Hope everyone is enjoying all the great weather down here in the
lower Florida Keys. We had a couple of windy days this week but
overall the fishing has been spectacular for all the the flats
game fish. You could argue the fact that bonefishing hasn't been
all that spectacular but I have seen plenty of bonefish on the
flats to catch one. Since there aren't that many bonefish
around, chumming can be a real effective way to catch one. All
you need to do is get a three inch PVC and cap it off at each
end. Make the piece of three inch about eighteen inches long.
You can glue one side shut and leave the other side open so you
can put shrimp inside of it. Next drill holes in the PVC so the
shrimp sent can leak out through all the holes. Then get a
couple of eight once weights and drop them in with about four
dozen shrimp. Cap off the other end and shake the weight up so
that they crush the shrimp inside. I like to have the chum tube
a short way from the boat, so attach a piece of string to the
tube and pitch it about ten feet behind the boat. The easiest
way to catch a fish chumming is to set a couple of spin rods out
in the "chum slick" and just wait. If you're fly fishing for
them just keep a keen eye out in the slick and try and get your
shots that way. To tell you the truth you are probably better
off just poling the flat than chumming if you are fly fishing
but it is a very effective way to catch them on a spinning rod.
The permit and tarpon
fishing have been outstanding this week besides the couple of
days of heavy wind. It certainly didn't affect the permit but
some of the tarpon areas were blown out and when it gets real
windy they just head for deeper water. This is when I really
love to fish for tarpon in the channels early in the morning.
You don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn but try and leave
the dock a little before sunrise when channel tarpon fishing. As
we all know, tarpon are far more active early in the morning and
this holds even more true for tarpon in the channels. Even
though sight fishing is the preferred way to fish for tarpon on
fly, a sinking line in a channel is a nice way to start the day
before the sun gets high enough to see them in the water. A good
tip is to wait for a fish to roll in casting range instead of of
just casting the whole time you're in the channel. That is just
a good way to tire yourself out. I also like to strip real slow
because the current will also move the fly along for you. The
permit have really moved onto the flats and are a wonderful fish
to fish for this time of year. This is also the time right
before they go offshore and spawn and this week could be a
killer time to fish for permit. Right before they leave you will
often see huge schools of permit on the flats getting ready to
leave. It is a lot easier to catch a permit when they are
in giant schools than when you are just fishing for one fish. We
have a full moon coming up so this could be the moon they spawn
off, but it is still a little early. Hope everyone has tight
lines and fish boat side until next week
It's been a tough week down here
fishing with winds in excess of over thirty miles per hour just
about all week long. This always happens around this time in
March and all of us just have to deal with it. It's not to say
there aren't any fish around because there are, but you're
getting your butt kicked while you're trying to find them. The
best thing to fish for right now is permit but with all the wind
the fish haven't been as abundant as you would like. Some days
this week, when it was a little cloudy, I would get three shots.
When it was sunny I would get around ten shots and I was happy
with that. If you are getting ten shots at permit you have a
good chance to catch one but when the wind is howling it is hard
to get a quality shot at one. I have been telling my clients
that even though the fishing is tough you will become a much
better fisherman when you fish in winds like we have been
having. It makes you concentrate more on the task at hand and
when you fish again whether it is here or somewhere else, it
will seem easy after the wind you have been dealing with. There
have been tons of jacks on the backs of rays and sharks which
have really saved my week. Even this is difficult in all the
wind but if you get the fly close to the fish they almost always
eat it. If you are spin fishing use a popper and the fish will
attack that as soon as it hits the water. I have seen a few bone
fish around but nothing with any consistency but definitely keep
your eyes peeled for them when you are permit fishing. I haven't
done any tarpon fishing as of late but have seen the bigger
boats in the channels which tells me there are a few around.
Once this wind lays down a little bit the tarpon fishing should
be good again which will be a welcome sight. The weather can't
always be what we want it to be in March but if you put in a
hard day's work you will get enough opportunity to get the job
done.
Since tarpon season is upon us let me teach you how to tie one
of my favorite tarpon flies, the puglisi minnow. First you need
two different colors of EP fibers, whichever you prefer and some
clear thread. I'll use tan and white as an example but like I
said there are a number of colors that work down here. Start
your thread near the bend of the hook and tie in about a three
inch piece of tan thread. Next, flip the vice over and tie in a
white piece the same length. You're going to have to comb the
white piece so it goes above the point of the hook. Repeat this
process two more times on each side and tie off the thread.
Fluff the material up so it makes a big puff and cut at an angle
forming a diamond shape when done. You may also need to cut some
of the sides so it is not so bulky. Next, mix up some epoxy and
glue some doll eyes to make the fly look sexy. You can also tie
flash in between the fibers if you wish but I find it
unnecessary. Hope everyone has tight lines and fish boat side
until next week.
Spring is definitely in the air and the fishing has been
responding just like it should. We have really hit fishing gold
this week with fish about everywhere you go. I will take some
credit because I am on absolute fire and can't do anything
wrong. I will always tell you when I don't feel like I am
fishing well so I might as well gloat about my fishing when it
is this good.
It was really towards the end of the week when things started
getting good but the fishing was solid all week long. The tarpon
have really started filling in in all the channels surrounding
Key West which is a welcome sight to all you spin fishermen out
there. A live pin fish suspended on a float will often times do
the trick to catch these monster fish. You can fish them on fly
with a sinking line but be prepared to make a lot of casts
before getting a hook up. This is also an early morning fishery
so set those alarm clocks if you plan on catching one. You can
still catch one on bait in the afternoon but all your fly
fishing should be done at first light.
The permit fishing has really been great also with more fish
showing up later on in the week. This was normal because there
was the annual March Merkin in the beginning of the week. Like I
said before, the fishing was still fine early on but just not as
good as the week progressed. The water temperatures have really
leveled out and the permit are ready to hit the flats and
actively start feeding. Before this, we were getting so many
cold fronts which really had water temperatures low and made the
fish reluctant to move onto the flats. I would say the
temperatures are in the high seventies towards the end of the
day which is picture perfect for the permit. All in all you
really can't beat the fishing right now.
Since tarpon season is upon us let me teach you how to tie one
of my favorite tarpon flies, the puglisi minnow. First you need
two different colors of EP fibers, whichever you prefer, and
some clear thread. I'll use tan and white as an example but like
I said there are a number of colors that work down here. Start
your thread near the bend of the hook and tie in about a three
inch piece of tan thread. Next, flip the vice over and tie in a
white piece the same length. You are going to have to comb the
white piece so it goes above the point of the hook. Repeat this
process two more times on each side and tie off the thread.
Fluff the material up so it makes a big puff and cut at an angle
forming a diamond shape when done. You may also need to cut some
of the sides so it is not so bulky. Next, mix up some epoxy and
glue some doll eyes to make the fly look sexy. You can also tie
in flash in between the fibers if you wish but I find it
unnecessary. Hope everyone has tight lines and fish boat side
until next week.
The fishin has been holding its
course for the last few weeks with more wind and cooler weather
this week. It does seem that things are goign to lay down this
comign week so be ready for some great fishing to come. Like I
have been saying this has been an extremely
cold winter
which is making the water temperatures a little cooler than
normal. To have really effective permit fishing you want the
water to be around seventy two degrees or warmer. We had some
days towards the back end of the cold
front when temperatures got in that range, there were
permit to be found scouring the flats. At the beginning of the
week water temperatures were hovering around seventy degrees
and most of the fish were sticking to
deeper water. On days when the wind is blowing out of the
north it's best to do something other than permit fish first
thing in the morning. Now if the weather the day before was
eighty five degrees and sunny your water temps are still
probably going to be high so permit fishing is an option for you
in the morning. I'm talking about those days that are three or
four days past a cold front when things start warming up a
little and it looks like permit fishing could be fantastic. The
truth of the matter is that the water temperatures are still a
little to low and you are better served to fish for another
species of fish than beating your head against the wall looking
for permit that are not going to be there. I know you die hard
permit fisherman are probably letting out a big sigh right now
but I would rather have a little fun than fish for a fish that
is not going to be around. The days when the permit fishing was
marginal the barracuda fishing was really good. I was actually
trying to permit fish on the ocean side where I don't see many
barracuda and we must have seen fifty going down one little
stretch. I know they are not the most exciting fish to catch for
someone who fishes down here a lot but they can be a lot of fun
and a good way to waste a few hours waiting for your water
temperatures to warm up.
It's the beginning of March and in my eyes the main fishing
season has officially begun. You will probably here me talk
about barracuda for the next couple of weeks because like I said
before, water temperatures are still a little low but that will
be replaced with big laid up tarpon soon enough. I also want
everyone to keep a close eye out for cobia on the backs of sing
rays and sharks. I think if we can get a warm stretch after this
cold front blows through there will be some up on the flats. I
have always thought that fishery was so cool because to my
knowledge Key West is the only place in the world to catch cobia
in shallow water. Hope we get some
warm weather this week to spark
a little more permit action so I will keep my fingers crossed.
Hope everyone has tight lines and fish boat side until next
week.
This week was a lot like last
week in the way of fishing with really great days of permit
fishing along with some days when it was just too cool. Like I
have been saying, this has been an extremely cold winter which
is making the water temperatures a little cooler than normal. To
have really effective permit fishing you want the water to be
around seventy-two degrees or warmer. We had some days towards
the back end of the cold front when temperatures got in that
range, there were permit to be found scouring the flats. At the
beginning of the week water temperatures were hovering around
seventy degrees and most of the fish were sticking to deeper
water. On days when the wind is blowing out of the north it's
best to do something other than permit fish first thing in the
morning. Now if the weather the day before was eighty-five
degrees and sunny, your water temps are still probably going to
be high so permit fishing is an option for you in the morning.
I'm talking about those days that are three or four days past a
cold front when things start warming up a little and it looks
like permit fishing could be fantastic. The truth of the matter
is that the water temperatures are still a little too low and
you are better served to fish for another species of fish rather
than beating your head against the wall looking for permit that
are not going to be there. I know you die hard permit fishermen
are probably letting out a big sigh right now but I would rather
have a little fun than fish for a fish that is not going to be
around. The days when the permit fishing was marginal, the
barracuda fishing was really good. I was actually trying to
permit fish on the ocean side where I don't see many barracuda
and we must have seen fifty going down one little stretch. I
know they are not the most exciting fish to catch for someone
who fishes down here a lot but they can be a lot of fun and a
good way to waste a few hours waiting for your water
temperatures to warm up.
It's the beginning of March and in my eyes the main fishing
season has officially begun. You will probably here me talk
about barracuda for the next couple of weeks because like I said
before, water temperatures are still a little low but that will
be replaced with big laid up tarpon soon enough. I also want
everyone to keep a close eye out for cobia on the backs of sting
rays and sharks. I think if we can get a warm stretch after this
cold front blows through there will be some up on the flats. I
have always thought that fishery was so cool because to my
knowledge Key West is the only place in the world to catch cobia
in shallow water. Hope we get some warm weather this week to
spark a little more permit action so I will keep my fingers
crossed. Hope everyone has tight lines and fish boat side until
next week.
There
are still a few cold fronts moving through our area which have
the winds at a pretty steady clip right now. If you are fishing
in between the cold fronts, the weather has been absolutely
beautiful with more game fish prowling the flats. As far as the
big three go, permit was definitely the most consistent. I
wouldn't say the fishing was red hot because of the fronts I
just spoke about, but on the right day you were getting the
shots to get it done. We have also had a really weak tide week
with not a lot of water moving which doesn't help either. I
actually just got back from a trip and we were seeing some
schools of bonefish around, which is always a welcome sight. I
have been saying the past few years writing this report that I
see more and more bonefish throughout the whole year and this
year is no different. I just feel that since I have been in Key
West that the bonefishing keeps getting better and better as the
years wear on which adds another notch in the Lower Keys fishing
belt. I saw some big boats tarpon fishing in the channels but
didn't see anyone catch any. It's probably just a bit too cold
for them, even in the numerous channels around Key West. We've
been having an extremely cold winter which has the normal
February fishing a little delayed, but there are enough permit
out there to make a day of it on the right day.
The main fish this week was the barracuda. It seemed like
every flat I stopped at whether I was permit fishing or actually
barracuda fishing was loaded. I have always said that barracuda
is the most under rated game fish on the flats and actually
convinced some people of that fact this week. They are really a
blast on a fly rod and are not as easy to catch as one might
think. You have to strip the fly extremely fast to catch a
barracuda because that's how they like it. This means you have
to also make a decently long cast so you can allow the barracuda
to follow the fly and then eat it. The good thing about
barracuda, especially for a beginner, is that you usually get
many more opportunities than say permit fishing all day. This
will make you a better caster for when that trophy permit comes
swimming by the boat. There have also been plenty of jacks
behind stingrays and sharks which are always a blast. We had one
get destroyed by a bull shark this morning which I think is
better than catching them. Not that I condone killing fish but
to see a shark eat a fish that is ten feet from the boat is an
awesome sight. We are also getting to the season of cobia on the
backs of sharks and rays so keep a close eye out. Looks to be a
bit windy and cold this week so go out barracuda fishing and
have some fun. All you die hards can look for permit along the
way. Hope everyone has tight lines and fish boat side.
Hope everyone is having a great week down here in the lower keys
and what a week it has been. The fishing has been marginal for
myself with some really nice weather on occasion when you would
think the fishing would be hot. I was saying to friends that I
took a left when I really should have taken a right and that
will happen as a fisherman every once in a while. Not to say I
have had horrible fishing, but I felt that I should have been
seeing more fish on some of the days I fished. I am probably
being a little too honest here but hopefully as a reader you
will appreciate it. Don't get used to it though, because towards
the end of the week I got back into a better rhythm and will
explain the fishing I was doing. The real story this week was
the fog. I've lived in south Florida my whole life and have
never seen fog like this in the Florida Keys. As you get to the
mainland of Florida you will get heavy fog like we've been
having but usually it will break up over the water as the sun
starts to rise and that has not been the case this week. The fog
in itself was making the fishing difficult because you can't see
over a distance which makes sight fishing nearly impossible. The
fog also caused the water and air to be much cooler and the
tarpon spots I was fishing just weren't working until the fog
had lifted. It was definitely a beautiful sight in the
morning and I appreciated that aspect of it but I am ready for
it to go away.
The
good thing was that when the fog would lift in the afternoon the
fishing would get fantastic. We also had some good permit
fishing mid week right before we were engulfed by the fog. I am
a big fan of fishing in February because it's when everything
starts to warm up and we start seeing the first signs of spring.
It is also some of the easiest fishing you will have because
whether you are fishing for tarpon or permit, they haven't been
fished for too heavily and seem easier to entice a bite. This
doesn't hold as true to permit as it does tarpon but I have
noticed a difference over the years. The tarpon are starting to
move up to the flats and should continue through this week. We
have a weak frontal boundary approaching the keys but it is not
supposed to affect the weather that much and winds are going to
be blowing southeast. That means warm weather, which in turn
means warm flats with hungry fish. I can't begin to tell you
how excited I am to be talking about tarpon again on the flats.
Any serious fisherman who has not fished for the silver king is
really missing out on an experience of a lifetime. I am assuming
the fog will lift by this week and the weather forecast looks
great so if you get a chance to fish this week head out and see
what I am talking about. Hope everyone has tight lines and fish
boat side until next week.
Looks
like the weather has been freezing pretty much the whole time I
have been gone. I have heard from many fisherman that this is
the coldest February they can remember in a long time. With that
being said this week shows no cold fronts in the forecast with
high pressure dominating our area for a majority of the week.
This usually means lots of sunshine and high winds. By the time
this report hits new stands we should be hovering around eighty
degrees which means the fishing should be fantastic. Since winds
are supposed to be around twenty to twenty five miles per hour I
am going to be concentrating on permit for a majority of the
week. I am sure there will be some tarpon around in various
channels but the fish on the flats will probably be tough to
fish for with all this wind. If you are spin fishing, try some
of your favorite tarpon channels with a live pin fish and I bet
thier are a few around. I have been gone for two weeks as you
all know and haven't been able to fish yet (my first day back on
the water will be tomorrow) but after looking at my log book the
permit tides are perfect. With the tides being the way they are
and the wind being as strong as it is the fishing should be
fantastic. I get many fly fisherman who will say they could
never see themselves casting in a twenty five mile per hour wind
but this is some of your best chances to catch a permit on fly.
The wind acts as a masking agent for you and you are able to get
more quality shots at fish than on days with light winds. Of
course, casting a heavy fly in strong winds can prove difficult
for the most experienced fly fisherman but this is how you
become a better caster. Lots of fisherman are accurate on calm
days with a fly rod but its the ones who can cast in the wind
that separate the men form the boys. Even though your probably
going to smack yourselves in the head a few times with the fly
it will all be worth while when a permit tails on your fly and
eats it.
For the true beginner fly fisherman permit fishing in windy
conditions is probably not your cup of tea. I have always been
one to just do the hardest thing first so everything else seems
easier but if you only have a few days here in the keys you
probably want to catch some fish. This is where the jack
crevalle comes in to play. If you have someone tease the fish
into you on a hook less popper than you don't have to make a
very long cast at all and the fish are very aggressive. Another
good game fish to fish for is the shark. You have to use chum to
attract the sharks and they will often times swim right next to
the boat and give you some close shots. Sharks can prove
difficult to get to eat because they rely so heavily on there
sense of smell but if you show the fish the fly enough they will
eventually grab a hold. It is great to be back in the Florida
Keys and I look foward to gettign back on the water and giving a
proper report. Hope eveyone has tight lines and fish boat
side until next week
Hope
everyone is having a nice and warm winter back in Key West. I am
in major snow flurries in Venice, Italy right now and I realize
more than ever why I live in the Florida Keys. Was not able to
make it the Fly shop in Venice because it was way out in the
country and I didint' have a car. If you ever travel to Venice
make sure to have Steak Florentine while you are there. It
sounds like a tourist thing to do but it was the most fabulous
piece of meat I've ever had and I have been to some great steak
houses. Venice is by far the most beautiful place my wife and I
have been to so far so it is a must see if you come to Italy. I
have been to a few fish markets over here and the meat looks
very good. Most fish look like snapper in the market but there
is also tuna. Swordfish is very popular over here also but I do
not know if it is locally caught. Enough about my trip as I am
sure I am boring most of you. Like I said last week the
keyboards are crazy over here so excuse my grammar for just one
more week.
