The Lower Keys are finally starting to cool down a bit. Fishing both inshore and offshore has been active.

Inshore and flats fishing has been fabulous for bonefish. Plenty of bonefish in the 6- to 8- pound range are roaming the flats just ready to inhale a fly or live shrimp. The Marathon Bonefish Tournament in the latter part of September yielded 35 bonefish for one team that was guided by Capt. Albert Ponzoa of Marathon. Congrats!

Permit fishing will continue to get better this month and should remain strong through January or pending our first cold snap (hopefully not). Permit love live crabs and will eat one without even thinking if they are in a feeding mood. Fly fishing anglers also love October and November to hunt for permit. Winds tend to be lighter than in February and March when permit fishing is also at a peak.

Permit fishing with a fly rod can be challenging but don’t dispair. You may have read a lot about special permit fly patterns and think that is the secret but there is really more to it than that. Finding the right fish in the right mood makes all the difference in the world. Oh and an accurate cast will also help.

Tarpon fishing will start to diminish soon and be a spot to spot situation. Juvenile tarpon are mostly what we find in the backcountry this time of year. There are reportedly still some larger tarpon in the Key West Harbor area.

Reef fishing has been fairly active with plenty of yellowtail to be had. The best tactic is to find live pilchards if you can and use them as bait. Grouper should start moving up into more shallow water along the patch reefs and wrecks for the fall months.

Key West offshore fishing has improved. Big dolphin have been in close from 300- to 800- feet. Wahoo fishing has just started to improve. Look for more action from wahoo during the stronger moon phase. There have also been some sailfish available too. Look for blackfin tuna to show up soon. There have already been some around following bait balls.