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
Monday, March 30, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
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
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
Friday, March 13, 2015
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Best Key West Fishing Guide Service 8 Years
Honored for the job I've loved all my adult life...very cool !
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
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.
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.
Sunday, March 08, 2015
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.
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.
Friday, March 06, 2015
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 04, 2015
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
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
Tuesday, March 03, 2015
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
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
Monday, March 02, 2015
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
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
Sunday, March 01, 2015
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.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
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
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
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
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
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
Sunday, March 25, 2012
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
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
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
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
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
Sunday, January 08, 2012
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!
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!
Monday, January 02, 2012
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?
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?
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