Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report

Brought to you by

Captain Luke Kelly

If you would like to book a charter with Capt Luke Kelly in the Lower Florida Keys for some fly or light tackle inshore fishing, you can reach himat 305-304-3152 or drop him a message at KeyFlat@me.com. Check out
www.lowerkeysflatsfishing.com for more information.

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Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: March 18, 2009   

       It sure feels good when we get a week of good weather and low winds during the month of March. The flats and backcountry fishing in the Lower Keys has been great, with permit being the main attraction of my week, I have been left seeing skyward permit tails even as I sleep. The currently crystal clear water and full moon tides have made for some epic fishing.

      I was very fortunate to have spent three full days this week with a couple of great anglers, Gardner King and his daughter Rachel King. They shared in my enthusiasm for permit sight fishing, and we boated a few very nice fish during the three days. I have always felt that in order to be successful in catching permit you must devote your entire attention to them.

       They understood this; for it was obvious that the permit had burned it's self into their minds as I have seen it do to many others. Many will read this and wonder what the heck I am talking about, but those who know the thrill in stalking permit on the flats know just that, nothing else compares. I feel that it isn't about the fish you catch but how and where you catch it. Gardner and his daughter Rachael caught permit in such a fashion I was even jealous of.

       Bonefish and tarpon are also making them selves known. Capt Tim Carlisle of Sugarloaf Key reported putting several tarpon airborne during this past week. While the weeks late day conditions gave way to some good bone fishing given the warmer falling tides we have been receiving. I must say I am looking forward to this year's upcoming fishing, if things continue the way they are, we are going to have a great year. I can't wait to see what May and June will bring, it should be just right.

       The water temps have yet to really break free of the upper sixties during the morning hours off of Sugarloaf Key. The mid day sun warms the flats to just about seventy-two degrees by the afternoon, as I have definitely seen the better fishing to be in the later half of these past days. I am completing this report as of March 14th and I am dreading the front we are to receive sometime around the 17th. I am sure it will stall the fishing for a second or two, but I am also sure it will return to an even better state on the upswing. I will be looking forward to the up coming week's fishing.   

 

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Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: March 11, 2009

       Its weeks like this one when I wish I had a sail on my flats boat, sure could save allot of gas money.  For a couple of days prior to the gusty and cool conditions we received March 2nd, the fishing was great. Permit tails were in the sky, bonefish ventured into the grass-flats, and tarpon were looking to eat. Then again, water temps were above seventy, air temps were around eighty, and the wind was five to ten knots in the backcountry.  Great conditions will lead to great fishing from here on out, while those great conditions will only become more consistent from here on out as well. I am writing this while the palm trees outside my house look as they are growing horizontally, winds are gusting over thirty and I have had the day off.  I fished a few of the gusty days this past week and stuck to the groves for the entirety of the trips. I feel that the wide-open flats just don't hold fish when it is like this, and if they do good luck in feeding them anything.

      Fishing the Lower Florida Keys flats and backcountry during gusty conditions isn't always the most desired experience for anglers. Though I feel it provides for an experience that many overlook. Spending an entire day focusing on the many hidden, out of the wind channels and openings found within and around the very Keys that make our beautiful fishing grounds is down right fun. Baby tarpon, snapper, and different species of grouper our the main players, while redfish and even permit will sometimes show themselves inside these maze-like mangrove island channels and motes. It may not be like stalking trophy fish on the flats, but keeping a rod bent while surrounded by beautiful habitat is just that, and is just as good during windy periods.

      Fly-fishing these tight little spots takes a bit of consideration but can certainly be accomplished.  I am not much of a stream or river fisherman but the small amount of them I have fished relate to what we have here in the Keys. Most of what you must consider is the amount of room you have to cast and the various techniques used to do so, and the depth of what you are fishing. I find a combination of sinking lines and tips along with floating line outfits must be on hand. This is because the water depth inside these areas is extremely inconsistent. You must also realize that most all of the small fish, shrimp, crabs, and other critters found in the mangroves fall down current if they are moving. The larger fish know this, therefore you must present your fly in such a way as to make it fall down current in one way or another while mending your fly line so to keep it inline with your rod  to ensure a strip set once a fish takes it. I like to use a ten weight so to stand a chance against the juvenile tarpon and grouper, while just about locking down the drag to keep the fish from getting into the grove. You would be surprised in how fast a fish will turn against a ten-weight fly rod with a heavy drag setting. Light tackle within these areas is also a blast and is a great way to spend a windy day in March.

      Since the mangroves are full of a large array of life and considered a nursery for many species, care must be taken while around such areas. Just respect them as they are and try not to leave a footprint. Use idle speeds when approaching and leaving, while resulting to a push-pole or trolling motor once inside. This will also greatly help you in locating the fish believe it or not, humans tend to be a bit noisy. 

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     Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: March 04, 2009

       It must be March, as this past week's wind has certainly shown. Winds out of the north and east around 20 mph has made for challenging conditions for anglers throughout the Lower Keys flats and backcountry. The fishing is good; the wind just lets you know who is really in charge. Permit continue to flood the flats, while the week's later conditions gave way for some tarpon and bonefish. I am writing this prior to the front we will have received by March 1st, and I look forward to the pre-frontal fishing for these next couple of days. March does bring wind, but it also brings some great fishing for the inshore waters of the Lower Florida Keys. Challenging fish in challenging conditions, March in a nutshell.

      Tarpon are making home in many areas off of Key West, and can be found in a few spots through the rest of the Lower Keys. Fish I have witnessed east of Key West in shallower water have been in the 10-60 pound range. While the 100 plus pound tarpon are still roaming the deeper channels throughout the Keys. The lower water temps and harsh wind has made catching them on fly quite the challenge, and I will continue to put the idea in the back of my mind until at least the water temps begin to hold above 71 degrees, because I don't see the wind laying down any time soon. Hooking these guys on live bait right now is a different story. The strong new moon tide we are currently experiencing has made it a little tough. Though fishing the first and last 20 minutes of each tide has shown me the best results for the tarpon.

      My past week's anglers have all opted for light tackle fishing, as I have yet to meet a fly fisherman who enjoys casting in a 20 mph wind. Though if I were asked what I felt were the best species to target on fly right now in the Lower Keys backcountry, it would have to be the permit, barracuda, and jack crevel. The permit because an anglers will to catch one on fly can sometimes overcome windy conditions. And the barracuda and jack crevel because they are aggressive and will take a fly close to the boat, both of which are very exciting on a fly rod.

      Lets also not forget about the juvenile lemon sharks! When it's gusting, you can always venture into an intertidal zone during a high tide and be sheltered from the wind. Once inside such an area you can count on the smaller sharks to be there, just treat these areas like you would a white carpet, don't stain it with your prop and blend in with the silence you will hear once inside. A large black or red fly placed near the nose of a shark will result in a hookup, and if it doesn't you'll get another shot.

       One thing about sharks is that they seem to travel together, or are attracted to the same waters in other words. If you see one you will see another, and if you don't see any then chances are you won't see another sign of life for that matter. Sharks let you know where the life is, they have a little more evolution on us, and I think they are a little better than even the best fishing guide out there at finding fish. Chances are, if you go after sharks in an intertidal zone with a fly rod in your hand, you might just see that other fish you are after most.

      The following weeks should provide great stories from fishing reporters throughout the Florida Keys so stay tuned. If you are ever interested in some of the history behind fly fishing than check out the Ye Old English Fly Shop in Marathon Key. They also have a great selection in flies and materials while also providing Temple Fork fly rods, a great quality fly rod at an affordable price. 

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Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: February 25, 2009

      This year's sport and game fish season for the flats and backcountry is shaping up to be a good one. The past weeks fishing has showed me great things in the way of tarpon and permit, March should be off the hook. We received a dry air front on the 20th that stalled the game fish activity, but sparked the barracuda, jacks, snapper, sea trout and ladyfish.

       If its one thing these northern fronts provide its hungry fish: hungry fun fish during, and hungry game fish following.  I love poling a flat a few days following a front and seeing all those hungry permit happy to return to their warm water stomping grounds. This months post frontal fishing has been great, with huge numbers of permit, while more recently showing large green back tarpon making their way into our backcountries channels and basins.

       Baby tarpon and bonefish have also been hanging out in their favorite little spots up and down the Lower Keys, for as long as the water temps have held around 71 degrees. All more fuel for this year?s upcoming shallow water sport and game fish wild fire.

      Prior to the front we received on the 20th, the shallow water surrounding the Lower Florida Keys was in true form for this time of year.

       I was able to get on the water for a couple of days during this past week?s more primo conditions and had no problem in putting several permit and tarpon beside the boat, all of which were on bait, as fly fishing did not interest any of my past weeks anglers. The permit were caught atop gulf side flats during the higher points in the tide, using live crab for the larger fish and live shrimp for the smaller. Floating finger mullet and small shrimp down gulf side channels and holes using fluorocarbon leader and small pieces of cork for flotation caught the tarpon. Never use Styrofoam for flotation, tarpon are often broken off when hooked thus leaving hook, line, and bobber behind. The hook and line are bad enough, but a Styrofoam bobber will float in our water for as long as you are alive. Natural cork, like a wine cork will biodegrade in less then a year.     

      The water temps are still holding a good amount of oxygen, thus not forcing the tarpon to the surface to gulp it from the air. This makes fishing for them a little harder as they don?t make them selves blatantly obvious by what is known as rolling, though never think they are not there, especially if you have a warm day and southern winds, patience certainly pays for tarpon fishing during this time of year. Bonefish are out there, though I personally feel we need a few more weeks of warmer weather before they make their way back into a predictable position. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lower Keys flats will be crawling with them by mid March or even earlier.

      A great method for catching tarpon on fly in the upcoming weeks would be what is known as channel dredging. This is when you use an intermediate or full sinking line depending on the depth and repeatedly cast and let sink your fly while pulling or ?dredging? it across your favorite gulf side channel. Remember to approach your destination quietly, prop noise will let them know your there. And work your entire channel from atop it?s edge, this allows you to cast across and dredge your fly from your channels deepest point to it?s shallowest. Most of my hook-ups result 5-7 feet from the channels edge, use the brighter tarpon flies during the morning hours and move to the darker patterns once the sun is high. Long, slow, and steady strips once your fly gets near the bottom tends to work best for me. Use a

12 weight; because you never know the size of fish you will hook when using this more or less blind fishing method. Catching tarpon on fly will only get easier as the weeks progress and water temps warm. This year?s tarpon season

should be a great one.         

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Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: February 18, 2009

      What a week this has been. Just as the weather turned for the better side of things, we get hit with some Friday the 13th fog that has now lasted three mornings straight. As of the 11th, the wind laid down, both water and air temps climbed, and the flats came to life. Permit where the highlight of my week as they became very active given the mild conditions they received following our past cold front. 

       I was able to get on the water for just about every day this week and have watched the conditions go from bad to good and then to very bad.  The very bad I am referring to would be the dense fog that covered the Lower Keys backcountry in a way I myself have never witnessed. Each year brings a little fog down here, but this fog was anything but little.

      This past Thursday gave way to the best conditions by far, a long awaited window in which I had the pleasure of spending the day with a well-minded fly fisherman of Colorado. Jeff and I were very fortunate to embark on a primo day for his first permit specific charter. We fished west of Key West and were provided with an early incoming tide, which lead into a great falling tide by noon. I found the best fishing to be found during the entire fall where dozens of permit in the 10 to 20 pound range were found feeding atop a handful of flats we spent our time on.  We found plenty of permit, and were offered at least six solid opportunities to stick one on fly, though failed to put one beside the boat after unfortunately pulling the hook on what I felt was a well deserved fish. Jeff knew that what he was trying to do was no easy task by any means and I certainly respected his efforts in giving it his all. Can't wait to see you in March Jeff, those pre-spawn permit will be awaiting.

      Friday the 13th brought the fog that lasted for three mornings in a row. The first morning I left the dock with high hopes that the rising sun and breeze would burn off the then light blanket of fog that had just came on us. It didn't, as of 15 minutes after arriving at our destination, again in search of permit on fly, I was left poling through a dream like flat engulfed in a very heavy fog unable to see 70 yards in either direction of my boat. I never expected to be handed such hazardous conditions, and felt the best thing to do at the time was stay shallow and fish and wait for it to move on. Even though we were literately fishing inside of a cloud we managed to poll up on a few groups of traveling permit, though given the lesser than poor conditions, Henry of New England and I were never given a fair chance. Four hours into the trip I realized it was a major fog event and shot back to Sugarloaf once I was in safe enough water to use my chart plotter. I will never look at a passing cloud on a sunny day of flats fishing in the same way.

       The second day of fog I decided to return to the flats off of Key West a bit later in the day and was able to fish between the vast banks of fog over relatively calm and absolute crystal clear water. Kevin of Tennessee had no problem in landing two very nice permit that day, one of which pictured below, using live crabs as bait.  The grey skies and near perfect conditions shadowed us from the permit making for great fishing, and I all of a sudden didn't mind the fog anymore. That feeling lasted until about the next morning when I awoke to see the third morning of the heaviest fog yet. I cancelled my morning trip and was unable to fish the beautiful conditions that followed by noon.

        If you wish to fish on your own for permit on fly in the Lower Keys during these upcoming months. You will first need to obviously find where they hang out, and then provide yourself with the more natural looking crab and or shrimp patterns out of the hundreds available. Your colors should not exceed brown, olive, tan, white, grey, black, or blue. And rather than worrying about the exact fly you are using, you should first worry about how you plan on presenting the fly to the permit. Remember to keep it basic, treat that permit like a jack so to keep your cool. Place your fly five feet in front and inline of its path, give it one long strip, and then let it sink in front of it. Watch for the fishes positive reaction on the fly, strip set, and raise your rod tip only after you feel the line pulling back. 

       Drop a live crab or shrimp in the flats and watch what it does, nine times out of ten it will go straight for the bottom where it feels safest. Never will a crab or shrimp want to feel safer until it is in front of a hungry permit. If your fly resembles one our many crabs or shrimp, and you make it act like one, chances are you will fool nature and catch yourself one of the greatest challenges in saltwater fly fishing. You can find everything you need in the heart of permit country at the Sugarloaf Marina, best prices on bait, fuel, and tackle. They can even hook you up with some of the best guides in the area who can put you on those permit. Thanks for reading.

 

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Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: February 11, 2009

       Someone turn on the space heater, it’s cold outside. Cold front after cold front has turned the inshore waters of the Lower Florida Keys into a choppy, murky, and cold playing field. I am writing this report on Jan 7, as I look out the window hoping for better weather to come. Frontal conditions packing temps in the upper forties along with wind gusts over thirty mph don’t exactly help the possibility of fly fishing in the Lower Keys, at all. In fact, these types of conditions shock and even kill fish that are unfortunate enough to be trapped in areas where the water temp approaches fifty degrees. Friends of mine told tales of scooping large grey snapper off the surface in local marinas, while I witnessed with my own eyes dead barracuda and grunts washed up on my neighborhood boat ramp. This is no anomaly by any means, it has been known to happen. Though one thing is certain, the flats and back-country fishing is at its worst during these extreme conditions. Let’s all hope these strong fronts don’t stretch into March this year, if so my reports may sound a bit more tempered.

      On a later note, I was able to get some fishing in off of Sugarloaf Key during the higher tide period a day prior to these past fronts. Red fish were the goal that day and we were successful in finding them. For those who don’t know, there is quite the growing population of healthy red fish here in the Lower Keys, and they can be found during this time of year. Just be sure to look for them before or long after a front like the one we just experienced. Back to the fishing, my angler for the day Mr. Nate Bowden was able to land two beautiful reds out of an area that would impress the most seasoned of anglers. Hard bottom flats filled with newbie mangrove clusters, crawling with lemon shark pups, a perfect habitat for redfish. No you’re not gonna get the exact location out of me, not this time at least, although I did throw some vital clues in that last sentence for you. Redfish are an extremely aggressive and curious fish, making them a great game fish to target on fly. Use a good looking shrimp pattern, something with legs, and you’ll have no problem  getting a hook up on fly. You will need a good cast, reds won’t take a fly twenty feet from the boat, but that can be said for just about all of the fish down here wouldn’t you say. If you decide or already know that fly just isn’t your thing, than a live shrimp placed anywhere remotely close to one of these guys will result in a bent rod and screaming real. Just remember to release that fish, we are not exactly like Louisiana just yet, but with a little conservation who knows what the future may hold. If you’re in the Sugarloaf Key area and would like to do some red fishing without the fly part, be sure to stop by the Sugarloaf Marina and pick yourself out some select live shrimp, they get the biggest in town. Not to mention the best fuel and beer prices you’ll find out of any Marina in these parts. You can even give me a call and I’ll trade you secret for secret on where to find these reds.

      As far as what to look for in Lower Keys back-country fishing in these upcoming weeks, just make sure you’re on the warmer side of the weather and you should have no problem in catching fish. Look for the large fish muds within our numerous titled basins for sea-trout, pompano, ladyfish, and jacks. Or get up on some of those more overlooked hard bottom flats in search of those reds. Lets also not forget that the mangroves are absolutely stuffed with large grey snapper right now, and the ocean side flats are currently riddled with schools of pilchards, just look for the diving pelicans. If you have never thrown a live pilchard near a mangrove island inhabited by grey snapper, I suggest you do so. And if you haven’t ever tried that fly fishing thing before, be sure to one day give it some consideration. It’s a lot easier than everyone makes it out to be. In fact it’s out right simple, and the fight is ten times more exciting and best of all more rewarding. Just remember to think basic. I’ll dive into this basic thing a little more in my next report. Thanks for reading.   

                       

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Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: January 28, 2009

       The temperatures dropped in the Lower Keys this week and the flats and backcountry fishing fell with it. A strong cold front pushed through Jan 21st and I was coincidently booked for charters Jan 22nd and 23rd. Needless to say, I will not be reporting about anything close to good fishing this week. I awoke Thursday the 22nd to an air temperature of 49 degrees on Upper Sugarloaf Key and must say it was the coldest air I have felt this winter. The anglers I guided for the two days had planned their three-day fishing vacation months in advance and were ready to fish regardless of what the weather had to offer. I didn't blame them for this, and after stressing my concerns at the dock we set off to fish the backcountry with plenty of optimism, little did I know what lay ahead of me.

       We shot thru the frigid air towards Upper Harbor Key with intensions of starting the day with some sea trout. I took my boat off a plain, and measured a water temperature of a staggering 55 degrees. I immediately thought my temperature gauge was busted and stood up on the poling platform looking for a sea trout mud or any sign of life for that matter. The surrounding water had that look, the look of emptiness. We poled in near Upper Harbor Key and caught mangrove snapper as I went through my thoughts as to what we could accomplish that day. Often when it is cold and all other fishing is tough, I turn to barracuda to fulfill that good fight feeling. We headed inland and found a dark grass flat where the water temps were slightly warmer. I poled in and found the cudas, lots of them, schools of them large and small. These poor guys pulled baits in front of them perfectly and did nothing but get a look at them. Those fish were frozen, all huddled up and warming in the sun, certainly not hungry. It was then when I came to grasp with my obviously correct temperature gauge. I knew that we had just received our cold-water shock for the year and it was currently too cold to catch fish in the backcountry.

       The second day we went ocean side in-search of warmer water. It was, but by only a few degrees. We fished all of the near-shore ocean side honey holes searching for anything to take a hook. Barracuda were acting the same as they were the day before, even the lemon sharks were just sleeping on the flats, laying motionless. Found the baby tarpon, couldn't get them to eat, and again were left with some good mangrove snapper fishing as the highlight of the day.

       Never do you have a better chance in getting to know someone until on a boat with a day of bad fishing. Collin and Chris, of New York and Connecticut, showed me their great character, as they honestly understood the ups and downs of fishing, yet still fished the down side with a smile. That only comes with a true love for fishing. I told them I owed them one in

July for some bonefish, I hope they take me up on it.

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Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: January 21, 2009

       Well it's here, I was beginning to wonder for a minute. Winds upward of thirty mph and temps in the low sixties with what looks like more to come will certainly drop those water temps surrounding the Lower Keys. Jan 17th I was able to get on the water and go north of Bow Chanel, Sugarloaf Key and measure a surface temp of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Water temps leading this front were as high as 74 degrees in some areas, great for fishing, but a little warm for this time of year. In any event, this current drop in water temps should definitely give Lower Keys flats and backcountry fishing a long awaited stir. Currently, water Gulf-side of the Lower Keys is choppy with poor clarity, not so great for fishing. Yet water on the Atlantic side can be very calm in areas with excellent water clarity, providing plenty of flats sight fishing opportunity. Such extremes are due mainly to the amount of north wind we receive during these cold fronts. The gulf side is obviously wide open to the northern fronts we receive, while the leeward Atlantic shore lines of the Lower Keys provide plenty of cover from the north wind. Personally, I never mind a heavy north wind because it forces you to direct all your attention to a particular area and give it all you got. Doing that almost always proves for great fishing, no matter the time of year.

       During fronts with northern wind, finding tarpon, permit, or bonefish near the flats that will take a fly, or even live bait for that matter, proves to be very difficult. I?m not saying it can?t be done, though I am saying the number of chances you have in a day to do so greatly diminish as a front progresses. What does become plentiful during these fronts, especially on the leeward Atlantic shoreline flats, is the amount of sharks, crevel jacks, and huge barracuda. Catching any three of these on fly in a sight fishing manner is an absolute blast. They are very aggressive, strong, and found everywhere when the temps are dropping. Simple fish patterns can be applied to any of these, where I find black and reds to work well for sharks, and non-weighted, longhaired pilchard green and white/silver fish patterns for jacks or barracuda. Aggressive casting with strips leading away from the fish tends to result in a hook up. The idea is to make that fish chase the fly, you couldn?t out strip any of these fish if you tried so pull it as fast as you can and watch for the strike. If that fish thinks for a second your fly is getting away, chances are your fish will nail that fly, especially the large barracuda and crevel jack. Sharks are a bit easier, just put a large black and red fly on their nose and hold on, they require a stiff strip set. Pick your fight wisely when targeting sharks, hooking a two hundred pounder with a nine weight will hurt you and kill the shark if caught. I find the best match to be between a fifty pounder and a ten weight, they are easily recognized as the slender four to five foot sharks. Remember to use wire leader for those barracuda and sharks, using an Albright knot to attach wire to your leader, and a haywire twist/barrel twist for the fly to wire attachment.

       On a past note, the pre-frontal conditions leading our current weather were absolutely great. I spent the day before this front on the water with a colleague of mine and absolutely crushed the Bones. It was like they knew the front was coming (which I?m sure they did), and they were eating shrimp flies without even thinking about it. All bones were caught in deeper water off the flats using full sinking line and shrimp patterns. It was easy, anyone can cast fly line twenty feet and slowly pull it back to the boat. We even got a chance at a permit before the day was over, and he rightfully put us back in our place as we failed to stick him. One can only hope for similar conditions in our near future. Until next time, Capt Luke.

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Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: January 14, 2009

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Lower Keys Inshore Fly Fishing Report Update: January 07, 2009

        The New Year is in and weather thus far has been better than fair for this time of year. Weeks leading now have kept water temperatures relatively warm, ranging between 70 to 75 degrees, which keeps the fish biting. In the area I fish, of the lower keys, We have yet to receive our initial cold water shock that should arrive with the next real cold fronts, potentially putting water temps in the upper sixties. This cold water shock normally happens quick and is an important factor in the Lower Keys inshore fishery. Though as past days left us with these warmer temps, I feel as if the inshore fishing surrounding the Lower Keys has been left in a state of limbo. A good limbo that is, where Permit, Bonefish, and even large Tarpon potentially still exists. Nights are currently cool and this has made finding these species during the morning hours almost pointless. Yet as the mid-day sun has consistently warmed our shallow water during the past week, these three species have been showing their selves in healthy numbers.
Permit,  Red Fish, and Cobia can be found feeding up shallow as Tarpon crush bait of the surface in some of our more remote back-country channels and basins, but don't expect to see them roll. Bonefish are just about entirely knocked off the flats for now, but that doesn?t mean their not close by. All fish mentioned here can be caught using the longer hair shrimp patterns during this time of year, where I prefer the lighter tan and even white colors. So much so, that I rarely carry anything else when targeting game-fish this time of year. Sinking line and or tips are also a crucial component for successful winter fly fishing in the Lower Keys.

       This brings me to an experience shared while on charter with John and his two boys Josh and Joe of North Carolina. The day started with some sight fishing for Barracuda and Jack Cravel over top beautiful sand flats. They were successful here, and along with their father, Josh and Joe proved to me their huge passion for fishing. Morning wore off, the tide was flooding, and the weather was turning for the worse. The previous night's wind forecast of 10 - 15 soon proved to be 15 - 20 with vast cloud cover. Most people know these kinds of things can happen during this time of year, though I would be lying if I said I wasn't rethinking my game-plan by 9 a.m. I've heard in certain circles that most things happen for a reason, but that day convinced me of it. I did what I normally would have done in these conditions and began focusing on the deeper water of about 6 to 10 feet in depth, knowing that the wind would obviously knock everything off the flats. As a Lower Keys flats guide, for me this can be a little unnerving at times because you are literately fishing blind, leaving it up to a hunch, mother nature, and lady luck. Conditions leading up to that point were perfect for early winter Bonefish, so I knew we stood a chance for at least one or two as they began threading their sinking lines thru the deeper water, a stones throw from the flats. The three of them went on to catch and release seven Bonefish in the 5 - 8 lb range not before pulling the hook on at least three long screamers. Along with it they released what seemed like two dozen Jack Cravel and
Pompano. I guess you could say I was a little surprised, but then I stood back and remembered that you really never can tell what the Lower Florida Keys are capable of, especially when you have eager anglers with you. Take kids fishing! Lady Luck tends to prefer them. -- Till next week, see you on the water, Capt. Luke.