CAPT. JOEL’S FISHIN’ HOLES

By: Capt. Joel Brandenburg

Wat a time. One long 75yds and one short 25yrds. Makes for less tangles when the tarpon strikes.

The Bahia Honda Bridge: At Bahia Honda Bridge pass crabs and small blue crabs are the ticket. Sometimes we flat line them with a little piece and Styrofoam glued on the top of the crabs back and sometimes we free line the crab on a balloon or bobber. The speed of the current determines to technique and presentation. Funny thing is you can use mullet at Bahia Honda Bridge like you do at 7 Mile Bridge and never get a bite at Bahia Honda and vice versa you can use crabs at 7 Mile and never get a tarpon to look at it. They like certain baits at every bridge. A week or so out of the year during spring, the migratory tarpon gorge themselves on a little blackish/redish worm that hatches called the Palolo worm. When the Palolo worm hatches Bahia Honda Bridge is the best.

If you are fortunate enough to be at Bahia Honda when the hatch happens, and you have proper Palolo worm lures or fly’s the bite can be phenomenal. They won’t feed on anything but the Palolo worm during the peak of the hatch.

The Long Bridge: Best bait at the Long Bridge is live mullet with their tails cut off and an egg sinker or a chunk of cut bait or fish carcass and an egg sinker. This technique is met with much controversy by avid tarpon anglers and local captains. The basis of the controversy is that tarpon at Long Bridge use to feed on live mullet like they do at 7 Mile Bridge, but over time people have been targeting tarpon at Long Bridge with dead and crippled bait and have turn the tarpon lazy and conditioned them to wait on chummed pieces of fish.

In the recent past at the Long Key Bridge, you could experience a tarpon clubber a live mullet on top of the water, know you get less bites and t he bites you do get are less exciting. Many experienced tarpon anglers and Local Captains look down on anglers how to chunk and chum for tarpon at Long Bridge.

— For a charter with Captain Joel or Jojo marathonkeyfishingcharters.com or visit us in person at Ana Banana Marina located at 11699 Overseas Hwy Marathon Florida Keys. Look for the big yellow Ana Banana sign with antlers around it.

Brandenburg of Ana Banana Fishing Company in Marathon Florida Keys call cell 813-2674401 or office 305-395-4212 or visit www.