Key West Flats Fishing Charters
Fish Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for tarpon, permit, bonefish, and more.
There is no doubt that Key West attracts people of all walks of life from all over the world for a variety of reasons. The warm ocean breezes, a sunset cocktail, an evening stumble down Duval St all add to the appeal of Key West. One thing, for certain, that keeps people coming back (or makes them stay), is the fishing.
Key West and the Lower Keys have long been known as a fabled saltwater fishing destination and a place for anglers to easily escape to a tropical paradise. The clear blue water of the Atlantic Ocean meets up with the emerald green water of the Gulf of Mexico in one of the most beautiful settings in North America. Surrounding the islands that make up the Lower Florida Keys are miles of shallow flats, backcountry basins, and channels that are home to some of the greatest saltwater gamefish on the planet: tarpon, permit, and bonefish.
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Tarpon
Tarpon are considered by many as the superstars of the saltwater fishing world. Their size, acrobatics, and willingness to take flies make them sought after by both rookie and expert anglers alike. Tarpon are caught in a variety of sizes, from 5 pounds to over 200 pounds, and landing a big tarpon is on the bucket list of anglers from all over the world.
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Permit
Fly fishing for permit isn’t something many anglers start with as hunting permit in shallow water is considered as one of the biggest challenges in the sport. Permit spend the majority of their lives in deeper water, and occasionally come inshore. Their time spent in shallow water is time usually spent with their guard up. Permit are notoriously cautious in shallow water.
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Bonefish
Fishing for bonefish is what many anglers think of when they imagine fishing in shallow tropical water. Bonefish are a worthy adversary for saltwater anglers of all abilities for a handful of reasons. First and foremost they are fair. A bonefish will bite a well presented offering more often than not. At times, catching a bonefish can be easy, other times, not so much.
Flats fishing in Key West and the Lower Keys is notoriously tricky. Anglers in the know come here to test their game, while new anglers come to Key West to experience the challenges of the sport while learning from some of the best saltwater fishing guides in the world.
For those who aren’t aware, the majority of the saltwater flats fishing done in the Lower Keys is done from small technical poling skiffs that can carry up to 2 anglers. While poling the skiff across the shallows, the guide is actively looking for signs of fish. One angler is on the bow of the boat, at the ready. Flats fishing Key West and the Lower Keys is a team sport, and communication is paramount. When a fish is spotted, it is the angler’s responsibility to listen to the guide’s instructions and deliver the bait accordingly.
Winter Key West Flats Fishing
During the winter months, the cooler temps and unstable weather can make for some on/off fishing. When the conditions stabilize between fronts, multiple fish days are possible for bonefish, juvenile tarpon, barracuda, and even permit.
Spring Key West Flats Fishing
The springtime is the busiest time of year for fishing Key West and the Lower Keys. Beginning in late February, the water starts to warm and the Permit hit the flats to feed before going offshore to spawn in April-May. As the permit start to disappear the tarpon start to show up on their annual migration. Tarpon season typically peaks sometime in May and lingers through part of June. Bonefish are usually plentiful throughout the entire spring.
Summer/Fall Key West Flats Fishing
During the summer months, the water gets hot, and usually so does the fishing. While the migrating tarpon have usually moved north, there is a good resident population of fish between 5 and 100 pounds that can be consistently targeted through the fall. Bonefish and permit can also be targeted consistently on the flats during the summer/fall when the water temperature isn’t too hot that it sends them into deeper water.