As of September 1st 2025 I live in the Florida Keys. Truly a dream come true. Key Largo is now my home permanently. I will be fishing the Everglades out of Flamingo year round from now on as well as all of the local waters here in the Keys.

Till next time,

Captain Mark Bennett

Check out my Social Media for faster updates on the fishing and LOTS of photos!!!

I am ready to pack my bags and head to the Keys again to fish the Everglades.  The Hewes is ready to go.  I will be down there for the next couple months chasing these fish all over the backcountry.  It is absolutely my favorite time of year.  Lots of tarpon and almost zero fishing pressure.

This off season has been busier than most.  From hunting in Texas to bass fishing all over central Florida.

Although May and June are booked solid I still have openings in September and the first week of October to chase tarpon in the backcountry of the Everglades National Park.  Whether you fish fly or spin it is an unforgettable experience.

Till next time,

Captain Mark Bennett

 Check out my Social Media for faster updates on the fishing and LOTS of photos!!!

My bags are packed and the Hewes is ready to go.  It is finally time for my annual migration to the Upper Keys to fish for tarpon in the Florida Everglades.  I will be down there for the next couple months chasing these fish all over the backcountry.  It is absolutely my favorite time of year.  Lots of tarpon and almost zero fishing pressure.

This year I am extra excited because I have a couple days set aside to stand on the pointy end for a change.  Keep an eye on my social media for more frequent updates.

I have a couple openings this fall season.  September 20th, 21st, 28th, 29th and 30th.  I also have openings the first two weeks of October.

If you haven’t seen our video collaboration with Humminbird/Minn Kota watch it here!!!

Till next time,

Captain Mark Bennett

Check out our Social Media for faster updates on the fishing and LOTS of photos!!!

This September and October in the Everglades was a blast.  There were as many tarpon as you will ever see in the Everglades.  We had success every day on spin and fly as well.

Next year, 2024, I will be fishing for tarpon here out of Flamingo/Key Largo for the months of May and June.  Depending on booking I might be here for part of July as well.  As always I will be back in September and October.

If you haven’t seen our video collaboration with Humminbird/Minn Kota watch it here!!!

Till next time,

Captain Mark Bennett

Check out our Social Media for faster updates on the fishing and LOTS of photos!!!

Lately I have been fishing my skiff around Charlotte Harbor.  Mostly fly fishing for tarpon in the shallow flats.  Not the giants but 10-40# tarpon.  Action has been great.  Lots of shots and hookups daily.  Just a blast on an 8 or 9wt setup.  I will be doing a lot more of this next July and August.

The photos are from about two weeks ago.  I was invited down to the Keys to help the Humminbird Lakemaster/Coastmaster guys with a new chart they are working on.  It was fun to run around all over Florida Bay with these guys.  I also had 5 days of tarpon charters to do while I was down there.  I figured the Everglades was the place to do it.  I was right.  The first couple days we caught them on swimbaits and spinning rods, the next three we caught them on fly.

Every day in May 2023 I fished for tarpon in the Everglades.  Every day was a success.  With the major decline in the tarpon fishing here at home, it is a no brainer that I will be fishing there all of May and June 2024.  The Everglades is like no other place in the world.  Multiple tarpon hooked every day on spin and fly.  We caught a bunch of big snook there as well.  We caught several giants each week.  I never targeted them.  We just hooked them on swimbaits while casting at tarpon.  Next year, 2024, I will be fishing here out of Flamingo/Key Largo for the months of May and June.  Depending on booking I might be here for part of July as well.

I am headed back down for my usual September and October like every year.  I am excited to get back down and fish for tarpon in a little cooler temperatures.  In September I am still open the 21st-25th and the 30th-October 8th.  The rest is already booked solid.  If you are interested call, text or email for details.

If you haven’t seen our video collaboration with Humminbird/Minn Kota watch it here!!!

Till next time,

Captain Mark Bennett

Check out our Social Media for faster updates on the fishing and LOTS of photos!!!

I will be fishing the Everglades out of Flamingo/upper Keys in May as well as September and October.  Yes, you read that right.  For the first time in 30 years I will not be fishing the Boca Grande/Charlotte Harbor area for tarpon in May.  This is a change I had planned for the last few years even without hurricane Ian.

We will be fishing the beaches out of Venice in June/July.  Fishing the same beaches, Englewood-Anna Maria Island, just out of a different boat ramp.  The Venice area has beautiful beaches, nice hotels and great restaurants.  You will not be disappointed.

I still have a few openings for June/July as well as September/October.

For more information on our Everglades adventures check out: Gladestarpon.com

If you haven’t seen our video collaboration with Humminbird/Minn Kota watch it here!!!

Till next time,

Captain Mark Bennett

Check out our Social Media for faster updates on the fishing and LOTS of photos!!!

Tarpon season 2023:

Because of Hurricane Ian and the damage it has done to the town I live in and Boca Grande I am making a few changes for the upcoming season.

I will be fishing the Everglades out of Flamingo/upper Keys in May as well as September and October.  Yes, you read that right.  For the first time in 30 years I will not be fishing the Boca Grande/Charlotte Harbor area for tarpon in May.  This is a change I had planned for the last few years even without hurricane Ian.

We will be fishing the beaches out of Venice in June/July.  Fishing the same beaches, Englewood-Anna Maria Island, just out of a different boat ramp.  The Venice area has beautiful beaches, nice hotels and great restaurants.  You will not be disappointed.

For more information on our Everglades adventures check out: Gladestarpon.com

If you haven’t seen our video collaboration with Humminbird/Minn Kota watch it here!!!

Till next time,

Captain Mark Bennett

Check out our Social Media for faster updates on the fishing and LOTS of photos!!!