The 1st half November has brought us bad weather for 2 weeks straight. Tropical Storm ETA has put a damper on things down here for everyone here in the Keys. So its time to get out and do some fishing! As we progress towards the months of December and January, the fishing in the back country channels and basins will fire up with some seatrout, mangrove snapper, jack crevelles, and spanish mackeral. This will provide for non stop action whether you are fishing artificals or live bait. Moving up on the flats in this time of year brings barracudas up on the flats which makes a excellent sportfish target to pursue with live bait or artificals. On warmer days on the flats, look for Permit, Bonefish, and Redfish in the shallows. Don’t miss out on some great fishing that will be happening soon!

I had the oppurtunity to fish with my buddy Eric which led to a great day on the water. We were able to get numerous shots at Bonefish, Permit, and some Juvenile Tarpon while fly fishiing in a 20 mph windy day. With that said, there were challages that we overcame while catching a couple of bones and one Juvenile Tarpon. We made some really good presentations at fish that didn’t a take or draw interest which made us change flies a few times before we figured out the formula. Some of the biggest and sucessful highlight of the trip lead to 3 shots at Permit. Shot number 1 was on our first spot at the middle half of the outgoing tide brought us an epic shot at Permit in super shallow water in the 20lb range. With the boat angled in the right direction we were able to get 3 cast at that fish. The last may have look as if the Permit Tailed on the fly, but didn’t tight. After getting a couple of shots at some bones, it was time to make a change before we approach several muds off in the distance. I ended up choosing the right fly and landed a Bonefish shortly after. I ponder and regretted that I should of change before the 1st shot at the tailing Permit. The next spot, bought us plenty of Bonefish shots as there were quite a few times where the fish should have taken the fly. Eric landed a nice Bonefish shortly after several shots were taken. After that, it was low tide as we decided to take a break for lunch. We talk a figured out what the next spot was going to be as it seemed promising according to trend of the tides and weather. We ran out to the gulf edge and set our selves up on and early incoming tide. I got up on the bow casually as I was rehydrating with cold H2O. Then as I was stripping out line Eric called out a school of Permit at 1 o’clock 50ft. I made sure that my line one the deck was good and quickly figured out which side to cast off of. By the time I was starting my presentation a cloud cover the sun on us which made it feel like someone had turned off a light switch in a bedroom. Shortly after, we have a couple of shot at some more Bonefish as the transitional bottom made it a little difficult in spotting the fish. After that spot we may our way to an interior spot where we found some good bonefish muds and one Permit that gave is no chance at a shot. As we approach some of the muds, we staird for sometime trying to spot fish. I made some good blind cast into the spots where i figure the fish may be. Unfortunaly, no takes. About the time we got too close, a school 30 fish shot out from the Mud and headed for deeper water. We decided to push inside as we ended up capping the the day with a nice 20lb Tarpon on fly. The Tarpon itself gave us a nice show as fish came out of water a few also making another Tarpon come out of the and doing a mirror image summersalt simultaneously. So this concludes the fishing report of the day. My goal with this report was trying to provide a visual experience on how the fishing is right now in the lower keys backcountry and flats area.

Permit Fishing on the Flats is offically back going into the summer months all the way throught the fall and early winter season. Light Tackle Spinning gear is the bast way to target these fish with a live crab. If you are up challege, flyfishing for these fish is one of the toughest things to do in the sport. Your best chances are having a guide that can put you in the best position in order to make a cast in front of the fish with out spooking it but getting it close enough to fish to react to the fly.

Tarpon are still swimming the oceanside here in the fl keys. It has been a good season so far with a lot bites on Fly. Beyond that, fishing around the bridges have been good as well. Going into the rest of June and July, look gor water temps to be too hot in the middle of the day ax thr early morning or night time bit will turn on. If your interested in a tarpon trip. Shoot me a message and I can give you my full suggestion. Bonefish are around and eating well.

June 1st brings the reopening of the FL Keys due to COVID-19. Tarpon Fishing has been really lately and continue to stay on that trend for the rest of the month going into the tail end of the tarpon migration. Fishing around Bridges and Channels with live bait will produce as I notice the fish swimming has been tough post worm hatch. Hopefully after this tropical depression pushes on past South FL, we should get some nice weather which will fire up the Tarpon on the ocenside. Permit has made their way back to the shallows from spawning from offshore. Another great time of year to target the holy grail of the flats. The Bonefishing from this point on is going to get stronger all the way through the fall.

The flats fishing here in the FL Keys has turned on with Permit up on the flats feeding heavily on crabs that they can find in the grass, rocky bottom, or sand. Permit are known as one of toughest fish to target on the flats due to the fish having great eyesight and being able to sense the boat and perhaps a theory known as fear from the angler with the rod in hand. The best way to catch a permit is a well place cast with a spinning rod and a live crab. The area the crab needs to be in order to get the fishes attention is anything in front of the fish inside the hula hoop. If you can do that while grabbing the fishes attention to the crab and most important “ not to move the crab “ you will have a pretty good chance of hooking a permit and possibly landing it. There has been some Bonefish around in good numbers. Which makes a great opportunity for catching a few while sight fishing with a spinning rod or a fly rod. Redfish is another opportunity as we may get a few shots with both spin and fly gear. The fishery we have is different from most places as we have a clear water environment and a select few spots that will hold them. Tarpon is right around the corner and there may be some big fish around already. Mostly right now, Juvenile Tarpon will be the best option at this point. A great option to pursue are Barracudas up on the flats which can very explosive strikes from a live bait or tube lure as seen in the photo. This is a great time to book charter so I suggest looking into it now if haven’t yet because a lot of people are going to be booked up!