Key West and Lower Keys

Capt. Dexter Simmons
October 26, 2006
Key West - Saltwater Fishing Report

High Noon at the Marquesas Corral and a GRAND SLAM

Oct. 26, 2006. October fishing in the Keys is a mixed bag of Tailing Permit, Bonefish, rolling baby Tarpon, Barracuda, spawning Black Tip Sharks. Then comes that first serious cold front with 25 to 30 knot winds out of the North. Water temps drop from the mid 80's to the mid to upper 70's. Fish go deeper where the water is a consistent temperature and cleaner so they can see to feed and avoid predators. The day before that cold front approached the Keys, Capt. Dexter decided to venture out to the Marquesas on a guide's holiday. Mooney Harbor Channel was bustling with rolling baby Tarpon at 7:30 a.m. On Capt. Dexter's 6th cast, the line came tight to a fish that struggled mightily but did not jump. After a few brisk runs, the fish was subdued and brought to the boat. Capt. Dexter was happy to find a ten pound Permit with the cockroach fly in the scissors of its mouth.Just after releasing the Permit unharmed, Capt. Dexter noticed a few baby Tarpon rolling up the channel toward his staked out skiff. Four casts later, Capt. Dexter's line came tight again and the fish was on. But what was it? No jump again. Was it another Permit?Then the baby Tarpon finally cleared the water in a surging jump, with gills rattling. Capt. Dexter was happy to see and feel the fish thrash. A couple more jumps, bowing to the Silver King baby each time, and Capt. Dexter brought the fish to the boat releasing it unharmed from Capt. Dexter's cockroach.O.K. now what? There was a splash behind "FlatsMaster" Sounded like another baby Tarpon, so Capt. Dexter made a quick back-cast and started stripping right away. The line came tight again, but quickly went limp as the large Barracuda thrashed the surface gnawing through the thirty pound shock tippet. Lucky fly lost, Capt. Dexter took a break to soak it all in as a scattered shower sprinkled through "FlatsMaster" and the Marquesas. What a great morning! Just then, another splash 150 feet from the skiff to the east on the flat. The large sickle tail protruded from the water giving evidence of a tailing Permit. Capt. Dexter quietly scrambled to the rod rack for the SAGE TCR 990 with a Sandy Merkin ready to cast. Would the fish swim close enough for a shot? The answer came within minutes as Capt. Dexter maneuvered the skiff a bit closer trying not to make any noise so as to spook the fish. Restaking the skiff within 80 feet, Capt. Dexter waited to see if a shot was possible. Ten minutes later, the fish tailed nearly 200 feet further out on the flat. Capt. Dexter decided just to watch this one out, as the flat was too soft to wade and the fish was undoubtedly headed away from the skiff. Bonefish were on the mind as Capt. Dexter poled the skiff onto another flat inside the Marquesas. Patchy clouds made sightfishing tough, but every now and then the sun would shine steadily and with any luck...there! Three Bonefish were cruising across a spit of sand at high tide. The skiff was drifting slowly and the fish were swimming toward the bow at the 2 o'clock position, about 90 feet out. Capt. Dexter made a back-cast with the Hartwell Gotcha fly that landed 6 feet in front of the approaching fish in 16 inches of water. The fly settled and after a few seconds Capt. Dexter twitched the fly with a few short strips, then paused. Another few short strips and the lead fish pounced on the fly. Capt. Dexter came tight to the Bonefish and the run was on. The SAGE TCR-890 bent over with the weight of the Bonefish power run. Two blistering runs later Capt. Dexter brought the fish to the skiff and released it unharmed.Twelve o'clock, high noon at the Marquesas corral and a GRAND SLAM. The Marquesas are the very best place to pursue that lofty goal, and on that day Capt. Dexter was truly fortunate to have made it happen. When you are ready to book a charter or just talk fishing, contact Capt. Dexter Simmons by casting your net line to http://www.keywestflyfishing.com or by TOLL FREE CHARTER HOTLINE: 877-FISH052 (877-3474052) ///// or at 305-745-3304 or by email at [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 Once again, you may contact Capt. Dexter Simmons for a future fishing charter on his TOLL FREE CHARTER HOTLINE: 877-FISH052 (877-3474052) ///// or at 305-745-3304 or by email at [email protected]

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