Capt. Tom Stephens Sr.

 JUNE/JULY FISHING REPORT

Ok, ok I know that I am late on this report but I have to fish more than write reports!   We have had some great trips the past month or so and I could write a book on some of them but will try and stick to the facts.   The early summer has been fantastic, especially for the snook, permit and tarpon.  The good news is that it is still happening however the tarpon have slowed down a bit but the speckled trout fishing has been great.  I expect that this pattern will continue for the next month. 

Before I continue I would like to mention something that is important to me but may not be to you and that is if pictures are taken with your cameras and you never email the pictures to me then I can’t post them on this report.  There were a couple of great trips that I had with people with there first tarpon etc. and I have no pictures to remember them by or to put on my report. I call and leave messages but still no pictures.  Please email them to me.                          

There were plenty of trips that stood out but I will only touch on a couple but will include some pictures of many.  One trip was with a couple of guys who can’t decide which is more fun—catching fish or playing golf.  Well they were going to fish two days but after this day they decided to play golf because they couldn’t do any better on another day.  We caught snook and redfish and trout from the first cast till the last and the bite was just awesome.  I sure wish most days were this good but the truth is they are not always this great.

One great, or should I say two great tarpon days took place with Rodney, Bob and Tom.  Rodney had been trying for 6 years to land a tarpon but to no avail. His wife and friends all had landed one but not Rodney.  Well on the first day things changed.  However he was a great host to his friends, who he allowed to catch one before he did.  The one he got however was a beast.  This fish did what most giant fish do and that is go deep and never jump.  This fish took us 3 miles offshore and took two and a half hours to bring to the boat.  Notice the size of the tail in this picture.  It was taken from my tower and we estimated the weight at about 175 or so.  It was huge.  Rodney said if it wasn’t his first he would have asked for help.  The next day he landed another one about the same size plus a smaller one.  His friends all landed one or two and had several get off.  Bob’s tarpon was a mere baby compared to Rodney’s----I was paid to say that!.

One other trip was with a guy and his family who I use to work with in my other life.  Stacey and his family.  We caught some beautiful snook with one going 36 inches and about 20 lbs.  Evan caught this monster and on real light tackle it was a great battle.  We then went out on the beach and Chris, another son, hooked into a nice tarpon and did a great job just to lose it on a pulled hook.

More great snook and tarpon were caught this past month and I look forward to some more.  Also the permit bite is going on and will be great through the summer.  The trout and redfish will be good as well as the snook bite will happen into the fall as they fatten up for the winter.  They are in their spawning mode now and will move back into the bays soon.  I have plenty of open dates on the books so come on down. 

My son has been doing good also and hasn’t had too much time for his report as his art work has taken off and he is doing some great work.  Check out his art web site at www.tomstephensfineart.com.  See you soon Capt. Tom

 

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