Cool Down Slows Flats Fishing But Not For Long

They are back, yesterday's Pompano Dinner was a treat after a few days of cold wind and abandoned Inshore Waters.

The water temps dropped 10 degrees in 24 hours, what would you do?
Right, swim for the warm Gulf of Mexico

However all is forgiven as the air and water temps are climbing and the baitfish are inshore, inviting the larger Game Fish in.

Yesterday afternoon we found Pompano, Sea Trout and a school of Mad Hungry Jack Creval's
most of the Big Jacks were over 12 lbs up to 15 and challenging the backbone of out light tackle Spin and Flyrods.

It was fun and we saw a few Barracudas and Sharks showing on the Flats also.

Tomorrow we're out to Wack the Hell out of them!

Unbelievable Weather Keeps Tarpon in the Air

All through December we have had wonderful weather, more Spring like than Winter.

While Flats fishing for Permit and Bonefish remains good and the Tarpon have been sneaking inshore, we have had limited Basin action with Pompano, Sea Trout and Barracudas.


Our first real Winter Front is showing up tomorrow bringing high winds and a temp drop all the way into the 60's

That should run off those pesky Flats Fish for a few days!

Don't you feel sorry for us?

Christmas Dinner With 5 Key West Fishing Guides and other Kids

Many years I would fish on Holidays and catch a Turkey Leg somewhere later in the day.

The last 10 years ago I've been the Papa Bear, stuffing a few wayward fishing guides and keeping them out of the Frozen Turkey Dinners or even worse Wendy's!

Prepping all evening on Christmas Eve then early Christmas Morning starting the process that gets the biggest Turkey I can find on the Grill, big Ham , three styles stuffing, fresh herbs,
mashed Potatoes,Wild Rice....5-6 pies, too much stuff.

Christmas this year, sunny 80 degrees, really beautiful start to the 2012 guiding season for
the gang and a chance to work of the dinner.

Blue Christmas in Key West

This year has been unbelievable weather wise with more chances for Tarpon and Permit then normal.

Most Christmas Weeks we are content with Barracudas, Jacks and maybe some Sea Trout and Pompano but the weather is summer like with water in the upper 70s.

After Rasselberry pie and Oyster Stuffing ready to work off some calories wacken a few Permitl

Good time for some saltwater fly casting and tossing swim baits with a Spinning Rod.

Jim Clouds Monster Tarpon of May 2011

25 mph winds couldn't keep us out of the Tarpon this last week but, the wind did ruin most of Tarpon appetite for feathers.
Jim and I found lots of strings moving on the north side but clearly many looks and sniffs but no takers, even after changing from the Plum Pudding Fly to the Pepperoni Fly, Long Horn Cheese Fly......nothing

Finely it was the Key Lime Toad that caught the eye of a huge male of about 60 pounds.

Why do we consider this 60 lb Tarpon to be HUGE?

This May is the 30th Tarpon season Jim " Red Cloud " Cloud and I have fished for the Big Shad on the gin clear Key West Flats and Jim's 80th birthday.

Monster

Killer Tarpon on Spin and Fly

Continues to be great fun, lot's of Tarpon action even though we had a few tuff days that required some time/tide adjustment.

Fishing with the brothers Roby and Lou Andy the last two days resulted in good fun over the mottled bottom and sand flats.

Sight casting to schools in gin clear 3 foot deep water is a blast and to hook 6 Tarpon
major rush.

I believe we boated about 4 out of 6, thats very good Tarpon fishing, even if luck was the biggest part of the plan.....we plan our luck.

Roby, Lou their father Albert Andy have been fishing with me for 20 years....we are still laughing a lot about the lost fish of years past.

Sr. Billy Pate aka Dr. Tarpon

There was a " Tremor in the Force " this past month in our little saltwater fly-fishing family.

Billy Pate the always enthusiastic dean of "Big Poon" and "star caster/ instructor" in the two best videos ever produced about fly Rodding for Tarpon.

3M's Mastery Series of videos are true Classics.

I had the opportunity in the late 70s early 80s to meet and exchange with Billy Pate in the company of guide pal Nat Raglin and the brothers Montgomery, Bob and Gene.

I enjoyed helping with some Tarpon scouting for the efforts in production of the first movie that was shot mainly in the Flats west of Key West.

Billy has been described as a Southern Gentleman by myself and probably anyone who knew him.

Straw Panama Hat and big grim under it, all standing just a few feet off the " Pate Tower"
On his custom 4electric motors strapped to it's ass, Sidewinder Flats Skiff.

Not a big man but bigger than life and a giant in Saltwater Fly-fishing...God Speed Billy

Ok it's true...I've Been Jumpin Tarpon all Month

Have not had much time to update this blog, lots of fishing, lots of fun.

After the coldest December in recorded history, January was not bad, February was warmish but
March and April have been unbelievable.....not everyday did the Tarpon cooperate but that was the tide movement, barometer or just Voodoo because most of the last two months the weather has been very good.

I have had some super nite Tarpon fishing with exploding Tarpon sucken up Gurgler flies.
Plastic swim baits work well on spinning tackle on these moon/star lit nites.

Permit were very good up to the full moon in April but there still are some around that did not venture out for the spring Love In on the offshore reefs and wrecks.

I'm looking forward to a banner May-June ...day and nite for Tarpon....still love dem bastards.