Key West has been so fortunate to have great weather and increasingly good fishing both inshore and offshore. Our flats fishing has been very good. There are plenty of nice schools of bonefish in both the backcountry of the Lower Keys and west of Key West in the Marquesas. My wife landed a nice 6- pound bonefish on fly this week. We also had the opportunity to wade for bonefish. Both of us had a few shots at cruising bonefish and I landed one about 5- pounds that was following behind a sting ray. Permit fishing has been exceptional. The population of these fish comes and goes with each day but we always have some good shots at them, particularly if the visability is good and skies are clear. I personally like to fish for them with a fly rod but they will tend to charge a live crab any time it is put within sight range of the fish. A fellow guide and his angler landed a 32- pound permit on fly just this week, so that goes to show there are some nice sized permit in the area. Permit and bonefish will remain on the flats as long as the weather does not turn too nasty or get too cold. The permit certainly has a better threshhold for cooler water but the bonefish will soon head for deeper water where the temperatures do not fluctuate as much. Winter fishing in the Keys is something to look forward to. The explosive take of a giant barracuda on a tube lure or on a fly is memorable. They are an easy target for anglers of all abilities. Jack Crevalle and sharks are also good targets in the winter months. They always offer a good target on fly for beginning anglers. Looking to get away this winter - come to the Florida Keys!