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When Trade Winds Shift
On a typical day in May, there are the normal trade winds from the southeast. These blow, usually between five and 15 knots and help keep the climate bearable as the temperature rises. One grows accustomed to this pattern, particularly if you are inclined to be on the water. For a backcountry fisherman, this means…
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Fall in Florida
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…
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Save the Barracuda (Update)
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…
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Be Prepared
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…
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Yet another reason to love fishing…
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….…
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Do It Yourself Bonefishing, a review
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…
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Summer Tarpon, story continues
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…
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Keys Summer Tarpon
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…
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Another reason to love the Keys
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…
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Is Red the new Gray?
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…
Bonefish Zen; stories from the backcounty where wild fish roam
Bonefish Zen 