Freezing temperatures throughout the country have been driving more visitors to our area since the turn of 2006. We are thankful that our hurricane debris is gone and things are pretty much getting back to abnormal, as Key West goes.

I’ve had the opportunity to do a great variety of fishing in the past couple of weeks. Tuna and false albacore fishing has slowed down to almost a hault. This year was different than recent years because the large bait balls that had formed just off the reef were keeping the tunas active and moving around. Normally they hold over deeper wrecks and the end of the bar to the west of Sand Key.

Our mild wind and weather has brought the blue water in close, to around 200 feet. This has given the sailfish a ‘highway’ to cruise looking for something to eat. I had hooked one the other day on a pinfish but after a few aerobatic jumps, he was off. Unfortunately for me, when the real sailfish run is on during the month of April I am already pounding the flats in search of migrating tarpon. Although I wouldn’t give up guiding for tarpon too easily, I’d love to get out there and get a sailfish on a flyrod one of these days. I can certainly suggest a couple great offshore guides who can get you out there for a shot at a sailfish.

We’ve had some great days fishing for cero mackerel, jacks and yellowtail this past weekend. A little bit of chum and live bait to get them up to the surface and we had every opportunity to hook these fish on a fly. It was non stop action all day. I have a few friends visiting who really got a kick out of it. It was one of my most memorable days on the water, and one of the most productive offshore fly fishing trips.

The weather has been very calm, a little cool (in the 70s)and perfect weather for barracuda and permit fishing. I’ve had a few great days west of Key West to the Marquesas and we’ve landed several large barracuda on fly and had a few great shots at permit yesterday with one hook up.