Ask any local fisherman or fishing guide where the tarpon are and you're bound to get the one word answer "Everywhere!". Our guides fish 120 miles of the Forgotten Coastline and they've seen fish from one end to the other. And you don't necessarily have to be a professional fly fishing angler to hook one, or even try that hard to hook one on purpose for that matter. This particular fish measured at least 150 lbs and was caught on bait on a shark fishing trip. Maybe I should qualify that previous statement because sight fishing for tarpon with a fly rod does take skill, patience, determination and concentration. It's also extremely addictive!

 

Friday July 6th was a magical day, according to Capt. Tommy Robinson. All the stars and the moon were in alignment, mother nature cooperated with the weather and the tarpon gods were all smiling as he spent 5 hours poling his skiff in pristine conditions through possibly the most schools of tarpon he has had the priviledge to see in his career as a fishing guide. Of course it was a "you had to be there" kind of day because since then the weather went a bit south, the wind blew and conditions were screwed up for a couple days after. I guess if it was always perfect they'd call it mall shopping. (Shudder!)

 

Since my last report, inshore fishermen are still catching speckled trout, sheepshead, skipjacks (ladyfish) lots of sharks and if you're fishing with shrimp, you just can't help but catch a catfish or 3 in these summertime conditions. Capt. Jack Frye reports a pod of about 8 manatees visited with him on a charter the other afternoon. One was close enough for them to touch but after it figured out it was an object of attention it smacked its big tail on the water and splashed everyone on board.

 

Guides are predicting that August & September are going to be strong for tarpon, especially on live bait and plugs, possibly even into October. Capt. Jason Rucker mentions that as we get into September and October it's possible to fish a tide for tarpon and then go on to do some world class redfishing for the rest of the day. And if you are interested in fishing with us this fall, weekends especially are already beginning to book.

 

Guide Availability - Capt. Jr. Holland just got an opening for this Saturday & Sunday and Capt. Tommy Robinson keeps reminding me that he's STILL open on August 9th and I'd better go ahead and try to get him booked. Bay and Offshore trips are readily available the next couple of weeks and we do have some flats guides open through the next several weeks.

 

If you're downtown Apalachicola, stop in and say hello - I'm usually here from about 11:00 to 6:00 at 118 Commerce St., between the Chamber of Commerce & The Cafe Floridita. We currently stock Robinson Brothers Hats, Visors, T-shirts (long & short sleeve) Bullfrog sunscreen, HAD Headscarves, Boga-Grips and Richard Bickel's autographed print titled Apalachicola - Fishing the Last Great Bay (It's a photo of Capt. Chris Robinson & Capt. Nathan Donahoe at St. Vincent Island at Sunrise). We are also the area's only Stiffy Push-Pole dealer, stocking mostly 21' Hybrids & Grapites and repair items. If you have your laptop with you and want to check emails, our wireless connection is free! Come on in!

 

Just a couple of things around the area to mention: The restaurant at Summercamp is open for lunch from 11-5. Good food, reasonable prices & a great view. That's A Moray - Gourmet Goods To Go just opened in downtown Apalach. If you are fishing with a fishing guide they will take your advance lunch order and have your Lunch ready for you to pick up by 6:00am. They are located at 25 Ave. D or call them 850-653-1111. Water Street Hotel is taking reservations for the fall www.waterstreethotel.com and last but not least, we have some great properties for sale, including The Galloway Home & Chef Eddy's house in Apalachicola and 2 new homes in the Lanark/St. James area as well as some great lots on St. George Island and Summercamp. www.RobinsonRealEstateCompany.com Go ahead and take a peek at our website if you haven't already done so. Just click on Featured Listings to see what some of our other anglers have for sale.

 

Hope you've had a restful summer so far!

 

Kathy Robinson
Robinson Brothers Guide Service
118 Commerce St.
Apalachicola, Florida 32320
850-653-8896  850-653-7196 (cell)
www.FloridaRedfish.com  Robinson@Flaredfish.com

 

REALTOR - Robinson Real Estate Company
www.RobinsonRealEstateCompany.com
     850-653-1653

 

Member:
Apalachicola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce www.apalachicolabay.org
Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce www.carrabelle.org
Gulf County Chamber of Commerce www.gulfchamber.org
Florida Guides Assn. www.Florida-Guides.com
Florida Realtors Assn.