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.

April Key West Fishing in a Nut Shell

I had a lot of trouble sitting down to blog last month, working on skiff's when I wasn't fishing.

Not fishing because of bad weather, fishing in bad weather, bad fishing in bad weather!

John Swift aka Swifty was in for a few days and managed to hook on the 3 rd cast of the first hour a 120 lber, we got him after some great jumps and luck.

We rubbed his shinny head and back into the briny he slid.

Swifty and I always have fun, laughs, he's an old motorcycle fag like me so we spend our days babbling about the latest hot sport bike's, helmets, boots and where to wear them next.

Fishing together is the gear oil that keeps us driving forward during our time B S ing about motorcycles.

We stop and capture a nice fish without interrupting the bike bla bla.

He's been fishing about 3 times a year for 2-3 days at a time for ? 15-20 yrs!?

Leon Jackson from Montreal was fishing with me in mid April, we lost the first day because of a cold front and spent the next few days floggin the tarpon with every fly in the box with little success, very cold water, pissed Tarpon.

We enjoyed a nice cigar and every afternoon at Tea Time, a little Single malt.

Leon Jackson/ you would expect a 7 foot NBA guy from Alabama, not a born in French Canada Stock trader.

Leon will be back May 08.

Great guy Leon.

Butch and Joan Manasse, outfitters from Y-OMIN for a couple days and after Joan pulled on a Tusker for a good while took the rest of the day off.

They are a fun couple and good sports although, Joan has a habit of poken holes in a perfectly good kiddy Kat { 200 lb Cougar with a Arrow}

Jay Reed, one of the Indiana Hoggies was in for a few days, we shot the poo about our other Hoosier pals, past fishing trips and Whiskey Hunts.

Lost of tuff fishing in April but, great friends to play with.

May brings in Jim "Red Cloud" Cloud for our 26th year of fishing together...26 YEARS

Jim also in the past has hunted Alligators and Frogs from my airboat in the glades, saw him stick a frog once!
He's much better with the flyrod, Jims family

Peter Mullet my pal that arranges Mongolian Fly fishing trips for a week of Tarpooning. He will bring his monkey along for my viewing pleasure.

Adjum Marton from Chicago will be here for a week also, we always laugh out asses off and hook big Tarpon, hope he brings his dad for even more fun.

Doin the Tarpon Shuffel

3 weeks @ 30MPH

MY GOD!

Every joint in my old body hurts, Ibuprofen, Osteo Bi-Flex Glucosamine Chondroitin with MSM

be damned!

Every few years we have a March like this, cold fronts not strong enough to push a high pressure off the Florida/Keys coast or the worse case, the little cold front gets hurled back at us
(Backdoor Cold Front)

Either way it means lots of Wind and this week like the two weeks before it has been 20-35 MPH.

Does not encourage Tarpon to slide in to the shallows for a restful spring feast and poling the Flats for Permit Shots very tuff.

But the good news is.....April...we hope.

Got to run, Arthritis Foundation Crisis Hot Line is on the phone and I must get to Wal-Greens for the 2-4-1 sale on Bi-Flex

If your coming down, bring your suction cup deck shoes!

Tarpon In The Wind

The last few days have been windy but worth the bouncy ride as early AM has produced a few Tarpon.

They are not everywhere but we found several places in the backcountry rivers that had more than a few Tarpon in for a bait fish meal.

That's what we gave them, live Pin Fish and some swimming plugs put several fish in the air.

The clouds and wind prevented us from poling the flat for Permit and this March...so far has been good for Permit fishing when the weather cooperates.

Where does the time go? New Years Day was only a few days ago....seems.

Half of March is left and that means plenty Permit fishing and starting the day with Tarpon training.

Back To Barracuda Basics

OK ....yes and it's been cool and windy ...again!

Seeing a few Tarpon and nearly...nearly hooking a couple of Permit the last two days but, we're really catching Barracuda's on Tube Lures and chompen granola bars between casts.

The Cudas have been pretty big and of course they are always a lot of fun , 360's at 40mph and long runs and jumps.

Ten lb test tackle in one foot of water, you gota have some laughs.

Mean while the live crabs and Tarpon flies wait patiently in the box.

Permit Fishing Restore's Faith

After the agony of another cold blast front the north it's warmed quickly and although the Tarpon are pissed and still lying low, the Permit fishing on the Key West Flats has lifted our spirits!

Yesterday early am I was wishing I had worn jeans and SOCKS but, by mid morning the Permit fishing on the incoming tide and a few hook ups and the socks were forgotten.

Bill managed after a few bad casts to put one together and after a prolonged struggle I grabbed the tail of his first Permit and a good one about 22-24lbs.

Of course I told him it was 26lbs and after inspecting an old Shark encounter scar, Bill had the honor of giving the fish some back and fourth pumps and a slap on the arse to get the adrenaline flowing and away the Permit smoked.

March Tarpon fishing will be rock'in in a few days.

Key West Tarpon Blow Out

ERRR! MARCH

The not so bad cold front, turns in to BAD

Three days ago it was Tarpon and Permit, now it's 30mph and boat maintenance.

Tomorrow the winds should drop and the Permit will be pretty good but Tarpon fishing will probably not recover for a few days.

The Pompano, Cobia, and Sea Trout will show back up though so we will have good "fun fishing" and of course Barracudas will be snapping.

Oh well, back under the skiff for a little scrub!

Tarpon In the Air, Permit on the Run

The Last two days have been Tarpon in the early AM and when the sun gets up, poling the flats for Permit,

Lots of wind make easy shots at Permit, they don't see us coming!

Of course it's more of a challange to make the cast in the wind but we can get so much closer to the flighty Permit, it's a good news bad news kind of thing.

The water temps are up and a southeast wind bring the Tarpon inshore and encourages the Permit to pop up onto the flats for a crab breakfast.

We lost a couple of nice Tarpon, little late on the rod bowing will do that but, its fun to lose a Tarpon, getting him to jump is half the fun.

We should have a great March!!

Here comes summer

Wow 80ish and 86% humidity....those Tarpon will be rolling into town for an inshore feast.

Ten days ago I was in SOCKS, now its sunscreen and maybe maybe its spring in the Lower Florida Keys.

I'm sure we'll see some more cool fronts but I've the Tarpon itch and will go to the backcountry to welcome my pals.

Shakespeare sent a few new Custom Graphite rods that should do a good job of whippen those rascals.

Dusting off the Sage's and Tibor's for launching chicken feathers into the open maw's of the new arrivals.

Fetch my horse squire!

Clouds Foil Permit but Tarpon Respond

Lots of high clouds mean low chances for shot at Permit on the Key West flats.

We dont have a lot of total cloud cover days but it does happen, this is one of those days!

After a two hours of chrome sky we threw in the towel and went sniffen for "Floater Permit " or Tarpon in the little rivers.

Our efforts paid off with two nice 70+ lb. Tuskers that gave us some trouble on light rods.

One was gone after 3-4 jumps and zero bowing of the rod, but the other we managed to get up to the boat.

We were rewarded with a jump almost into the boat and a good saltwater shower that managed to wet all!

Gone but not forgotten was Mr. Tarpon

Springing into Tarpon Fishing

I'm building the last of the Barracuda Tube lure's for 07 and have 3 big bags of Tarpon Gurgler Flies just itchen to get wet.

Only the end of Febuary and March promises more Pompano, Cobia and Barracuda but, the Permit and Tarpon fishing will be sneaking up on us very soon.

A lot of my regular guy's are calling or e-mailing to make sure we have our dates planted, they have had enough of winter in the east and mid west and dull the pain by thinking about Tarpon and Duval St. Pina Colada's.

Permit will march into March first, they tolerate a little cooler water than Mr.Tarpon.

We saw a few Tarpon poken their heads up this morning but they are still a little cold and didnt care to play.

Planning a sock burning party for March 15th.

Chaser Key West Fishing, Fly Fishing Report: Frosty Flats Fishing Key West

Chaser Key West Fishing, Fly Fishing Report: Frosty Flats Fishing Key West

Frosty Flats Fishing Key West

Knit caps, Long Johns and SOCKS, I hate socks.

But January and lots of Febuary...I was in socks.

Febuary is all but over now and there's hope that the cold fronts are fewer hopefully, less of an impact.

The last few days have been in the mid 70's and the Permit are beginning to wander back to the flats.

Yesterday it was Barracudas and some Pompano and Bluefish, a few Permit shots too...just a few.

Todays strong southeasterly wind pushed up the water temps and encouraged more Permit to pop up for a crab sandwich.

One big boy maybe 26 lbs, pretending to be a Black Tip shark, was finely properly identified and force feed a juicy Florida Green Crab.

Smoken the drag and removing a 150 yards of braided line a few times before the Ol' guide could grab him by his tail and give him a brief warm up in the Key West Sun, a photo shoot and he was back over board to complain to his family about the Alien abduction.

Tomorrow will be more strong southeast wind warming the flats waters up and I'm sure some more Permit will challange our casting abilities.

March is next week and the Tarpon will begin to get as much attention as the Permit, maybe more.

Hate to see the Pompano start to fade as the water temps moderate but change is good.

Mike

Pompano Fly Fishing Key West

Winter fishing in the Key West Back Country means Sea Trout, Cobia, Barracudas, Jacks, Bluefish and the pee wee Permit AKA Pompano.

They are cute and tuff for their size and you have your hands full with a 7-8 WT fly rod.
Most of the Pompano will be on or near the bottom in the shallow basins and channels, usually 4-6ft so, a slow sink or sink tip line is a good idea.
I use a full floater also and a long leader with a lead eye Mylar Minnow Fly.

Dredging will produce a good jolt/strike and several powerful runs, sometimes he'll come up and flash for you only to dive and smoke off a few dozen more yards.

Sometimes Pompano will FLOAT, holding in the current a few inches down and you can swing the fly infront of the school and watch a strike!

Last winter this happened to us several times and we had a field day landing dozens of Pompano in one shallow basin.

They were apparently sucken in very small minnies that were being washed to them with the tide.
We used a small 1/0 epoxy minnow and the Pompano went nuts, so did we but, we put all but 3-4 back.

They will be much bigger this winter, the one's I released, not the one's I fried in butter!

Fly Fishing Key West Flats

Winter fly fishing provides some shots at fish other than the usual Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit Targets.

Cobia moving in, out of the Gulf of Mexico, following Sting Rays and sometimes Nurse Sharks.
They move up onto the flats as Wing Man, picking off the bait fish, crabs and other small wigglers that are on the move trying to avoid being lunch for the rays.

They spring out and get wacked by the Cobia who is better equipt with eye sight and speed then the slow moving rays.

Any good sized fly will sucker a Cobia, bait fish patterns, Crab Fake's even a good Bass Popper works well on Cobia.

Many of these guys will be over 20 lbs and can be much bigger.

Last years big Cobia was near 60 lbs and on the flat in 2ft of water, when you hook a big Cobia you had better get on the stick, because, he will spool you quick on light tackle.

Tossing a fly on a Sting Rays back will sometimes produce Jacks and even Red Fish or the Flats Snapper prize, Mutton Snapper!

We'll have some big Barracuda and Shark Flies along too.....just because.

Xmas fishing Key West

It's that time of year, Snow Birds sneezing and coughing their way up and down every isle in the grocery store.

They just arrived and need to restock the condo with Key Lime Mustard, dishwasher soap and batteries for the 3-4 remote controls.

Another clue is the Ol' guide, building Barracuda Tube lures with 3 layers of super glue on said guide's every finger in the effort to have enough flash jigs for the Pompano,Sea Trout,Blue fish war.

Line on reels, reel lube, Flu shot, order in to Shakespear for more AMO!

My regular Christmas/New Year croud will be here, glad to see some winter fishing action and tell me about last summers Trout trip to Montana.

Some ofcourse Tarpon fish with me in the spring and we'll relive a few Tarpon Tale/Tails.

The weather has been delightful, a little wind and clouds but with the cooler water around the inshore action has been great!

" POMPANO ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE...JACK SCALES STICKEN TO MY CLOTHS..........

Key West Flats Fishing for Barracudas

Everyone knows what a Barracuda is, to offshore trollers he's the bad guy that eats up your perfectly prepared Sailfish bait.

On heavy tackle drug behind a Sportfisherman he's not much fun, winching him on 50lb test, the mate bitching about the varmits.

Well how would a Rainbow trout fight using the same menthods, funny huh?

On the flats in the winter, lots of big Barracudas come up in a foot or less of gin clear water to gobble bait fish.

They move in "Wolf Pack's" and rocket into the bait fish schools or lurk on the edge of the flat waiting for the bait to move to them on the falling tide.

We will be there also with out light spinning or fly rods with artifical lures.

Hooking a big Barracuda that may go over 25 lbs on a 10lb test spin out fit and watching him bolt 45 MPH, turn 180 degrees and jump 6ft in the air and then do it again.

I can tell you that over the last 30 yrs I have had many SPORTS tell me " Oh I've caught Barracudas before, they were not much fun"

I always ask if they ever caught them on the flat?...err NO!

After the first good Cuda and a whole lot of WOW'S, LOOK at HIM JUMPS.

The opinion changes!........."let's get another CUDA!"

That's just part of the winter Key West Flats Fishing, some of the just plain fun.

Cobia's on the Key West Flats

I took a little ride this morning, even though it was rather choppy.

I was wondering if the back country was sturred up from the cold front winds.
It turns out that the channels were still pretty clear and as I poled in along the bank, I saw moving down the river edge a dark shape that you would assume was Mr.Shark.

It was Mr. Cobia, a nice one about 40ish lbs, I tossed a rubber fish in his direction and he leaped on it "like a chicken on a June Bug."

Its a little early for the Cobia's on the flat but, then again we have had some early winter like weather.

A little cooler water and some north winds pushing the bait out of the Gulf and behind the bait the Bluefish,Cobia, Sea Trout and Pompano.

Ofcourse the down side is the near freezing temps .....of 78 degrees

Anyway the Cobia broke off at the boat after I fooled around long enough, worrying about no ice and where he was going to ride on my way home.

I'll get him latter and throw his ass on the Barbee.

Winter Fun of the Key West Flats

Can you believe it ? December already?

Last trip out we found winter back country fishing at its best.

Great comfortable 80 degrees, low humidity and non stop action from our winter fish friends.

I did go thru 3 dozen jigs but, we dont care.

Much Jack attack action, dozens of leaping Lady Fish and 15 perfect Pompano kept us busy for hours.

We had a run in with a school of Blue Fish that gobbled up some jigs until a switch over to wire leaders helped to land a few.

Several black Tip Sharks and one big toofy Barracuda added to the fun.

We headed for the Barn with few weapons left in the tackle arsenal, but a lot of laugh's

Thats the way it is in the back country this time of year, Permit on the flats and the seasonal fun guys chasing bait in the rivers and basins.

The Barracudas with show up anyday now for their winter flats buffet.

And I'm Watching the nightly news and tying jigs every night!