Key West Fly Fishing

Summer has definitely settled on the Lower Florida Keys this month. With the so called “summer doldrums” the fishing can be a bit of a roller coaster ride. One day fish will be everywhere the next they can be difficult to find and feed. Tides are critical this time of the year, the strong flows associated with the new and full moon bring cooler, more oxygenated water to the flats making the fish happier and often more agressive. August, being one of the slower months (business wise), typically provides us with a lot of opportunities to enjoy some time on the bow of the skiff.

The bonefishing this month has been, for the most part, nothing short of outstanding. Good numbers of strong, fat fish have frequented backcountry banks on both incoming and falling tides greedily feeding across the flats. We have had several mornings of catching at least four fish and loosing several others. Most of the fish have been in the 5-8 lb range, with some larger fish including a personal best 14 lb midday tailer that I caught earlier this month. The fly pattern has not been particularly important as long as it is appropriately weighted to stay in the fish’s feeding zone.

The permit fishing has been a little disappointing. Some days there are good numbers and a few days later on a “better” tide they are scattered and spooky. John and I experienced just that last Monday despite near perfect tides and wind. The permit seemed to be concentrated in small areas, certainly not widespread, and the fish were very unsettled. The fish that we found were quickly cruising and when they did feed and mud they would quickly pick up and start moving again showing very little interest in our offerings. Hopefully the fish will return to their normal late summer pattern as we get into September and October.

The tarpon fishing, epecially in the backcountry, has been a very consistent fishery. Lots of juvenile fish in the 10-30lb range have been swimming the edges of basins and banks and holding under the shade of overhanging mangroves. John, depsite windy conditions, found a good shrimp hatch yesterday getting numerous bites and putting some fish in the air. Additionally, at the end of the day he found several toads laid up in a secluded cove and his angler managed to coax a hundred pounder into biting and giving a brief showing of its magnificent power.

While the fishing has been inconsistent at times this month, for the most part it has held its own and provided us with some great fish and memories. The past several days have given us clues that fall is not too far away. The sun is getting a little lower in the sky, the humidity is down and the wind has been out of the east to northeast. As fall begins to take a grip, the permit and bonefish will become main targets.

Capt Drew

Now that the chaos of lobster mini-season has passed the fishing regains it appropriate place as our primary focus. This past week I fished with one of my favorite clients, Graham Anderson from Calgary. We spent five days fishing hard for permit. Despite the outstanding tides and a more than capable angler, we were unable to get any love from the permit gods. Whether it was the west winds, shifty visibilty, stormy weather, or some return to a former level of ineptitude on my part, the fishing was just not what I had hoped for. We fished from east of Key West all the way to the Marquesas, often on the same day, and the fish were not widespread and they seemed to have little interest in even our best offerings. It was a very disappointing week at least in terms of catching.

As usual, the day after Graham left town the skies cleared and winds shifted out of a more normal southeasterly direction. The only way to rebound from a tough week is to go fishing and John and I finally had the opportunity (the first time in months) this past friday. Despite wanting to focus on permit, we left the dock early hoping to get into some early morning hatches for tarpon. We arrived at the basin and were greeted by a number of large fish happily rolling in all directions. Not fifteen minutes later a cloud line swept over bringing winds of 15-20 and ending any chances of getting some fish in the air. For several hours we waited for the tide to come in and the sun to get high enough to begin permit fishing with confidence.

We focused on a small area, thouroughly fishing the flats and making short runs to take advantage of current and water levels. We managed about 18-20 shots at happy, aggressive permit that worked across the flats tailing and mudding in search of food. The first fish that we hooked, grabbed the fly and violently began shaking its head (much like a tarpon will do) as it swam toward me. The fish stayed on and was running against a light drag when it randomly broke off. After a closer inspection, there was some abrasion farther up the leader so the fish must have clipped it on the bottom. Luckily, redemption wasn’t far away and a few shots later I hooked and landed one about 18lbs. Not much after that, John felt and saw the fly pull out of another fish’s lower lip.

Definitely an enjoyable way to spend a day. I don’t know if it was the weather, the lack of guiding pressure to immediately find fish, or the confidence of having some permit fishing under my belt after a long tarpon season, but the day was much more like we expect than my fishing earlier in the week.

Capt Drew