Flats fishing in the Florida Keys is a great way for the more experienced angler to spend the day.  This type of fishing is also called sight fishing because the guide sights the fish and you cast toward them.  With no more than two people per boat, this is ideal for someone who likes to enjoy the outdoors in relative peace.  This is different than fishing on a party boat where you usually have several people including many beginners.

Typically, flats fishing is done in the backcountry using a flat, easy to maneuver boat.  Your guide will push the boat along using a long, 20 foot (or longer) pole as he stands on a poling platform.  From this platform he is able to see what fish are approaching the boat so you can be ready for them.

It would seem like this would be the easy way to fish, but really it takes a bit of skill.  Beginners may find flats fishing a bit frustrating.  The more experienced  will find the experience to be exciting and challenging.

So, what can you expect to hook?  Often, flats fishing will provide you with trophy fish including:

*Permit

*Cobia

*Bonefish

*Barracuda

*Shark

*Tarpon

This time of year you are most likely to find permit, bonefish, cobia and barracuda.  Keep in mind if you are fishing bonefish, this is the time of year that the weather usually cools off considerably.  While bonefish like the flats when the weather is warm, they head for deeper water when it gets cold.

If you are new to flats fishing you will have the most success–and fun–if you hire a guide.

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Charter or Party Boat fishing is a great way for beginners to have a great adventure while interacting with other fishermen. Guys, if you’ve been trying to find a way to get your wives to understand your love of fishing, this is a perfect way to do it. This is also an excellent way to get a child interested in fishing. They will never forget their adventure on a Florida Keys fishing charter and will always be excited to go fishing again.

About Charter Fishing

Florida Keys charter fishing can be an all day outing or a half day of fun, allowing you to check out other things to do in the Keys later on. Some even offer evening fishing, which is a whole new experience if you have never done it before. You will be on the boat with up to 30 people or more of varying skill levels. You shouldn’t need a fishing license because charter captains carry a license that covers everyone fishing on his vessel. Additionally, the boat will also have all the fishing gear you need.

Many of these charter boats are are fun even for the non-fishing passenger. They often have air conditioning and restrooms. Some even have TVs, DVD players and a stereo. Drinks are provided as well and the crew is usually happy to clean and package your catch. You can even take your catch to many of our local restaurants and have it cooked for you dinner that evening. It doesn’t get much better than that! You have all the fun and let someone else do all the work.

Smaller boats will have higher prices because they are not able to accommodate as many people as the big part boats. Expect to pay anywhere from $450 to $1100 or more depending on the charter and the type of trip you choose. Large party boats are more reasonably priced for those wanting an exciting adventure on a budget. Most offer discounted rate for the kids as well.

Marathon Lady

Probably the best known party boat is the Marathon Lady. For $40 per person and an additional $5 for rod rental you can have an amazing fishing trip and your whole family will have a great time. These guys have been in business for 47 years and they know their stuff. Visit their web site and check them out.

Sea Dog Charters

Another reasonable priced charter is Sea Dog Charters. For $59.99 for a half day trip you not only get a great experience, but you will have only a few other people on the boat. This means that you will have more personal attention; an important consideration if you are a beginner.

Your Catch

So, now you are wondering what you can expect to catch on your charter trip. This will depend on where you are fishing; offshore, reefs, deep fishing or wrecks. Here are a few of the species you may encounter:

• Grouper
• Mangrove Snapper
• Yellowtail Snapper
• Sailfish
• Tuna
• Red Snapper
• Amberjack
• Blacktip Shark
• Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)

Florida Keys fishing charters are an amazing experience for the experienced angler and the greenhorn who has never been fishing before. The captains are experts at finding and helping you to catch fish. You are almost guaranteed to come home with a great catch and at the very least, a great memory.

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Backcountry fishing is a great way to get away from it all. Generally thought of as more challenging than other fishing genres, with the right guide it can still be an enjoyable endeavor for beginners as well.

Backcountry Basics

Fishing the Florida Keys backcountry is done with a skiff about 16 to 20 feet long. This size vessel only holds a few people, including the guide, so if you want to enjoy the company of a large group, this is not the way to go. The skiff is designed to travel skillfully through shallow waters and maneuver through the mangroves .

Often your guide will take you into the national parks and refuges in the area, however you can also fish around some of the little, uninhabited islands. Where you go may be determined by the type of fish you hope to catch or that your guide specializes in. It is a good idea to discuss this ahead of time, especially if you want a very specific experience.

Your Catch

Types of fish that you can catch will vary depending on things like the tides, the temperature, winds, cloud cover and many other things. Your guide will be expert in this and will know where to go in order to give you the best chance to catch your desired species. A few of the fish you may encounter include:

• Barracuda
• Bonefish
• Permit
• Redfish
• Shark
• Tarpon

If you are one of those adrenalin junkies you will enjoy one of the tours that specialize in finding barracuda and shark. If you decide on one of these trips, bring your camera–I want to see pictures.

There are so many guides here that offer Florida Keys backcountry fishing that I could probably write a guidebook just to list them all. Instead, you can visit the Florida Keys Fishing Directory and find the guide that you want. Or you can ask some of the locals who they recommend. I am also working on some trips so I can feature guides and charters here on this blog to give you even more information.

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I mentioned yesterday that the weather here is beautiful and Key West, Florida weather is no exception.  However, it isn’t always beautiful and choppy seas are not the only thing to worry about.  It seems Key West weather is always warmer than here in Marathon.  I am always surprised at the difference that 50 miles can make.  When storms brew, Key West is often hit harder as well.

Waterspouts

One thing fishermen in Key West and throughout the Keys need to be aware of is waterspouts.  Basically, a waterspout is a tornado in the water.  You can imagine the effect this can have on a boat.  Some people estimate that they Keys get around 300 to 400 waterspouts each year.   Fair weather waterspouts occur when the weather is mild and they are not nearly as dangerous as tornadic waterspouts which occur during thunderstorms.

Lightning

Lightning is another concern for boaters and those who fish from land.  Florida is known as the lightning capitol of the U. S.  Many reports of lightning  related deaths or injuries are of people in boats.  If the sky looks like something is brewing, get back to shore as soon as you can.  Yes, I know the chances are slim that you will get struck by lightning, but why increase your odds?

Tropical Storms

Recently we had Tropical Storm Noel pass by us.  We didn’t actually get hit, but we still experienced winds up to 50 miles per hour.  If a tropical storm is close, you should reconsider going out fishing.  It is very hard to cast when the wind is blowing  like that, but amazingly there is always someone out there.  Guess they are braver than I am.

Overall, the weather is great in Key West and through the rest of the Keys.  If you are planning your fishing trip, check for any advisories before you head out.  One great place to find current information is the National Weather Service in Key West

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It is a beautiful day here in the Keys!  It is nearly 10:00 am and it is 77 degrees.  The wind makes it seem a bit cooler, but thankfully it has died down a bit now that Tropical Storm Noel has passed by.  While I am glad that the temperatures have cooled a bit, the wind makes it hard for me to get excited about going out in a boat.  I am not necessarily prone to motion sickness, but when the water is choppy it really takes some focus to avoid feeding the fish my breakfast.

This makes bridge fishing seem much more appealing.  When I first moved here I was amazed to see the old Seven Mile Bridge lined with fishermen.   Not just occasionally either.  Every day you will see them out there, some with little tents set up to provide shelter when needed.  I had to wonder, with all this big, beautiful ocean around us why would someone spend so much time fishing off the bridge?  Here are a few reasons:

• Target your fish:  There is an amazing view from the bridges that makes is easier for you to see what is swimming around down there.
• Cheap fishing:  Think about it.  No gas for a boat.  No boat payment.  No boat insurance.   No boat maintenance.  Boats are expensive!  As an added bonus, you don’t need to find a place to put your boat in the water either.
• Diversity:  Usually there are lots of little fish under the bridges.  Where there are little fish, you will find big fish.  Where you find big fish you will also find happy fishermen.  Just keep in mind that you have to reel it all the way up there once you hook that big fish.  This little problem can be remedied by fishing near the ends of the bridge.  If you snag a big one you can make your way down to it instead of trying to pull it up to you.

Bridge fishing can be a great way to fish on a budget.  However, even if you are not concerned about the financial aspect, bridge fishing is also a fun experience.  If you are looking for something new, give it a shot!  You’ll have fun, I promise.

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If you plan to go fishing here in the Keys, you would be wise to check into the licensing requirements here first.  I always chuckle when I read a letter to the editor in our local paper that complains about how their vacation was ruined by the law.  They were fined or arrested or both due to their own ignorance.  Maybe it isn’t ignorance, maybe they just don’t care about the laws.  Honestly, if these people have such a hard time with rules, I am glad they are only here visiting.

Really, the rules are pretty easy to understand and reasonable too.  You will need a license if:

• You are 16 or older fishing from a boat
• You are fishing from your own or another private boat
•  You are a non-resident

Residents need licenses too, but if a resident is fishing from a bridge or the beach it isn’t needed.  A non-resident needs a license no matter where they are fishing from with these exceptions:

• They are fishing from a charter boat which carries a license that covers its passengers
• They are fishing from a pier that has a saltwater fishing license

You can choose to purchase a saltwater or freshwater fishing license.  Or both if you want to really have fun.  Extra permits are required for lobster, snook or tarpon.  Available to you are three day, seven day and annual licenses.

I won’t list prices here because they may vary from year to year.  However, you can see the most current information by visiting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Marine Fisheries web site.   Don’t forget to check out my fish calendar to decide the best time for you to visit!

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If you enjoy a little competition, there are always fishing tournaments here in the Keys. Here are some to look forward to for the month of November.

• Key West Fishing Tournament: This one will be wrapping up at the end of the month. It is actually run each year from March through November. It is open to anyone, locals and visitors. Just enter your catch at any of the tournament weigh stations during the competition. With over 40 species of fish to catch, there is something for everyone. There are men’s and women’s divisions as well as juniors and peewees. Each time you register your catch, you qualify for prizes like cash, trophies and more. For more information, visit Key West Fishing Tournament.

• Mercury/Cheeca Redbone Celebrity Tournament: Scheduled for November 2 through 4, celebrities in Islamorada will raise money for cystic fibrosis research by catching redfish and bonefish. More information can be found at Redbone.org

• Islamorada Sailfish Tournament: One of the oldest tournaments in the Florida Keys, this is actually the first part of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship Series. Scheduled for November 29 through December 2, start planning now. Entry fees are $600 for the first angler and $500 for each additional angler. There is also a Junior division for kids 16 and under. Junior entry fee is $200. More information can be found at Islamorada Sailfish Tournament.

There are many more tournaments coming up in December. Check back for more information.

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If you love fishing, the Florida Keys is definitely the place to be. Any time of year you can enjoy a wide variety of fish as well as any kind of fishing you can imagine. Growing up in Wisconsin, we didn’t have a lot of options. We had the lake. Seems when I would ask my dad what we were fishing for the answer was always the same–trout. Occasionally we would go smelt fishing which was always fun for me as a kid. Now that I am in the Keys, it is like a whole new world.

Here you can enjoy all kinds of exciting fishing. Trout can put up a fight, but it doesn’t compare to the rush you get bringing in a blue marlin. And then there is the tarpon which get up to 200 pounds. Grouper, Amberjack…the list goes on and on.
Oh, and don’t forget dolphin. No, not Flipper. I have had to explain this a few times to horrified friends and family. Dolphin is probably better known as mahi mahi or dorado. This is a beautiful fish, brightly colored with blue, yellow and green. You almost feel guilty catching it–until you sink your teeth into it later. This is probably my favorite fish to eat and one day I’ll post a few recipes for you to enjoy.

Here is fish calendar to show you what you can expect to find throughout the year. Plan your trip around what you want to catch!

• January: The best fish to catch in January include Cobia, King Mackerel and Yellowfin Tuna (another one of my favorites). You can also find Tarpon, Grouper,Bonefish and Amberjack.
• February: Add Mangrove Snapper to the list of “best fish”. Also good now are Blackfin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Bonefish, Dolphin, Grouper, Tarpon and Yellowtail Snapper.
• March: Best bets include Amberjack, Bluefin Tuna, Cobia, Grouper, King Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper, Tarpon and Yellowfin Tuna. You might also try for Bonefish or Yellowtail Snapper.
• April: Catch Amberjack, Blackfin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Bonefish, Cobia, Dolphin, Grouper, Mangrove Snapper, Tarpon and Yellowfin Tuna.
• May: Enjoy Amberjack, Blue Marlin, Bonefish, Dolphin, Grouper, Tarpon and Yellowfin Tuna.
• June: Try Blue Marlin, Bonefish,Dolphin, Grouper, Mangrove Snapper, Tarpin, Yellowfin Tuna and Yellowtail Snapper.
• July: Blue Marlin, Dolphin, Grouper, Mangrove Snapper and Yellowfin Tuna are great now.
• August: Blue Marlin, Grouper and Mangrove Snapper are best now.
• September: Blue Marlin and Bonefish are best bets for September.
• October: Now you can find Blackfin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Bonefish and King Mackerel.
• November: Experience Blackfin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Bonefish, Grouper, King Mackerel and Mangrove Snapper.
• December: Cobia and King Mackerel are abundant in December.

Looks like a busy year! Start making your plans and enjoy this fish paradise. Soon you’ll be hooked on the Keys too.

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