Big Winter Bonefish

Today I had the Pleasure of fishing with an angler I truely enjoy fishing with. Pasture Ed Young, his show airs on the USA network every sunday at 8:00am. He is an amazingly driven guy who does so much good for the world it's hard to comprehend. Ed and I have fished together on several occasions and have had some very good success.
Today we had a steady 20 knot wind and marginal visibilty. We had several good shots at some huge middle keys bonefish(some of the biggest I have seen all year). But they just seemed off as an approaching late season tropical system is now moving through the Keys.
Around 1pm We both commented on what was a fast moving large black cloud mass moving in from the east. I fired up the enigne and decided to try to get a little closer to the dock before we got pounded. I was about half way back and it hit us, 30knot winds and blinding rain. So we called it a day. Although we quit early we had some good shots at some thophy bones.
It was great to see those fish again. Weather permitting Ed his son EJ and I will be out there again in the morning awaiting the early flooding tide and the giant bones of the middle keys that come with it.
You should all check out his show if you can, it's not what you would expect. It's very cool.

Capt. Kris

Low Country Buck Hunt

Well Since my last report I unfortunalty blew up my Yamaha with only 700 hours on it. So While at the Boat Doctor I decide to visit a few freinds and clients and do a little Deer Hunting. It was very nice to get off the rock for a week, and visit some beautiful South Carolina Plantation Country. I was able to harvest a few nice deer including this buck. It has been a couple of years since I got my last buck. it's amazing how having childeren can eat up all your free (hunting)time.

I should have my boat back anyday and I'm looking forward to getting back on the water and chasing some early winter Permit and Bones.

The day I blew my motor I was way back in the Everglades and the Snook fishing was off the hook. So I'mlooking forward to getting back to some of those spots again in the near future.

Kris

November Cold Front

We had our first big November Cold front this week and I spent a few days fishing with WY angler Darren Williams. We had a couple of big days despite the strong north winds on Day one we landed 5 Bones and a 12lb permit on fly. The following day we landed 3 bones a 9lb Goliath Grouper all on the fly.

Another local angler and I landed a 27 1/2 permit on the fly in the pre frontal conditons.

Sept/ October Fishing in the Keys

Our Septmeber and October flast fishing this year has been very good this. Lack of any sizeable tropical activity has kept this fish around. Permit fishing was very strong as well as lots of mid sized bones from 5 to 9lbs were tearing up the flats. The Baby tarpon fishing has held up on the stronger tides too. Here are some pictures of some notable catches the past couple of months.

TX angler Jim Carter Connected with Some nice permit and bones on Fly during his mid Sept Week of fishing on the new Moon tides.

My son Kody, Capt Scott and I got to spend a day pulling on some Juvenile Goliath Groupers. Kody was very amused with that.

Florida Angler Matt Roy had a great trip cathing Tarpon Bones and lots of Big Reds on Fly in Mid October.

With the cooler weather vastly approaching we should see some changes in our fishing. The bonefish should continue to provide Keys anglers with some exciting fishing.

Dog Days of Summer

Greetings again from the Florida Keys. I have finally got a break in my schedule here in late August and have been able to sleep in a couple of mornings to recoup after an incredibly busy fishing season.

The 2007 season has been incredible for me. Fishing for all of the big three has been nothing less than spectacular. Right now I'm on pace for another record setting Permit season. I have been shooting for 60 on fly in a year, last year was only a few fish shy of that, and if the fishing holds up this year we should blow that away.

Last week I finished up fishing with one of my favorite clients George" the slam man" Chrisman, and a gain he crushed the fish. Adding another couple of Slams to his trophy collection. On top of that we had one of the best weeks of bonefishing I have seen in a couple of years. Tails as far as you could see, and they hung around for a few hours each morning. Needless to say he caught a lot of very nice bonefish, several very large Permit. Then on the last couple of days we really worked over the samller tarpon.

Fall is coming and I'm looking forward to catching some big Permit and Bonefish. I'll keep you posted when I get some breaks in My shcedule.

Super Terriffic Tarpon Time Again!!!!

Finally got a day off due to mother nature so I thought I would let everyone know what we have been up to. The Tarpon fishing is really starting to crank up now as the fish seem to be just about everywhere, from Key Largo to the Marquesas. Some days seem to be better than others as far as the fish movement, but I can tell you that all of the bridges are packed with fish. We have been hooking a 1/2 dozen fish a day on the average. Yesterday Jim Vincent of Rio and Jay Green of Sage and Rio teamed up to go 2 for 7 Jim's fish was about 135lb and Jays around 80lbs or so. Here are a few shots to hold you over until the next posting.

Weekend Warrior Specials

This past weekend I spent my time with some dedicatated permit fly rodders. Jere Parish and Spencer Youngblood. Both seasoned Florida Keys Anglers. The Permit fishing was again off the hook and these guys teamed up to sting several nice fish.

I'm hoping the Permit fishing will hold up for another week or so, as our Tarpon migration is Slow to get staryed this year.

Slam Time in the Keys

I just finished up a week of fishing with one of my favorite anglers. George " SLAM" Chrisman. George is a very accomplished Florida Keys angler. Over the years he has caught multiple Permit on Fly in a day. Large tarpon over 150lb on fly, several large bones from 10 to 12 lbs on fly. But he is also a very good spin and light tackle angler. George has caught more light tackle flats slams with me than many of my best anglers combined. It's just his thing.

This week was no different. The winds were strong again and we opted for the spinnning rods to maximize our chances. George always shocks me in what he can catch when other anglers and boats are struggling. This week he caught 2 slams, The first one consited of a 17 lb permit, and 8lb bone and a small tarpon. The second one consited of 3 permit a 12lb bone and a small tarpon.

Just to put a little icing on the cake we finished up yesterday by hooking and jumping sereval very large tarpon and landed one that we guess will go about 140lb.

Great work George see you in August.

Windy Weather Permit

Well we just finished up another great week of Permit fishing here in the keys. The weather was a little difficult this week. After great fishing in the March Merkin we had another cold front slide into the keys that cranked up the winds to around 25mph out of the NE. That didnt stop Rob and Tara Luehrs from landing some great Permit on the fly. Tara was trying to catch a womes fly rod world record on 8lb tippet. She has several good fish eat the fly including a couple on 6lb. She did manage to land a very nice 18lb permit on the 8lb tippet, just 1 lb 2 onces shy of the current "World Record" held by Diana Rudolph. Tara did an awesome job landind this fish on light line.

Not to be outdone, her husband Rob stepped up and crushed a solid 26lb stud of a fish. This fish gave us a great battle before it finally came into the net. Next time guys we will get that record fish.

2007 March Merkin

The 07' March Merkin is in the books, and Warren and I were successful in winning our second Permit Tournament in a row. We had high hopes of taking this title after winning the 06' Del Brown Tournament last July. Things have just been clicking for us with the permit lately and we felt very confident that we could repeat July's performance. Conditions were perfect for my style of fishing, lots of wind.

We landed a nice fish on our practice day. Then went on to land 6 more in the tournament. You can check out all of the results at marchmerkin.com. Congrats Warren!! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Tournament Time Again

As the 2007 March Merkin is fastly approaching, the timing couldnt be better. The Permit fishing has been on fire. Everyday for the last week or so has provided my anglers with more shots than imaginable. We have been fornutate to hook quite a few fish over the last week or two and have landed some nice fish. Kent Wriley caught this 19lber one of 3 he hooked that day.

Check back soon Warren and I are going to try for another tournament win this week.

Foggy Day in the Keys

Today was kind of wierd. We had these periodic fog banks that would move in and just cover us up for about 20 minutes then just vanish. I can tell you the fish didnt care. There were plenty of Permit and a few Tarpon to play with. Kent went 2 for 2 on 100lb tarpon today. The Permit did'nt want to eat the fly for us today, but we will be back tomorrow.

Red on the Rise

Today we had beautiful calm conditions. The water has still been in the upper 60's so the Permit fishing has been tough. We have only been getting a few shots a day at them. We had a mid day low tide and Kent Wriley and I decided to take advantage of a few trout and redfish spots I know. In a matter of a couple of hours we landed a dozen or so trout and a few nice redfish.

Remember these reds are resident fish and I only fish for them a few times a year in each spot. So if you find a population of redfish, dont pound on them day after day like some guides I see out there. They will leave the area for good. Find some new places to fish, and maybe everyone will be able to enjoy some incredible cold weather fishing in the keys for years to come. But if you must hit these fish over and over , always, always practice catch and release on resident populations of fish.

Signs of Life

Well the weather has made a good turn with sunny skies and temps back into the mid 70's. That water still remains cool but a few fish are starting to come back. Yesterday we really got into the Pompano and Mackrel. Although Permit is our target. It was nice to just spend a couple of hours bending the fly rod on a few of the lesser species.
After a strong cold front like we had these are the types of fish that make the first showing. Then the Permit bones and tarpon are usually a day or two behind them. So withthe tropical ESE winds in the very near future we should hooking up with some throphy fish in the days to come.

The light at the end of the Tunnel

Well it's Feb 18th and we are still watching it rain and blow in the Keys. Last night low temps got down to about 52 degrees. Tonight is supposed to be even cooler. The water temps on the oceanside of the keys has dropped into the low 60's. Good thing my angler Kent Wriley is in town until March 9th. We are bound to get some good fishing in one of these days.

The forecast calls for it to start warming into the mid 70's again by wed. So I would guess next weekend will be rocking.

I'll let you know when we finally start catching some fish again.

It's Raining Cats and Dogs.

No good fishing down here the last 2 days. I have been stuck in the house watching it rain.

But it will soon break and we will back into some great days of fishing. This time of year I look back on all of those incredible hot summer days of rolling tarpon and taillng bonefish. It's worth the wait.

It was so hot on this august morning that by 7 am we were soked with sweat, but also covered in Tarpon from 20 to 50 lbs ( pictured above).

Taking out the Boys

The last time Max Whittelsy and his father Tom fished with me. Max caught a Grand Slam consisting of a beautiful 15lb Permit.

Today they weren't lucky enough to have warm enough water to repeat that event. But Max and his best Friend Remmy didn't let that get them down. There were bigger and badder fish out their to conquer.

We started the day by pounding the trout and ladyfish, and filling the live well with baits. We then traveled to the back country mangrove estuaries to catch and release the the Goliath Grouper. These guys are amazing, we landed Five Jewfish and one Gag Grouper on 15lb spin. Three of the Jewfish were caught on one bait. Great Job Guys.

Next Time Dad and I are going to Complete that Permit on Fly Quest.

The Joys of being TWO!!!!

When you are two dad just wants to take you fishing. So on a windy, cloudy, nasty day, Kody and I set forth a "Drag Screaming, Rod Bending Adventure".

The pre frontal conditons gave us exactly that. It was every cast for an hour, The perfect amount of time for a two year old to catch, net and boga grip more trout, jacks and ladyfish than dad is willing to clean off the boat. So as the big rains of a strong cold front pushed us towards the dock. Kody got to learn a valuable life lesson. fishin' is fun until the rain starts. Then it was under dad's rainjacket and a nap for the boat ride home.

We were casting in Self Defence

A week later they were attacking the boat again. I hate it when they do that. It's terrible when you wreck all of your rods in a day of fishing.

This day we landed 3 Permit, a bonefish about five lbs, and a small mangrove dwelling tarpon. This was the first slam of the year in my skiff.

2007 Permit fishing is off to a great start

07' is looking to be a good year for Permit. If January is any indication, Florida Keys Anglers will ripping some Permit lips this spring and summer. I started off 07' by catching my 39th and 40th Permit on Fly and a two monsters to boot (25lbs and 35lbs) approximtely. A day or two earlier I took my neighbor fishing and he caught a very nice 10lb Permit on Fly. All this in the first week of the new year.