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Saltwater fly fishing
in the Florida Keys
by Loren Rea
Fly Fishing in saltwater
has become so popular in the last twenty five years in the Florida Keys
that the Bonefish census board determined each fish is "worth" about
3,000.00. This is mostly due to the overwhelming amount of tourist who
visit the Florida Keys each year to go fishing.
Fly fishing has always been a
known sport among its enthusiasts but not until the last few decades has
it sparked an interest in many more anglers. It provides the ultimate
challenge to many, the cast must be perfected, take into account the wind,
the moving fish, the moving boat, and you have your perfect saltwater fly
fishing scenario.
Many fly rodders flock
to the Florida Keys each year for the annual Tarpon migration. Depending
on the temperatures, tarpon can start showing up in the lower Keys as
early as February and
tarpon fishing will
last well into the summer months. For a fly fisherman the first few
seconds of a tarpon hookup is the most exhilarating. The hook set on one
of these prehistoric silver monsters has to be strong and often you will
strike two to three times to get the hook in the tarpon's cinder block
mouth. Once he's hooked you will know it and most likely he'll take you on
the ride of your life. Don't be disappointed if after a few jumps he gets
off, that's tarpon fishing and it should be enjoyed for what it is... a
great display of game fishing.
Other fly fishing target
species here in the Florida Keys include the bonefish and the elusive
permit. Permit are considered the ultimate game fish taken on fly tackle.
Some purists will even venture to say it has been the pinnacle of their
saltwater fly fishing. Permit are nervous all the time. In my opinion they
are a deep water fish who just do time on the flats to get food. A bandit
of bait. They feed on blue crabs about the size of a silver dollar and
shrimp. Therefore fly fisherman tie up many forms of crab patterns
including the classic Merkin crab fly. This pattern in its many shapes and
forms works best for fly fishing for permit here in the Keys.
Some of the largest bonefish
in the world live here in the Florida Keys. Large bonefish cruise the
flats from Biscayne Bay down to the Marquesas Keys west of Key West. The
largest concentration of large bonefish is in Islamorada. Many think this
is because Islamorada hosts so many release bonefish tournaments and these
fish are relocated after they are released at the tournament weigh station
to grow up in "downtown Islamorada" as many of the guides call it.
Bonefish in the Keys range from 4lbs. to over 10lbs. and are not easy to
catch on fly but it can be done.
Advice to the Florida Keys
visiting flyrodder, practice your casting as often as you can. Many
visitors come to the Keys to try fly fishing for the very first time. It
is a great way to either fall in love with the sport or become completely
frustrated. There are casting clinics held at various fly shops in the
Keys and Sandy Moret holds a fly fishing school a few times a year.
About the Author
Loren Rea writes a weekly
fishing report for the lower Florida Keys & Key West in Florida Fishing
Weekly magazine. She has lived in Key West for nearly ten years and has
been an active part of the fishing community.
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