The below entry was written by Captain Tom Rowland, a fishing guide in both fresh and saltwater turned entrepreneur. He has demonstrated at fishing shows around the country, published articles and photography in books and magazines, and filmed more than 30 nationally televised fishing shows before creating his own, Saltwater Experience. Filmed at Hawks Cay Marina, NBC Sports’ Saltwater Experience is one of the highest-rated television shows for outdoor and fishing enthusiasts. The show is in its 17th year of production and has been seen on ESPN, Discovery Channel, Fox, Sportsman Channel, and other networks over the years. Read more about Captain Tom here.
As summer comes to a close and we approach Labor Day, it’s one of the best times to visit the Florida Keys. The islands are a little quieter and the fish are a little friendlier. One of the best fishing trips I’ve ever taken happened around this time of year, three years ago.
That day, we were accompanied by our hard-working guide on the docks of Hawks Cay Resort, Captain Jeff Malone. We met Captain Jeff with our film entourage at the marker outside of Safety Harbor, and from there, he took us to a hideaway spot to catch bait and baby tarpon. In almost no time we had caught both, so we decided to enjoy the warm weather and smooth seas at Long Key Bridge a little longer. We caught a few more tarpon, yellow jacks and Giant Jack Crevalle, making it a day for easy hooking. (See that episode by clicking here.)
Having already caught a tarpon that day, it seemed like a good idea to look for bonefish and permit to try to wrap up a grand slam! I mean, what better way to close off a fishing trip in paradise?
A quick run back to Hawks Cay and Captain Jeff had us casting to permit quickly. As our luck would have it (or maybe the luck of Captain Jeff), it wasn’t long before we had all caught one. The tide was right for a bonefish spot nearby, so we moved in and got positioned to try to chum a bonefish in to complete the slam right in front of the Hawks Cay Resort.
Captain Jeff hooked something immediately. We expected that it’d be a bonefish… it was that quick. We were all a little surprised when yet another permit came to the boat. Moments later, I also caught one after I battled with a feisty lemon shark. Picture this -- now, five permit and a bunch of tarpon -- two shows were complete. Score! The sun started getting a little lower, the skies a little more muted and we began making our way back to the dock.
Sometimes (actually – quite rarely), filming a show is just this easy. The weather is nice, the bait plentiful with all the species that we are hungry after that are ready to play ball with us. Fishing in the Keys can be like this for both expert anglers and beginners alike. Guides like Jeff Malone and others at the Hawks Cay Marina use their experience and skills to help everyone have a fun and memorable day.
The show was incredible! One of the most memorable fishing days I’ve ever had. Captain Jeff at the Hawks Cay Marina was a true pleasure to spend time with on the boat… and of course, hooking a few catches was nice too.
You can follow Captain Jeff Malone on social media @tarpon_time or book a trip with him (I recommend it!).
