Key West Flats fishing - November 2009
by Capt Dexter Simmons, (305)745-3304; www.keywestflyfishing.com
Here are some great catches by some talented anglers!
Click Here for the Audio Fishing Report!!!
The Fishing Report. Oct. 14, 2009. The Fish Await the Fall Cooling Period with great anticipation. The fall Bonefish spawn will soon begin in earnest. This coming weekend an approaching front will lower our air temps into the low 80's during the day and the low to mid 70's at night. That should bring our water temps down into the low 80's. Perfect for October and early November.
Here is a nice Bonefish taken during the October spawn.
The cool down will also help the Permit fishing. For the most part, the Summer heat has kept the schools on the deeper Gulf wrecks and Atlantic reefs. With the temps cooling, we should see a migration of some of these fish into shallower reefs and shoal flats. Here is a beautiful October permit taken in the Marquesas.
Finally, there has been some discussion recently regarding a fall Tarpon run. Some guides claim that as the water cools a bit in the Fall, the bait migrates south along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast. They claim that the Tarpon on both coasts follow the bait run into the Keys waters producing a Fall run of Tarpon. While I am not going to openly endorse this theory, I will say that our resident Tarpon that are here year 'round seem to turn on when the Fall cooling starts in October. We will see them roll more often and there will therefore be more opportunities for hook ups. Here is an October Tarpon taken in the Marquesas during a cooling period. Most Tarpon taken during the Fall cooling are small "resident Tarpon" size like this twenty pound one.
Rarely will you catch a resident Tarpon over 50 pounds, even though there are some over 100 pounds in the local marina waters.
Grand Slam fishing is available during this cooling period, so if you are still after that elusive first Permit or Tarpon or Bonefish, now is the time!
Our Father (Mother) - Son (Daughter) Key West Flats Fishing Trips are now scheduled for throughout the winter,spring, summer and fall. 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: 877-228-8497 ///// or at 305-745-3304 or by email at captdexter@prodigy.net
Turneffe Flats, Belize, July, 2010.
"Turneffe Flats has the magical combination of outstanding flats fishing at your doorstep, modern and comfortably appointed lodgings, and a staff that feeds you great meals and cares for your every need like you are family. Spend a week at Turneffe Flats and you won't want to leave!" - Capt. Dexter Simmons.
For an incredible week of flats fishing in an unforgettably gorgeous tropical island location, join Capt. Dexter and his angler friends on this Belize trip July, 2010. The fishing for tailing Bonefish is incredible. There is a wadable flat just 20 feet from your bungalow with tailing Bonefish and Permit. On several days I caught Bonefish before breakfast!
The Permit are plentiful and easier to catch than Florida Keys Permit. The Tarpon are also found rolling in nearby channels and creeks to complete your grand slam fishing at Turneffe. And to top it off, Turneffe Flats is giving us a great deal!!! 6 Full Days of Fishing, 7 Nights of very comfortable Lodging and great restaurant quality meals (3 per day) for $2800 per person (about 20% off the normal double occupancy rate).Click here to check out a video of Turneffe Flats, Belize!
Here is one of two Permit caught by Captain Dexter on the same day in September, 2008. For information about how you can join Capt. Dexter Simmons and other avid anglers on this awesome trip, call Capt. Dexter at 305-745-3304 or 877-228-8497 or send an email to captdexter@prodigy.net
Offshore Report
We seemed to have moved into a little bit of an early summer lull. The water 
temperature is about 86 degrees offshore and we have had some great weather. Hot and humid with very little wind. This week we are receiving some west winds from a weak front passing through. It should be out off here by Thursday and back into summer conditions.
The Dolphin bite was great offshore but has slowed just a little. Once this front passes it will take off again. Lots of smaller fish are filtering in in good numbers. I have picked up plenty of little fish but have been moving away from them quickly in search of big fish. I have been getting a bunch of chickens and a couple of 25+ pound fish every day. Marlin are around and I had a small White get onto a Ballyhoo on the outrigger but he did not stay hooked very long. Sailfish have been free jumping everywhere and I saw 7 yesterday.
On the reef the Yellowtail bite picked up as the Dolphin bite slowed. We managed a limit on nice size flags on a 1/2 day with 4 anglers on board. On the bottom the Mutton bite has slowed a little and grouper are staying on the deeper side.
The deep dropping was good at the beginning of the week with some big snowy groupers, queen snapper, tilefish, rose porgies, and rosefish. On Sunday the current died and so did the bites. Monday morning the current picked back up again to over 3 kts, and then it was almost impossible to fish. We did manage a rose porgy, queen snapper, and a tilefish but once the current picked up in the early afternoon the dropping was over.
The mutton bite was on from what I heard from the guys at the Seven Mile Marina. They weren't catching any great numbers, but there were some big ones being displayed. The yellowtail were out in full force but became reluctant to eat early on.
Some of the guys had some stellar days this week with them, but even the pros were having some difficulty landing their limit. The mangrove bite at night has been off the chain from what everyone has told me. I haven't had a chance to get out there this year, but soon I'll beat the heat and enjoy some starlight fishing. The big guys (heavy hitters) were telling me that live pinfish and large baits flat lined was the ticket.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Chris
