March is referred to as the lamb and lion month. That holds true here in the keys.
However it is commonly known as one of the best months to fish for permit in the Keys. This time of year permit invade the flats near channels and the gulf edge.
Permit are the ultimate fly fishing challenge. They are spooky and very hard to approach on flat calm days. A 10 to 15 mph wind will mask the boat and the entry of the fly. The fly must land close enough for the permit to see it, but not too close to alarm the permit.
Long slow strips until the permit starts to track the fly, then let the fly sink like a fleeing crab. An "in your face presentation" at tailing permit can some times produce. Another technique is short fast strips to bring out the "inner jack".
March is also a good month for bonefish. On the warmer days, schools of bonefish will move onto the flats with the incoming tide in search of crabs, shrimp and toadfish.
Baby tarpon fishing has been good on the warmer calm days. But can you really refer to a 10 to 40 lb fish as a baby? Baby tarpon are usually found traveling in schools. A well placed fly or plug in their path with a "getting away" presentation will generally result in an aerial display. Baby tarpon love to jump!
Speaking of jumping... The back basins are full of lady fish. They are aggressive, strong and love to jump as much as their cousins the tarpon. Lady fish are a lot of fun and a good option on the cold front days when cloud cover reduces viability for sight fishing. They will eat poppers, clousers and are hard to keep off a shrimp tipped jig.
Speaking of cold front options... red fish are very tolerant of cooler water. They can be found in very shallow water, over light bottoms. They are strong and make nice runs.
March is also the month the big tarpon start to move in... We have been finding them in the basking in the lay up basins and rolling in the deeper channels. Soon schools of migratory tarpon in the 90 to 125 lb range will be marching ocean side flats, cruising channel edges and lounging in the back basins.
Capt. Scott Yetter
www.sightfishfloridakeys.com
305-304-6132
