Islamorada On The Fly

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November 2014 Islamorada/Florida Keys Fishing Report: Happy Thanksgiving and Great Snooking!

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It’s mid-November and what can I say, this past month the fishing has been fantastic in Islamorada and the Florida Keys.  Almost all of my attention has been focused on that green backed, yellow finned, line-sided and bucket mouthed fish assassin known as the Snook.  The fishing as of late for these guys has been the best it’s been for a long, long time.

Hard to believe that not so long ago, you could pole miles of snooky looking water and not see a single fish.  For those of you that don’t know, south Florida and the Keys had an extended cold snap in January of 2010 that lasted close to two weeks.  The coldest air temperature I saw at my house was 38 degrees!  Nightly temps for that time period never got out of the 40’s.  The snook, being a true tropical fish, really took it on the chin.  The population was decimated.  But that was 2010 and almost five years later it’s a different story.  I still think the state of Florida should have kept the season closed on snook for another year to insure a complete comeback but if this past month is any indicator, this great gamefish is back on it’s own two feet, or shall we say fins.

Why all the hubbub about snook?  If you have never caught one, or if your experience has been limited to bait, you don’t know what you are missing.  Besides, when you can catch snook on fly or artificial, why bother with bait?  Personally, getting a snook on fly is one of the coolest things you can do with the long rod.  For one, snook are structure oriented and are normally tight to shore.  Casts with a fly have to be as close to the mangroves as possible.  If you get one to eat/explode on a fly when they’re under the mangroves, guess where they’re going?  Let’s just say it’s a real gunfight from the get go nicole aniston.  You’ll be doing everything you can to horse that fish out.  And once they’re away from shore, they jump or if they’re big, they’ll shake their head out of the water, pissed off at the fact that you managed to fool them.  Snook are simply phenomenal gamefish.

With cooling water temperatures this past month and plenty of bait around, the fishing in the backcountry for just about everything has been great.  Redfishing is still solid with some very large fish around, (I’m starting to sound like a broken record when it comes to the reds) and you got the scoop on the snook.  Plenty of smaller tarpon around if you know where to look.  Almost forgot the jacks.  There  have been some big jacks around, fish in the ten pound range, just destroying the schools of mullet.  Pound for pound the best fighting fish we have and unbelievable on light tackle.  Bonefishing still remains hit or miss.  Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Until next time.  -Pete

October 2014 Islamorada/Florida Keys Fishing Report: Backcountry on fire!

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Well it’s mid-October and fishing has really heated up.  The bait has arrived, the bait has arrived!  It’s a good thing because the past month was very up and down for me.  Some days a hero, some days a zero.  But last week I was all hero, thanks to Mr. Finger Mullet.  I am so glad because something needed to change.  Too many days of being surrounded by tons of tailing redfish that were moody and wouldn’t eat.  Sure, some of that moodiness can be attributed to fishing pressure, but when fish on every spot are responding in the same fashion, you know something is up.  I know on those lockjaw days that if I resorted to soaking baits or live chumming like many guides do, my results would be different.  But soaking baits isn’t hunting for fish and live chumming takes the “sport” out of sportfishing.  In fact, I wish guides would stop the practice of live chumming.  It ruins spots.  But enough of that, the bait has arrived, the water is cooling and fish are putting on the feedbag!

The arrival of the finger mullet is a cause for celebration.  Finger mullet are just that, mullet the size of a finger.  These mullet are not the same as the big daddies used to live bait tarpon.  These juvenile mullet are mouth-sized morsels that every gamefish predator can get in their gullet, and in the Everglades backcountry that means redfish and snook.  When you’re on a shoreline watching finger mullet schools pushing along and being blown up and smacked by snook, you know you’re in for some good fishing.  The same goes for redfish.  Sure, mullet muds are always a good place to look for reds, but finger mullet muds are a different story.  Redfish with shoulders will be blasting finger mullet and in that dirty water, they’re far easier to feed than in the clear stuff.

Bonefishing is still the same story.  It’s slowly improving.  Key word: slowly.  We’re still along way to get back to what we had but at least we’re moving in the right direction.  Truth be told, if you can’t put a fly or bait exactly where you want, in a wind, you will not be successful.  This stands true with any type of sight fishing, but when you’re only afforded limited shots, there is absolutely zero room for error.  This is strictly black and white fishing.  You can do it, or you can’t.  That’s the reality of it.

I had a tough permit month.  It seemed that every day we had to permit fish we were contending with clouds and wind.  Tough spotting in those conditions but we had our shots.  That’s all you can hope for fishing for Mr. Rubber Lips.

Well, even though I have the day off the weather is perfect and I’m going to go chase some fish with the wife.  Until next time.  -Pete

 

 

 

 

September 2014 Islamorada / Florida Keys Fishing Report: Fall Is Here!

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Well it’s mid-September, the kids are back at school and the crowds have gone.  The fall is my favorite time to be in the Keys.  The tourist season is over and having less people around is a welcome break.  It also means nobody is on the flats!  Being able to fish Everglades National Park and have it all to yourself is pretty amazing.  Islamorada’s proximity to Everglades National Park is one of the reasons why Islamorada is the best place to fish in the Keys.  A five minute boat ride from any bayside boat ramp will put you inside the park.  You don’t have that kind of access anywhere else in the Keys.  Fishing inside the park is an amazing experience and no fishing trip to Islamorada is complete without going “out back”.  An angler can find every fish imaginable in the “backcountry”.  Bonefish, permit, tarpon, redfish, snook, sea trout, black drum, sharks, jack crevalle, and the list goes on.  But the bonus is fishing for these species in a wilderness environment.  Sure, it’s not unspoiled and there are reminders that you’re still in the 21st century, but there are definitely times when I’ve been fishing and wouldn’t have been surprised to see a dinosaur or two!  Now on to the fishing!

Redfish and snook fishing continues to be excellent.  As mentioned in previous reports, it is so great to see more and more juvenile snook.  This great gamefish is making a strong comeback since the freeze of 2010 and I couldn’t be happier.  What makes me unhappy is the fact that the state of Florida reopened snook season last year and people went right back to their old ways.  Most upsetting are the guides that did so.  As much as Islamorada is the “Sportfishing Capital of the World” it certainly is not the “Fishing Conservation Capital of the World”.  The old school, offshore fishing mentality of “if it’s legal, keep it” is archaic and needs to change.  For my part, every snook will go back.  They are too valuable of a resource to be on a dinner plate.

Another success story in the making appears to be bonefish.  Finding large schools of juvenile bonefish tailing in the backcountry is a great sign, although oceanside fishing has been the most consistent.  We’ve also been finding some decent sized schools of hotporevo.net juvenile permit, along with the occasional slob.  There are still a number of tarpon in the 20 – 30 pound range on the oceanside as well as in the backcountry.  As the water starts to cool and the mullet migration kicks in next month, fishing for tarpon, redfish and snook will really light up.  That goes for bonefish and permit as well.  A little bit cooler water really fires these guys up and you can find some really fatties.  Looking forward to October.  Until next time.  -Pete

 

July 2014 Islamorada Fishing Report: Summer time fishing is red hot!

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Well it’s mid-July and summer is definitely here.  Hot, humid and buggy and I love it.  Strangely, most northerners are afraid to visit the Florida Keys in the warmer months because they think it’s going to be “too hot”.  The shocking truth is that our temps rarely get over ninety degrees.  Most of the time it’s upper eighties.  That’s almost cool compared to many places in the summer, even New York City!

The nice thing about summer is that the winds have lessened, the snowbirds are gone and the fishing is great.  Weekends can get a bit busier but during the week almost no one is on the water.  Having Everglades National Park to yourself isn’t a bad thing, not by a long shot especially since the redfishing has been off the hook.  Slicked out mornings you can find redfish doing headstands, waving that big old tail around.  I love coming across a flat that looks like a sheet of glass and seeing tailers and pushers.  It’s a beautiful sight.  Along with the redfish, snook will be found up on the flats as well, usually sitting in depressions or holes.

I know I keep repeating myself, but it’s so good to see those fish coming back as strong as they are.  Snook are just an awesome gamefish and it’s great seeing them everytime I go out.  I still think the state should have kept the season closed for another year however.  Too many fisherman, including guides, went back to their old ways of killing every legal fish they caught.  That kind of old school attitude still permeates the Keys and that kind of offshore mentality really has no place where sportfishing provides everything to our economy.  Well enough of my ranting and onto the fishing!  As mentioned the redfish and snook fishing has been awesome in the backcountry.  The areas around Flamingo have been loaded with mullet and not surprisingly the gamefish are there as well.  While the tarpon migration is over, there are still plenty of fish around.  These residents will remain well into fall and some fish will overwinter at the bridges.

Although I don’t want to call it a recovery, bonefishing has been steadily improving.  The great news is seeing lots of juvenile fish in the 2 – 3 pound range.  That is certainly encouraging.  Fingers crossed that the fishery will make a full comeback.  When I think of summer I think of permit.  I love seeing those sickle tails spiking up on a glassed out morning.  Talk about an adrenaline rush!  For those of you that think it’s too hot to come to the Keys, you’re mistaken and you don’t know what you are missing!  Until next time.  -Pete

June 2014 Fishing Report for Islamorada and the Florida Keys: Tarpon!

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Well June is here and things are in full swing here in Islamorada and the Florida Keys.  The winds have lightened a bit and hopefully we’re in for more summer-like conditions because May was brutal.  With the exception of a few days, it blew 15 – 20+ knots the entire month.  Remember kids, a knot is slightly more than a mph.  On top of that, we had a late season cold front!  In May!  I actually considered putting fleece on but decided to man up.  Sorry to whine about it, but when you make your living in the great outdoors the topic of “weather” is a biggie.  Needless to say, it made tarpon fishing a bit tough.  Tough for the expert casters and impossible for everyone else.  The lesson in all of this is be prepared for the wind.  Forget all the stuff you’ve seen on TV with slicked out conditions.  Sure it happens but most of the year you’re dealing with a breeze.  If you’re dead set on bonefish, permit or tarpon, dealing with wind is part of the game.  There’s simply no place to hide from it when you’re fishing for those guys.  Knowing how to double haul is essential to success.  Forget that $800 fly rod!  Buy a $400 dollar rod and spend the rest on casting lessons!  Unfortunately far too many anglers come to the Keys unprepared.  There is nothing more heartbreaking for a guide than to see blown opportunities due to bad casts.  Those missed opportunities add up and before you know it, you’re headed back to the dock fishless.

Anyways, I’ll stop ranting and start talking about the fishing.  Tarpon fishing has been up and down.  The weather being a huge factor as well as the migration itself.  With the balmy winter we had a ton of fish move through.  I’ve had a number of days recently when we’re only getting a handful of shots.  When fishing is like that, you have to make those shots count.  Not that they’re all eaters but you won’t know unless that fly fortnite-sex.com is in their face!  Tarpon fishing can be frustrating as hell but jump a 80 -100 pound beast and you’ll forget all the bullshit you had to deal with.  More and more permit are returning from offshore.  I like looking for those guys floating on the calm days with good overhead light.  Man I love those fish!  Haven’t done much bonefishing of late but things seem to be improving although it’s been hit or miss.  Redfishing has been solid but the great news outback is the snook.  They’re definitely making a solid comeback.  Seeing plenty of juvenile fish which is just awesome.  My new favorite fish outback however is the sheepshead.  Go ahead and laugh then try to get one to eat a fly!  They are as spooky if not spookier than permit.  And they tail too!  Sheepshead are awesome!

And now for something completely different!  My short story ‘Glades Tarpon was  published in the spring issue of The Drake and it looks like I’m going to be published in the summer issue as well.  If you haven’t picked up a copy go grab one!  Until next time.  -Pete

May 2014 Fishing Report for the Florida Keys and Islamorada: Tarpon Time!

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We’re into May and not surprisingly everyone has tarpon fever but will someone turn the wind off?  May is a peak tarpon migratory here in the Florida Keys and Islamorada with lots of fish around.  Most of these fish have been averaging 80 – 100 pounds so if you’re thinking about bringing your own gear plan on bringing an 11 or 12 weight.  They’re not fun to cast but they’re necessary for such big fish.

Almost all of the fishing has been on the oceanside.  The tarpon bite out back has not been great and besides when you can feed ocean fish, why make the boat ride?  Some days the fish have come pouring by and other days it’s been a trickle.  But that’s tarpon fishing for you.  There can be hours of boredom punctuated by moments of frenzy and pandemonium.  That’s why it’s so addictive.  For those who have never tarpon fished, don’t think of tarpon boated.  Think of tarpon jumped.  I’ve had a number of customers lately  ask how many tarpon can they expect to boat.  Whoa, big fella.  You’re getting ahead of yourself.  First step is getting a tarpon to eat.  There is a lot that goes simply into that first step and it mostly has to do with the cast.  Casts have to be quick, accurate and fairly long, especially on clear, calm days.  If you don’t know how to double haul, learn to do so. What amazes me and every other guide is the number of anglers that will spend thousands on gear, travel, food and lodging but never spend a single dollar on a casting lesson.  Trust me, putting two thousand dollars of fly rod and reel in your hand is not going to make you a better caster.  You have to start with the fundamentals.

Alright, I’ll get off my soapbox and onto the fishing.  The great news that keeps getting better is the number of snook out back.  Last week we had school after school after school of big snook pass by the boat.  It was awesome!  I’m glad they’re showing up on the shorelines because the redfish bite has been a bit off.  Not sure why but it’s been harder than normal.  The weather and water levels have still been kind of crazy and I’m sure once things settle into a consistent pattern, it will fire right back up.  Starting to see more and more permit around as they return from spawning on the reefs and wrecks.  And not to jinx things, but it seems that bonefish are returning a bit as well.  Reports well north and south of big schools showing up is a promising sign.  Well that’s it for now, until next time.  -Pete

January 2014 Islamorada and Florida Keys Fishing Report: Happy New Year!

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Islamorada redfish guideHappy New Year from Islamorada and the Florida Keys!  Hard to believe another year has gone by and hard to believe it’s January because the weather has been downright balmy. Other than the cold snap last week winds out of the south have had it feeling more like summer than winter. That being said, the fishing has been consistent and I’m starting to sound like a broken record when it comes to reports.

Out back the snook fishing keeps getting better and better. I’m seeing more snook in parts of the bay that had been devoid of fish in the not so distant past. A lot of these fish are juveniles which is a great sign. On the cooler mornings we’ve found them out in the open sunning themselves but for the most part their doing their snook thing and staying tight to cover. Definitely makes it tougher with a fly. Casts have to be as close to those pesky mangrove shoots as possible. Expect to get hung up, it’s simply part of the game. The redfishing has been consistent as well and with our lower winter water levels a bit easier to find. Wintertime means black drum. While not particularly attractive they still will eat a fly and put up a good fight. You will still find tarpon around Flamingo and gulf side banks. Trout fishing has been solid. Oceanside and around town, the bonefishing has been okay but be prepared to log some miles.

While bonefishing don’t be surprised if you stumble across the odd permit. Most of the fish will be singles but that will change in a month or so. March is a phenomenal permit month. The fish get bunched up in big schools prior to spawning offshore and the fishing can be insane. Until next time.  -Pete

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Capt. Pete Rowney

Capt. Pete Rowney is a light tackle and fly fishing specialist who guides out of Islamorada, Florida Keys and Everglades.

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