Thursday, November 08, 2007

Pompano Fishing in Key West, 1970-2007

Seam's only a short while ago that the commercial fisherman I knew in the Lower Florida Keys were getting out of Pompano Fishing....it was over.

Selling their Pompano nets and concentrating on Lobster,Snapper,Grouper or Ballyhoo.

Pompano had been fished out, a result of Gill Nets and the effective genocide that Gill Netting is capable of.

The same thing happened to the giant Atlantic King Fish schools that , not too many years ago roamed up and down the East Coast & Gulf of Mexico .

But this story is about recovery.

The State of Florida passed a law effectively stopping the use of Gill Nets in state waters about 10 years ago.

Back from oblivion are the Pompano, Mullet, Spotted Sea Trout, Red Fish, Look Downs, Snappers and a good number of non-food fishes that we just love to hook and play with.

We still are careful and turn back most fish landed.

A real professional fishing guide understands the importance of preservation of the fishery.

Remember that when, the Yahoo you hired to capture a Tarpon , shoots a bait fish full of WD 40 and winks at you as he slips the temporarily live but, toxic bait fish over the side.

See there I go again.....Pompano Fishing!



LOOKING FOR LUNCH on the KEY WEST FLATS


Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Fall Back to Fall Ahead on the Key West Flats

! How did they know that?

We adjusted the Daylight Saving Time by pushing it one week later....they know the globe is
warming! sneeky bastards.

Anyway just like that we get our first real cool fronts, dropping humidity and air and water temps.....thanks.

We still caught Permit yesterday, that's Permit, as in saw one... caught one.

But that's OK with us because " rather catch one then -see eighteen"

Its windy, tuff , but you can almost hear those Pompano, Cobia, Redfish some, Jacks and Barracudas crashing into the Key West Flats and Basins.
All in pursuit of the migrating bait fish.

That does not mean Permit fishing is over for the year at all, Bonefishing for that matter will still be good when the water temps are not to low.

Fishing with Sam Pelly, one of our Navy Fighter Pilots, blowing 20 out of the NE and not alot of sun.

Sam brought his girl, Miss Halloween , she and I are both Halloween Babies so Sam was surrounded but, he managed to capture his first Permit on his first Key West Flats fishing trip in spite of the Spooks.