of the rods goes off again and Dean is on again. After a number of hair raising attempts to break us off and 40 minutes of intense man against beast battle Dean's fish comes to the side of the boat. A few pics and a DNA sample for the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust later the estimated 130lb tarpon swims off. Wheww, pressure is off and Dean had a BIG smile. I love tarpon season!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409

April 19, 2015 Report (Tarpon)

What a morning! Joey and his wife Brandy boarded at 5:45 am and the goal was tarpon. Sundays on the bay can get crazy so the goal was to get in, fight some tarpon and get out before the mayhem began. Moments after arriving at our location and setting up Brandy's rod goes off with a big tarpon launching into the air and the braid breaking immediately. Urgh! Silence for a few minutes and then another bite, and another, and another. In total we had 5 bites and lost them all for a number of reasons. So frustrating for me but Joey did a great job on his fish before the premature release and we were able to get some nice pics out of it although I came close to the leader release but was short about a foot. Joey used to be a fishing guide and has caught numerous big tarpon so the morning is nothing new to him but I always hate losing fish. These were great folks and we were in by 9:30 am.

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409

April 18, 2015 Report (crazy tarpon report!)

Wow, this tarpon fishing trip was crazy! Local client J.C. and his friend George hopped aboard while still dark for an early morning tarpon trip. Marking tons of fish on my Raymarine we get a hit while still setting up but George brings up a half eaten bait. Geeze! A bit after I mark more tarpon on my Raymarine and sure enough J.C.'s rod doubles over and over 100lbs of tarpon goes sky high and J.C.'s on tight to his fish. During the one and 40 minute fight the tarpon took us through an obstacle course of rock jetties, docks, anchored boats and markers but we managed to safely navigate all the obstacles in spite of some VERY close calls. Unfortunately, the end result of the battle was a big 9 plus foot bull shark eating J.C.'s tarpon. A real heart breaker for many reasons. In Miami's Biscayne Bay you never know what to expect!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409

April 17, 2015 Report

Under clear skies locals Manny and Marcel were in for a full day of tarpon, bonefish and permit fishing. This was the second day of slow fishing so we ended the day fishing a few wrecks in the bay where we kept the rods bent. Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409

April 16, 2015 Report

Carlos and Eric hopped aboard for the 2nd straight year and with an early start Eric hooked a big tarpon but it spit the hook after it's 4th jump. Ouch! The rest of the trip was spent looking for sea trout but while they did catch some, the fishing remained slow. Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409

April 15, 2015 Report (Bonefish!)

I've been fishing the Bonefish Bonnies flats tournament out of Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo for several years now and today Joann and Eleanor boarded my skiff for another have at this fun tournament. When Eleanor jumped aboard she didn't know how to cast and told me it would be a miracle if she caught a fish, any fish. Getting into some permit and tarpon but getting no hook ups, Eleanor practiced the casting lessons I gave her and being a quick learner, was off to the races. Not only did she catch fish, she landed an 11lb bonefish on 8lb test! Way to go Eleanor. As lines out was closing in Joann hooks a monster fish that peeled line at an amazing pace but cut her off a few minutes into the fight after the initial run. NO! We all had a great time and Eleanor thanked Joan for talking her into joining her today. Great job ladies!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409

April 14, 2015 Report (Tarpon!)

Scott jumped aboard for day two of tarpon fishing and the tarpon did not disappoint. We started by hooking one in the 120lb range on 10lb test on an artificial but losing him 20 minutes into the fight after a few jumps. Ouch! Shortly after we hooked two more in the span of about 10 minutes, one popped off after the first jump and the other jumped off after going ballistic, tail walking towards the boat, making a short run and then giving us his last jump. The rest of the day went on about the same. The final tally was tarpon 8, Scott 0. We have to change that next year Scott!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409