Fishing Tackle Article
Florida Keys Fly Fishing
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 in saltwater has always been a known sport amoung
its enthusasts 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 gamefishing.
Other fly fishing target species here in the Florida Keys
include the bonefish and the elusive permit. Permit are
considered the ultimate gamefish 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 most
concintration 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.
Loren Rea is an avid fly rodder and lives and works in the
Florida Keys. She writes a report weekly at www.flyfishingthekeys.com
About the author:
Loren Rea lives and works in the Florida Keys and has been
heavily involved in the fishing community.
