It’s cool now here in Florida. Signs that Hurricane season is coming to an end. There may be a tropical system angling to become a storm off the Yucatan, but a little cool water will put the breaks on that initiative. This is fall here in Florida, not crisp cool breezes, vibrant foliage and the…
Once vilified and feared, the Great Barracuda is now a popular game fish here in the Keys and often saves the day during winter fishing. These fish are often the go to species when the weather gets cold and keeps the bonefish and permit off the flats. Guides as well as recreational anglers can sight…
The tides were right, wind and weather too. I was on the kayak heading out to catch the afternoon incoming. I was thinking about tarpon, but in my mind I knew the the grass flats near the tarpon ground might hold redfish, even though I had not seen them on the times I fished that…
So I’ve been away from the salt for a little while. Since the last time I wrote I’ve been on the kayak, scared some small tarpon, hooked four of them, landed three. The cost was one smart phone (on a side note, the life proof works… I watched the screen sink into the darkness a….…
Rod Hamilton is an interesting guy. A former professional something or other, but that is not important, what is important is what he does now. Rod is living the dream, for the past several years he’s spends three to four months traveling around the Caribbean chasing bonefish. I don’t know if he calls it research…
When tarpon roll, there is subtle disturbance, not a great ripple like following a barracuda strikes at a school of baitfish. The tarpon slips out of the water, takes in a breath of air and slides back into the water there is little more than a distinctive gulping sound and a small ripple left as…
The tarpon is one of the greatest fish that swims past the Florida Keys. Annually thousands swim past, around and through the warm, tranquil waters in one of nature’s great animal migrations. These creatures have made this journey since the oceans receded and exposed the Keys. Since the 1800s anglers from around the world travel…
As if you needed more. Another lousy day in paradise. Out on the kayak in the afternoon and chased down this fellow. Not to bad for a Lower Keys Redfish. He fell for my not so well placed but enticingly stripped Merkin. Once I spotted him and moved the kayak into position, I threw the…
Over the past few trips into the back country, I’ve noticed a lack of the grey ghost and a surprising number of redfish. The redfish stocks appear to be doing better but the bonefish as still having a hard time. Does this mean that decline in the grey ghost will being filled by redfish? Will…
Drew Gregory fishes with Randy Morrow from Lower Keys Kayak Fishing demonstrating that kayak fishing is a great way to chase bonefish, tarpon and permit in the Keys. Kayaking allows you to get close to the fish and get into very tight places that other boats can’t access. In the Keys Backcountry wading can be…
Some encouraging news for South Florida’s reefs in the Sun Sentinel. While there is still a great deal to do, this indicates all is not lost. Preserving the reefs and surrounding inshore environment is an important part to maintain and improve the flats ecosystem. Although there is some debate about the Everglades Restoration project, this…
It’s the Florida Keys The birthplace of modern flats fishing. The pioneers of the sport fished here first, even going back to the early greats like Zane Gray. I figure if it was good enough for Zane Grey (read the Bonefish Brigade) and Lefty Kreh, then it’s good enough for me. Its near by:…
Special thanks to Scott Heywood and Bjorn Stromsness for ruining my Thursday. As a fan of far flung tropical angling adventure, this film is certainly worth watching. Alphonse Island is truly on the edge of the world, and these guys cover some great aspects of the fishery. Some would say I wasted an hour watching…
Yesterday the citizens of Key West clearly stated they did not want to widen the channel coming into Key West. Good for them. They decided that protecting the already threatened ecocystem was more important than putting a few more cruise ship passengers on Duval St. I’m glad they chose not to take the other route.…
Coming from New England I learned about the whaling ships and the tales of sailors in long boats being pulled across the sea by a harpooned whale. A “Nantucket Sleigh Ride” is the term the whalers used. A typical whale boat held a crew of six, one steering, one on the harpoon and four men…
Bonefish Zen 