Key West fishing guides pride themselves on not only their high level of professionalism, but also their expert experience and skill in targeting fish for their clients.  It may look easy, but charter fishing for a living is lots of work combined with years of experience and an undying love for the sport.  You’ll feel the passion these Key West fishing guides bring to their profession the minute you hop aboard.  They’re happy to have you, ready to work hard to get you on fish, and excited about what’s to happen on the trip you’re both about to take.  In some cases, your guide may seem as excited as if it were his or her first time.  Now that is something that’s hard to fake.  Rest assured, it’s the real thing.

A lot of Key West fishing guides are born and raised in Key West, which is the largest center of population in the Florida Keys.  You’re more likely to have a career guide at the helm when you fish in Key West, where in some cases being a fishing guide is handed down from one generation to another.  Your guide is likely to have fathers, uncles, grandfathers, or even sisters in the fishing business, perhaps commercial fishing in some cases.  There’s a long history in Key West, with decades of knowledge passed down, ready to accompany you on your next Key West flats fishing adventure!

Most likely you guide will whisk you away to the back country, on the Gulf Side of Key West.  North of Key West there are lots of smaller uninhabited islands supporting lots of life in the water.  Bonefish is a popular target, and very difficult to hook.  There’s a skill involved, which your guide will be happy to guide you through. That’s what they’re there for!

The king of all species for anyone looking to do some Key West flats fishing is of course the Key West tarpon.  There’s actually no difference between the tarpon that live in Key West and any other place in the Florida Keys, but there are in fact some resident tarpon in Key West that stay all year long.  Hooking one of these wily characters is challenging, though!  They’re pretty hip on fishing boats and what they’re up to.

If you’re in town for some fishing, keep in mind that flats fishing is good on most days, even when it’s too rough for offshore fishing.  Guides know sneaky routes that will take anglers through calmer waters to remote fishing grounds where the can anchor or pole around in a sheltered area so you won’t be tossed around on the boat in rough water.

Key West tarpon guides use flats boats or light tackle boats, out of several different areas of Key West.  They’ll run to the harbor or nearby channels or to the back country and set up shop for heavy fishing action.  Tarpon tend to like low light, so early morning, evening or night are the best time to fish for them.  You get the added benefit of avoiding the times of day when the sun is at its strongest, as well.

For those of you who are new to Key West tarpon fishing but who have tried tarpon fishing in other areas, here are a few tidbits of information that you may not know.  The season in Key West is longer than other areas of the Florida Keys.  That’s because there are resident tarpon in Key West, who never leave for the colder seasons.  They stay year round, although these resident tarpon are harder to catch since they’re used to anglers.

Tarpon get very very big!  It’s very common to catch Tarpon from 180 to 20o pounds.  They aren’t good eating, so it’s purely catch -n-release.  And what a catch!  You won’t believe it until you try it.  Again, one of the great things about Key West tarpon fishing is that you get to experience hooking and reeling in a huge sport fish, right next to Key West without having to go offshore like you do for say, marlin, tuna, etc.

Fish for them with pinfish, mullet, or shrimp boat trash.  Guides will get large bags of by-catch from shrimp boats then use it for chum and bait to get tarpon.

We had been anchored up chumming with barracudas for a few hours when all these big sharks show up. One huge one actually planted itself under the boat and was keep the other ones away.  For some reason the big one would not eat baits, so we caught a small crevelle jack and put it out on a cork. Immediately one of the other sharks grabbed it, but instead of running when he was hooked he started attacking the boat.

]]> http://flatshunters.com/shark-fishing-on-the-flats/feed/ 0 http://flatshunters.com/bonefish/ http://flatshunters.com/bonefish/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:50:42 +0000 admin http://flatshunters.com/?p=46 [...]]]> Bonefish are one of the most prized flats fish because they are very spooky and challenging to target. They are relatively small, under 10 pounds but they put up a great fight, making tremendously long runs. They are usually targeted with a shrimp or a fly.

Bonefish

With bonefish be prepared to put the whole day in, in order to catch one.

Crevelle Jack

They will hit almost anything: live bait, artificials, flys… due to their aggressive nature. They are not the most prestigious fish to catch, but still extremely fun. They are common up to 20 pounds in pretty much all inshore areas of the Florida Keys.

Sharks can be caught on bait or artificials. A pretty fun way to fish for them is to catch a barracuda and fillet it, leaving it hanging over the side of the boat, then anchor up on the flats in a couple feet of water. When the sharks start showing up cast at them with a large popper or fly.