Key West and Lower Keys

Permit Fishing Reaches Peak in February and March Feb. 16, 2007. It is Permit Season! Here is a nice 20 pound Great Pompano taken by Cole Nelson who proudly stands on the bow with his Dad.Permit fishing in the Florida Keys, Key West and the Marquesas reaches its zenith in February and March when the Great Pompano school up and forage the flats for crustaceans and mollusks, but more specifically for crabs, shrimp, minnows, snails, etc. The Permit fishing can be absolutely phenomenol during mild, sunny days with fresh East-Southeast winds. Calm days are not usually very good because the fish can hear and/or see the skiff coming before you get into casting range. A 12-15-20 knot wind is generally favorable for Permit fishing, and the best fly casters will even prefer the 20-25 knot wind as long as the water stays clean enough to see the fish. Ten knots or less and the fish just get too spooky. They have tremendous sight and a long lateral line to sense the vibrations of predators in their environment. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and in this case the exception seems to be when the fog rolls in from the Gulf of Mexico. For some reason Permit, like the one shown above, are easier to catch during foggy weather when there is a gentle wind. During these low-visibility conditions, Permit are often found in small cuts in between islands, especially on the rising tide. A crab pattern presented up stream of the fish and allowed to dead drift through the school will sometimes take a Permit. Another method is to cast a clouser minnow or a gotcha shrimp pattern up stream of the school and then start stripping as the fly approaches the school. Competitive chasing may result in a hookup. Regardless of the conditions, it is always a happy moment when a Permit is landed after a 20+ minute fight. Here Dr. Richard Costlow happily points to his first 25 pound Permit.When you are ready to book a charter or just talk fishing, contact Capt. Dexter Simmons by casting your net line to http://www.keywestflyfishing.com or by TOLL FREE CHARTER HOTLINE: 877-FISH052 (877-3474052) ///// or at 305-745-3304 or by email at [email protected] Happy Fishing! Our Father (Mother) - Son (Daughter) Key West Flats Fishing Trips are now scheduled for throughout the summer, fall, winter, and spring. For more information about the Father and Son Flats Fishing Trips go to http://www.keywestflyfishing.com/fatherandson.htm Once again, you may contact Capt. Dexter Simmons for a future fishing charter on his TOLL FREE CHARTER HOTLINE: 877-FISH052 (877-3474052) ///// or at 305-745-3304 or by email at [email protected]