Key West and Lower Keys

Capt. Dexter Simmons
January 31, 2006
Key West - Saltwater Fishing Report

The Most Incredible Morning of Tarpon Angling!

Jan. 31, 2006 As January comes to a close and February begins, I am reminded of the many February-March angling adventures during the past 16 years on the flats. There have been some spectacular fishing days, but one in particular will always stand out. It was March 1, 1999. A cold front was due to approach the Key West area packing squall winds of 40 mph plus and heavy rain sometime during the morning hours. The weatherman warned that the squall line would reach the Key West area before 7 a.m. We had been fly fishing for Tarpon for the past month in channels and basins on the Gulf side of the Keys. We decided to try an early start and take our chances around Key West's famed Pearl Basin. At 5:30 a.m. we met at the Key West City Marina ramp and headed out in the dark. As we motored underneath the Garrison Bight bridge several Tarpon rolled in front of us. There was little wind, about 10 knots from the south. We sped through Man of War Harbor, made the cut into Pearl Basin, then slowly idled down to a crawl as first light began to expose splashing backs in front of us.It was a incredible sight. For hundreds of yards in front of us there were Tarpon rolling on the surface. There had to be scores and scores of them. These looked like feeding rolls. Not the lazy, happy rolls that we normally look for, but feeding frenzy rolls, fast and furious. I set us up on the up-tide South end of the run, hoping that our lines would swing into the frenzied silver kings. Pilchards and Majuga baitfish showered from below as the feeding frenzy continued. Propelled by bent graphite fibers and sinking lines, our first casts whistled our imitations through the near dawn air. We were fishing cross current to the rolling poons in 8-10 feet of water on the incoming tide. Somewhat like river fishing in a swift stream, the anglers retrieved their offerings as they swung through the boiling Tarpon waters. "There she is!" I exclaimed as the line came tight and the first hooked Tarpon sailed through the sky. Both anglers were casting and I was ducking!!! Tarpon after Tarpon was jumped during the next 30 minutes, seemingly a fish was on during every second of that pre-squall dawn. The takes were so fast a furious, that most of the silver kings were jumped and released mid air. Only one poon was brought to the side of the boat after battling for just nine minutes. We were on borrowed time. The skies to the West-Northwest darkened as the light came up. There was a black line of clouds approaching and the winds increased to nearly 15 knots from the west-southwest. The fish were still rolling in a feeding frenzy and we were still connecting and jumping them! By 7 a.m. our day was done, as the black squall from the West-Northwest approached at about 40-45 mph. The winds swung to the Northwest and the rains came down in torrents as we motored safely back to port. It didn't matter that we were soaked to the bone. We had had the most fantastic morning minutes of Tarpon angling that we could ever imagine. Each angler joked about the number of fish jumped. Heck, I lost count myself. Was it 21 or 22? Hard to remember accurately when you are hooking and playing 60 to 100 pound fish on nearly every cast. Contact Capt. Dexter Simmons by casting your net line to http://www.keywestflyfishing.com or by email to [email protected]. Happy Fishing! Our Father (Mother) - Son (Daughter) Key West Flats Fishing Trips are now scheduled for throughout the summer, fall, winter, and spring. 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] Jan. 19, 2006 Fly Fishing for Permit is the ultimate game for many experienced anglers. It is always challenging and often frustrating. When anglers are successful, then it is always educational and rewarding.We are now approaching the prime Permit fly fishing season for the Florida Keys. February and March are undoubtedly the best months for catching Permit on fly. This is because the Permit are getting ready to spawn in the early Spring (April). In anticipation of the spawning run, Permit will school up and swarm onto the flats looking for crabs, shrimp, minnows, worms, snails and other critter snacks in the shallow grass and sand.. Most Permit anglers and guides would agree that the best conditions for Permit Fly Fishing are windy, sunny days with a steady or slightly rising barometer and water temperatures in the 70's and rising. High pressure in between cold fronts often produce these conditions during February and March in the Keys.Currently, there are available dates for guided Permit Fly Fishing trips during both February and March. Tarpon and Bonefish would also be available. Contact Capt. Dexter Simmons by casting your net line to http://www.keywestflyfishing.com or by email to [email protected]. Happy Fishing! Our Father (Mother) - Son (Daughter) Key West Flats Fishing Trips are now scheduled for throughout the summer, fall, winter, and spring. 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]

More Fishing Reports:

• All Reports by Capt. Dexter Simmons
• Key West Fishing Reports
• Florida Keys and Florida Bay Reports
• Florida Fishing Reports
• Browse All Fishing Reports