Key West and Lower Keys

Capt. Dexter Simmons
September 7, 2004
Key West - Saltwater Fishing Report

Florida Keys Dodges Hurricanes, Fishing is Great!

September 3, 2004Casting to tailing Bonefish on the flats while wading is probably one of the most exciting moments for a fly fisherman. Those of us who have experienced this excitement know that there is an adrenalin rush associated with this type of angling. Last week I was fortunate to find some time to stalk some big bones on the flats here in the Keys.Stalking tailing Bonefish on the flats while wading is the ultimate. Sometimes you can be very successful and other times mother nature intercedes. Sharks are very active during the late summer and early fall months. They love to eat Bonefish, especially the Black Tip Sharks and the Lemon Sharks. Anyway, I was wading for some big Bones in the Sugarloaf backcountry near Key West when I

encountered a pair of big feeders near the edge of a channel. All together there were probably a dozen or so tails showing up, but two of those tails were much larger than the rest. Perhaps they were mom and dad Bonefish with their kids out for an early brunch on a Sunday morning. Who knows, but my attention was focused on the big feeders as I slowly positioned myself into casting range. Every step is crucial while wading, so I carefully shuffled as quietly as possible until I was approximately 80 feet from the tails. The water was only about 6 inches deep, so I knew that my cast need to be accurate without landing on top of the Bonefish bodies. I was aiming about three feet in front of the nearest dorsal fin. I let the cast propel the fly toward the target. Luckily for me, the fly landed without much of a plop within a yard of the tailing Bonefish. I stripped once about 4 inches. I heard and saw the nearest Bonefish surge in

the direction of the stripped fly. Thinking that the fish recognized what was supposed to be a mantis shrimp (but was actually a Sugarloaf Special Bonefish Fly imitating a Mantis Shrimp), I then paused a few seconds to let the fly settle into the grass. I then stripped again, then again and saw the fish pounce on the fly then felt my strip come tight to the fish.That is when all heck broke loose. The fish felt the steel and ran right at me! I had to strip like crazy to stay tight, and the fish then ran past me down the flat and I was clearing line that had wrapped around my legs. Finally, the line cleared to the reel as the fish ran away with his mate across the flat away from me toward the nearby channel. The streaking pair of Bonefish made individual fish wakes while zooming at light speed. When the reel drag initiated, I praised the engineering of Ted Juracsik and his Tibor reels. This fish was like the energizer

bunny, as it kept going and going. Nearly out of backing, I began to palm the reel to slow the fish down. It worked! I then gained some line for about thirty seconds, walking toward the still waking fish whcih was about 250 yards down the flat on the edge of the channel!! I cranked that reel like crazy!!! Thinking I had the fish within a hundred yards or so I then continued to crank while wading toward the general direction of the fish. The Bone then turned and ran off another hundred yards or so. I followed by crazily cranking and wading toward the fish. I was gaining steadily, and I could see the junction of my fly line to the backing. Keep cranking, who cares if my hand is tired from the reel work. Almost have the fly line back now. Then I saw a huge wake come onto the flat from the channel. At first I thought it was a Bonefish school wake swimming with my hooked fish. But upon closer examination I the wake appeared

to be too long. Then I saw the tail of a big Black Tip Shark. Chasing my Bonefish! I reeled like crazy again wading swiftly toward the chase. What, am I nuts? Wading to a 10 foot shark? I thought of loosening the drag to give the Bone a chance when the Tail of the Shark shot forward and my line went limp. The Shark writhed in a feeding frenzy muddying up the flat as it undoubtedly devoured that huge Bonefish. Sick to my stomach at losing what I estimate to be a 13-14+ pound Bone to a Shark, I crank the rest of my line back to find a bite shortened tippet.Here is a happy angler who scored a big Bone after seeing the Bone mud and tail within 30 feet of his wading position.Tarpon season has just ended. The most fun we had is depicted in

this picture of Greg Persbacker and Capt. Dexter taken during a Palalo worm hatch by Greg's buddy George Hodgson. What a great time we had with the worms and the Tarpon two nights in a row! Here, Greg Persbacker plays role reversal with Capt. Dexter the angler and Greg

the "glove man". June was excellent for Tarpon fishing here in the Keys. June was a leader grabbing month here in the Keys.Casting from the foredeck of

"FlatsMaster" in THE CAGE gives anglers additional height and stability so they may easily spot fish in the clear, shallow waters of the Keys. June, July, August, September and October generally bring some great catches of Permit, Tarpon, and Bonefish, so plan your trip now.

Tarpon like the one above landed

by Louis Eagle, will be laid up around the Keys waters through July and August.Permit are available all summer and fall here in the Keys.

Bonefish will be schooling and tailing all over the grass flats at sunrise and sunset as the water temps rise to the mid to high 80's. Summer and fall Bonefishing is widely regarded as the best here in the Keys.

Our Father (Mother) - Son (Daughter) Key West Flats Fishing Trips are now scheduled for throughout the summer, fall and winter.

For more information about the Father and Son Flats Fishing Trips go to http://www.keywestflyfishing.com

You may contact Capt. Dexter Simmons for a future fishing charter by telephone at 305-745-3304 or by email at [email protected]

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