Bob Douville Close Combat with Key West Fly Rod Tarpon

US Chamber of Commerce award Key West Flats Guide

New 2018 Mercury 115 ..4 stroke pushes The Montgomery very well

Xmas right around the corner

The Light Tackle comes out looking for Barracudas, Jack’s, Sharks with a few Pompano and Sea Trout thrown in for dinner.

The baitfish migrations are sending the cooler water “ Fun Fish” into the inshore Flats and Basins
Near the Lower Florida Keys and Key West.

Spinning tackle casting Swim Baits and Mylar Jigs can be the medicine for Backcountry action.

Warmer days and light winds still give us chances for Bonefish and Permit on the Flats and
maybe even a shot at a few Tarpon that wander into the channels and basins.

Winter fun begins on the Flats

Summer Fun

Busy and very active June, July Flats Fishing.

Tarpon fishing,  Fly and Spin has been exceptional but the big surprise was the Bonefishing this summer and it continues into August.

Certainly early morning and sunset are almost a must for a fair shot at Tarpon but the Bonefish will hold up a little longer possibly causing a late lunch back at thr Marina.

Bonefish have found our Shrinp tipped Spinning Rod Jigs just as interesting as our Flies so no one
Is left out.

Evening Tarpon Fishing, given the right low wind / good tide conditions is a favorite " Key West Sunset "  pass time.

Tarpon arrive on Key West Flats

Since the end of the first week in May and the New Moon we have had migrating tarpon some
feeding and others doing the love circle dance.

I have had days watching over 300 tarpon crossing the ocean flats this past week, always an amazing
Site.
Best day my old pal Leon Jackson managed to feed 5 tarpon and a bonefish some hook and feather
Brunch....not all stayed on but exciting grabs a few feet from the skiff always cause hair to stand up.

While no tarpon hung around for photo ops, we did get a Hollywood Shot of a nice Bonefish.

April brings Tarpon Inshore Key West

Consistently warmer days and nights have moved more Tarpon into the Key West Backcountry and Flats.
Jumping one or two per trip on fly or Jig the last week along with some Permit shots have kept us interested.
Excited about another Light Tackle / Fly Fishing Tarpon Season....very few things are more important
in this life.
Pie and Puppy's on this list too.....

Tarpon Show and Barracuda Go with Warm Winds

The wind dropped out from 28-35 MPH and we begin to see some improvement in Tarpon and Permit action.
It still was tuff the last week with very slow current/ tide's but on the mend now.

We found a school ....or maybe several schools traveling in the same direction on the Gulf Flats north east of Key West....did I say school.....how about 1000 Jack Creville's from 10-18 lbs.

Pat Wood and I were armed with GoPro a super Flycasting video is in the works with Jacks crashing
our Guggler Fly's and smokin the drag....

Winter is behind us now ( with a few fall backs of course ) .....

I'm ready for Spring

So you always wanted a Tarpon on Fly !

Barracudas entertain on Key West Cold Front Flats

We have had a tuff week with wind and cold water driving many inshore species out to the deep and warmer water temperature's.

" Careful what you wish for "   Complaining about 84-86 in December brought a January of rainy
days or cold and windy impossible days.

But the last few days Barracudas on fly and very light spinning rods tossing Bass Worms have provided great sport.

Winter arrives in Key West...finally

After record breaking air and water temperatures all Fall and early Winter we have received
a couple cool / cold fronts that made it down from Canada.

The winter fronts are necessary to drive bait fish migrations and bring in the Red Fish, Pompano, Sea Trout, Barracudas and Jack's that make for " Fun Fishing " in the Backcountry and Basins of the Florida Keys.

Tarpon Fishing 4 days in a row Christmas week was fun but without the Cold Fronts and Winter Species the Xmas family's looking for some easy big fish action  had a tuff time.

But the Fly Rodders had BIG Tarpon Presents !

August Key West Flats Fishing

August is an interesting month for Key West / Marquesas Flats fishing, anything can happen.

Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit and almost all of this before lunch....a early start is important.

 Early evening is another option especially Tarpon fishing and can be super for Fly Fishing Tarpon with the right low wind velocity conditions.

This is the time of year that Flats Guides get together and take turns poling......before lunch.

Quiet in the Marquesas in August....only a few " Child Guides " around this time of year and it a chance to enjoy the peaceful atol.

Well Deserved Tarpon Week For Pat Wood

Last May's  Tarpon Flats fishing was ruff at best.....basically a " Wind Event " more than a Tarpon event !

I owed Pat some good Fly Rod Tarpon fishing and last week made up for the beating of May 2014
and then some, just the right combo Tide, Temperture, Tarpon.....we had lots of grabs, jumps , break off's and catches.
Most of the hours we fished were used casting at Tarpon ...Happy boy with a landed 120 lb fish and a lost 120 plus and several other 60 plus fish brought along side.
Great pictures ...lots of laugh's

Pat will be back in May for another try a Migratory Tarpon on the flats of Key West and a sneak outback for a Biter !

www.chaserkeywest.com

Great Tarpon Week Key West

Tarpon on Fly But Most Just Lie

Beautiful day today warm with a cooler North Wind.....that was a problem this morning as the barometer drop kept the Tarpon submerged.

We did manage a 60 lb. fish that chomped our Mylar Minnow Fly in a brief feeding period.

A Sink Tip line and light leader helped to take the fly down quickly in 5 ft of backcountry channel.

Other guides reported a lack of high water column, rolling Tarpon also from areas east and west of
the Gulf Flats and the spot we chose to fish.

Tarpon respond to a falling barometer sometimes spoiling our best chances, tomorrow's wind change brings rising barometer and Tarpon.
www.chaserkeywest.com

Permit fishing continues to improve in Key West and Marquesas

Winds now out of the east and a bit more than we would like but not a big deal.
The water temperature continues to come up making it more inviting to Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit.
we are whispering that winter is over.

Tarpon continue to be popping up here and there but thy prefer lighter winds to slide into the areas
a Flats Skiff and Fly Fisherman prefer.
 These conditions continue to put us on the Permit Flats daily and make it easier to approach them with the wind chop.

The wind make Marquesas Keys and tuff ride in a Flat Skiff so we have spent our time on the Gulf Flats with plenty of cridders to chase.

Best Key West Fishing Guide Service 8 Years

Honored for the job I've loved all my adult life...very cool !

Permit Fishing remains stronger than the wind

The Southerly winds are a backup cool front that brings  higher humidity and temperatures in the low 80s.
Permit are happy with these conditions and the Tarpon are hovering close by with some in the Backcountry channels and basins.

A crabbing we shall go, hooked to a 1/0 and tied to spinning rods it's hard for Permit to resist a jucy
Florida Green Crab.
Some of the Gulp Baits will work in a pinch or a live shrimp.

Fly Rods will require more skill and lots of luck throwing Crab Pattern Flys and crossing fingers.

             www.chaserkeywest.com

Weather holds Warm in Key West

Breezy but upper 70s and keeping the water temperature's in the Permit comfort range.

I'm looking for early Tarpon action as they slide inshore for some snacking but conditions still favor
hunting the flats for Permit and Bonefish.

The heavier Fly Fishing tackle will be getting a once over this week ready for the challenge.

www.chaserkeywest.com

Permit Month Key West

The Full Moon is hanging over some beautiful evenings with warm breeze's ....good for night surface feeding if your a Tarpon or Permit....not that other fishes don't use it also.

Once the brightest Moon has started to wain and the night sky is darker,  chances for hungry Permit
on the Flats of the Florida Keys improve quite a bit.

This March....now with the inviting water temperature in the mid to upper 70s we will be armed with
fussy Crab Flies and doing the deep bend over " Chuck n Duck " to launch our weighted Permit Flies
hopefully to the feeding fish without driving a Merkin into the back of our heads.

Spinning Rod folks with be tossing live Florida Green Crabs hoping for their  first Permit memory.

www.chaserkeywest.com

South Wind Productive for Tarpon

The Gulf side flats north side of the lower Florida Keys and Key West have a few Tarpon moving into the channels and over the top of the Backcountry Flats.

Several small strings have shown up this morning but moving a little fast, they will settle down and start feeding because of the water temperature continuing to rise and with it more bait fish and yummy crabs.

Plugs, Swim Baits and live crabs should attract to attention in the next few days as the weather holds in a summer pattern.

As the wind drops this week more opportunities for Tarpon Fly Fishing will be available and hopefully we will be there.


www.chaserkeywest.com

More Tarpon in Shore Key West Basins

Sunny and 81 degrees today with a southernly breazzzz and invitation to Tarpon to swim close in
for dinner.

We will be out with fly fishing and light spinning rods tomorrow morning a little early to encourage
some bad behavior from the Silver Kings,  a little time for poling the Gulf Flats for Permit also.

The Full Moon tides push these fish and we try to take advantage of the low incoming tide to meet them with offerings.

www.chaserkeywest.com

Flats warm and Permit Swarm Key West Flats

Water temperature has shot up over 80 degrees in some areas of the Flats, a week ago it was in the 60s in the Backcountry Basins and on the Flats .

When the water is in the mid 60s the critters start heading for the deeper water and more stable temps.
But when it cools off to the low 60s and even dips to the upper 50s......fa-get- abowit !

Today the Tarpon were showing up in the Key West Harbor and some Backcountry Basins.
 On the Flats Permit were in attendance and a few Bonefish slid in to snack.

A cold front or two may show up in the lower Florida Keys yet this month but it could be that the
worst February in my memory is gone and quickly the Flats fishing in Key West is back.




www.chaserkeywest.com

Barracuda in Florida target of Spear Fishing for cash

I really hate to bring this up, I really do but !     www.chaserkeywest.com

There is now a lot of discussion in Florida about protecting the Barracudas with a lot of commercial fishing interests uncomfortable with the idea but here is the rub :

Barracudas have provided a lot of fun for Inshore, Flats and even Blue Water Charter and Light Tackle Guides and their customers.

Bringing in lots of tourist dollars for many years, admittedly Baracuda populations suffered because of our misguided use of their lifeless bodies killed, taken back to the Charter Boat Docks

Stabbed on to a Nail Rack to be photographed and later dropped into a dumpster at the end of the day

after attracting the next day's charter customers.

Fortunately the last 30 years most of that stopped because of pressure from more resource protective

Captains and Guides but, most of the pressure came from a more protective Angling client group.

Unfortunately the next problem the Barracudas faced was the Dastardly Shark Fin Hunters who

Preferred Barracuda Meat to bait the miles of Long Line gear.

Shark Finning has subsided quite a bit only after doing major damage to the World Wide Shark population and of course the Barracuda.

Now with the marked increase of demand for eating fish the Barracudas are again in trouble....

Barracudas on the Reefs, Wrecks and Rock Piles in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, lying in schools

are easy targets for a small groups of young men with Spear Guns. 

Barracudas are being killed by the thousands for as little as $1 a pound and sold to the general public

being marketed as snapper, grouper, porgy....you want some grouper we got it always.

Put me back

www.chaserkeywest.com

Bluefish invade Key West

After the month long cold inshore water temps, the past few days with air temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s ...things have changed.

The Flats and Backcountry Basins have exploded with bait and Bluefish....along with Barracudas and Permit on the Key West Flats.

Winter will drive Bluefish to South Florida and the Keys where they stage just off shore, when they get in the mood they will come crashing in and add to the mayhem for light tackle and fly fisherman .

A small leader of wire will guarantee you dont lose your rig but it may all be over in a few minutes as the marauders blast by.

It's kid fun between attemps to capture the more elusive Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit.

www.chaserkeywest.com

Tarpon fly fishing Key West

www.chaserkeywest.com

Out of the Fog in Key West

After one of the most consistantly cool- cold February's I can remember in Key West and the handful of fishable days it may be over.

Of course February is almost over and finally the temperature is close to 80 and the winds are down, never mind the Fog caused by miles of cooler water temps bumping into the very warm air coming from the south east.

Tarpon have been sticking their heads up to sample the humidity and hopefully they will play along with the Permit that are starting to sample the flats on the Gulf Flats north of Key West.

Barracudas are on the flats in pretty good numbers and showing some friskiness.

The rest of the Mid West and North Eastern States may still be in the deep freeze through March but South Florida and the Florida Keys may have seen the worst of the Polar Express this year.

www.chaserkeywest.com

Breaking out the Tarpon Fly Rods

The Tsunami has shifted the earths rotation.....

Spring lasted a few less days than Winter, we all know this, if your east of the Mississippi River!
Bonefish and Tarpon are starting to respond in kind, wondering if the migrating Tarpon will be here early....usually not regardless of the weather....but who knows the Polar Bears are headed south, breeding with Grizzlies!

That's not a good thing but they should stay out of Cleveland....Erie didn't freeze so they would have to take a bus.

I always look forward to the Tarpon showing in the basin's and backcountry and of course the Atlantic Side Flats.

Night Tarpon fishing under ideal conditions is a blast, especially up on a shallow flat.
The Star and Moon light reveals an exciting break in the inky black surface, shrimp popping Tarpon are suckers " pun intended " for a Gurgler Fly.

This is how it works...old guide with superior night vision and the hearing of a fox,
Spits out the command to cast 40 ft@ 10 o'clock as he grips the 1 million candle power spotlight.

The anxious angler( that would be you ) makes a precise 44 ft cast and on the first short pop
of the Gurgler comes up tight with his left hand igniting The Tarpon Bomb on the other end of the fly line.

The trusty,crusty old guide hits the switch on the spot light as the Tarpon Missile launches,
Head shaking, Red Eyes glaring, sparks shooting from his ass....demanding your immediate attention.

He's got it!www.chaserkeywest.com

What Winter??

Gotta tell you, even with a few wind switches and a blowie day or two once in a while we have not had much cold this year.

Looks like Tarpon and Permit season will start earlier and certainly the Gulf of Mexico Tarpon will be around real soon.

The migrating Tarpon from way down south in the Caribean may not show until May but the local yokels ( 100 mile cousins) will show SOON!

Bonefish will also be on the menu with the loss of some Pompano and Sea Trout with warming waters.

SHUCKS

www.chaserkeywest.com

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.

Winter Tarpon Key West Style

Although Florida and certainly the Florida Keys have had the coldest winter on record!
No surprise that the rest of the East Coast is not sympathetic......that's been really ugly for everyone north of the Florida/Georga line.

But the worst may be over for us.....all the years I've lived in the Florida Keys ( now 40years) it seems winters that start out horrible usually blow them selves out early and we end up with a early spring.........we hope!

This past week has put Permit and Tarpon on top of us, in the close channels, basins and flats.

Lots...laid up Tarpon in the shallows are some of the tuffest to feed....so easy to have them get wind of you ,sight, sound or sniff but.....OH what a rush if you hook up, you watched him eat the Fly-plug or live permit crab.

We had a little front blow in last night less then they forecast and not enough to run the fish out of the flats....weather man says another will be here in a few days.....maybe and ok
But I'm stringing up the Fly Rods

Barracudas " Chillin" on the Key West Flats.

Beautiful weather but, water a bit cool.

Yesterdays trip out was super for catching up with old friend Gil Vernon , along with his brother in law Steve, we were Jigging in the basins for Sea Trout, Pompano, Jacks. Anybody that would stress the Weenie Rods......cold water restricted us to lots of smallish jacks.

After several stops in the Gulf Side Basins we decided the high sun and Shallow Water of the Flats we calling.

We were rewarded with dozens of shots at big Barracudas, dozens of them lying in a foot of water soaking up the warm sun but, not even thinking about food.

Same result with the few Lemon Sharks we saw.

One more calm warm day and the water temps up another 4-5 degrees and the fish and anglers will be much more agreeable.

That's fishen !

Off and Jigging for 2011 New Year Fishing

As tuff as December's weather started in Key West, it's lovely now with plans for lovely the rest of the month!

Today we were rewarded with Bluefish, Sea Trout, Pompano and more big Skip Jacks then you ever wanted.

Jigging in the Backcountry with Weenie Rods and 10 lb test tackle gave us lots of laughs and a few big Cero Mackeral that smoked the drags.

We had half a dozen keeper Trout, that we didn't... but we took a photo and put them back in to fatten up for you....

Football games cut us short of getting up on the flat for Barracudas and Sharks.

Monday is Barracuda day...

Cool Wind Invites Migrating SeaTrout and Pompano

All dressed up and only a motorcycle ride to enjoy.
Putting the skiff in the water is out of the question today as the cold front pushes 30 mph out of the north.

Should push the Pompano and Trout into the Backcountry.

Gives me some time to build Barracuda Worm rigs and tune up the fly and spinning tackle.

Stopping for some grilled turkey, sharing with my little Jack Russell Stinky
She must have a little Apple Pie with her's.

The Barracudas have moved into the shallow water to take advantage of the warmth and baitfish.

We found some big Jacks on Rays also and they will jump on a Cuda Worm like a Chicken on a June Bug.....

Pompano Christmas Dinner in Key West

COOL and lovely weather, 72 degrees of lovely with sun.

Staying up until 230 AM to see the Full Moon Eclipse go Rusty Red and knowing the next full lunar Eclipse I may miss.....

A few years ago I convinced me ol' Mum she should get up at 3AM to see a meteor shower with me.

Next morning she thanked me for insisting that she climbed out of bed for this big event.

Of course I was surprised because I had missed it, she laughed and said, " I couldnt wake you up you just snorted at me!"

Wish she was here for last nights eclipse.....she was.


What does that have to do with mothers favorite fish?

Special just that.

Back to Coconut land

New batteries, boats, motorcycles, truck.....
Gone long enough to just replace all of them and know it's the best medicine.

Blizzard conditions in the north reminded me why I've lived in Key West 40 yrs, all my adult life.

British Columbia is wonderful...Until the week before my birthday.....Halloween!

N.E. Ohio's fall motorcycle tours and Steelhead fishing in the Lake Erie Trib's SUPER.

Get out before Thanksgiving......they will hand you a shovel and ice scraper.



I'm ready for Key West flats and backcountry fishing for Pompano, Barracudas and Sea Trout.

Big Jacks and Black Tip Sharks ripping up the tackle.

Cuban lunch with my Ol Pal Todd Bowen and another pre Xmas plan to go scouting together for Trout.

30 years we have had this pre-trout lunch.....

Back in The Key West Tarpon Sopa

Winter to Summer overnight,   not exactly but the Tarpon population showed up quickly when the air temps. got into the 70's.

In the air they go, these Super Silver Sunset Surprize's...God and all of us love um.

Permit are in the Chow Line too,  celebrating the thaw....it has been a long winter for all of us Tropical Fish.

Big Fly Rod's come out of the rack, lock and load.... prepare for immediate action !

Swim Baits for the Spinning Anglers and Chicken Feathers for Fly Fishing Fin-atic's

Have a long warm rest Mr. Barracuda,        I'll see you in the Fall.

Winter's Over In Key West......Fish Hope!

Wow,  never was in Long Underwear so often as the last January/ Febuary in Key West.

Not even in British Columbia, North Eastern Ohio........It was a winter to forget.

Riding in a Flats Skiff at 30 + mph in 50 ish damp wind is not fun, the Flats Fish that prefer water in the low 70's to upper 80's have not been happy.

THAT'S OVER !  today will hit the mid 70's and the water on the Flats has already come up 5 degrees, it will leap up to uper 60's and by the end of the week probably be 72+

The first clue will be the Barracuda's attacking anything that moves and Sharks on the prowl. Big Jacks behind Sting Rays on the Flats and Pompano and Jacks and Blue Fish hungry and busting up the channels and basin's.

The Permit will be abundit in a day or two with crab lunch planned !


Bone Fish, Tarpon?  Maybe this weekend.......YES

Barracuda's Thrill While Pompano Grill in O'l Key West

Fly Rods Flopping and Weenie Rods Whining when the Cuda's are chomping, we have been having fun with the Gulf Flats water warmup.

Sharks, Black Tip and Lemon have been showing up too and a red bass worm chucked a few feet in front of the Toofy's and teased just so can cause some line disappearance!

How about big Jacks behind sharks and rays crossing the flat, dropping a fly on the big guy's back will get a pounce from the bite robbing Jacks .

The Pompano show in the basins with more Jacks grabbing the Mylar Fly and wacking fingers with the direct drive Fly Reel handle, if your caught out and you will be!

Dropped a worm into a school of Permit disguised as Cuda's, so there are around some.

Cool off Cold front again for a few days and back to work this weekend, dammit more fishing.

Winter Basin Bob'en

Braving some cool front winds we have had good luck with Sea Trout on ultra light rods and of course the Barracudas and Sharks have been toofy fun.

The weather would not here today is low sixty's and sunny with light winds, brisk and invigorating !

Pompano filets with a little Key Lime Mustard and grilled veggie's are a winter treat for us and although we really don't target dinner, it's a nice bonus.

We target FUN cause " Guides Just Wanna Have Fun! "

The week after the Super Bowl produces lots of calls for future bookings, next week, next month..May, June it's one of those mistery's alot like after the National Elections.

Make's Ya think some......

Return of the Flats Fishing Key West

A few weeks ago locked down with socks, Kashi Chilly and Long Johns It was hard keep the faith !

In the middle of the cold snap was a short two day reprieve but, the inshore water was fridgid top to bottom.

So with no wind and a little flats skiff and a hungery sport.. looking for a fish, any fish to pull his string.....we headed for the ocean side, not the flats but outside the reef 60-80 ft of water, deep blue!

Been more than a few years since I fished out there, we had fun and were rewarded with Spanish Mac's and Bonito on weenie rods....hold on to your rod!

All is forgiven now we have out animals back in alinement sort of, Big nasty Seathing Sharks , Cudas and Permit, with some more warm sun a few Bonefish will show n I'll put the insulated gloves away.

ICE SHIP KEY WEST

Never ever and I don't mean just the last 40 years that I have lived in the Tropical Florida Keys, has there been a cold snap like the mid January 2010 chill!

Seriously, two weeks? records everyday broken.


At the hospital in Key West they were naming babies FROSTY, and SNOW FLAKE and the space heater sales skyrocketed !

Next time I'll open a SOCKS stand on Duval St, to help with the grocery bill.

Iguana's and other Old Fishing Guides fell from the trees dead or mamed.

I went to Akron to warm up and attemp to stabilize my sense's!

Well I'm back and although tens of thousands fishes went into shock and died in the inshore coastal waters of Florida and especially the Florida Keys where, our sub-tropical species were really hit hard.....

The good news is the Sharks, Barracudas, Permit are on or around the Keys Flats in major amounts.

The waters of the Gulf of Mexico remain cooler then the quickly rising temps of the Key West Flats and Backcountry.

Gigantic schools of Permit are everywhere, yesterdays 3 hookups with little effort by untalented anglers and several schools of 70-100 fish staging just off the Flats.

It was all a dream is the mood with temps in the low 80s and blue sky all around.

Glad I got out of AKRON.

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!

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 "

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!

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!

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....

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.............

We Can Swim Here in Ol' Key West

Looks Like we better plan on swimming, " Noah? got room for some more monkeys?"

I was bragging about the weather until, about 4 o'clock this morning when the," Hammers of Hell " started firing lightning bolts down the street and Stinky ( our little Jack Russel ) and me shot bolt upright, hairs on end, on both ends!

Stink and I snuck out to the dock so see if the skiff was still floating, all's well.

Raining like a Holstein piss'en on a flat rock, probably 6-7 inches in the last 12 hours.

I may just have to trot over to the Pirate LS for some Navy Black Tar Rhumb.

Plans for Turkey on the Barbe, done it before with a foul weather jacket on, we will be fine.

Crossing fingers and eyes for a good change in the weather for fishing on Friday but iceing the Rhumb anyway.

We can have Turkey Sandwiches...

Charley's Trout

Tarpon Jumping Turkeys for Key West Thanksgiving

We're lucking out with higher late Novembers air and water temps .

Looks like mornings this Thanksgiving week will be spent checking out some Tarpon spots and carrying heavier Spinning tackle and a Tarpon fly rod.

Tailing Permit on our lower tides are also a really good option.

November has always been one of my favorite months for Permit fishing in the Lower Keys, Key West Flats.

Sometimes a early cold front will interfere by driving water temps down and removing all but the less finicky speedsters, Barracudas, Sharks, Pompano and big Jacks.



Mince Meat Pie and Tarpon on Fly .....sung to the Jingle Bells Melody!

Tailing Turkeys on the Flats of Key West

NOT exactly, but the fishing guides would qualify.

This time of year along with the rest of the U.S. and the Canadians we thank , Thanksgiving has always meant a lot to me.

Everyone expects a great meal and a Nap, some a parade and football too, but not something from Tiffany's.

I remember the big feasts with 100 or more of the McDevit clan, McCaughtry's and seven turkeys, five hams, a few Pheasants, Ducks and sixty pounds of mashed potatoes, table full of pie's, cakes and cookies dessert requiring it's own room.

Later cigars, eggnog's and football on the 12 inch tv screen, that was the early 50's

Most times over the years I fished on Thanksgiving , squeezing down a turkey when I had a chance, not anymore.

In 2005 late October brought to the Florida Keys hurricane Wilma.

I wrote a piece on the Thanksgiving I shared a few weeks later with fishing guide pals Gil Drake, Lindsay Harper their families and of course my wife Marcella and our wonderful old Bull Dog Jozy the clown ( RIP ).

We gas grilled Turkey and deer on the back deck of the Bougainvillea House because the walls were still missing and we had only a borrowed fridge plugged in , no other appliances.

Swatted mosquito's and drank some wine, had a pie.

It was a grand feast, Walter McDevit was there.

Falling in Love With Key West Fall Fishing

Back in Key West two weeks now and have already spent most of the time fishing the Key West Gulf Flats , some time on the Atlantic side and in the western Lakes.

Fishing with my Ol' pal Capy. Todd Bowen wack'en our way around the Mangroves sniff''en out a big Grey Snapper for a Crispy Fried Fish lunch.

The weather has been super this week with light winds and 78-80 degree highs, low humidity, this is the most comfortable time of year to fish the Backcountry.

Fishing Yesterday with my good friend Charley Cook from Wall Street/Squam Lake along with his son Chas, we scared 25-30 Permit right out of their.. scales!

Charley and I share a great pal and famous frog hunter , Jim Cloud an escapee of " the Street" and Tarpon Fly Poler with three decades of tracking down Big Poons and force feeding them feathers.

Cloud has been mentioned several times before in these pages and Charley Cook is famous for capturing one of the biggest Bone fish ever caught down in the Marquesas.

I saw it and am sure he cheated but can't figure out how!

Charley, Chas and I will be back out again tomorrow assaulting the Snipe Keys and Turkey Basin and enjoying the laughs that swim there.

Cocked and Locked in for Key West Winter Fishing

Motorcycling to N.E. Ohio is a bit of a ride from the Florida Keys but 7 or 8 years in a row I've done it up and back, it's the end and beginning of my fishing season.
After battling Tarpon and Permit in the hot May June of Key West, a long Moto ride is quite a change

Sniff ' en the Pecan Groves of South Georgia, Thoroughbred Farms of Kentucky and Corn Fields of Ohio is a nice break from my own sweat and sun block el La Flats O'dur!

Fly fishing for Large Mouth Bass and Blue Gills in the small Ohio Lake/Swamps from my Gheenoe would seem rather tame when comparing that sport to the Saltwater Monsters that have paid my rent for the last 30 years but!

Warm summer evenings, quiet Beavers swimming, White Tail peeking at your last Lily Pad Cast.

Steelhead on the Grand River is Octobers fun, Falls Leaves and Pumpkin Patches and a Hallooooween at the college bars with the Co-eds sloshing beer and breasticle's.

Next day putting the Gheenoe into hibernation and racking the 5 and 7wt fly outfits for their winter sleep.

Firing up the Big Honda Crotch Rocket on a 30 degree November morning and lunching in West Virgina.

Brisk......

A few days later snatching Sea Trout in the basins in the Gulf Flats and looking forward to the fun fishing that starts with the Cold Front that pushed me and the Honda south.

Hi Honey I'm Home!

June Swoon Tarpon Moon Key West

Mays slow start morfs into a stellar June Tarpon Doo Daa! OR
" Night and Day you are the One "

Really great Tarpon Fandango, Fly Rod or Spinning chucking plastic as long as we were willing to start early AM or fish Sunset and later we were into good to great Tarpon fishing.

Flies, Flies everybody has the secret Fly, you if you were lucky, saw the secret fly the past 5-6 weeks ....it was in the mouth of all the Tarpon you jumped !

Bunny Strips, Toady things, Leaping Lizards, Whizz Bangers !! Shhhhhh don't tell anybody.

Chartreuse is good, oooww Sand Bunny with Rust Marabou head and then night time BLACK.......cool I'll have a Mocha- Peppermint Latte .. yes sir.

Mid day almost always sucks for Tarpon, we all know that but go try to shoot a White Tail Deer or a Turkey mid day and be prepared to nap in the woods !

We still have lots of good Tarpon fishing and the Bonefish have been good numbers lately with some full grown suckers swimming round.

Our weather in May and June was very mild, just now some tropical pop up storms that can make you wear your rubbers.

Mother warned you....

2008-2009 Best Guide Service in Key West

WHO would ever guess? Thanks to the US Small Business folks.

Laidup- In The Lake Tarpon

" Mosquito Bite Just Before The Tarpon Do " Ol' Guide Charlie Weaver used to quip.

What he meant is the more warm and humid, still air the early morning or evening weather is, the better your chances for exceptional Tarpon action.

We are getting into that time of year now, been flirting with Tarpon more often in late March and early April but as we move closer to May the pace picks up considerably.

Plugs, small live crabs, Jigs and Fly's are a flats fisherman arsenal along with a good stout rod and a big Bowl of Wheatie's.......you will need it.

Yesterdays Tarpon were not very happy and after a lot of work we managed to put a couple in the air, full moon madness I'm afraid.

Sometimes they have been at the " Snak Shak " all night chowing down in the light of the Silvery Moon.

We found some Tarpon sliding around in the bottom in about 5-6 feet of water in a inshore basin.

Fun stuff but the are not the most approachable fish.

Mount up it's Tarpon Time!

Key West Tarpon Tango/ Shrimp Stomp

Fly fishing for Tarpon is one of those activities that once you have done it with some success, you just know it will be part of your annual agenda for life.

Think about that statement for a few seconds, Grand Canyon OK , saw it! Indy 500 Race , cool, once was enough, Aunt Margret's tits, great but.

A big Ol ' Tarpon with his head out of the water , eye balls straining to spot his feathery target and the subsequent hard grab at the fly line in your hand.....Sweet Jesus !

The other night was one of those - 3 days before full moon , sunset a large Red Ball hang'in over the western view and almost hissing sound as the Red Ball disappears into the Gulf.

No wind, just the HUP - POP sound of Tarpon sucking shrimp from the surface on a falling tide...

Staked in 3 feet on the flats west of Key West, they're all around us.

Waiting in the din for the closer, 11 o'clock shot and finely making a back cast at 3 o'clock because you can't wait, why should you, you've been here before - many tides .

In seconds a - one long pull after the Black Toad Fly hits the water, he's on!

The big Moon is up now, silvering the Tarpon when......... all ten jump.

Two hours later and 7 Tarpon Heads touched, 3 more jumped, all loved, every wild ass one of them.

Rocketing home in the glass slick calm of Midnight after touching the heads of kings.

Great Big Deal SHARK FISHING tournament Key West

WOW this is really something you should experience, a reel sporting event that every outdoorsmen/women should witness.

SHARK FISHING -TOURNAMENT ?

OK here's how it's done, take notes, you want a Shark Trophy and a hat and T-shirt dont you?

#1 Kill alot of Barracudas for bait.

Dont worry the commercial Shark Fin Fisherman kill thousands of Barracudas for bait in South Florida and the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas every year.

Shark Fin Soup ya know! " Fin's sent to Japan "

So thats thousands of Barracudas and thousands of Sharks, guess that's the balance of nature
huh?

OK #2 you need a boat or, you can hire a SHARK EXPERT GUIDE... ya that's a good idea because he knows the secret spots and he also knows the secret bait!!


YA Barracudas are killed for the sporting event , dozens .....But the real pros KNOW that a Shark goes bonkers for ............chopped into chunks, bloody and smelly, really dead.

TARPON !


That to me is dismantling a..... Stradivarius to build a Ukulele sad

Springing Into Tarpon Key West

We Have had a few flashes of Tarpon action during February , March and that's not unusual but, NOW we're getting serious.

Maybe the cool fronts are over for the year, I doubt it but , Spring/Summer is here for sure and the Local Tarpon are beginning to be a daily look see, if not the main objective.

I have had some tremendous night fishing on Spin/Plug tackle and Fly.

I always get cranked about Tarpon even after what may be several thousand hooked over the years, on all tackle!

The other night we jumped 7 Tarpon on a new Secret plug, nut's for it they waz..

Probably the most Personally connected to a Tarpon (or any gamefish for that matter) you can be is hooking and fighting a fish on Fly Tackle.

Making a cast, retrieving and hand setting the hook by pulling on the flyline, takes you closer to " hand to fin combat " than any other method of sport angling.

Don't get me wrong, a Tarpon on light tackle of any kind is a blast everyone should try!

They are here NOW , in our showroom for your inspection.......

Log In The Fog Barracuda

Doesn't happen every year, sometimes it won't happen in five years.

The last few days we have had to run in the fog early morning and although today it lifted late morning, yesterday the fog hung around is some areas most of the day.

The flats, once you find them, can be eerie as with low visibility and flat water sometimes you can hear strange things moving about and you can be fooled by the thick air as to how far or near the splashes and pops and swirling can be.

For some reason, as I have witnessed several times before the Black Tip and Lemon Sharks can be absolutely nuts charging around attacking anything that breaks the surface.

The Sharks and US are not the only wacko's out in the fog lots of the other guys can be very aggressive .

But the real surprise of the day was when a Tube Lure cast in the direction of some noise out in the Foggy Boggy, produced after some high speed blasts a big, by Key West standards , Bluefish that was up in 18 inches of water.

As he charged and tail walked by the skiff in a Blue Panic!

"Whats with THAT.?".....Oh Shyte a Log of a Barracuda was after and caught our Bluefish now we're fighting a 25 lb Cuda and whats left of a 6 lb Bluefish.

Is that a record? Great fun in the fog.

Exploding Flats Fish Key West

Really unbelievable , Yesterday with a warm if not blowy Southeast Wind we had fish, big fish, little fish. long and wide fish.

Pompano, tackle busting Blue Fish schools, Sharks and lots of Jack Crevall......Jacks big enough to swaller a Pepsi Bottle.

That was yesterday, heading out today I expected after last nights low speed muggy SW wind even MORE gobbling.

Secret spot showed us a few schools of Blue Runners early in the tide but as the water came up out of the Gulf, in came over the top of the flats school after school of Jack Crevalls, many very large fish.

Sharks, Barracudas, Bluefish and Pompano Arse Ol's and Elbow's

Fly Rods and the little Weenie spin rods we stole from the Crappie Fisherman, bent double!


Then....Oh SHYTE! TARPON and several schools of Permit maybe 60 fish in all from 8lbs to near 30 lbs.

WE could not feed the Tarpon or Permit, they probably had heard about us.

Pass me the Pompano Platter Please......

Key West Pompano and Monster Jack Attack

Yesterday was " One of Those" wondering when the grey edge in the northwest would turn into the Bear Claw Blue Northern and end the party with an Artic Blast.

Turned out we were lucky yesterday and Jane and Dave Bohren were treated to lots of great action all morning.

Jacks and Lady Fish started us out first off and the bottom of the falling tide had the basins a little dismal .....not a promise of Trout or Pompano.

Luckily when the tide turned and started in , along with a good guess at a new spot , the flats exploded with life.

First cast in the new lo-cal produced for Jane a nice Blue Fish on ultra lite tackle with his buddies trying to steal his rubber worm all the way to the boat.

At once David and I were hooked up to 12-14 lb. Jack Crevalle's.

Next cast and Jane and I had Pompanos, Dave another Big Jack and on it went for an hour and one half.

We had our shots at some spooky Permit, big suckers that were in a mixed size school , maybe 25 Permit in the school.

OOPS! here comes the Blue Bear Claws time to idle out and punch the Merc towards the Barn.

We were treated to a peek at a baby Hammerhead Shark as we slid down the channel, Jane got a kick out of this little 8 ft. 250 lb Baby.

We made it back to Garrison Bight unscathed but as it works for Mike I got blasted on my commute back to the home sea wall.

40 MPH, driving rain, visibility about 50 ft, 20 degree drop in temps as I shot across the flat soaked and shivering....grinning my ass off....

Permit and Barracudas show before Front

Today's 80 degree, sunny ski's and light breezes will give way to a rather strong cool front tomorrow afternoon.

We were in high cotton this afternoon tossing crabs at slow moving Permit and Tube Lures to Barracudas.

Fly chucken a bit but only fresh fare were taken by our little Permit pals and a matched set of 12 lbers came to a kiss and slap on the Ass at the boat.

First thing in the morning we'll be back out, one eye in a northwesterly direction watching for the promised " Blue Northern" that will end our day and maybe the next.

Just when we were talk'en Tarpon along comes a spoiler!

Warming The Key West Flats

Today's cool air is leaving and the warm sun will bring more creatures into the flats and basins.
Our last few days were very cool , too cool for our little pays to play.

Most of us were in the gym this past few days or home in sweat pants brewing a pot of Chilly.

Our trip to the backcountry produced a few jacks and a couple of small Grouper on Weenie Spin Rods but the reel fun was launching Red Rubber Worms on the Flats.

One huge Jack, a big Barracuda and lots of misses with Black Tip and Lemon Sharks late in the incoming tide gave us some great action and abused our 4-8 LB. Weenie Rods.

This wind has dropped to a whisper tonight and the humidity has come up and we've hung out the welcome sign to the Trout, Pompano and Cudas.

With the great clear sky we have been enjoying the sight casting will be super and we will be jazzed!

Cold Front Blows Pompano into Key West

And some Sea Trout, Barracudas and Sharks up on the Flats chasing bait.

It's that time of year , cool fronts driving bait fish south making Sailfish migrate oceanside and the Cobia, Trout, Pompano and Redfish move in out of the Gulf.

We're having lots of fun with light spin and fly rods in the basins and Gulf side Flats.

Barracudas on light tackle in less than a foot of water is one of the surprises first time flats anglers enjoy.

With a less that Stellar reputation offshore where Cuda's are considered a nuisance when they chop your slow trolled Ballyhoo in half before you have a chance to hook a Sail or Wahoo.

Those of us that find it fun to whip a big fish on what is considered light fresh water tackle, love to watch a Barracuda on a Weenie Rod smokem 100 yards of 10 lb. test and leaping 6 ft in the air.

Our last trip to the flats produced two nice big Lemon Sharks and about 10 Barracudas hooked and landed , hooked and laughed off and some yummy Sea Trout for dinner, unplanned but welcome!

Unbelieveable XMas Weather

It's really been like spring this past week or so and even a few Tarpon have noticed!

Don't run and grab the 12wt. but if warm stuff continues we will be sniffen around a few Poon Haunts.

The Permit have not been crazy and the Barracudas are not on the feed bag as much as they were last week when the inshore water was a little cooler.

But the Pompano, Sea Trout and Jacks have been really giving my Jig and Mylar Varmit Fly stocks a beating.

Fun fishing and great warm weather sooooo? How's the weather in Cleveland?!

Key West Xmas Fishing

Same ol' Problem..... Cold Fronts and Christmas Fisherman

We'll get them out Casting for Cuda's and Jigging for Sea Trout, Pompano and Jacks , it's all fun.

Most years you can plan on the weather to be brisk Christmas week but many of the people arriving from Chicago , Cleveland , Pittsburg are just glad to not be shoveling sidewalks for the holidays.

So from the sunny but breezy Florida Keys HAPPY HOLIDAYS .....Barracuda 35 feet @ 3 oclock!

OK SO That's Not a Ohio Steelhead Your Right!

YES I DID get a nice Steelhead on the Grand and lost another and your right that's British Columbia and a bigger fish I caught on the Copper River.

Didn't have a camera last week when I hooked a good fish of about 26+ inches and maybe 10-11 lbs.
He gave me a good tussel on a economy model Pflueger IM8 Fly Rod more like a 6-7 than the 8wt marked on the blank but a super little rod and a reel drag clicker that sounded like the stray cat that decided to sleep in the fan shroud of my old Chevy PU one cold front nite.

I hit the key at 6am the next morning and CRRRRRYYYYEEEEEEE...

Anyway there was a lot of complaining from that reel as my first Grand River Steelhead smoked down stream, I was giggling with the addrenaline rush that only a good fish can give when you have been in the river for 3 days without a sniff and the last thing you expect is a top water take!

I was rewarded again the next day with another...briefly.

Eric Evans and I plan on an annual October trip to the Grand dragging our pal Cappy "Top Water Todd Bowen" with us.

That will be our last northern her'raw for the year before we head south to the Key West Flats that have given us great lives.

Steelhead of The Grand River Throw Back Ol' Guide

Better than Sex Almost

Summer Vacation Moto Style

Another motorcycle ride snaking east and west as I head north through Georgia into North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Parkway one again.

Planning my assault on Ohio to correspond with the Vintage motorcycle races at Mid-Ohio track at Lexington.

Wundering the flea market with its old motorcycle parts to complete bike's is always a time machine trip, remembering my first Indian Scout Bobber/chopped and painted with a brush, farting, coughing, push to start heap.

The BSA's Norton's Vincent's and the grey beards that continue to love them.

The next week I'm back for the Honda Super Bike Classic and a flash forward to today's fire breathing just sub of 200 MPH motorcycles.

Tomorrow I'll be in the Grand River of Northeastern Ohio to launch flies
at the Steelhead of Lake Erie with my pal Eric Evans.

The cold rain and snow flurries of the past week will have pushed some Steelies into the river and although this old Florida Keys Coconut is a bit out of his element it wont be the first time I popped up on a Steelhead stream.

For years September and October found me on the rivers of British Columbia wacking away for hours, force feeding Leach Pattern Flies to the Big Steelhead that come out of the Pacific to spawn in the mountains every fall.

Eric and I do not expect 20 lb monsters that are common in B.C. but 8-12 pounders are not out of the question..... we'll be tickled to capture any Steelhead.

Report to follow in a few days....

Key West Tarpon War 2008

PHEW!
Lost in the fog of Tarpon War.... fishing all but three of the last 60 days.

But another Tarpon migration run and a chance to fish with old buddies and some new ones too.

Jim Cloud celebrated his 77th birthday with a 90 lber on Flyrod and as he said "buys another year of life and I'll be back for 2009"....me too Jim.

Peter Mullet was here for his week and after a few "Trout Lifts" and other assorted screw up managed to capture several nice Tarpon on Fly.

Peter and I always laugh alot.

Eric Evans another best pal, he and Jim Cloud have fished with me through several marriage's and sets of teeth........anyway Eric was here with his son Thadd and we scared a few Tarpon half to death, drank some Rhumb.

Adam Marton just left after a week of jumpen off some Tarpon and punishing the Chartruse Bunny Flies.

Mark Miller and Jack Gluckman are a couple of new friends that had success with Tarpon on fly and will be back next year.

We have had some ups and down with the fishing in May/June but it's been really good generally.

On this day off I will rest and do a little cooking.....well unless the wind backs down, then I take a ride and jump a Poon!

WHOOAH! They are Back, dem Poons.

Yesterday morning started with a few rolling Tarpon and Permit Tails poking up in the flat calm.

Turned out to be too calm, we had 3 crabs stolen, 2 by Tarpon 1 by a Permit.

These guy's can be tuff when the water is so clear and flat calm, truth is a fly-rodder has a better chance under those conditions.

I was short a Fly-Rodder.

This A.M. was not a lot better, dozens of Tarpon and Permit milling around as if waiting for the train to Pittsburgh.

We did hook a Tarpon and for a few moments we were brilliant, then we forgot to bow and he jumped off.

A while later another miss-Q and no hookup.

Hard to feel to badly when its so beautiful and your surrounded with Tarpon and Permit.

We should be seeing the migratory Tarpon in a week or so, with this kind of weather.

Tarpon Fishing Key West Some More

Today's Cold Front gives me a break long enough to sit down and pop out a few lines.
Later I'll go to the gym and zip around town on the motorcycle, wearing pants and jacket.

We were happy jumping Tarpon and snagging a few Permit this past few weeks and then another really chilly front knock up down a notch.

62 degrees is not Tarpon weather and last night lows will return to mid 70's later today.
Many Tarpon are in a holding pattern just offshore and we'll start to see them by the end of the week.

Bags of Tarpon Flies and Boxes of Tarpon Plugs have been arriving this week.... munition's for the planned 3 month offensive.

Night time fly-fishing for Tarpon has been a ball when conditions permitted, sometimes we were home by 8:30 after landing a couple in 3ft of water.

Spot light's providing a silvery explosion next to the skiff.

I love Tarpon.... every one I even saw.

Great Key West Flats Fishing

Our weather this winter has been a treat, we have had some cold fronts and 2 weeks ago, a doozie that brought record lows.

But so what? Many days of upper 70's and low 80's with lots of sun make for a very pleasant day on the Flats.

Yesterday started with more breeze than we would have prefered but not bad and although the Tarpon we found ignored our advances, some nice Sea Trout and huge Jacks showed up to kick butt.

Most of the day was spent Poling the Key West Flats for Barracudas and Permit, and we were rewarded with Toofie attacks!

Did not see but one Bonefish however the Permit popped in to humble my Caster ...
....about a dozen times #%^*

Winter Break on the Flats

Just off a little break in the action.



What did I miss, great fishing of course and some tuff cool fronts also.



Flogg'en the Motorcycle up US 27 to Us 441, quick dash from Melbourne to Daytona on I95 to visit mom for a few days.



Another record run and super fun for an Ol' Moto Fag.



But your are not here for the "Motorcycle Chronicles"



This is whats happen "N"



The Permit fishing has been a blast between fronts, a few times in the last month the water temps have come up enough to push a some Tarpon into the basins.



Blue Fish, Cobia, Pompano, Big Jacks and Barracudas have filled in the, too cool days so the fun has been measured out with a few off days and days off.



We have today and the next 5-6 days ahead some very nice weather and plenty of Gurgler Flies and Poppen Plugs to deal with varmets......

Ice Fishing for Tarpon in Key West

Well the weather is nearly perfect for it!

A few days ago we were Tarpon fishing in the Backcountry Basin's near Key West.

Our weather had been spring like for almost two weeks and some of the Big Guys from the Gulf moved into the basin's for some chow.

As it often happens this time of year, the next cold front will run those Tarpon back to the protection of they're deeper Gulf of Mexico haunts.

This front is a doozie, blowing 30mph + and temps below freezing.

Remember air temps are measured a little differently in Key West and the Lower Florida Keys.

So we have come to believe that the water in your bird bath, will freeze over night if the temp's dip below 68 degrees.

You can spot the Key Wester's on the street, their pajama bottoms protrude from the cuffs of their blue jeans and miss matched socks, sometimes two ball caps on their heads.

The National Guard has suspended operations here, the air temperature is expected to reach 71 degrees today with prediction's of upper 70's this weekend, we should have no problem clearing out the ice in Key West Harbor.

The great news is we need these cold fronts to move the bait fish and stir up the Pompano, Cobia, Barracudas, Red Fish and Jacks so a few days from now as the basin/flats temps come up so will the Funsters...

Christmas Key West Flats Fishing

As the North Wind blows thru my office window, whistling me with a chill, I look forward to Thursdays fishing.

Tuesday and probably Wednesday this week, no one will look forward to being on the flat.

But these cold fronts are necessary and although on my last trip out we captured over 24 Sea Trout on weenie rods, we could see the symptoms of the basin waters becoming too warm for really good winter fun fishing.

The Jack, Ladyfish, Pompano and Shark activity down some, but not for long.

We want the cool water that the fronts bring to stir up the baitfish and bring the seasonal funster's inshore.

The big Jacks, Pompano, Redfish and Trout in the basins, the Barracudas and Cobia on the Flats
all need the cold fronts and water temp changes that they bring.

Timing for the Chrismas/ New Year break looks good this year and I'm whipping up a batch of Mylar Jigs and Fly's, a few Tube Lure's too.

Back under the covers for a little cold front nap!

Pompano, Sea Trout, and Saw Tooth Jacks

Winter basin fishing has really turned on in the last few days, even though we have had an Indian Summer, weather wise.

Just beautiful days, if not the best clear sky for sight casting on the flats.

We have had a few Red Fish up in the sneaky spots close to the Mangrove's.

Todays 18+ Gator Trout ( large Sea Trout) was a sure sign that the winter fun fish have arrived, a few days ago some Bluefish shot thru and gobbled Gurgler surface popper flies.

One cast and your into big Jacks, SeaTrout, Ladyfish, Pompano, Black Tip Sharks ... Ass Over Tin Cup!

It's not the Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit rant that you expect from us in the lower Florida Keys but it's lots of fast tackle busters and as Jack says " that ain't bad!"

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

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.

Falling into Fall Fishing

The Bonefish continue to give us some thrills, especially the 7+ lbers.

But the cooler air that we usually see by mid October has not arrived yet, we all look forward to its arrival.

Down on Poo Key this morning Marcella and I saw a few small hawks, wrens and some Key West Dove's.

The Fall bird migration is ahead of the cool air.

October brings,.. much to the dismay of the resident Osprey, Sooty Turns and Kingfisher's,.... Krestals and Red Tail Hawks, You will see a lot of dog fights over the outer Keys as the local birds do not approve of the "Snow Birds" moving in on their "no fly zone's"

The Baby Tarpon are still sneeeken around the Mangroves as long as the water in the basins remains warm.

Thats a good thing but , we're looking for a little cool and the good Permit, Pompano and Cobia fishing that comes with it.....

Bonehead Brothers

Bonefish Explode on the Gulfside Flats

Everyone knows that in September and October on into November that Bonefish show up in better numbers.

The water temps have dropped a tad and Bonefish are happily sliding in for a Crustacean snack, Permit too of course.

Small Bonefish Flies, jigs and live Shrimp will stop a Bonefish long enough to feel a hook jab then, off to the races, rod high in the air and a few WAHOO"S before these little rockets begin to slow down.

Using a smallish " Merkin" Permit Fly will help your chances for bites from either Bonefish and Permit.

Some of the hard Gulf Flats are great for walking on the lower stages of tides.

Reminds me of a Story...Few years ago, I was fishing with a couple that had been with me many times.

We approached a sand flat that I knew would flood with Bonefish Schools as soon as the tide started in.

Being too shallow to begin to get the skiff on , I sent Jim out with a spin outfit, a few spare hooks, split shot and a baggie full of shrimp.

Pat, Jim's wife stood on the front of the skiff with me waiting for the tide.

From his spot 60 yards away Jim saw a large school of Bones approaching, made a cast and of course, fought his first Bonefish of the day.

By now the water had reached Pat and I and we made the first casts as a school approached the skiff.

All three of us were hooked up and laughing when a very excited Jim yelled " hey there's a big Bull Shark with a school of Bonefish following it"

I told Jim to throw the shrimp just behind the Bull Shark and he'll hook a Bonefish.

A little nervious standing in the water with sharks, Jim made his cast and would you believe, the Bull Shark swung around and gobbled Jim's shrimp and tore off across the flat.

" Christ, what should I do now Mike!? " Jim exclaimed.

" DON'T PISS HIM OFF JIM !" Pat and I yelled .........

Running From Rain

Yesterdays trip was a late start, waiting for squalls to pass.

The last several days have been wet, down in the western lakes area we made a dash to avoid a really big funnel spout that followed us west for three miles.

I was finely able to charge north of it and head for Key West, lots of excitement for my sports.

Just the normal late summer pattern and not really very scary.but, if you haven't seen a water spout they can be disarming.

Anyway yesterdays late start sent us to a Tarpon spot, without Tarpon!

Act two put us on a Permit flat and they showed up and provided us with some thrills and eventually a cute little Permit of about 10 lbs.


We spooked and missed a shot at one in the upper 20's and a few more....

Three Shovel Nose Sharks on weeny rods for Anne and some photos to prove she's not afraid of Sharks!

The whole time we were on the flat there was a huge rain storm two flats away that waited for us to leave.

Looking over out shoulder on the way to the harbor, our little Permit flat got a bath.

Tarpon Trouble.........again!

We really intended to find some Bonefish to launch fly's at this morning, maybe a few Permit shots too.

Kevin asked about Tarpon and I had to tell him that we would sniff around first thing in the morning but I had not been seeing many the last few days.

Hot water and a tide chart that did not inspire the Tarpon or the Ol' Tarpon guide this week, but we stopped in a little spot that I hoped would give a shot or two while waiting for the sun to get up so we could pole the flats.

We got lucky, as we approached the area I saw quite a few Terns diving and soon saw a Tarpon back, then three, four...a lot more.

"Guppy Hatch" The falling tide was washing small baitfish off the flat into the deeper channel.

Ladyfish, Jacks and Tarpon were pushing up onto the flat to slurp up the goodies so.........
we slid up behind the fray and Kevin dropped a fly right into the mouth of a 70 lber.

Wahoo!... for a few seconds and the butt section of the flyrod leader parted.........SSHHHH TA !

Guide screwup.....

After some quick fix and a few Ladyfish chewing up some flies, Kevin hooked a big Cow about 150lbs.

Kevin lost the big Tarpon using a Curtsey instead of a Bow, but his first Tarpon on fly adventure was pretty good and produced some good laughs.

Hey , I'd rather be wrong and find Tarpon!

Back in Action on the Key West Flats

The Montgomery Skiff is rerigged, rewired, and re-Mercury Engined.

The new DFI Mercury 115 is really sweet with plenty power and so quiet you can carry on conversation at 35 mph.
Fuel consumption is unbelievable, even though the motor is barely broken in I'm getting mileage NEAR what I was used to in the smaller Super Skiff with its 6o Bigfoot!?

Anyway......

I'm back from my annual cross country motorcycle trip and have been wacken a few Bonefish and Permt.

It's hot... September is always hot and we dont begin to cool down until mid October so, trips start and end early.

A few Tarpon can be kicked up in the Morning but the Bonefishing and Permit have been pretty good to great up in the Skinny Water.

If you want to see a turtle up close this is the time of year to see dozens, the Loggerheads are all over the flats and the babies are hatching on the Keys Beaches every night.

A evening walk on many beaches in Florida in late summer with a flash light will result in a treat as the little guys/girls dig their way out and head for the water....cool

Tarpon show for Love Fest in Key West

FINLEY we have some summer weather and Tarpon showing up in the flats and shallows for Fly Rodden.

Late but welcome, in spite of forest fire smoke blowing in from Florida to give an unusual eeriness to the early morning hunt.

That's gone now, reminded me of my British Columbia Steelhead trips!

The gin clear water and calm seas are really a treat after one of the most difficult winters in the 30+ years I've been fishing in the Keys.

Peter Mullet starts with me on Sunday, we'll have our usual laugh fest along with the Tarpon Fest and seven days with Peter is always a good time.

June and early July look great for Tarpon and of course Dr. Permit will be examining our fly's.

Last Week Winter this Week Tarpon

Blimey! 2007 weather is confusing for everyone so, why should the fish be any less confused?!

February...stunk March...sucked April...cheez ass cry's

Someone shot a flare up on May 1st and now... we have been rescued !

I'm filing hook points, oiling Fly Reels and fluff'en chicken feathers for Big Daddy.

85 degrees, light winds and Tarpon Tuskers in the air...All is forgiven, its summer Tarpon Season.

The Tarpon are really happy about the weather changes, now they can continue on their annual trip to the big "Poon Fook Fest" and stop along the way to visit ol' guides and anglers that await with offering's of feathers and plastic baits.