We have had a pretty tough go this past fall and winter with a massive hurricane in September and a couple of early cold fronts just to mix it up. It was a cold and often very windy winter that hung around most of December and January and into February. Seemed like fewer days making it into the mid 70’s than were in the 50’s. Great for keeping the windows open at home but not great for fishing the shallows with water temperatures staying in the low to mid 60’s and a couple times dipping into the 50’s. No lobstering and spearfishing for this guy!

The cold weather had made fishing the flats very challenging, fortunately I was able to find some quality fish during the days I could get out. Barracudas were the most prevalent, followed by some sharks and even a few surprise permit.

The cold weather however made for some really good backcountry fishing. There are more mullet in the backcountry than I can remember ever seeing. I encountered huge mullet muds that were acres in size and loaded with fish, mainly jack crevalles; but also ladyfish, bluefish and sea trout. It’s been a fun alternative to fishing the flats when it’s been tough to find fish.

The cold and windy winter we had this year, though miserable (I didn’t move here to be cold), will have a very positive impact on fishing the flats for the next couple months and should result in an incredible tarpon season this spring.

March and April are a great time of the year for us - my second favorite time of the year (summer is number one); and historically one of the best times of the year for fishing the flats for permit.

Bonefish will make a strong showing and tarpon will have moved into the area as the spring migration begins. Along with the awesomeness of fishing the flats for tarpon, permit and bonefish, all of the winter species such as big barracudas patrolling the flats and giant schools of jacks busting through schools of bait in the backcountry will be available to us.

Early spring is a really good time for any angler planning a fishing trip to the Florida Keys. There will be plenty of opportunities to have a great day on the water. We will have lots of options and alternatives to fish for a variety of species on the flats and in the channels and basins. Whether you’re a hard core angler looking to fish the flats for the big three with a fly rod, or a not so serious angler looking to fish a few hours just to bend a rod and have some fun, this is a great time for it all. Lots of fish, lots of fun and it’s not boiling hot like summer. Pretty ideal I’d say.

I have lived in Key West for nearly 20 years and have experienced a decent variety of weather patterns over those years. Looking back, warmer winters, though good at the time, have been followed by challenging fishing through the spring and slow tarpon seasons. Long and cold winters however, as miserable as they are, have resulted in really good fishing on the flats through spring and made for some unbelievable tarpon seasons. I’ll tough it out through these freezing cold Key West winters knowing that great fishing is just around the corner.

Through all of the chaos and damage caused by Hurricane Irma, there were many bright spots during the clean-up and recovery process: the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff’s Deputies, as well as the Key West Police Department, quickly setting up to maintain order and turn away non-residents trying to enter the Keys (many of which I’m sure had good intentions, but there’s always a few looking to take advantage of a bad situation); the men and women of our military performing search and rescue operations, delivering and distributing much needed water, ice and MREs, and helping with clean-up and recovery efforts; the utility crews working night and day to get roads cleared in order to get power and communications restored.

I think the most impressive thing I witnessed that came as a result of Hurricane Irma was the level of humanity that, unfortunately, only a disaster seems to bring out. Friends and neighbors helping each other out and the volunteering efforts from so many in our island community. My good friend, Coach Craig Wynn, owner of CrossFit Mile Zero here in Key West, set his business and his health and sanity aside for several weeks driving up the Keys every day to help folks get into and clean out their homes. Along with the outpouring of donated supplies, money, and time from many across the country who don’t live in the Keys, but love to visit and want to help in any way they can.

Anglers who visit throughout the year are wondering how Hurricane Irma affected our fishery in the Keys. Many of my regular clients contacted me first to check on my wife and me to see if we were okay and if we needed anything. Several even offered their homes as refuge when we evacuated. Secondly, they were concerned about Key West and the flats fishery. Well, so far so good, nothing really too drastic. Everything on the flats, for the most part, seems to be in order. The mangroves lost most of their leaves, so everything is brown, but they will return to normal by next spring. There are also a few boats stuck on the flats and in the mangroves that were not there before. Many of the flats along the Gulf edge have a bit more sand now and I’ve been noticing a lot more sandy potholes on the flats I regularly fish--more Barracuda ambush points!

Despite that, the fishing is really good. My buddy and I went out to check a couple flats the moment we could get out after the storm. The first flat we pulled up to, we saw several schools of bonefish, a few permit, some nice barracudas, and several sharks and rays. Everything we would normally expect to see on that flat. We checked a couple other flats, saw some fish, then went home. It has been good ever since. If Hurricane Wilma, from back in 2005, is any kind of gauge as to what to expect this spring, we are in for some of the best fishing we have seen in a while. The bonefishing, in particular after Wilma, was outstanding for several years following that storm. Not only the numbers of bonefish, but the amount of bigger bonefish I encountered. So many more bonefish in the 7-9 pound range were seen and caught afterward that, in years prior, would be a pleasant surprise every now and again.

I think (hope is probably a better word to use) we are going to have really good fishing in 2018. We have had a couple of cold spells already and, if we can get a couple more through January and February, then get the warm up to spring (you know, normal weather pattern), life, and fishing, will be awesome.

It’s going to be interesting to see how it all plays out this year. Hopefully tourism continues to flourish as it had prior to Hurricane Irma and Keys businesses and fishing guides are busy through the upcoming months. Whatever happens, we will continue to tough it out and make ends meet any way we can. Hurricane Irma gave us a good beating, but our resolve is strong. We are still standing, battered and bruised. We will rebuild and get our lives back to normal. Happy New Year everyone.

The spring tarpon migration is over for another year, but there are plenty of resident tarpon roaming the flats, mangrove islands and backcountry creeks near Key West. I love fishing for summertime tarpon. Unlike most of the finicky, migrating tarpon we see in May, summer tarpon readily eat flies and artificial baits. We won’t have 1000 fish days managing maybe a few bites, instead I find smaller groups of tarpon feeding in areas where baitfish gets pushed into. Fewer fish and more bites! 

Throughout summer and fall we will have more extreme tides than what we see in the winter and early spring. Every couple weeks, coinciding with the new and full moons, tides will be at their lowest and highest points of the year. Morning and evening incoming tides following an extreme low tide will give us perfect opportunities for tailing bonefish and permit on the flats. Fishing for tailing bonefish and permit, whether with flies or live bait, is very challenging. These fish are feeding in inches of water and are vulnerable to attacks not only from in the water, but from above the water as well and thus are on high alert for anything that may cause them harm. An accurate cast and a stealthy approach are required when tailing bonefish and permit are encountered. 

The extreme high tides we experience throughout summer and fall offer some great fishing opportunities as well. There may be a couple feet of water covering a flat leading up to a mangrove island where baby tarpon can get into and cruise through the root systems looking for all sorts of things to eat. This is another very challenging scenario where accurate casting is required. Flies and lures need to be cast under the bushes where the baby tarpon are cruising, not in the branches where the birds are sitting. 

Now that my schedule has relaxed a bit, I will have a few days here and there when I get to be on the bow of my boat to spook some fish for a change. I love stalking permit with the fly rod and most days I do get to fish will be spent chasing permit. But when conditions are right I can’t pass up the opportunity to fish for rolling tarpon or tailing bonefish early in the morning. 

When the mood strikes and I get the chance, I will head offshore to troll for dolphin and wahoo or anchor on the reef for snapper and grouper. In either case I’m looking for fish to bring home for dinner and get the freezer stocked up with some of the delectables from the sea. 

Summer is also when I get to spend some time in the water spearfishing for hogfish and snappers. With lobster season opening in early August and the two day lobster mini-season at the end of July, I will be sure to get my fill of bugs while the getting is good. 

I hope everyone has a good summer and can take advantage of the all the fun fishing and boating opportunities throughout the next several months.

It’s the height of the spring tarpon migration and long days are in store for many of us who guide on the flats. I will be awake way before sunrise, leaving the dock early enough to be on the water, fishing at first light. From there, we will fish all day, with hopefully a couple hours’ break to sit down and eat some food, before getting back at it for a late evening session. The long days in the sun and wind and lack of sleep are pretty brutal on the body and mind, but worth it when everything goes to plan and the days are successful.

When conditions are ideal, the early morning tarpon fishing is about the easiest fishing we will have. Slicked out, flat, calm mornings will have tarpon lazily rolling, breaking the water’s surface for a gulp of air or feeding on any baitfish that are present. This is when tarpon are most susceptible to being caught. A fly or lure placed somewhere near and ahead of a rolling tarpon will get eaten. Then, the quiet serenity of the calm, early morning hour will be shattered by the giant slab of silver crashing back down onto the water, and some very pumped up anglers!

Flat, calm, early mornings during the low-light hours are my favorite time of day. It’s a period of time to watch nature come to life. As the sun breaks the horizon, all the different bird species begin their daily hunt for food, flying from their roosts on the mangrove islands to the nearby flats. This is also when the ‘hatches’ occur, and if you’re lucky enough to be on the water when the right conditions line up, you are in for a spectacular time. Unfortunately, this period of the day is short-lived. I always wish it would last a bit longer, as it is a very peaceful and soothing time.

The middle of the day is spent setting up on the well-established migratory routes, waiting for schools of tarpon to cruise by. A lot of tarpon will swim by the boat, and shots will be plentiful, but it’s dramatically different from the morning feed. Since these fish are in travel mode, it’s tougher to get a bite. Precision casting is required, along with cooperative fish. If the morning session went really well, then this is a good time to go fish for bonefish and permit. Bonefishing is one of my favorite things to do during tarpon season. It’s a nice break from hanging around the Oceanside flats with everyone else waiting for tarpon, especially on windy days. And if bonefishing is slow or conditions aren’t great, we can always go back to hunt for tarpon.

The other really cool event that occurs this time of year is the palolo worm hatch. The worm hatch is a main attraction during tarpon season, occurring for only a few days in the late evening around the full and new moon. The worm hatch is the exact opposite of the early morning peacefulness. The hustle and bustle of the Keys boating life is all around. But, that doesn’t matter to the hordes of tarpon who only care about one thing--and that is eating worms. It’s a chaotic, adrenaline-pumping time. Tarpon are all around cruising the surface slurping worms, often right next to the boat. Targets seem endless; you cast to one fish and several others appear in range--it’s maddening! Then, it ends. Just like that. Where there were several hundred tarpon feeding on worms, they are gone and it’s time to go home.

There’s no doubt this time of year will keep you busy, and well entertained on the flats! Go out and enjoy it!

I love this part of tarpon season. Most of the fish are in the backcountry cruising through the channels and basins. There are also a lot of fish right here close to home, so a short early morning commute is all it takes to get the day started right. 

Tarpon now also seem to be a lot more ‘grabby’, if you will. They are definitely more willing to eat a fly or lure now than when they are cruising the oceanside flats later in spring looking for some lovin’. The areas we can find tarpon now are also a lot easier to fish when it is windy, as opposed to those sporty days on the ocean side when the wind is honking from the east and southeast. Nothing more enjoyable than idling around fighting a tarpon in from a flats skiff in three-foot seas as the ocean pours over the bow with every other wave. Better have a good working bilge pump!! 

Fishing for tarpon at night now is a blast, for many of the same reasons as above. Those nights during the full moon when it is clear and calm are just awesome. You can hear and see tarpon roll near the boat and it can get loud when they are popping shrimp from the water’s surface. It also gets dark early enough that we don’t have to be out until midnight. 

Tarpon can be found early in the morning, at night and all throughout the day now. Weather conditions, tides and what we feel like doing, will play a big part in when and where we fish. Sometimes it will be better in the morning, other times better in the evening and, if you’re really lucky, it can be good all day long. Being on the water every day figuring out the trends is important and vital to how successful we are each day. 

Early spring, though mostly, isn’t just about tarpon--it’s a great time for permit and bonefish as well. This is a great opportunity to get a flats Grand Slam. After a morning of jumping and battling tarpon, when the tide and light is just right and the arms are practically numb, it’s time to chase permit and bonefish around the flats. We will only have a few weeks before permit head offshore to spawn and we are in full blown tarpon mode, so best to take advantage of the opportunity. 

Tarpon season is here!! It’s time to blow the dust off the tarpon rods, grease up the fly lines, re-spool the spinning reels, tie up your favorite files and replace those rusty hooks from last year. The Silver King awaits. 

Mid-February through April is one of my favorite stretches of time to be fishing the flats and backcountry of the lower Florida Keys.  We still have all the winter species around, such as jacks and big barracudas; the premier flats species, permit and bonefish, are just about everywhere; and schools of big tarpon are starting to push through.  What's not to love?

There is some fantastic tarpon fishing happening now and, depending on how one wants to fish for the Silver King, will determine how and when we fish for them.  The early morning and nighttime tarpon bite is incredible these days, but not always very practical for the fly-rodder.  Working lures or drifting live bait through the many channels of the backcountry is typically a bit more efficient than constantly casting a heavy fly rod.

For the fly-rodder though, laid up fish found in the backcountry can be sight cast to in just a few feet of water.  In this situation, tarpon will be somewhat picky about what is in front of them, so a small fly will be a quieter presentation and can be worked into the feed zone of a tarpon for a longer period of time.

Now, these are not steadfast rules, of course.  One can pursue tarpon in either case--with fly or spin tackle. It’s just a matter of efficiency and practicality.  Some days it works out really well, no matter what is used.  I would say the most important part is being where the fish are and having good opportunities. The rest will take care of itself.

Now that we are done talking tarpon fishing, early spring on the flats of Key West is mostly about permit.  These next several weeks we can find permit on just about any flat at any time.  They are, fortunately for us, a little more resilient to weather changes than tarpon and bonefish.  We will still experience a couple cold fronts that will chase tarpon away for a few days, but permit will be right back on the flats in a day or two once the weather settles.

I really like the afternoons for permit this time of year--especially days with a light southeast wind and a sunny sky.  This is the perfect recipe for some great permit fishing. When these conditions follow a cool spell, it’s like an invitation to an open bar and everyone will be showing up!

Another awesome aspect about early spring flats fishing is it is a great time to get a flats grand slam.  This consists of landing a tarpon, permit and bonefish in the same day. This becomes a real possibility if we can get the tarpon early in the day.  If I have a fly angler, I will focus on permit next because they will be the toughest of the three to catch on fly, and then hope to find some bonefish along the way.  I want to get as many opportunities at permit as we can.  With spin anglers, I prefer to get the bonefish after our tarpon.  Then, I am super confident we will get the permit to complete the slam or spend all night trying!

Early spring is an awesome time to be fishing the flats and backcountry of Key West. The weather is normally really good, and very comfortable temperature wise, for our northern friends who may still be in the cold.  On days when the weather, tides, moon and sun are all in our favor, it will be some of the best fishing you will ever experience. Whether you’re looking for a fun, relaxing day of fishing, or a die-hard fly-rodder chasing a grand slam, early spring is one of the best times of the year on the flats of Key West.

Since making the move from Pennsylvania to Key West some seventeen years ago, I have never really missed anything from back home. Family and friends, of course, but nothing else really. Fishing has always been a huge part of my life and, after moving to Key West, fishing just got more accessible and more enjoyable.

A couple of years before moving to Key West, I got into hunting; small game, such as grouse, rabbits and squirrels. Big game didn’t excite me too much--plus there were way too many ‘hunters’ with high-powered rifles and not a lot of real estate. I was getting into hunting almost as badly as I am in to fishing; then we moved, and, well, no more hunting.

Last year, a very good friend of mine invited me to go deer hunting with him at his dad’s camp in the mountains of Maine. It’s an old rustic camp that has been in his family for over 75 years. My buddy’s grandfather worked for the logging company way back then and this is where he lived. Fortunately, some improvements have been made over the years and it is now quite comfortable, but still a little too cold for my thin blood. I like to hang out next to the wood stove and make sure the fire doesn’t die.

I spent nearly two weeks at the camp and loved almost every minute of it; the trips to the outhouse when it was 6 degrees, I didn’t care for too much. The camp is in the middle of nowhere. There is no electricity, no running water, very few people and, best of all, no cell service. There is a generator to run lights and a second heater for those really cold nights. The stove and fridge run on propane. Those are the only comforts of home.

I hadn’t done anything like this since moving to Key West, so I didn’t realize how much I missed the camping and hiking trips from when I lived in Pennsylvania. Getting away from all the noise and busyness of the city to spend quality time in a more peaceful and natural setting does the mind and body a world of good.

I got invited to camp again this year and I am really looking forward to the trip. Last year was all new and I was just getting my feet wet. This year, I will be a little more comfortable and confident in the environment around me. On this trip, I hope we see more animals; I have yet to see a moose. I will just be getting back into town as this issue of FishMonster Magazine is distributed, so the results of my hunting trip will have to wait until January. But no matter the outcome, it will be an awesome get away.

Happy Holidays everyone.

A great way to get rid of the holiday hangover is to get out on the water and take in the cool, crisp, salty air of the Key West backcountry. If you are anything like me and dislike freezing cold winters up north, then you will love it here during those cold winter months. It’s just cool (cold?) enough to give you that invigorating chill, but not so cold you feel like you’re going to die. One might call it comfortable!

The next couple months are a time of plenty on the flats and in the backcountry channels and basins. Barracudas take the spotlight now as they are the most reliable during this cool period of time. The cuda can be found just about anywhere, so getting into a place where we are out of the wind is usually best on those blustery days.

Permit, though very reliable all through the year, can be tough to find when water temperatures drop into the 60’s. Even then, we do manage to find a few and, during warming trends, it can be ridiculously good. It’s always advisable to have a rod ready, rigged with a crab, for when one pops up.

Bonefish and tarpon, however, are bit of a challenge now. I always say to people who inquire that, like everything else, it will depend on the weather. If we are in a calm and warm weather pattern, then we have a good chance of finding them, especially so if the tides are right. If it’s cold and windy and cloudy, I don’t bother. There are plenty of other stuff to chase around and have fun with, rather than struggle looking for a fish that probably won’t be around.

For those cooler periods, and when conditions are less than ideal for sight fishing the flats, the backcountry channels and basins abound with life. Jacks of different species, ladyfish, pompano, sea trout, snappers, groupers and sharks will all put a bend in a rod (some more than others) and a smile on your face. Backcountry fishing is meant to be active; it’s quantity over quality. Lots of action is what we are looking for here, fish on every few casts is ideal.

This time of year can be very frustrating as well, as the weather can change on a daily basis. Cold fronts are the big obstacle we have to overcome. They will come through every three to five days and sometimes be quite strong, delivering cold and windy conditions for a couple days. This is when fishing the flats is toughest, as water temperatures can drop 10 degrees overnight in the shallows, pushing those fish we love to pursue most, off the flats into deep water where conditions are more favorable for them.

Well, that’s wintertime fishing the inshore waters around Key West in a nutshell. But, before I go, there are some size and bag limit changes taking affect and being discussed this year worth mentioning. Barracudas, mutton snappers and hogfish are three I can think of off the top of my head. Other contributors will discuss these changes more in depth in their articles and you will always find the regulations printed here in each edition of FishMonster Magazine. You can also check the FWC website for the latest official updates. I highly recommend signing up to receive emails directly from FWC. I find them very informative and to the point.

I wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2017 and, most importantly, lots of good fishing!!

Just in the proximity of the U.S. alone, one can relatively easily travel to the Bahamas, Belize, islands of the Caribbean, and, of course, the Florida Keys to fish for bonefish.  For those willing to flip the bill and travel to hard to reach destinations, there are places like the Seychelles and the western Pacific Ocean to consider.

Bonefish are available year round, especially in the tropical regions of their distribution where the waters are warm all year long.  Their abundance is unlike tarpon in the Keys, for example, where the main season is only a few months long.  

Bonefish are more numerous and much easier to catch on fly than tarpon and, especially, permit.  Though they do present difficulties in varying situations, if you can manage to get a fly in front of a bonefish, it will more than likely eat your presentation, especially when schooled up.  With tarpon and permit, a perfect presentation doesn't ensure an eaten fly--many have simply turned away.  Also, bonefish are much quicker and easier to land than a tarpon or permit due to there lack of mass.  It would be interesting to tangle with a 30 pound bonefish; they just don't get that big.  Though, I imagine those bonefish weighing in the teens, like we get in the Upper Keys, put up one hell of a fight.

So, what about bonefishing around Key West?  Well, it's awesome!!!  

Historically, Islamorada, the Upper Keys, and the Bahamas were the go to places for bonefish. Key West was better known for its tarpon and permit fishing.  Even when I first started fishing here just over 17 years ago, we really didn't see that many bonefish, especially west of Key West.  But, man. has that changed; these things are everywhere now! 

What has caused this change over the years, I have no idea.  It could be a factor of many conditions such as weather patterns, water quality, and food availability.  Or, it could be the fact that in the last ten years I have spent way more time on the water than during my first several years living here.  One thing I am certain of, though,  is that in 2006, the year after Hurricane Wilma hit, bonefishing around Key West was incredible—the best that I had seen in my time in the Keys and has remained excellent to this day.  Not only can we find bonefish on just about any given flat near Key West to the Marquesas, they are available year round.  Yes, even during the winter months when the water can get quite chilly, we can still find bonefish at times.  Now I wouldn't plan a bonefishing trip in January, but I have had some spectacular days.

Bonefishing will be better during the warmer months of the year, typically March through November with the best times being roughly June through October.  When summer conditions begin to wane, September and October are the months when we typically find the biggest bonefish of the year.  

So, if you are looking for a fun fishing trip to somewhere warm and salty, Key West is only a couple flights away.  And with good fishing and fewer people around town and on the water, late summer and fall make Key West the place to be.

Summer is when those of us that make a living on the water get to finally have a little fun ourselves.  With schedules opening up and plenty of calm days to take advantage of, it’s time to do some of the activities that lured us here in the first place.  Being a flats fishing guide myself, I mostly head out to the flats with my fly rod to see how many fish I can scare in a day!!  Heck, sometimes I get lucky and catch a few!!  The primary motive though, is to scout areas for upcoming charters and tournaments.

As much as I enjoy being on the water fishing, I equally enjoy being in it hunting for fish and lobsters.  I got into spearfishing with a buddy when I first moved here 17 years ago.  I love going and everything about it, but, like bird and small game hunting in the field, the critters are mostly safe.  I simply just don't do it enough.

Over the years, many people I fish with have asked when the best time of year to come fishing is.  There are several answers to this question; it really all depends on what type of fishing you wish to do and the species you wish to target.  So, for flats fishing, especially if anglers are wanting to target tarpon, permit, and bonefish, summer is by far the best time of year.

Why are the summer months so good for flats fishing--especially for the big three?  Firstly, these are fish that live in the tropics, preferring water temperatures between 75-85 degrees; we definitely have that in the summer when water temperatures are usually in the mid 80's.  Secondly, we generally experience better and more stable weather conditions in the summer; no cold fronts and light warm breezes.  Lastly, the tides are better this time of year; lower low tides and higher high tides means more water moving throughout the day. Negative low tides, early and late, tend to concentrate fish around the edges of flats, creating tailing conditions, and who doesn't love that?!

Above all, and this is more a personal preference rather than any sort of weather or tidal condition, there are far fewer boats on the water during the summer. This holds especially true for flats fishing as it is more specialized than other forms of fishing.  All of the seasonal guides and snowbirds (some of whom fish the flats return north) are gone, and most of the locals work during the week and don't fish the flats.  So, this means I'll have huge areas all to myself, maybe seeing a boat or two drive by.  A few times I've been to the Marquesas and have not seen a boat all day, which is a rarity.

If you are looking to catch that elusive Keys flats grand slam, summer is your best opportunity to do so. Between the months of June and October we can usually count on lots of fish, good weather, excellent tides, and no one else around.  It just doesn't get any better than that!

The lobster mini-season also opens at the end of July.  There will be more boats on the water those two days than we will see at any time during the year.  Please be safe and respectful to other divers, fishermen, and the environment around you.  Take your time when near other boats and give way more room than you think is necessary.  Assume that every boat has people in the water, whether a dive flag is present or not, and that some hapless chap has wandered too far from the boat.  The few extra moments you will bear are well worth not seriously injuring or killing someone and, it's the law.

The entire experience of being on the water to fish for tarpon is well worth whatever it takes to get here and do it.  To see and feel the power and the spectacular display a tarpon will put on is priceless.  I get why so many anglers, new and veteran alike get hooked on tarpon fishing.  It only takes that first fish, no matter the size, leaving the water right after being hooked and you want more.

We are now at the height of the tarpon migration where a majority of the fish are cruising the oceanside flats and congregating in the deep harbors and passes throughout the Keys.  It's no mystery as to where these fish will be.  On a flat calm day you will see them roll from a good distance or just look for where all the boats are floating around.

Being a flats guide now for many a year now, I have found some areas where tarpon move through that is away from the crowd.  These are not some classified secret spots that I have to blindfold clients and swear them to secrecy or else, just a little out of the way.  I may not always see a lot of tarpon in these areas (some days I do), but there is litle to no boat traffic and no one hitting the fish before they get to me.  This results in more relaxed tarpon that are much more eager to eat a fly.

Unfortunately these out of the way places don't always work.  When they do it's great and when they don't, we'll its not so great.  Fortunately there are places where the tarpon move through everyday, it's their normal migratory route. So when Plan A & B doesn't pan out, Plan C is always there to save the day!!

One of the many theories as to why tarpon migrate to the Florida Keys is the palolo worm hatch.  Every spring around the new and full moons in May and June these little red 'worms' rise to the surface and migrate out to sea.  Its actually only a part of the worm that releases from the bottom, this is how the worm spawns.  It is a mostly predictable event as to when and where it will happen and tarpon of course always seem to know exactly when and where it will occur.  Every tarpon in the area will be where the worms are, cruising the surface sipping worms one by one.  It's an awesome event and if you happen to be here when it's happening you will be in for quite a show.

Enough for now, get those final preparations done, grease up your fly lines and get down here.  It's time to do battle with the mighty Silver King.