March is for Permit and Tarpon Fishing

February leading into the first week of March has been incredible. The water temperatures are in the upper seventies, and the fish are loving it!

I ended February with an epic day of permit fishing with my buddy Capt. Nick Labadie. With a scientist from Bonefish and Tarpon Trust on board we set out to tag the first of a thirty permit goal for science. The fish were being tough and not bitey. Luckily at our last spot, we spotted a pair of big fish on white sand. Perfect setup for a wading shot, Nick was quick to jump out of the skiff. He walked carefully across the white sand flat as the fish tailed their way to him. On his second cast he came tight, and I poled quickly over to pick him up. We chased down the big permit, and performed a successful surgery tagging the fish with an acoustic tag. Hopefully this fish will ping the receivers as we attempt to learn more about permit spawning behavior.

We’ve had tarpon fishing at the end of February leading up into the first week of March as good as I’ve ever seen in May or June. The backcountry basins and channels are filling in with grabby fish, and we’re even seeing some action in our ocean side poling basins. The wind has been fierce, and the casting has been tough, but the fishing have been biting for those who can present a fly.

Solid Tarpon Jumped and Landed by Angler Miles Last Week.

Capt. Nick Labadie Releasing a Permit we Tagged for Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.

Me With a Permit I Landed on a Solo Mission a Few Days Ago.