Captain
Robert Horachek

Member since May 2015 Big Pine Key, United States
Background
I have over 20 years of experience fishing in the Florida Keys. I fished a lot offshore with my dad, uncle, and cousin for most of my life. I decided to start fishing inshore for the visual experience of sight fishing the flats for spooky fish. The adrenaline rush is there kinda like seeing a 12-point buck walking into bow range or hitting a grand slam home to put your baseball team ahead to win the game.
Techniques
My passion is flats fishing for Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit. But I like to after Redfish and Snook wherever I can find them. I have passion for saltwater fly fishing because I feel like it's very challenging and it's more competitive. The Adrenaline rush is there kinda like seeing a 12 point buck walking into bow range or hitting a grand slam home home to put your baseball team ahead to win the game. There is excitement and frustration but the competitiveness is what drives me.

Hey, I'm Captain Robert Horachek

Big Pine Key, United States
Background
I have over 20 years of experience fishing in the Florida Keys. I fished a lot offshore with my dad, uncle, and cousin for most of my life. I decided to start fishing inshore for the visual experience of sight fishing the flats for spooky fish. The adrenaline rush is there kinda like seeing a 12-point buck walking into bow range or hitting a grand slam home to put your baseball team ahead to win the game.
Techniques
My passion is flats fishing for Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit. But I like to after Redfish and Snook wherever I can find them. I have passion for saltwater fly fishing because I feel like it's very challenging and it's more competitive. The Adrenaline rush is there kinda like seeing a 12 point buck walking into bow range or hitting a grand slam home home to put your baseball team ahead to win the game. There is excitement and frustration but the competitiveness is what drives me.

My Charter Listing

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(53 reviews)
Big Pine Key
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $500

Fishing Reports

Guides day off
Guides day off
Jun 25, 2020 Big Pine Key
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 didnโ€™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 didnโ€™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 oโ€™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.
Continue reading
Spring is in the air!
Spring is in the air!
Mar 11, 2020 Big Pine Key
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 โ€œ not to move the crab โ€œ 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 havenโ€™t yet because a lot of people are going to be booked up!
Continue reading

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 53 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (76)
Great trip
Great trip
Great trip
+73
Angler rating
48
3
1
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
98%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
96%
Appropriate for children
89%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
89%
Sort by:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 53 reviews
Thomas S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great trip

VERIFIED   NEW  Half Day Trip (AM) on March 12, 2024
Had a great time on the water and caught some fun fish. Captain was really good at spotting fish that I was completely unable...
Thomas S. recommends Kingfisher Backcountry Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
  Robert Horachek Captain replied

Danny H.
Gainesville, FL
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

7 hour Day

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip on July 12, 2023
We had a 3/4 day booked with Capt Robert.ย  It was brutally hot.ย  We didnโ€™t find a ton of action, but Capt Robert was on...
Danny H. recommends Kingfisher Backcountry Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
Danny H. recommends Kingfisher Backcountry Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful

John L.
Key West, Florida
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great day on the flats

VERIFIED   Full Day Trip on December 22, 2022
Just what the doctor ordered! Started off fishing live bait and catching just enough for my family to have a nice fish...
John L. recommends Kingfisher Backcountry Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
John L. recommends Kingfisher Backcountry Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful

Danny W.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

A great day of fishing.

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip on August 14, 2022
Let me rephrase that, a great day of catching! He slap put me on the fish. He knew I wanted to catch a Permit. Boom by 10:00...
Danny W. recommends Kingfisher Backcountry Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
Danny W. recommends Kingfisher Backcountry Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful

Bruce M.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half-day trip with Capt. Robert

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (AM) on March 20, 2021
Took a half day morning start back country trip with Capt. Robert on March 20. A cold front was still passing through and conditions...
Bruce M. recommends Kingfisher Backcountry Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
Bruce M. recommends Kingfisher Backcountry Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful