The skies are clear today and no tropical storm formation is expected through Thursday so I'm glad to report that it may be a good day to go try some Key West permit and bonefishing.
Things are slow for us this time of year since kids go back to school between August and September, there are not a lot of people in town until Key West Key West Fantasy Fest in late October. We had our few fishing tournaments in early September but now it starts to settle in... do I go fishing and find some new spots or clean up from the last hurricane that roared by us.
A few days ago I got out for some evening fishing on the flats just in back of Sugarloaf. It was a beautiful afternoon with a stiff breeze out of the south east. We headed out to a small flat that exited into a deeper channel and immediately saw a few nice bonefish cruising up onto the flat. The water was not deep enough yet to give them space to roam so they were pushing water with their tails and backs completely out of the water. It was amazing to see.
We managed to scare that group away with our approach in the skiff. I pulled the skiff up onto the flat and got out to wade. I managed to make a cast at one cruising bonefish and he ate the fly immediatly. The race was on! With not much water to work with and a deeper channel on both sides of me, I followed him on foot reeling and tightening the drag as I walked. He turned towards me as he got to the deeper water and ran again over the flat. I imagine his fear of being bit by a shark because I was probably thinking the same thing about my toes.
I finally got a hold of the leader and landed the bonefish. Although I didn't have my boga grip I can estimate him to be a modest 7-8lb fish. You can see for yourself on my website.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Fall Fishing Conditions
In the aftermath of Hurricane Rita in the Florida Keys we will have a waiting period for the flats fishing to get back underway. We were spared some of the damage to our homes but the waters around the Florida Keys certainly took a beating getting churned up by high seas, strong tides and high winds from this hurricane.
Fish react with great instinct before and after a tropical cyclone effects their area. They have a tremendous sense of weather conditions and tend to gorge on whatever is in front of them. I have fished before and after hurricanes before and had great luck on the flats prior to a hurricane. The waters are still clear and the sky tends to be perfect giving us perfect light on our quarry.
Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. We don't usually get effected until August or September but this year was an exception with Hurricane Dennis skirting by in July. Despite these systems effecting our fishing, the waters do clear up pretty quickly and fishing gets back to normal in a week or so.
During the summer months we find tarpon, bonefish and permit to be excellent species to fish for on the flats with a fly rod. Reason? Winds are generally light and for the beginner and intermediate fly angler this gives them a greater chance to hook and land fish on a fly rod.
We are now well into our Fall season here in the Keys and big tides give us great wading possibilities in the backcountry off Sugarloaf Key. I particularly love this time of year for evening fishing for tailing permit and bonefish and will head out there when I can after a days charter to get some fishing in for myself.
Bonefish patterns that work great here in the Lower Florida Keys include the clouser minnow, Foxy Clouser and any smaller shrimp pattern. I can tell you to tie a few different sizes of each fly with different weight barbell eyes. Many of these fish are in very skinny water so the lighter fly and presentation is essential.
For permit, and also for bonefish, a merkin pattern is the best for presentation and realistic movement in the water of a crab fleeing. The summer months provide us with a unique opportunity to fish a 'crab hatch' that happens. These tiny blue crabs cling to floating sea grass and other debris and follow the tides inflow and outflow. Permit see this opportunity to feed on a bunch of crabs by waiting in the side channels and outflow areas similar to trout, and just pick the crabs from the surface. For these conditions we need a fly that floats or just suspends below the surface film of the water. If you hit it right, a crab hatch can be an amazing site and a tremendous opportunity to hook a permit on a fly.
As Fall turns to winter the winds will tend to increase here in the Florida Keys. Permit will hang around throughout the winter months and the barracudas, jack crevalle and sharks will move in to replace tarpon and bonefish on the flats. Both tarpon and bonefish are temperature sensative and will vacate the flats if the water temperature drops too much.
I fish a lot offshore for tuna, bonito (false albacore) and wahoo in the winter months on our larger boat. It's a great opportunity to hook a 20 - 30lb tuna on a fly rod as well as bonito and possibly wahoo. We carry both fly tackle and conventional tackle for those who just want to feel the burn of a screaming reel on a blackfin tuna.
Fish react with great instinct before and after a tropical cyclone effects their area. They have a tremendous sense of weather conditions and tend to gorge on whatever is in front of them. I have fished before and after hurricanes before and had great luck on the flats prior to a hurricane. The waters are still clear and the sky tends to be perfect giving us perfect light on our quarry.
Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. We don't usually get effected until August or September but this year was an exception with Hurricane Dennis skirting by in July. Despite these systems effecting our fishing, the waters do clear up pretty quickly and fishing gets back to normal in a week or so.
During the summer months we find tarpon, bonefish and permit to be excellent species to fish for on the flats with a fly rod. Reason? Winds are generally light and for the beginner and intermediate fly angler this gives them a greater chance to hook and land fish on a fly rod.
We are now well into our Fall season here in the Keys and big tides give us great wading possibilities in the backcountry off Sugarloaf Key. I particularly love this time of year for evening fishing for tailing permit and bonefish and will head out there when I can after a days charter to get some fishing in for myself.
Bonefish patterns that work great here in the Lower Florida Keys include the clouser minnow, Foxy Clouser and any smaller shrimp pattern. I can tell you to tie a few different sizes of each fly with different weight barbell eyes. Many of these fish are in very skinny water so the lighter fly and presentation is essential.
For permit, and also for bonefish, a merkin pattern is the best for presentation and realistic movement in the water of a crab fleeing. The summer months provide us with a unique opportunity to fish a 'crab hatch' that happens. These tiny blue crabs cling to floating sea grass and other debris and follow the tides inflow and outflow. Permit see this opportunity to feed on a bunch of crabs by waiting in the side channels and outflow areas similar to trout, and just pick the crabs from the surface. For these conditions we need a fly that floats or just suspends below the surface film of the water. If you hit it right, a crab hatch can be an amazing site and a tremendous opportunity to hook a permit on a fly.
As Fall turns to winter the winds will tend to increase here in the Florida Keys. Permit will hang around throughout the winter months and the barracudas, jack crevalle and sharks will move in to replace tarpon and bonefish on the flats. Both tarpon and bonefish are temperature sensative and will vacate the flats if the water temperature drops too much.
I fish a lot offshore for tuna, bonito (false albacore) and wahoo in the winter months on our larger boat. It's a great opportunity to hook a 20 - 30lb tuna on a fly rod as well as bonito and possibly wahoo. We carry both fly tackle and conventional tackle for those who just want to feel the burn of a screaming reel on a blackfin tuna.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Fall Fly Fishing in the Lower Florida Keys
For those who can find the time to get away this fall, the fishing for bonefish and permit in September and October is excellent. Each year we get some perfect tides in early morning and early evening for tailing fish and often we can get out and wade fish for them.
I have just returned from a trek to the Riverkeep Lodge in Labrador. It was certainly an experience of a lifetime and it was wonderful to spend time with my Dad on this trip. My fathers generosity not only extends to me but to the clergyman of his local church. Needless to say it was a very enjoyable week out in the wilderness. Riverkeep is set on and island in Labrador and offers untouched fishing for large brook trout, northern pike and landlock salmon. Throughout the week our guides not only make the camp comfortable for us but also cooked meals, told great stories and showed us some of the best fresh water fishing available.
Now I'm back in the Florida Keys in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This powerful storm spared us for the most part just leaving us with trees down and without power for a couple of days. For those in New Orleans, my heart and prayers go out to you.
I have just returned from a trek to the Riverkeep Lodge in Labrador. It was certainly an experience of a lifetime and it was wonderful to spend time with my Dad on this trip. My fathers generosity not only extends to me but to the clergyman of his local church. Needless to say it was a very enjoyable week out in the wilderness. Riverkeep is set on and island in Labrador and offers untouched fishing for large brook trout, northern pike and landlock salmon. Throughout the week our guides not only make the camp comfortable for us but also cooked meals, told great stories and showed us some of the best fresh water fishing available.
Now I'm back in the Florida Keys in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This powerful storm spared us for the most part just leaving us with trees down and without power for a couple of days. For those in New Orleans, my heart and prayers go out to you.
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