DUCK KEY FISHING FIELD GUIDE
Tarpon Time: Chasing the Silver King in Duck Key’s Shallow Bays
Four‑ and eight‑hour inshore/bay charters out of Duck Key aboard a 25' Dorado, offering tarpon and other shallow‑water gamefish with a captain steeped in Keys flats and backcountry fishing.
Tarpon Time: Chasing the Silver King in Duck Key’s Shallow Bays.
From the salt‑scarred flats around Duck Key to the mangrove‑lined backcountry of Florida Bay and the option to run to Everglades National Park, Tarpon Time is a focused inshore charter that puts anglers onto the Keys’ most electrifying quarry: the tarpon. Owned and run by Captain Jeff Malone, the operation emphasizes shallow‑water technique—fly and spinning tackle—family‑friendly trips, and a reverence for the local ecosystem that shows in both the boat fit and the captain’s approach.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Tarpon — the Silver King
Tarpon Time specializes in targeting large Florida Keys tarpon—the powerful, acrobatic 'Silver King'—with seasonally timed evening tarpon trips and focused shallow‑water technique.
A 25' Dorado built for flats work
The charter runs on a custom 25‑foot Dorado bay boat built in Tarpon Springs: a stable, fast platform with a spacious deck and first‑class, user‑friendly fishing gear for anglers of all ages and experience levels.
Local knowledge and TV credibility
Captain Jeff Malone brings deep local knowledge of Keys flats, backcountry and Everglades water combined with a passion for putting guests onto memorable fish — he’s also a recurring guest captain on the locally filmed Saltwater Experience.
What the day feels like
What the trip feels like
Expect sunlit glassy flats, tight‑line sight fishing and the sudden violence of a tarpon’s first run. Trips run as four‑hour half‑days or evenings, or as eight‑hour full‑day excursions (including an Everglades National Park full‑day option), and the pace is set by the species you’re after—gentle instruction and family moments when targeting snapper and jacks, high adrenaline when a tarpon takes the bait.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from Tarpon Time
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Tarpon Time is outfitted with first‑class, user‑friendly fishing gear appropriate for both fly and spinning tackle and for anglers at any experience level.
The operation runs a custom 25' Dorado bay boat with a spacious deck and seating designed for comfort and stable shallow‑water work.
Trips use both spinning and fly tackle as needed; gear aboard is suitable for the range of inshore species targeted.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How many guests can you take?
Charters accommodate one to four guests; pricing is quoted per trip for up to four people.
What are the trip lengths and timing?
Half‑day trips run four hours; full‑day trips run eight hours; there is also an evening tarpon four‑hour option available in tarpon season.
When are evening tarpon trips offered?
Evening tarpon trips are only available during tarpon season, March 15 through June 30.
What species and tackle are used?
The charter targets tarpon and a variety of inshore species using spinning and/or fly tackle; the captain will advise the best approach for the day.
Is gratuity included?
Gratuity is not included in pricing; a 20% tip is recommended to the charter captain.