Florida Keys Flats Fishing Charter

Florida Keys Flats Fishing

The Florida Keys run from the tip of Florida at Homestead for about 120 miles to Key West. There are several uninhabited islands that stretch beyond Key West, but none that can be reached by roads. From the top of the keys at Key Largo to Key West there are numerous bridges and passes that intersect and connect the islands. Coral reefs run the length of the keys about two miles off the beach on the Atlantic side. Beyond the edge of the reef, the water depth drops quickly where the Gulf Stream currents run north. This is an area where you fish in the Gulf Stream and still see people playing on the beach.

Permit Fishing Charter in Florida

As the summer draws to a close and fall begins to set in, fishing in the Keys of South Florida begins it's seasonal changes as well. The Dolphin schools will be now start moving on and other species will be moving back in. Schools of Mullet have already been spotted in the area. As water temperatures continue to drop, we will soon be seeing schools of baitfish and of course that means the predator fish that we enjoy catching. Bluefish, Mackerel, Kingfish, Blackfin Tuna and more will soon start showing up in some of the great fishing territories around the Keys. The state of Florida has some of the best saltwater fishing available in the United States. Hiring the best Florida Keys Flats Fishing Charter will ensure that you have the fishing adventure of a lifetime, because Florida does boast that it is the fishing capitol of the world. Which would be a fairly difficult statement to argue, since there are over one million licensed recreational anglers in the state.

Fishing Charter | Florida Keys Permit Fishing

Today I want to share a story that I found particularly interesting. This story comes from http://www.grindtv.com and is a story of triumph and utter disappointment. If you want your own fishing adventure be sure to check out Florida Keys Permit Fishing charters for the fishing adventure you so badly crave.

It took only one day -- including nine minutes of sheer angst -- for the world's richest marlin-fishing competition to produce Hollywood-style drama and extreme disappointment. Eight large marlin were weighed Wednesday, for considerable riches, during the first day of the three-day Bisbee's Black & Blue jackpot tournament off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. But what does not show in the standings was by far the largest marlin, an 800-pound beast, that took five hours to land and was brought to the scale nine minutes past the 9 p.m. deadline, disqualifying a catch that would have netted a team from Texas more than $430,000.

What's more disappointing for Team Great Escape is that if no other team beats that weight during the remainder of the competition -- and marlin that large are rarely caught off Cabo San Lucas -- the catch would have been worth $1 million or more. "I'm not in that good of shape. I should have worked out," Carl Riley, the angler who fought the blue marlin, told a Pisces Sportfishing representative during the late weigh-in. "I just want a massage and to go to bed." The fishermen, who comprise one of 103 teams vying for more than $2 million in prize money, were aware that a 599-pound marlin, caught earlier Wednesday aboard the vessel Reelaxe, was the fish to beat when the 800-pounder struck a large lure being trolled behind the boat.

The Bisbee's competition, which attracts anglers from around the world, is in its 30th year and famous for producing drama and controversy.
Epic battles between man and fish have raged long into the darkness. Accusations of cheating have flown, and because of the amount of money involved, winning teams must pass lie-detector tests to determine if all rules were followed. One of many classic stories involved an angler who failed the test, became belligerent and smashed the windows of the hotel that served as tournament headquarters.

First-place prize money varies from year to year, depending on the number of entries and how many side jackpots a winning team has entered. A record check of $2,162,035 was written to the winners in 2008.

Permit Fly Fishing | Florida Flats Fly Fishing

Across the sparkling water your Florida Flats Guide guide spots the tell-tail sign of Permit, tips of tails and fins wagging just out of the water. You ready your fly rod and prepare to cast. Permit are part of the jack family of fish, and are closely related to pompano, which also feed mostly on crabs and shrimp. Permit, when hungry, can be voracious predators, and have been known to chase down large bait-fish or squid. This aggressive feeding behavior is actually a contradicting to their reputation as timid feeders that only feed on crab.

Key West has the much deserved reputation of having the finest flats fishing found anywhere in the world. Whether you are spin casting in the back country of Snipe Keys, or fly fishing in the far western atoll known as the Marquesas Keys, you will enjoy the challenge of light tackle sport fishing. Permit Fly Fishing is one of the biggest challenges in fly fishing. The fish are extremely spooky and very picky when it comes to eating flies. You will get far more refusals than takes even when you get the fly in the right spot with out spooking them.

Silver gray in color with dark blue back. Permit are found both offshore on wrecks and reefs and inshore on the flats of the Florida Keys. The Marquesas is a popular place to fish for permit and some of the largest permit have been caught here. The average weight of permit in the Keys is around 15lbs. They have been caught up to 35lbs. Permit are probably one of the hardest fighting fish that cruise around the flats. Their thin, wide body enables them to put up a very good fight. This hard fought fight is why Permit are sought after by fly fisherman. Catching Permit on a fly is a once in a lifetime achievement.

Tarpon Fishing Florida

Nicknamed the Silver King for both its bright silver armor plate like scales and breathtaking aerial jumps, Tarpon are considered by many as the ultimate prize catch for a shallow water gamefish. What makes this fish even more unique is that this species’ evolution came to a halt about 60 million years before fishing was even invented. Tarpon are one of the oldest fish species in the ocean and have remained basically unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs.

So many things about the Tarpon are interesting, even if your not a die-hard fisherman. They start life as microscopic larva from a spawn of nearly 16 million eggs. They grow slowly and can live almost as long as a human, over sixty years. The hatchlings spend their first several years hiding in the dense mangroves or freshwater creeks and canals. Half-pound baby tarpon are even a common sight in the water hazards of many South Florida golf courses. When full grown, the females can exceed 300 pounds, while the males seldom weigh one-fourth of that.

Tarpon Fishing Florida is a true adventure but you may not know that not only can Tarpon live in fresh or salt water, they can also breath air. These pre-historic fish have a primitive lung, a buoyancy bladder that is lined with red blood cells. This lining allows them to process the oxygen when they gulp air from the surface. This action is known as “rolling” and is a common sight when fishing for Tarpon, especially in very warm waters like the coast of Florida. This rolling action is what experienced anglers use to spot an area that has tarpon and might be the best area to drop a line.

The current IGFA (International Game Fish Association) world record stands at 286 pounds 9 ounces and was caught by Max Domecq of Hossegor, France and was guided by Captain Patrick Sebile on March 20, 2003 to catch the All-Tackle 286 lb 9 oz (130 kg) tarpon. There have been several recent reports of Tarpon topping 300 pounds in the Gambia River, but failed to qualify for the world record for technical reasons. Tarpon this big a fairly unusual, but a good fight with any Tarpon over 100 pounds will most likely be the catch of a lifetime for many anglers.

Flats Fishing Florida

Flats Fishing Florida can be summed up in two words, PURE ADRENALIN! Flats fishing is one of the most exciting styles of fishing an angler can ever experience, whether wading across a shallow sand flat, or poling quietly along grass beds in a skiff, fishing the flats is unlike any other form of fishing you have ever tried. Most all forms of fishing are fun and enjoyable, but there is just something about different about the flats. The United States Gulf Coast has some of the best flats fishing in the world, from the Florida Keys to the Texas - Mexico border, there are literally thousands of miles of opportunity to get hooked on Flats Fishing.

So what exactly is Flats Fishing and hwere would one take part in this outdoor activity? This is generally saltwater fishing from smaller boats, 15 to 24 feet in length, and usually 1 to 4 fisherman. Most all of the fishing is done in protected waters along the shore, in passes, inshore flats, shallow water and back bays. These inshore areas around the state affords anglers the opportunity to catch big strong fish in shallow water. Many of the world record and state record catches come from Florida's most famous flats fishing location; The Florida Keys.

Because flats fishing involves shallow water casting, even people who do not like to be out on a boat will feel comfortable with this form of the sport. While it is possible to simply stand in shallow water and cast your line for the bonefish, tarpon, and permit that are commonly found in the shallows, many people choose to use a flatbed skiff as the platform for the fishing expedition. If goin out in a big boat for along trip out and back with a big group of other fisherman is not your thing, well maybe flats fishing is. It may be just what you are looking for the next time you want to go saltwater fishing.

Tarpon Fishing

Tarpon are a large prehistoric species of fish heralded for their fighting ability. While it is possible for a tarpon to exceed six feet in length and two hundred plus pounds, many anglers will agree that targeting juvenile tarpon in the five to thirty pound range is equally if not more exciting. This size tarpon can be found on the grass flats and back water creeks, and can be taken on ordinary spinning tackle.

A lagoon is a large, shallow body of water separated from the ocean by a series of barrier islands. These lagoons are considered estuaries. An estuary is where a body of saltwater meets a body of fresh water to form a mixture called "brackish" water. Usually a fresh water river mixes with ocean water to produce this condition. These shallow estuaries have sandy bottoms covered with sea grass. The "flats," as they are called, may extend for miles, and rarely exceed depths of more than six feet. It is because of the flat bottom covered with grass that they are called the "grass flats." The grass supports small creatures like plankton, shrimp, and small bait fish like pin-fish and mullet. These small creatures in turn feed larger species of fish like Snook, Tarpon and Red Drum.

When you are Tarpon Fishing in the grass flats, try to locate schools of bait-fish like mullet and pinfish. Look for tarpon "rolling," a classic indication of their presence. Tarpon "roll" or break the surface of the water to breathe gulps of air. They are among the few species of fish that possess a "swim bladder." They are able to absorb oxygen through this organ, a trait that allows them to survive in very oxygen poor water.

Upon locating a school of tarpon or a lone single, stay quiet. Tarpon are known to be finicky and what works today may not work tomorrow, but several lures are popular. A slow, steady retrieve is the ticket. Make sure you have a least one to two feet of twenty pound flourocarbon leader. Tarpon have razor sharp gills and can easily break you off. If you get a bite, set the hook and hang on! Tarpon will make long runs, bulldog, jump out of the water, they will do anything to shake your hook. Your drag is going to scream like a banshee. Be careful not to break the line. Fighting a tarpon is a thrill like no other. You may become obsessed, as it is possibly the most exciting fish to catch.

Florida Keys Flats Fishing

Florida Keys Flats Fishing has been well known among avid enthusiasts for a while now, but in the last few years has it really sparked interest in a much wider range of anglers. In fact according to the Census Bureau, due to all the tourists who visit Florida and go fishing, the average value of a single fish is around 3000 dollars.

Many fly rodders flock to the Florida Keys each year for the annual Tarpon migration. Depending on the temperatures, tarpon can start showing up in the lower Keys as early as February and tarpon fishing will last well into the summer months. For a fly fisherman the first few seconds of a tarpon hookup is the most exhilarating. The hook set on one of these prehistoric silver monsters has to be strong and often you will strike two to three times to get the hook in the tarpon's cinder block mouth. Once he's hooked you will know it and most likely he'll take you on the ride of your life. Don't be disappointed if after a few jumps he gets off, that's tarpon fishing and it should be enjoyed for what it is... a great display of game-fishing.

Some of the largest bonefish in the world live here in the Florida Keys. Large bonefish cruise the flats from Biscayne Bay down to the Marquesas Keys west of Key West. The most concentration of large bonefish is in Islamorada. Many think this is because Islamorada hosts so many catch and release bonefish tournaments and these fish are relocated after they are released at the tournament weigh station to grow up in “downtown Islamorada" as many of the guides call it. Bonefish in the Keys range from 4lbs. to over 10lbs. and are not easy to catch on fly but it can be done.

Florida Keys Fishing Charters

At the southern most part of the United States, located between the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Florida Bay are the Florida Keys. Not only is this one of the most amazing places to vacation, with breathtaking scenery, sandy beaches, and crystal clear water; but there is an abundance of fish that inhabit the warm waters of the Florida Keys. Here, the enormous variety of fish species ranges from Kingfish to Permit. You can go off shore fishing for the big game such as Tuna and Marlin, but the Keys are also ideal for flat fishing on the Florida Bay for Bonefish or Tarpon. Each of the Keys is acknowledged for a special type of fish. Although the species of fish available may vary in different seasons, there is always something to catch year-round in the Keys.

If you fish in the beautiful back country bays, you will likely find Redfish, Snook, Sea Trout, Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, as well as many other fish. The waters here are calmer and shallower than that of the ocean. This allows for the use of flats and poling your boat. Thousands of people come to Florida year round to fish, both novices and professionals and everyone in between. Dozens of fishing tournaments are held here each year, and sport fishing shows are filmed here for cable TV all the time. It's no wonder Key West is a top destination for the fishing vacation of a lifetime! So book your Florida Keys Fishing Charters and see what the frenzy is all about.

If you are one of these people, coming to Key West for a fishing vacation, chances are you are planning to fish with a Key West fishing guide. If you want to get the most out of each fishing trip and learn new techniques while you're at it, hiring a guide is the best thing you can do for yourself. The guides know everything there is to know and then some, about fishing around Key West. They love it, they do it year round, year after year.

Florida Keys Flat Fishing

Key West weather has not be spectacular the last few days. High winds have plagued the area and our temperatures have dropped a bit making some of the flats species head for deeper water with more stable temperatures.

Winter fishing does have its advantages. It is a fun time of year to fish in shallow water. Some of the target species are giant barracuda, many species of sharks (some that even jump out of the water when hooked), large jacks up to 20 pounds, cobia, ladyfish, snook, redfish and sea trout. The possibilities are still endless for sight casting with light tackle or a fly.

If you are wanting to try light tackle fishing on the reef or offshore, please contact us for an honest recommendation of some of the best light tackle and sport fishing guides Key West has to offer.

If you have never fished on the Florida Keys Flats consider our winter time to be a fun time for fishing. A flats skiff can take up to 2 anglers in comfort and everything is provided for fishing. Anglers who wish to fly fish, a barracuda is a great target species for your first fish on fly, so is the Crevalle jack.

These species will give an angler several shots before spooking which helps with the hook up ratio. As always if you are coming to saltwater fly fish on the flats, practice your cast if possible. It only helps make your experience here in the Keys so much better.

Florida Keys | Bone Fish Fishing

Flats fishing can be an exciting and rewarding experience for fishermen of all ages, whether just beginning or accomplished angler. Flats are long, level, shallow water areas next to deeper water. They are found in bays estuaries and marshes. They are also found atop reefs and atolls, and along shorelines.

Known as "silver ghost" or "phantoms" the Albula Vulpes is also known as bonefish. They get their name from the hundreds of tiny bones that are contained in their small bodies. Their color is silvery and they are perhaps one of the most popular sport fish found anywhere, but especially in the Florida Keys Flats .

Generally about 1 ½ feet long and weighing about 7 lbs these fish can be as large as 3 ½ feet and weight upwards of 22 pounds. They sport a cone shaped snout and tend to be very long and slender. Their silver scaled body sports a blue/green tinge along the top and they almost always have dark striped that run along the sides of the body.

The Bonefish prefer sub-tropical waters that are warm and can almost always be found near reefs and bays in the waters in the Western Atlantic. They can be found between North Carolina and the Florida Keys Flats but can be found as far away as Brazil. They are found in smaller quantities from California to Peru. These fish spawn in deeper water allowing for wider disbursement of their eggs. These fish spawn year round, though less in the summer.

Since Bonefish tend to feed on shrimp and krill they react better to lures that mimic the actions of these species. Using live crabs or shrimp can help though there are many flies and artificial lures that work equally as well. Bonefish tend to be most easily caught in waters that are shallow - six inches to ten feet. Flies, plugs, soft baits and other bait combined with flat tides make a fishing trip successful.

Because bonefish have a small air bladder which is similar in nature to a human lung, they are able to successfully adapt to water that has a low oxygen content. The bladder works by supplementing oxygen from the bladder with air when the fish inhales. Bonefish adapt well to a variety of habitats and fishing areas because of this air bladder. Most fish can't survive in some of the habitats that Bonefish find suitable.

Even though the Bonefish might not make the best meal, they are one of the best contenders for being the fish that's the most fun for anglers in and around the Florida Keys Flats. They move quickly and combine that with their relative invisibility under water and they're quite hard to spot. They are fun fish for anglers and whether they are busy revealing themselves on the water surface or hiding in the muddy depths, these fish are an important gaming fish.

Florida Keys Permit Fishing

If you want to fish in the shores of Florida, be reminded that you can't just barge in with your boat and cast. There are certain rules and regulations to follow. This means that you have to apply for a Florida Keys Permit fishing license before you can enjoy the waters and the fish of the State.

A Florida Keys Permit fishing license is required for both residents and non-residents of Florida. It can be obtained from the offices of the county tax collector. If you don't know where that is, you can go to the subagents to get one. The subagents being referred here are the sporting good stores and fishing equipment retail shops operating all across the State. It is also possible to buy the license over the internet. If you're planning to fish in Florida waters real soon, it is best that you look into the places where you can obtain the license beforehand.

To be granted a Florida fishing license, you have to be 16 years old and older. The license is required for anybody who wishes to fish using a boat. This is most applicable if you're bringing your own boat with you. If in case you are going to rent a fishing charter, there's no need to apply for a separate Florida Keys Permit fishing license. The charter should have the necessary permits for all their passengers.