Permit and Bonefish on Guide's Holiday

Sept. 30, 2008 When not fly fishing the Florida Keys and Key West, you can usually find me on the flats of the Bahamas or Belize. Recently, I visited Turneffe Flats on the Turneffe Atoll, Belize. Hurricane Ike had just passed by to the North and there was a bit of residual swell making the tides super high. So much water that it was tough to find Permit the first few days. However by days 4 and 5, we found some schools of small Permit and a few larger fish here and there. {%image_id=6254%} {%image_id=6253%} {%image_id=6255%} After catching two Permit (on my FlatsMaster Crab - Chartreuse - and an Olive Merkin) in a little over 90 minutes on day 5, we then turned to Bonefish. The Bonefishing was excellent with schools on the coral flats, lodge flats, and grass flats. {%image_id=6250%} {%image_id=6249%} {%image_id=6252%} Tarpon were a bit scarce as they are in the Florida Keys during September. Though we had time to cast for a Tarpon to complete the slam, there were only a couple of Tarpon in deep channels to blind cast to with sinking lines. Without a touch from a silver king, we hunted Bones and Permit with more success the remainder of days 5 and 6. The lodge, staff, guides, and management of Turneffe Flats are all top notch. It was a pleasure to spend a week of non-stop fishing there. Even the lodge flats produce some really nice 4-6 pound Bonefish and the occasional Permit. Just wake up and start wading at sunrise right outside of the front door of your cabin! On two successive mornings, I caught Bonefish in the 4-6 pound range before breakfast! Finally, owner of Turneffe Flats Craig Hays deserves to be applauded for his efforts in convincing the Belizean Government to protect Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon with catch and release laws. It is now against the law to kill Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon in Belize. Florida really needs to follow the Belizean example. These three species are worth millions of dollars to the Florida Tourism Industry and to allow them to be killed as part of a "bag limit" however large, is unnecessary. If people like to eat Pompano, then the smaller Florida Pompano is much better table fare than Permit. 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]