Backcounty Fishing
Tarpon: The Silver King. Whether live bait fishing the spring migration or sight fishing shallow backcountry with fly and light spin tackle, these world class game fish (from 60 lbs to 165lbs plus) create some real fishing excitement for anglers of all experience levels.
The Mullet start the huge feeding frenzy with their spring migration from gulf to ocean through the chain of islands. The Tarpon are feeding on the Mullet as they make there way from the Gulf to the reef to spawn, and their numbers grow from April to May to June.
Sharks are there to work on the Giant Tarpon and the rest is up to your imagination. It’s hard to go offshore for the best time of the Mahi Mahi (Dolphin) season with all those Tarpon inshore. This is why we have to fish every day here in the Florida Keys.
Duck Key - Marathon Florida Keys Fishing
Offshore Fishing Ocean Side : We have options of trolling dead baits and lures, drifting live baits (kite fishing) and site fishing. Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Wahoo, Shark, Marlin, (swordfish-fishery of there own) and Triple Tail are your surface fishing fare. Deep ocean wrecks provide great light tackle action for Mutton and Mangrove snapper, Goliath, Gag, Red and Black Grouper, Cobia, Amberjack, King Mackerel and Shark Fishing.
Inshore Ocean Side : The reef drops to 100ft depth about 5 miles from land. We anchor and chum from 20ft -110ft depth and with conditions in our favor Yellowtail, Mutton, Mangrove Snapper and the Groupers are the targeted dinner fare with all the Jacks, Mackerel, Cobia, Sailfish and Sharks as the added bonus during their respective seasons.
Inshore Flats Fishing : Offers world class site fishing for Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon. Fly rod and spin Tackle of all sizes are your weapons here, but these fish see you as soon as you see them. Fly fishing can take a life time or more to perfect.Inshore Bay and Backcountry: consists of 6ft-12ft of nice grass estuary and many shallow banks and flats. This is where it all starts.. if you were a juvenile fish of any reef / bottom dwelling species you would spend the early part of your life hiding and feeding in the rich deep grass of the Florida Bay. In the deeper grass and on the shallows Snapper, Grouper and Sharks of all kinds are plentiful throughout the year. Migratory species include Cobia, Mackerel and Sharks roaming the entire area with Tarpon, Permit and Bonefish up on the Banks / Flats.
Favorable conditions and these fish visiting our area each year truly makes this area a year round fishing paradise.
With all these options available, the question is not what do I want to fish for today but how do I catch all these fish. The answer is it can take a lifetime unless you just move here and fish full time like we do. From a visitors view on a short trip, our Florida Keys Fishing Charter industry can provide the service you need to save time and money on your quest for knowledge about this area and these fish.
Captain Doug Starliper
Marathon Florida Duck Key