August 19, 2006 at 5:34 pm · Filed under Key West Flats Fishing
I’m not going to mention the “H” word, we’ve been so lucky to have mild weather. By this time last year we’d cleaned up our yard twice and were prepping for another named storm.
It just started getting really hot this week and it’s made fishing a bit tough after about 9AM. The fishing in August is hot too, but tolorating the heat can be a challenge.
Permit have been on again and off again around the Lower Keys. One day they are easy to find, the next day very difficult. We look for them tailing during the morning light and in deeper water or floating in channels throughout the day.
Bonefish have been plentiful on the backcountry flats from Key West to Big Pine. Still an early morning ordeal for tailing fish, and not much action after 2PM when it really gets hot. They readily take a fly, foxy clouser or something like it works well. In skinny water it’s important to have a cast that lands soft.
Fall fly fishing in the Florida Keys can be some of the best tailing bonefish and permit conditions all year. It’s a fun time of year because I get the chance to fish myself during the off hours of the day.
There have been plenty of tarpon of all sizes still available in the waters around Key West. I’m sure with this hotter weather they won’t stick around for long.
Looking to get away this fall? Come down for some fall bonefish and permit fishing.
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August 1, 2006 at 8:48 pm · Filed under Florida Keys Fishing
The outlook for fishing this summer is so much better than last year. By this time last year we had boarded up, evacuated, batten down the hatches, bought supplies, and tested our generator numerous times. There is something to be thankful for, and part of it has to do with the fishing.
I’m grateful for a very good season. It’s winding down a bit and although the fishing has been really great, the schedule allows me to get out fishing on my own and explore some new territory.
This week has been especially great for permit fishing. Fly fishing for permit is already difficult and with our southeast winds clipping along at a cool 15 knots, it’s not easy for the average fly angler to make precise casts all the time to tailing permit.
Although wind is somewhat of an enemy to a fly fishing angler, especially when it’s blowing hard on his right shoulder (for a right handed angler), with permit fishing we almost welcome the wind. It gives the opportunity to sneak up on tailing permit and even is more forgiving when making a strong cast that leaves the fly landing hard in the water.
I tie a fly these days that is deadly for permit but is definately not a flat calm water fly. One the wind is clipping along at 10 knots or so, we’re golden.
I had the pleasure of fishing with an angler from New York, George Polsky. I have to give congrats to both him and his brother for their first permit on fly. It’s a great accomplishment and no doubt has got them hooked on permit fishing altogether.
As for August, the tropical outlook has a few more players in the field we call the Atlantic Basin, but as for fishing… the slam is still a definate possibility.
