It works well fly fishing for smaller tarpon in the Keys. I prefer the original version with a rabbit strip tail. On the other side, you have the depths of the Atlantic, and Cuba is just 90 miles away from Key West if you’re looking for a real adventure! Tie it on a 1/0 Gamakgatsu SL12S hook. (305) 393-2906 Once your fly is in the strike zone, slow down your retrieve and start twitching and manipulating your fly to trigger a strike. Islamorada and the upper Keys produce some of the largest specimens, while the lower Keys host the highest numbers. Smaller bonefish travel in larger schools making them very competitive for food and easier targets for newer anglers with a light tackle spin fishing rod or fly fishing rod. Out in the Florida flats, bonefishing is a unique challenge. Click here for on information on Tampa fly fishing. This is achieved by quickly loading the rod with a double haul, then releasing the line on the forward cast so that it shoots through the line guides, propelling the fly towards your target. A gift. A lot of the bonefish flies I use are crab patterns that will catch permit as well. I’m telling you right now though it lights them up. Hook..... Gamagakatsu SC 15 Or Tiemco 811S 1/0 1,2 Tail.....Splayed Ginger Hackles Body.....EP Fibers Tied Merkin Style Eyes.....Lead Or Mono Eyes Not to mention the fact I don’t want to risk a 10lb bonefish on a size 6 hook. In most places crazy Charlie’s, gotcha’s, christmas island specials etc. Borski Slider – A great fly for Florida Keys Bonefish and redfish in the winter. Remember, when you get a shot at a bonefish, things happen fast. Tarpon Toad – The toad fly has become a staple in the Florida Keys for tarpon. The Florida Keys and fly fishing for tarpon are synonymous. There's nothing quite like the feeling of hanging onto your rod as a bonefish rips off like a torpedo. Our big bones want something a little more substantial for their efforts most of the time. Sight Fish Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Redfish, Barracuda and Sharks. Often referred to as "ghosts of the flats," bonefish are found year-round in the flats of the Florida Keys and will test the patience, perseverance, and casting skills of any angler. Tap into Florida Keys Outfitters expertise and 50 plus years of global fly fishing experience to help you make the right selections. I tie my original fly patterns based on how I have seen tarpon behave, and try to solve the problem accordingly. Make sure to have an assortment of small lead eyes and bead chain too. If you're short on practice time before your fishing trip, take a few casting lessons from a certified fly casting instructor. The Gurgler – This is a great topwater fly for the Florida Keys. It’s tan and leggy shrimp look can be tied with micro lead eyes or beadchain. That’s why the world’s top sportsman fishing in the Keys put this species at … Normally seen in a shallow depth of water, an angler must do everything possible to remain quiet prior to presenting their fly. The keys have some big bonefish! Squimp – A good deep water bonefish fly for the Florida Keys. A spinning rod with a jig, live shrimp or crab is also very effective. On overcast days, the blanket of clouds in the sky reflects off the surface of the water, creating a mirror-like effect that's very difficult to see through — even with polarized sunglasses. So you will have to forgive me if I don’t post the flies I tie for the Florida Keys all over the internet. Specializing In Fly Fishing And Light Tackle Fishing . Florida Keys Bonefish Flies . As previously mentioned I like to keep my permit flies to myself, and my anglers. fly rod with lots of backing on the reel is a good choice when Fly fishing for bonefish in the Florida Keys. Most bonefish flies are shrimp like creations with some flash. If memory serves me right he caught 518 permit on fly. Florida Keys bonefish flies tend to be meatier. I think you shoot yourself in the foot if you try to throw one tarpon fly or variation of it all the time. We carry bonefish flies from the brands we all trust such as Enrico Puglisi and Umpqua. These waters around Big Pine Key are steeped in tradition and names like Williams, Apte and Huff are legendary. Then it all changed with a man named Del Brown. Often referred to as “The Ghost” for its ability to blend with its surroundings and vanish before your eyes, bonefish represent one of the great flats challenges.. He invented the Florida Keys fly pattern for permit called the merkin crab and went to work. If you present your fly, strip it into the strike zone, and the … Notes On Bonefish Flies . Tan and purple work well here but the sky is the limit. If you're up for the challenge and ready to duke it out on flats, these tips will help you get started in your pursuit of the ever elusive Florida Keys bonefish. Even if you have your own boat and plan on going the DIY route, going with a local guide who specializes in catching bonefish will shorten your learning curve immensely and make all your future efforts more fruitful. We hope these tips gave you a good idea of the challenge you're up against and some good tricks to try when you make it to the Florida Keys bonefish flats. We decided to tow Bill’s Skandy-White flats skiff to the lower Florida Keys and fly fish for Bonefish and Permit for 3 days. We were lucky to get some fly pattern suggestions and local knowledge from a respected source who also suggested a good place to stay. It is a good choice for both permit and bonefish when fly fishing on the lighter bottomed flats. Legendary guides such as Steve Huff and Stu Apte came up with some great flies. Florida Keys Bonefishing. Here in the keys I hardly ever tie any bonefish fly smaller than a size 2. The sport was pioneered on the flats of the Florida Keys. It is a year round fishery, but anglers from around the globe flock here April through June. Just like rainbow trout in a stream, bonefish generally face into the current when feeding. There are many variations and for the Keys they should be tied on size 1 or 1/0 hooks. Shop for bonefish flies with Ole Florida. Come see why bonefishing has captured the attention of anglers all over the world both spin fishing and fly fishing. Catch: Tarpon, Shark, Bonefish, Barracuda, Permit and Jack crevaille. Every time you false cast, you risk spooking the bonefish you're trying to catch. Browse our selection of the best bonefish flies for tailing, mudding, and cruising fish all over the world. When throwing crab flies you basically try to hit it on the head and hope for the best. Red-hot bonefishing in the Florida Keys with plenty of action for a fly … That's why if you're new to saltwater fly fishing, hiring a guide for your first time bonefishing in the Florida Keys is one the smartest things you can do. Bonefish spend a lot of time in very shallow water so most bonefish flies have beadchain eyes instead of lead. The Keys was, and still is the place to fly fish for tarpon. As mentioned before our bonefish like big flies. The Florida Keys fly patterns  that get the most attention these days are tarpon toads developed by Gary Merriman. If the water is slightly deeper they may have small brass eyes. The latest trend has been going towards more shrimp like creations. On our first visit to the Keys, we camped at Long Key State Park and found ourselves fishing to huge tailing bonefish right in front of our campsite. I don’t even won’t to think about how many hours I have spent hunched over the vise late at night. Catch trophy bonefish with the top bonefishing guide in the Florida Keys. It’s tan and leggy shrimp look can be tied with micro lead eyes or beadchain. The first fly to have modest success was Nat Ragland’s puff fly. The Lower Florida Keys is home to some of the largest bonefish in the world. I still use some Steve Huff flies although I tie them on smaller hooks. Practice shooting line to 40, 50, 60 feet or more. And since sight-fishing is the name of bonefishing game, you need all the help you can get from a pair of high-quality polarized sunglasses. This pattern is certainly one of my favorite patterns to throw. If all goes well, the bonefish will charge your fly and take you for a ride. Lemon Drop – This is an old school tarpon fly developed by Steve Huff. 0 Items - $0.00 My account / Register flyfishingthefloridakeys.com/fly-fishing-bonefish-florida-keys Fly selection for the Florida Keys varies wildly between who you ask. The pattern I throw the most is not, but it catches a lot of permit. To help substantiate some of this advice, my travels into targeted fisheries have included several trips to the Hawaiian Islands, Caribbean Islands, Florida Keys, and Central America. Also called the “Grey Ghost” of the flats, this is one of the most elusive—and prestigious—species known to light tackle and fly fishermen. We offer 4 hour, 6 hour, and 8 hours fishing trips. This is astounding since they were almost uncatchable before. The Borski slider is a prime example of the bulkier approach. Its feather light entry and shrimp-like appearance make it a go fly for Florida Keys tarpon. Tan is the most popular color, but chartruese is great for redfish and jacks. A water haul cast uses the tension between the fly line and the water to load the fly rod to cast the line. Fly fishing for permit or bonefish this is a go to. In The Lower Florida Keys: Marathon, Big Pine Key, Little Torch Key, Ramrod Key, Summerland Key, Cudjoe Key, Sugarloaf Key, Big Coppit, Stock Island and Key West. Gulp, Vudu, or D.O.A Shrimp, Fly Fishing For Redfish: 5 Tips For Catching Reds on The Fly, 10 Gifts for the Fisherman Who Has Everything. Skok Merkin – The merkin fly was the first real permit fly that reliably caught Florida Keys permit. Bonefish have an uncanny ability to blend in with the sandy bottom of the flats. Shorter days and cooling water kick on the feed button, and the big bonefish relax a bit due to less pressure. Becoming comfortable shooting line takes a lot of practice, and if you're not sure how to do it, use the previous tip and take some fly casting lessons. Rabbit strip and artic fox are two of my favorites. ... Home / Flies / Bonefish & Permit. Min: $ 0. It’s sparse look doesn’t freak out wary ocean tarpon. This is the best time of year to target trophy bonefish in the Keys. From this position, the water in front of you is illuminated, giving you a clearer view that can help you spot more fish. If you want to catch a bonefish the size of a mullet, go ahead and book a trip to Mexico or Belize. Fly fishing for permit or bonefish this is a go to. A good water temperature for bonefish is 70-85 degrees. are all you need. So, you want to learn how to catch bonefish? Tarpon Tapas – This is a great fly for oceanside tarpon in the Florida Keys. Then, quickly strip your fly into the strike zone, just in front of the bonefish. Why might you ask? He introduced me to bonefishing in the Florida Keys. Practice presenting the fly on the back cast. Ideally, the bulk of your casting distance should be obtained by shooting line. To use the sun to your advantage, make every effort to keep the sun at your back. This action allows you to recast your fly line without performing any additional false casts. Its half crab and half shrimp look does the job on Florida Keys permit. In most places you fish size 4 or 6 bonefish flies. Bonefish fly lines generally have long, heavy heads that help the rod load quickly and punch your casts through the wind. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Fast runs, doubling back on you, large arbor reels were designed for these fish. The early season tarpon bite in the Marquesas can be epic as well as Everglades National Park. Bonefish are also plentiful in the backcountry. Squimp – A good deep water bonefish fly for the Florida Keys. Bonefish can be found throughout the year in Marathon and the surrounding flats of the Florida Keys. With your skiff in position, cast your fly in front of and slightly beyond the bonefish. Catch Bonefish in the Florida Keys. When the guide spots a bonefish, the order to fire is given – one o’clock at 50 feet. Click here for on information on Tampa fly fishing. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Top Catches in the Florida Keys. To make the most of your bonefishing trip, practice casting your fly rod as much as possible before you head to the flats. Moret's Cracked Crab Fly is a very effective permit fly and bonefish fly here in the lower Florida Keys. When it comes down to it, fly fishing for bonefish is very difficult. This helps keep the fly from getting caught in the grass on shallow flats. You can tie in micro lead eyes and this fly is deadly on redfish. It was then I knew I would move to the Keys to pursue my goal to become a fly-fishing guide. When it comes to shallow water sight-fishing on fly or light tackle, it doesn’t get much sportier.Fast and almost transparent to the naked eye, bonefish prove their ranking amongst saltwater trophy fish around the world. Here's how you do it: Instead of lifting all the fly line off the water to make your back cast, keep the line anchored on the water so that when you start your casting stroke, the rod bends and loads. Bonefish in the Keys typically weigh 7-9 lbs, though some can top 15 lbs. It will feel like you're dragging the line across the water. Fly fishing and light tackle spin fishing for the biggest bonefish in the world. The advantage of a shrimp type fly for permit is that it can be stripped to grab the fish’s attention. Frustration is simply a part of the bonefish game but once you’ve hooked an Islamorada bonefish that … It was more of a bonefish affair than a permit fly. It's time to make another quick presentation, and for this, a water haul cast is what you need. This includes few false casts, while not hitting the water with fly-line or fly … It has great movement underwater and is very simple to tie. Practice casting into the wind, with the wind, and across the wind. Bonefish are sight-fished and demand accuracy from anglers. Tap into Florida Keys Outfitters expertise and 50 plus years of global fly fishing experience to help you make the right selections. These torpedo-shaped masses of muscle can cover 100 yards in the blink of an eye leaving even the most experienced anglers asking what went wrong. I was able to wade for a few in this video, though they didn't make it easy for me. Florida Keys fly patterns for bonefish on the other hand are a different animal. 5 Best Fishing Knots for Braided Fishing Line, 5 Best Bass Fishing Lures For Catching Largemouth Bass, 7 Best Places for Snook Fishing in Florida, 5 Tips Every Saltwater Angler Should Know, 9 Tips on How to Catch Bonefish on the Fly in the Florida Keys, 7 Tips on How to Catch Speckled Sea Trout, 11 Tips on How to Catch Big Bluegill in Your Local Lakes, Can You Eat Saltwater Catfish? Florida Keys Bonefishing - on fly. But on cloud-free days, the sun can be a huge asset to help you see through the water with more clarity. The ability to shoot line also is dependent on the type of fly line you use, which leads us to our next tip... Luckily, choosing the right fly line for bonefishing is easy... Get a "bonefish" line. They average around 4 to 8 lbs and reach weights of around 15 lbs. Sight Fish Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Redfish, Barracuda and Sharks. In The Lower Florida Keys: Marathon, Big Pine Key, Little Torch Key, Ramrod Key, Summerland Key, Cudjoe Key, Sugarloaf Key, Big Coppit, Stock Island and Key West. I’ll swear you to secrecy the day of your fly fishing trip in the Florida Keys! Our charters are the best the Florida Keys … Just know when you fish with me, the flies I have developed work like a charm. FLORIDA KEYS BONEFISH FLIES: THE ABOMINATION: Tying the Abomination: The Abomination was created while sitting at my vice with one of my clients Raymond Laurel. Max: $ 10 The bonefish must have started it all. Come check out the large bonefish in Key West. Traditionally flies for tarpon in the keys were tied with splayed saddle hackle on really big hooks. I know they work, and I do use them occasionally, but there are better flies for certain situations. It is because we have big ass bonefish! Nor do I want to calculate the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars I have spent on fly tying materials. They also have stiffer running lines that shoot through the rod guides with ease, helping you achieve greater casting distance without the need for multiple false casts. Florida Keys bonefish range in sized from 4 - 15 lbs and offer a fight any seasoned angler would be proud of with long burning runs and quick turns. If you tell the instructor you're going bonefishing, they should be able to give you some huge pointers to improve your casting in short time. Just about every fly line manufacturer makes a bonefish line. These fish - also known as the Grey Ghost - will make you work. Without them, your chances of actually seeing a bonefish are slim and all the money you spent on your rod, reel, flies, guide fees, and everything else will essentially go to waste. These days no one would dream of throwing those flies at wary oceanside tarpon these days, but at one time they ate them like the last supper. White and tan are the go to colors. Plan on allocating a decent portion of your fishing budget to the nicest pair of polarized glasses you can afford. Bonefishing Key West, offers Shallow water flats fishing charters. Florida Keys Fly Fishing For Tarpon. Rootbeer Shrimp – Florida Keys bonefish love this fly. Fly Fishing for Bonefish. Chartruese, purple,tan and other color schemes work well here. Learning how to catch bonefish with a fly rod is a huge challenge but one that is well worth the effort. If you're not sure which way the tidal current is moving, look at any seagrass present and see which way it's bending, or stir up some mud or sand and watch where the current pulls it. Any glare on the water makes them practically invisible. The average size of the bonefish caught in the Keys is 3 to 5 pounds but fish weighing 10 pounds or more have been caught in local waters. As you and your Bonefishing guide make your way across the flats where the bonefish live you will be instructed within your casting range where to place your live bait, artificial or fly. The Florida Bay is at your fingertips in the Upper Keys, while the Lower Keys offer unparalleled access to the Gulf of Mexico. Specializing In Fly Fishing And Light Tackle Fishing . April marks the unofficial start of fly fishing for tarpon in the Florida Keys. Once upon a time permit were damn near impossible to catch on a fly. Shots on world record-sized fish are always a possibility. Tan and chartreuse, tan and orange, tan and yellow are favorites. Everything needs to come together just right to even get a shot at one of these mirage-like fish. Then, when you lift up to make your back cast, the rod will be loaded with energy, allowing you to make a quick forward cast and shoot line if needed. Islamorada Bonefishing Guides: Bonefishing in Islamorada The bonefishing capitol of the world. From mid September through December the action is outstanding. Kwan Fly – This fly will catch permit tarpon and bonefish depending on how it is weighted. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. So, how do you make a long enough cast without false casting? Once you spot a bonefish, position your skiff so you can present your fly upstream of the bonefish. The single malt of fly fishing for bonefish in the Florida Keys is the fall. My most productive tarpon fly for the Florida Keys looks like something from Mars. The best part of the year is … When it comes to Florida Keys fly patterns there is a lot of secrecy that goes on, and rightly so. Although tied for Bonefish, this pattern has been eaten by redfish, baby tarpon, jacks, ladyfish and many more species If you present your fly, strip it into the strike zone, and the bonefish doesn't take your fly, or if it swims off somewhere else, all is not lost. In The Crystal Clear Waters Of The Lower Florida Keys. Get ready for one heck of a fly fishing challenge, and know that simply laying eyes on one of these special fish is worthy of a celebration. It has been called the greatest tarpon fly ever by no other than gold cup tarpon master Andy Mill. These specialized lines are designed to perform well in the demanding conditions of the bonefish flats. Bonefish are susceptible to cold fronts that come our way during the winter. Grouper 101: What they are, where to find them and how to catch them, Winter Fishing for Bass: how to fish in cold weather. When tarpon have swam past a thousand chartruese toads this is a good play. Thus began the evolution of Florida Keys permit flies. When it comes to favorite fly patterns for Bonefish, it would be safe to say they tend to pick up shrimp and crab more than anything. Secret Squirrel Fly – Did you really think I would show you what I throw at the black tailed devil. Why or Why Not, Braid vs Mono: Which One is Right For You, Kayaking With Alligators: What Every Kayaker Should Know, Best Artificial Shrimp Lures? Bill Baldus and I live in Naples, Florida which is 200 miles from Key West. Try to perfect your double haul, and get comfortable making quick, accurate casts with as little delay as possible. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Backcountry Fly Fishing And Flats With Capt Paul Fisicaro In Marathon Florida Keys Orada Big Pine Key For Bonefish Tarpon Permit Redfish Snook My Specialty Bonefish range all over the globe throughout the tropics. Be Prepared to Waterhaul. The first Migratory tarpon start to show up in the basins and strip banks this time of year. The vast majority of permit flies for the Florida Keys are some variation of the merkin crab fly. The average Islamorada bonefish is normally in the 6-9 lb. There a many different flies to accomplish the task at hand, getting tarpon, permit and bonefish to bite. Sometimes they eat it sometimes they don’t. Where the bonefish are HUGE! It’s everything! The stiffer line is also less prone to tangling at your feet on the casting platform — a common struggle flats anglers face. I like materials that impart a lot of movement when choosing bonefish flies for the Florida Keys. Specializing in fly fishing and light tackle, a true sport fishing adventure. Hopefully the bait, which can be everything from a live crab to an artificial fly, will land in the path of the fish. range with fish in the double digits common. In The Crystal Clear Waters Of The Lower Florida Keys. An 8 or 9 wt. The Finnish raccoon tail looks amazing in the water.