•  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:

If you only have a weekend you can get an easy flight into Key West, Miami or Fort Lauderdale and you are here. There may be some easy places in the Bahamas or Mexico, but unless you have access to your own airplane, a weekend trip is probably not realistic.

• There’s a bunch of species to catch

Besides the big three (Bones, Tarpon and Permit) there are Redfish, Barracuda, Snapper, Dolphin, Sail Fish, Cobia, Jacks, Sharks and just about any other fish you can think of.

• The Guides

The guides here are some of the best in the world, and have the awards to prove it. They are some of the most professional guides in the world and bring countless decades of cumulative knowledge.

•   Variety of fishing

Weather from a skiff, offshore boat, kayak or wading, you can do it all down here.  The majority of the fishing is done from the classic skiff, but if you are looking to do more you can find that here.  Even walk in off the overseas highway.

• The challenge

It’s not easy down here, but that makes landing a fish here that much more special.  As Drew Gregory says “If the strike is all that gets you excited then you missed the majority of what fishing is about; patience, hope and anticipation of good things to come”

• It’s the Florida Keys!!

Zane Grey, Ernest Hemingway, Lefty Kreh, Stu Apte, Flip Pallot, Jose Wejebe, Andy Mill, Tom McGuane…do I need to go on?

If you are interested, Bjorn Stromness and Angling Destinations has a trip coming up.  Should be a good time, they both are stand up guys.