Tarpon on a Cuda Tube?

One of the biggest things I teach people is to take advantage of what opportunities present themselves.  I get customers that load the boat with rods and tackle but don't have a single rod rigged and ready to go.  Less than half a mile from the dock is some of the finest fishing in the world.  If you ain't ready, you ain't catching.

One of the reasons I love the Keys is the diveversity of opportunities.  On a trip I had last week the guys just wanted to hook big stuff.  After convincing them to catch a couple of fat mangs for dinner we targeted the big jacks and toothy critters on the rubble pile.  They had a ball and could have spent the whole week getting their butts handed to them by big fish on light tackle. With the bite slowing and time running out, I took them to the flats to play with some 'cudas.  "Cudas are underrated by lots of locals 'cause we been there done that.  Newbies to the Keys though like their first encounters with those toothy critters.

On the flats with 'cuda tubes it can be a lot of fun because they strike hard and everyone sees a lot of stuff in the shallow waters that are clearer than most places.  Well, on this day we had a lot of short strikes and follows with no hook ups.  That is until a 60 ish pound tarpon inhaled the tube.  About 30 minutes and 10 jumps latter Eddied boated his first tarpon of his trip and his buddy Jerry held it for the picture.  Of course they never emailed me the picture.  Anyway, that was the first tarpon I have ever seen caught on a 'cuda tube.  Hey, I would rather be lucky than good.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines, Capt. Dallas