| Fly Fishing in saltwater has become so popular in the | | | | Some purists will even venture to say it has been the |
| last twenty five years in the Florida Keys that the | | | | pinnacle of their saltwater fly fishing. Permit are |
| Bonefish census board determined each fish is "worth" | | | | nervous all the time. In my opinion they are a deep |
| about 3,000.00. This is mostly due to the overwhelming | | | | water fish who just do time on the flats to get food. A |
| amount of tourist who visit the Florida Keys each year | | | | bandit of bait. They feed on blue crabs about the size |
| to go fishing.Fly fishing in saltwater has always been a | | | | of a silver dollar and shrimp. Therefore fly fisherman tie |
| known sport amoung its enthusasts but not until the | | | | up many forms of crab patterns including the classic |
| last few decades has it sparked an interest in many | | | | Merkin crab fly. This pattern in its many shapes and |
| more anglers. It provides the ultimate challenge to | | | | forms works best for fly fishing for permit here in the |
| many, the cast must be perfected, take into account | | | | Keys.Some of the largest bonefish in the world live |
| the wind, the moving fish, the moving boat, and you | | | | here in the Florida Keys. Large bonefish cruise the flats |
| have your perfect saltwater fly fishing scenario.Many | | | | from Biscayne Bay down to the Marquesas Keys |
| fly rodders flock to the Florida Keys each year for the | | | | west of Key West. The most concintration of large |
| annual Tarpon migration. Depending on the | | | | bonefish is in Islamorada. Many think this is because |
| temperatures, tarpon can start showing up in the lower | | | | Islamorada hosts so many release bonefish |
| Keys as early as February and tarpon fishing will last | | | | tournaments and these fish are relocated after they |
| well into the summer months. For a fly fisherman the | | | | are released at the tournament weigh station to grow |
| first few seconds of a tarpon hookup is the most | | | | up in "downtown Islamorada" as many of the guides |
| exhilarating. The hook set on one of these prehistoric | | | | call it. Bonefish in the Keys range from 4lbs. to over |
| silver monsters has to be strong and often you will | | | | 10lbs. and are not easy to catch on fly but it can be |
| strike two to three times to get the hook in the | | | | done.Advice to the Florida Keys visiting flyrodder, |
| tarpon's cinder block mouth. Once he's hooked you will | | | | practice your casting as often as you can. Many |
| know it and most likely he'll take you on the ride of | | | | visitors come to the Keys to try fly fishing for the very |
| your life. Don't be disappointed if after a few jumps he | | | | first time. It is a great way to either fall in love with the |
| gets off, that's tarpon fishing and it should be enjoyed | | | | sport or become completely frustrated. There are |
| for what it is... a great display of gamefishing.Other fly | | | | casting clinics held at various fly shops in the Keys and |
| fishing target species here in the Florida Keys include | | | | Sandy Moret holds a fly fishing school a few times a |
| the bonefish and the elusive permit. Permit are | | | | year.Loren Rea is an avid fly rodder and lives and |
| considered the ultimate gamefish taken on fly tackle. | | | | works in the Florida Keys. |