Key West Fishing Report - SUMMER 2009

Tarpon season is in full swing now. The best tides being near the full or new moon which brings the best flow of water into the basins and onto the deeper flats of the Lower Keys.

Tarpon fishing with a fly can be tricky with some refusals. A worm pattern may work best later in the month when the Palolo worm hatch could happen again. Remember it has to be an outgoing tide in the evening under a full or new moon and it's got to be CALM.

One thing we have not had this season so far is a good stretch of calm weather days. The wind has been strong a times which puts the tarpon down.

Despite the tarpon fishing being tough at times, permit and bonefish are flooding the backcountry and can make for a lot of fun after an early morning tarpon session.

Lower Keys & Key West Fishing Report - December 2008

December is a terrific time for action on the flats of the Lower Keys. The water temperature is starting to cool down now which sends some fish to deeper water where the temperature is more constant. Other fish look to the shallow flats for warmth and for opportunity to find bait.

Barracuda are one of the best fighting gamefish we have for winter fishing. There pursuit of a lure is explosive as they zig zag back and forth trying to sink a tooth into it. Once they are hooked it's off to the races. Barracuda not only peel light like off a reel at lightening speed, but they jump and thrash better than many fish just trying to shake the hook. Barracuda can be found all over the backcountry flats of the Lower Keys all the way to the Marquesas. They range from a few pounds up to 25- pound or more on the flats. The barracuda that lurk off the reef and wrecks can get even larger than that.

Other species that take to the shallows in the winter are ladyfish (called the poor man's tarpon), jacks and sea trout. Many of these fish can be found in the mud slicks that form in the backcountry basins. Drifting over a mud slick a few times can produce a bent rod for everyone. It's a great way to keep everyone busy. Larger Jack Crevalle spend more time on the flats in the winter. These gamefish can get upwards of 20- pounds and love to eat surface plugs.

Permit are still a good target species in the winter too. There are plenty on the flats and on the warmer days they can be very aggressive towards a live crab.

Bonefish may be found in deeper water during the winter months. They may approach a flat but may stay in 2 or more feet of water just to stay at a more constant temperature. Live shrimp are the best way to get these fish to eat and they too will peel light tackle line like no other fish.

If you are heading to the Keys for the holidays please give us a call 305-294-3618 or email. We do have openings for flats fishing and can take up to two anglers per boat.

Fall is a terrific time to venture onto the flats of the Lower Keys. Bonefishing hits an all-time high with plenty of schools of mid- to large bonefish are available throughout the Lower Keys.

Permit fishing also is excellent from now through November. Permit will stick around through the winter months too but if the water temperature drops too dramatically they will head for deeper water where the change is not as drastic. Permit are a perfect target with a live crab or with a crab immitation fly.

Right now there are still some opportunities to nab a smaller tarpon too for the Grand Slam. They are thinning out now since it is the end of their season but certain areas hold resident fish.

Barracuda, large jacks, sharks, sea trout and redfish will start to appear on the flats more frequently and make for some fun fishing for anglers of any ability. Snapper and grouper also move into more shallow water in the winter time. This is a particularly fun time to fish with your kids on the flats and catch snapper for dinner too.

If you are heading to the Keys for the holidays please give us a call 305-294-3618 or email. We do have openings for flats fishing and can take up to two anglers per boat.

Fishing Report - May 2008

Our tarpon fishing in Key West has taken off. The second week in May was full of great opportunities to catch big tarpon. These fish are moving through the Lower Keys along the ocean side flats in large schools.

Tarpon fishing will remain good through July with some big fish still lingering in August and into the fall.

Bonefish will start to flood the backcountry flats as the water temperature rises and stays in the high 70s to 80s.

Permit will return to the flats towards the end of May and into June. There are already some bigger permit on the flats. Getting a hook in one now would be easier than waiting for a hot summer day with no wind. Permit are particularly aware of their surroundings and don't leave much room for error on a flat calm day.

We offer shallow water flats fishing for up to 2 anglers per boat. In the Fall and Winter months we also offer deep sea fishing aboard a light tackle center console boat.

Please feel free to contact us for availability or if we are booked we can offer a reputable professional fishing guide in the area.

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