Key West and Lower Keys

Capt. Dexter Simmons
November 19, 2000
Key West - Saltwater Fishing Report

The Promise of the Chance to Catch

Fish like Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit are moving in shallow water, seldom stopping to give you (or other predators like sharks, barracudas, etc.) a good look at their profile. There are a few exceptions to this rule (e.g. tailing, laid-up, or holding fish in channel currents), but generally speaking these game fish of the flats that we prize so much avoid us by keeping their profiles low. They live in deep water channels and reef areas, only to venture onto the flats for a gourmet meal when their instincts tell them that the time is ripe for a crustaceous snack. So, the flycaster is faced with presenting the fly to moving targets. In this and other respects, flats fishing is like hunting. We stalk the "movements" of the fish according to our own personal historical experiences. We make mental and written notes of fish tendencies according to tidal currents, water temperatures, wind directions and strengths, and cleanliness of the water. We anticipate that the fish will show up on certain sections of flats based on these experiences and notes. Sometimes they show as expected, sometimes they confound our best analysis of the conditions and no-show. Luckily for our sake, they play ball and participate in the hunt by making their presence known, giving us "shots" at them. At that point the guide spots the fish and makes the call to the angler, "Fish at 10 O'Clock, sixty feet, Cast!" This is the moment of truth for the angler. The reaction time must be fast. To be successful, the angler must be able to make a quick visual sighting, then cast to the fish with pinpoint accuracy. Accuracy in casting is probably the most important skill to learn in order to be successful on the flats. Seconds are all the angler has to make it happen. Usually the fish will scare away (spook) once they realize that a predator has made them.Permit are very good at "spooking", not giving us time (more than seconds) to measure and target them lackadaisically. An angler must take his shot without hesitation when a Permit is in range. A few days ago, we were west of Key West and there were plenty of Permit showing on the edge of a shoaly flat. There were singles feeding across sandy bunkers and grassy beds, doubles and triples moving in from reefy shoals and a few "floaters" slurping in small crabs floating out of the flat on a falling tide. In all, we had less than dozen good shots in a couple of hours. The angler was an experienced fly caster who had not tried flats fishing before. He was not aware that he would have to cast to "moving targets", and had some trouble with accuracy. The crab fly never entered any of the Permit-feeding-zones.This type of fly fishing is difficult. The angler had alot of fun that day, learning to see the fish, cast to them, and he now has some experience to move forward to the next trip on the flats. He is "awed" by the difficulty level, but determined to be successful. This makes me feel great because I see in him what I felt in myself after my first experience. The same sense of adventure, ambition to be successful, and willingness to pay the dues to make it happen. It was a great trip because of all of those things and because of the beautiful November weather, the clean water, and the cooperative Permit showing at the right places during the right tide in full view of guide and angler. We had seconds to see, make the call, make the cast and presentation. Hey, the angler didn't hook up, but you know, he loved it anyway. He said, "..for me it is not the catching...it is the fishing and the beautiful environment and the promise of the chance to catch...just seeing the fish and making the cast is great...if I catch them it is a BONUS!That is the kind of attitude that every guide loves. It is the angler-spirit-of-adventure that we all look for in those we fish with. It makes all the slow days bearable and all the multi-fish days seem heaven-sent.

Of course we are still in the best season for Bonefish and fall Permit, so if you have any spare time to fish, don't hesitate to make your way to the Keys. There are some great flats for tailing Bonefish and Permit in the Keys backcountry.

. There are also some baby Tarpon out there that may be willing to help you complete the Grand Slam. Before you travel to the Keys for some great fall Bonefish and Permit action, call Capt. Dexter Simmons for a live report 305-745-3304. Tight Lines and Screaming Reels!

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