Saturday, December 26, 2009

Barracudas and Some Pompano Showing Up Gulfside Key West

Barracudas are always fun on a light rod, agressive and lightning quick.

On the flats in the clear shallow water they are harder to fool but much more of fight then the offshore cousins.

Lying in wait they can accelerate from asleep to 45 mph in a heartbeat, striking the baitfish and cutting him in two so fast that the unfortunate Needle Fish swims away from his own ass, not sure what just happened!

Barracudas are a hoot.

The Pompano have started to show up a bit in secret spots....I hope, and a few nice sized fish make some kinda dinner and the fun, pulling like the mini me Permit that they are.

Trout in the backcountry a few Pompano and for jumping wackoness Barracudas make a fun day, dont forget the Jacks and maybe a Cobia cruising behind the Sting Rays!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Cuda's Hanging for a Christmas Entry

Thursday's morning we ran west looking for a Tarpon Shot. Knowing the foul weather and cold front that was on the way would send them to the Gulf for Xmas.


Three or four spots and only one big Silver Head popping up for a peek, the wind was already in the north and picking up.

After some fun fishing, and laff's in the Jacks and Lady Fish, Blacktip Shark hole we headed for the Skinny Water and the chance for Barracudas in 9 inches of Gin Clear Key West Flats.

Approaching our next spot and shutting off the Mercury, edge of the flat and tying on a Bass Worm to launch with the Weenie Rods.

Steve whisper's " is that what we're looking for? "

OF COURSE we are 10 seconds from ready, six-eight Big Barracuds swiming twards us four feet from the boat they spooked and dove back into the channel.

Understanding that these" Wolf Pack "schools of Barracudas will hold in the deeper water just off the flats where the cooler water holds lots of bait, a few days after the front the turn over of water temps make's the water on the Flats much more inviting to bait fish and Barracudas.

The deeper water is a little too cool for comfort and the Sun heats the skinny Flats water quickly.

Thats when the "Wolf Packs" will slide up and hunt in the shallows.

Up on the Poling Platform and Steve on the bow we push up, skiff about dragging bottom.

Not long until we see a few Toofie's lying in wait, a few bad casts later we have had fun but have not hooked a fish.

Close calls and we start connecting, Steve's first Barracuda is 15-16 lbs. loooog first run and a Marlin jump out 80 yards!

A Blue Gill Rod, Bass Worm and 10lb line, mix it with sight casting in one foot of super clear water.

That's " FICH'EN BROTHER "

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Key West Christmas with Barracuda's and Pompano

Almost every year thats what I get from Santa, Barracuda Anglers!

Anglers tossing Tube Lures and Flys at Toofy Wolf like Monsters lying in wait in the shallows.

Motionless until some poor Needle Fish or hopefully one of our offering's
swims by.

Got to laff and Yahooo when a Cuda grabs hold and bends a Weeny Rod double,
screams off 70 yards of 10# test, turns 180 degrees and smokes by the boat leaping and shaking, bearing teeth.

The Barracuda leaps are the reward for a accurate cast.

Diggin out some Silver Babies....Pompano to you, with Mylar jigs on a light spinning outfit or Fly Rod has its own rewards, mainly lots of fun and maybe a great dinner.

Cooler weather brings the guys to the forefront and Xmas ususally supplies.

If its warm we may have to chase a Tarpon....schucks!

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Winter is Here, Well .....Not in Key West but Where You Are !

Saw the Weather in The western states, snow and cold blowing into the Midwest/ Great Lakes and east to New York.

Its 82 degrees and sunny in the Florida Keys, tomorrow is supposed to be 84 ish!

Think'en Tarpon, think'en Tarpon Flyrods, Permit and Bonefish will show up also as the water temps never really dropped too much after our last little cool front.

Hope this weather will hang with us through the Xmas/ New Year Break so your
snow men and ladies can get a little Fishing Tan and thaw out.

Of course even if it cools off a little down here we will still NOT be scraping windsheilds, maybe a wind breaker and some Pompano!

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Make up your Mind Mister Weather Man

What is going on, El Nino and it's obvious!

84 degrees and feels like 90 with the SSW wind and the high humidity that come with the salt air coming in from the Atlantic.

Driving up the air and water temps and making us think TARPON WAXING, well jumpimg a few any way.

Permit and Bonefish will be a good possability also on the Key West Flats.

Stalled cold fronts that dont have the punch needed to push out the high pressure.

Oh well, just our cross to bare !

The next few day's will have a few showers around along with the Tarpon option.

We will hold off on any Sea Trout and Pompano Prospecting for a while.


I've got a new Sage 9wt fly rod that needs some exercise....

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Full Moon over the Key West Flats

Big Tides SUCK!

There I said it, too much water moving too fast.

Fishing can be great during a full moon sequence, low incoming, high falling ok but!

It all happens quickly and the push of fish can go through the area your working in a blurr.

Sometimes a move east or west, north to the Gulf Tides or south side to the flats influenced by the Atlantic Tides will buy some more GOOD fishing time and sometimes it's time to go to the barn!

Yesterday on the falling tide on the Gulf of Mexico flats, we dealt with Full Moon Madness.

Permit up the YANG for an hour and a half then the water, Sting Rays, Crabs, and everybody else went away like the little guy in the " Tidy Bowl " commercial...... WOOOOSH!

Still 6-8 shots and 2 fish caught is a great day but I really enjoy when I have enough time too enjoy the hunt.

Remember the story about the young bull and the old bull standing on the hill overlooking the herd of cows and the young bull says lets hurry and run down and jumpa.............