Key West Fly Fishing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7tAkf-pCvw

The last 6 days on the water have been about all you can ask for as a fishing guide. Seeing a tarpon open that big ass mouth and eat a fly never gets old to me. Sometimes I think it gets better every time I see it. Not once in the last 20 grabs (or 1000 grabs) could I say I’ve felt the least bit unimpressed, mellow, or even under control. In fact, it’s the opposite. Sometimes I get too excited. I think my clients would be better off if I could contain myself but every time I see a tarpon eat a fly I pretty much freak out….at times I hide it better than others, at times I loose my shit. The latter is far more common. And when they jump, what is it about seeing that huge sea creature launch itself into the air that drives us mad.

Early in the morning when we hook one right off the bat I find myself a touch more classy and dignified about the transaction. I still love it and think it’s the coolest thing in the world, but the times I really go nuts is when I’ve been pushing the boat into the wind for 9 hours, my dude has been trying as hard as he can all day, and finally the planets line up. The boat’s stopped, the cast is right, and the 120 pounder opens his mouth up and annihilates the fly. It’s like scoring a goal in the 91st min of the soccer game. And yes, this is normally when I become unglued. Laughter, perma-grin, angling nirvana. If I’ve managed to keep my cool past the eat the first jump gets me every time.

Well, John and I both have the day off and I’m meeting him at the ramp in 30min to put one in the air myself. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74EQEuYuTFw

Jacob

I finally got my MOJO back.  Thank God it has been awhile.

It is March, so my life should be pretty easy. Blue Skies, east winds, 12-18 shots at permit a day, and catching just enough fish to make it seem worth our while.  That is a normal March.  This one has been plagued with inconsistent weather and erratic fishing.  Still this wouldn’t have been that much of a problem, if I hadn’t lost my mojo. 

What does that mean?  Here are a few examples.  I sent my client wading after a group of hard tailers on a slick morning.  On the first cast a fish charges, humps up, and crashes the experimental fly.  Cory comes tight for three tails kicks, then slack.  Examining his rig, he notices the hook is still there, but the fish had eaten the fly off the hook.  It was completely gone.  Here is another.  On one of the rare good fishing, good weather days of the month, we broke off two permit on the hookset.  A faulty spool of Seagur Flourocarbon tippet was the culprit.  14lb broke at maybe 5 lbs.  At least it was my client’s spool.  Here is a more subtle one, a large single permit, sees a fly while my client is stripping in for a recast.  The fish charges the fly, lights up, dying to eat it, just as the fly is pulled from the water.  FUCK.  I can’t even talk about the fish that raced over to the fly, tailed up on it, then miraculously swam away without a hook in their face.  I tried waiting longer, stripping sooner, different flies.  Hell I almost sacrificed a KW chicken.

Fortunately calmer heads prevailed.  I just went tarpon fishing.  Four Caught fish (3 100lbers aand 1 50lb) with 5 more hooked and I feel like a new man.  I love tarpon.

I think I got my MOJO back.

later

john

As I sit here listening to the rain slap against the window in the stiff 30mph breeze and the temperature is droping nearly 30 degrees from the highs of yesterday, I can’t help but think about how spoiled I’ve become over the last few days. 

February is one of my favorite months in the Keys. When mother nature co-operates with unseasonably high temps and low winds this place comes alive like no other time of year. It’s a roll of the dice to trying to time this good weather to coincide with a trip. Some years the good weather never materializes and some years it lasts all month. For the last week it’s been like the Discovery Channel on steroids.

Two days ago on my way to the Marquesas, there where schools of mackerel shredding bait in the Boca Grande Channel. As we pulled up to the first flat inside Mooney Harbor, we saw the first permit tail of the day before I had even turned the motor off. I lost track of the number of shots we had but to put things into perspective, I didn’t change spots until around 1:30. I can already hear the comments that John and Drew will make about my next statement but . . . my client wanted to catch a cobia so I ran to a wreck about 7 miles west of the Marquesas. While no cobia were present, we did see something that was pretty amazing. About a dozen bull sharks, some over 300 lbs, circled the wreck as we floated over it. The sharks were mixed in with hundreds of cudas, a few small schools of permit, a huge jewfish, and thousands of other smaller snappers and jacks. The wreck was a sight to behold.

We headed back to the east side of the Marquesas and continued to permit fish when we saw the first school of tarpon rolling towards us. After switching rods, we began to get into position for a shot when we came across a monster sawfish, as long as my boat, with a small cobia following close behind. The last hours of the day where spent casting to schools of tarpon. Mostly big fish, between 60lbs and 120lbs, rolling, sliding, cruising, and eager to eat a well presented fly.

I won’t bore you with our numbers for the day. . . you wouldn’t believe me anyway.

Jacob

The fishing thus far this month has been almost everything that you could want for early February. The weather has been beautiful and the fish have responded. After a fairly typical January with almost weekly cold fronts moving through the area, February brought us warming temperatures and bright blue skies.

In fact, the weather has been so nice that it has had John and myself thinking of March and April. We have not been able to help ourselves and have had to check some spring time tarpon areas to see if some fish have been present. They have. While there haven’t been as many tarpon as there will be later in the spring, the sight of laid up tarpon holding and sliding in the current has us as giddy as school kids on the last day of class.

I checked for tarpon with Kris Williams of Boston early last week, after his buddy Graham had to leave after four days of chasing permit. Despite increasing winds we found a handful of fish in the first spot I checked. After a few shots to get familiar with the game, Kris connected solidly with a fat 120lb fish, landing his first tarpon. Unfortunately he had to catch an afternoon flight and the day was a short one. I had the next couple of days off and gladly took my parents, who were in town, out to chase some early season tarpon. Dad took his rightful place on the bow making great shots in the 20 knot wind. The first day we had three fish eat, catching two, on 12-15 shots. Both of the fish that we landed were in the 120-130lb range. The second day, a little windier than the day before, didn’t bring us as good of fortune. There were fish around but they just didn’t want anything to do with our best presentations.

Of course with the warming weather permit have been a primary focus. The beautiful weather also coincided with the new moon on the 6th of the month. This brought much better current flows and water levels that the permit can’t get enough of. While the permit fishing has been fairly dependable this winter, in the past week it has been exceptional. I had the chance to fish with Paul Shahinian of New Jersey for a couple of beautiful days late last week. On the first morning we fished a strong incoming tide getting multiple shots at singles and groups of fish working the flats. We caught two permit in the 10-15lb range. As the wind slackened my mind again went to tarpon, so we ran into the backcountry to tangle with some ‘poons. Unfortunately, the tarpon didn’t realize this was the plan and the fish we found had lock jaw. We finished the day fishing for tailers on the Gulf getting several great shots but no takers. Lesson learned - don’t leave fish to find fish. Duh.

Due to my poor decision the first day we decided to focus strictly on permit the second day. The wind was light but the fish were active. The first spot we hit, we had 12-15 shots at actively feeding and tailing groups of fish. We briefly came tight to one before the fly pulled out of its mouth. Although not as good, the midday fishing was dependable as we got several shots at every spot we fished. The late afternoon, however, was epic. At the final spot of day we were greeted by large, tailing permit. The fish were tailing so aggressively that they would often throw water several feet in the air as they rooted for crabs. The fish, many in the 20-25lb class, were on high alert in the 18-24 inch water. The shallow, falling tide in combination with light winds and bright blue skies made the fish especially wary, but the numbers of fish and what they were doing made it a memorable afternoon. Although we didn’t get one, as I ran back to the dock I couldn’t keep the smile off of my face.

February always seem to be a special month. When you hit the weather right it can provide all of the great fishing that you expect later in the spring. However, it always seems to be a game of give and take. After a cold front Sunday, the wind has been 25-30 knots and the next couple of days are supposed to be rainy with occasional thunderstorms. In fact, I just heard the first rumble of thunder this year. Luckily, warmer weather is (hopefully) not far off and the fishing we had this week will become more and more commonplace. I for one can’t wait to consistently start tangling with laid up fatties.

Drew

Still in Mississippi, finding it difficult to leave these redfish.

Yesterday the wind kicked up a little bit so my cousin Micheal and I drove the extra 45 miles to Hopedale to keep from rattling our teeth out crossing Lake Bourne. Around 9:30 we pulled up to the first spot and poled into a shallow lake with creeks on each end, one flowing into the gulf the other into a larger lake. The entrance into redfishville was stacked with fish around 10-15 lbs. Micheal, being a fish friendly caster, with little time on the bow of a skiff and equally limited time sight casting to tailing reds, was not much of a threat to the school. It was still really cool watching the fish hold in the current, waving their tails slowly. The blue sky made the visibility flawless and we could see the bluish outline on the tips of their tails as they slowly waved in the incoming tide. It was even cool seeing the explosion of mud as the school fled for their lives as Mike cast a Randy Johnson fastball into the middle of them on his third or fourth attempt. We poled around the mouth of the lake but it was too shallow to get inside very far. We managed to hook a few and land one or two before we poled out and drove around to the other end of the lake where we had almost the same scenario as on the first end.  We found fish at every spot we stopped, all new spots that I had never fished. The highlight of the day was a cove we found with a deep depression running up the middle. All of the fish we saw in the cove were huge. I’d be lying if I said how big they were. All I have to go on is the 3 we landed weighed around 20 lbs and I saw some in there that looked like they could have eaten the ones we landed.

Heading back in the morning with two friends from Memphis, Mike Smith and John Barb. Our game plan is to get one over 30lbs. I’ll keep y’all posted.

Jacob

John and I recently had the opportunity to chase the big redfish that call the marsh of Mississippi and Louisiana home. We flew into New Orleans on the evening of the 16th and met Jacob for a three day fishing free for all. The first night we spent in Hattiesburg, MS seeing some of the “institutions” that we have all heard about for the past seven years. We got to bed a little after midnight on the 17th, only to be roused by my alarm going off at 4:30 am. We hooked up the boat and headed to the coast.

We arrived at the ramp at Bayou Caddy, just west of Bay Saint Louis, a little after dawn. We were greeted by a cold breeze and cloudy conditions as we bundled up and headed across Lake Borgne to the eastern margins of the Biloxi Marsh. After a relatively pleasant run, we began checking the satellite chart for likely looking edges and ponds. The persistent cloud cover made the fishing difficult despite the low water of the early incoming tide. Hoping to see pushes and tails in the flat light proved fruitless as the fish were just not active. As we approached the noon hour the sun finally broke through and we were greeted by reds as we worked our way through numerous ponds. Although the big reds alluded us, we managed to connect on several fish in the 10-15 lb range. The window of light proved to be finite and the last couple of hours were spent poling good looking water to no avail. The three of us also failed to realize that the wind had slowly gained steam and the run back to the ramp was uncomfortably memorable. The trip across Lake Borgne in a steep chop convinced us that fishing out of Hopedale, LA might be a smarter option for friday the 18th.

Despite a weather forecast calling for increasing winds and heavy cloud cover, we awoke early Friday morning and left the hotel just east of New Orleans in the predawn darkness. After a breakfast to go at a McDonald’s in Chalmette that redefined the term “fast food”, we headed down the road to Hopedale. As we made the run toward the edges of the marsh adjacent to the Gulf, the sun began to break through the soup and our spirits were lifted by the prospect of getting some light. Our first stop provided us with a number of shots at fish cruising and laid up. The fish were active and greedily pounced on the flies. We caught several nice fish, but the big ones still proved elusive. We fished the edges of the marsh and open ponds in hopes that we might find the bigger fish that we desperately desired. Around noon the wind picked up to an honest 25 knots, but the sun continued to shine. We found a clean edge adjacent to deeper water where Jacob spotted a nice red laying in a couple of feet of water. His cast landed right and the fish grabbed the fly. The fish, around 20lbs, headed up wind. As John futilely tried to chase, he spotted another fish even bigger up wind. I stripped some line off and made a couple of casts not getting the fly in the zone and the fish slid out of view. We landed Jacob’s fish, the biggest of the trip, just as the clouds rolled in, it was the last time that we would see the sun. After trying edges in hopes that the sun would reappear we gave up the ghost and headed for the ramp feeling satisfied and proud of ourselves at the good fishing we had.

Saturday morning came with high winds, rain storms and temperatures hovering around 40 degrees. We sat in the hotel room hoping the weather would break, but it was not to be. Saturday would not be spent fishing, instead we headed to New Orleans grabbed some sandwiches at Johnny’s Po-Boys and spent what seemed like hours at Louis Armstrong airport not looking forward to returning to Miami and leaving a place that we are all beginning to love.

Despite our inexperience in the area we managed to find a good number of fish, catch some and learn a lot about navigating what to us looks like a foreign landscape. We caught a decent number of fish ranging from 10-20 lbs, at one point having a triple header. The Mississippi River Delta is one of the most amazing fisheries in the country - the amount of bird life, the beauty of the marsh and the abundance of redfish and black drum makes it an uncomparable place. John and I are counting the days until we can return.

Drew

BRRRR!  

We have just been hit by a major cold front, with 30kt winds, highs in the 50’s and night temps in the 40’s.  It does not get much colder than this.  Needless to say the fishing has shut down.  Hell it’s so cold, it almost makes the fishing of just a few days ago seem like a mirage.

Before this front, our weather had been spectacular.  Blue skies, E or SE winds, and warm humid air; perfect conditions for winter time permit fishing.  I would love to say I had been out there wearing them out, but that would be an untruth.  I, like most everyone else, spent the last half of December entertaining out of town family members and enjoying the holiday season.  Sometimes it is nice to have a little time off the water.

Still, I was very excited to get back on the water, and Rob Clark from CA gave me the perfect excuse.  We fished two days, on the 30 and 31st, and enjoyed spectacular weather, and good fishing.   We spent the 30th targeting permit.  A falling tide on the Gulf gave us some early shots at backing permit, but a long run to the west of Key West gave us fish.  Here we fished the last of the flood thru the fall.  With the exception of a slow couple of hours around mid-day (hey I hadn’t fished in awhile) we were into fish all day.  The highlight of the day, a 10lb fish that chased down an aggressively stripped merkin knock-off, was Rob’s first permit on fly.  We finished the day with a 6lb bonefish and numerous shots at hard-tailing permit. 

Not to be outdone that day, Drew and his client, Court Ramsay of Lafayette, Louisiana, caught a pig of a bone in the backcountry. The broad shouldered fish made the 12lb mark easily.

The last day of 2007 greated Rob and I with 77 degree air temps and slick calm conditions.  I couldn’t help myself, I had to go tarpon fishing.  At our first two stops , we were greated with numerous rolling tarpon.  Even better, these were big fish (60-100+).  While many single were rolling around, we only targeted the schools, some of which held 50 or more fish.  Unfortunately, luck was not on our side.  We came tight to three fish, but none managed to stay on for more than a moment. 

By 10:30 the wind kicked up a touch, the sun came out, and the conditions were perfect.  Again, I couldn’t help myself.  We fished six areas for laid up fish, and found them in three.  With the blue skies and laid-up fatties, it felt like April.

We finished off our day targeting tailers.  While not as crazy as the night before, there were enough to get excited about.  By the end of the day, we still hadn’t managed to get a fish in the boat. (Sorry Rob, a Lane Snapper doesn’t count).  Still, there aren’t many better ways to go fishless than this.

Happy New Year All.  I hope we can share a boat sometime.

John

It has been a slow few weeks for business here in the Lower Keys.  The perfect excuse to get out of town.  However, before I managed to escape, I spent a great day on the water with client Ryan Equale and his father-in-law to be Doug.  We had a very pleasent day on the water.  Cloudless skies and easy fishing, the fish found us all day.  We fished only three flats all day and were lucky enough to catch two permit.  No complaints here.

The next morning, my wife, daughter and I left for a week in New Orleans.  While this was supposed to be a family vacation, I still managed to sneak away for a single day of fishing in the Louisiana marsh.  It may have been only one day, but it was one I will never forget.  I met Capt Gjuro Bruer (www.shallowwaterexpeditions.com) at 7am on a very cold morning.  Light winds and blue skies made me forget about the cold air, long run, and frozen fingers. 

Within minutes of shuting down, somewhere in the marsh, I really have no idea where, I was hooked up to my first redfish.  Gjuro laughed at how small it was.  I didn’t.  The fish, around 13-14lbs, was the biggest red I have ever caught.  Hell, I have only ever seen a few bigger than that in the Glades.  And things only got better from there.  We were surrounded by fish all day.  Whether it was the shoals of sheepshead, Black Drum up to 50lb or the ominpresent reds, there was always something to throw at.  The fishing was so good, we would try to get any small red (i.e. under 20) to chase the fly, open its mouth, and then pull it away. 

Alternating time on the bow, we caught two black drum over 40lbs, reds up to 25lbs, and had shots at some redfish that were pushing 60lbs.  I know, I can here the cries of bullshit from here, but I’m not lying.  We found two reds of such immense proportions you could have told me they were 80lbs and I would have believed it.  Yes, in case you were wondering I farmed both the shots.  Even so, the day was spectacular.

Do youself a favor, plan a trip to Louisiana, give Gjuro or his partner Dave Mangum a try.  They are both fishhawks who roam the entire Gulf Coast, from LA to the Marquesas in search of fish. Their level of expertise is unrivaled.

I’m not kidding, don’t wait.  Get down to LA

Now if only I can find a way back.

John

Since our last report, the first legitimate cold front of the year came ripping through the Florida Keys. Low temperatures dipped into the low 60’s and highs struggled to reach the low 70’s for a couple of days. The front also generated a day of strong winds out of the north.

Prior to the front, the permit fishing had been perfectly mediocre. While most of the day was spent poling flat after flat looking for a handful of fish, there were brief spells that showed how good the permit fishing can be in Key West. Most of the fish were large and the majority of fish that I targeted were aggressively mudding in 3-4 feet of water. Although we didn’t connect on any fish, the good spells of fishing helped maintain everyone’s focus throughout the day.

After the front, John and I headed to the Everglades. We figured that the weather for fishing the park couldn’t be better - cool temperatures, moderate north winds and blue bird skies. We couldn’t have been more wrong. While the conditions were great, the fishing was dreadful. We managed to only catch one small redfish (blind casting across a depression on a flat), get only one other shot at a redfish trailing a stingray and luck into a nice shot at a big tarpon (100 plus pounds) cruising through some muddy water. The tarpon must have been partly frozen as it refused several casts with different flies that brought the offerings right across its nose (the best presentation when the water is the color of whole milk). Despite what we had hoped, the fish in the park must have been as put off by the weather change as our fish in the Lower Keys. It should improve as the rhythms of winter take a firmer hold.

The weather this weekend looks good. Highs in the lower 80’s, a little bit of southeast wind, and good tides should be the recipe for some decent permit fishing. We’ll let you know if something truly exciting happens.

I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Hopefully, you are able to spend the holiday with your friends and families.

Drew