If you have the luxury of heading to the Keys any time of the year, you may want to target Spring or Fall. Both are great times to catch 3 of our most famous species: Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit .

SPRING:

We have a phenomenal Tarpon migration each Spring which offers amazing action in April, May and early June. Depending on the weather, we may start seeing some early Tarpon in the winter months, but you can pretty well count on massive amounts of fish in our area in April and May. We love to live bait fish for Tarpon averaging 70 plus pounds (some well over 100 pounds) on evening charters, usually from 4:30pm to 8:30pm. On evening trips, we fish primarily with live mullet (think filet mignon to Tarpon) in cuts in Florida Bay or near bridges where the Tarpon are hanging out waiting for free swimming mullet to pass by in the current. It’s an overused expression, but when you hook up on a Silver King, it REALLY is AWESOME! There’s nothing like having a fish that big and beautiful come out of the water shaking its gill plates as the fight begins. Light N Up is quick and maneuverable, so we can keep up with the acrobatics of these amazing fish. Tarpon are protected, so this magnificent fish is released boat side, and when your arm has recovered, we’ll head after another one!

If you want to match your fly casting or spin casting skills with the Silver King, we’ll head out during the day so that you have better light to see your quarry. The hook up and fight are even more special when you’ve earned it by presenting a bait or fly in just the right way to turn on one of these challenging and sometimes frustrating fish!

Because we have so many anglers here in the Spring, we offer primarily 4 hour charters in April, May and early June. We usually fish from 7:30 to 11:30 in the mornings, from noon to 4:00pm and then head out from 4:30 to 8:30pm.

If you are looking for Bonefish and Permit, the morning charters usually offer ideal sight casting conditions with both the sun and our dominate easterly breeze at your back. Don’t worry if you have other plans for the morning, in the Spring the shallow water temperature is still moderate on the Oceanside Flats and the banks in Florida Bay, and the fish can be active all day. Whether hooked on fly or with live bait on light spin gear, Bonefish run like torpedoes, so be ready for some excitement.

When you hook a Permit, you get the fast runs followed by a real battle as these stubborn fish turn their Silver slab-shaped bodies against the current and refuse to come alongside the boat for what sometimes feels like an eternity. The expression many anglers use is “Man, it was like trying to reel in a manhole cover once he got tired of running!” Both Permit and Bonefish are beautiful, so you’ll have a chance at great photos before we turn these fish loose to battle another day.

Of course, if you’re less of a purist and just want to bend a rod, we can target the large Sharks that show up with the Tarpon. Bulls and Hammerheads love the same conditions and baits that bring the Tarpon here, and we have Lemons, Blacktips and a variety of other Sharks. Large Jacks put up a great fight, and you may catch Snook, Snapper and a whole smorgasbord of fish in the Bay. We feature catch and release fishing, but if you want dinner, we can certainly bring in a nice Snapper or two to filet back on the docks. Try the Hook and Cook at Hawks Cay’s dockside restaurant, Toms Harbor House.

FALL:

While our Fall Tarpon migration is not as impressive and predictable as our Spring Tarpon run, Fall is a great time to catch smaller juvenal Tarpon. What the youngsters lack in size, they make up for in enthusiasm and athletic ability. You’ll get lots of jumps and flips from the little guys, and you won’t be too worn out to try to hook up again and again. But the real stars of classic Flats fishing in the Fall are the Bonefish. Some of the largest Bonefish caught anywhere are found in the cooler water and the higher tides of September and October in the Middle Keys. Permit are around, too, so the classic action is great. Snook fishing can be very good, also.

For you more general anglers, the cooler waters of late Fall bring nice big Snappers back into the picture along with Sea Trout. And when we get our first cool fronts, large schools of Spanish Mackerel show up. Sometimes, they get so thick, your line will actually get attacked by the school while you’re reeling your fish in! Sharks and Jacks are still abundant, so there’s lots of variety.

Maybe the best thing about fishing the Keys in the Fall is that for some reason, not everyone has caught onto how great it is! You’ll really have the water to yourself, and you can usually get some great seasonal deals on accommodations. So head on down for some fabulous Fall Fishing.

SUMMER:

By mid June, the Tarpon migration is past peak, and I usually advise that if you want to target Tarpon, we either try for them with a variety of baits on a general Backcountry trip, or if you’re a fly angler, that we head to deep edges of the Oceanside Flats. June is a prime month for seeking the elusive Silver King on fly.

As the days get hotter in July and August, the very shallow waters of the Flats and Florida Bay heat up much more quickly that the deeper waters of the Atlantic, so an ideal day might be to head out on the Light N Up for a morning half day and then devote your afternoon to another water activity or even some recovery time at the Calm Waters Spa or enjoying a cool drink by the pool. Bonefish like the cooler water in the mornings. Permit, Sharks, and Jacks aren’t quite as picky about water temperature, but the action and your comfort level is likely to be better in the mornings.

WINTER:

Winter fishing is a little trickier to describe, because every day can be different. If we’re enjoying gorgeous weather, both the Flats and the Bay can be very active with the same fish as in the Fall: Bonefish, Permit, Sharks, Mackerel, Trout, etc. If we get a real cold front, we may have to alter the way we fish.

(I realize this is relative, and that those of you living up north for most of the year probably scoff at the idea of a cold front in the Keys. You probably get a kick out of seeing us in our moderate winter weather attire-shorts and sweatshirts or jackets. And when the mercury drops to the lower 50’s overnight on a real doosey of a front, you will chuckle when you pass us bundled up like we’re on the slopes while you are out strolling in shirtsleeves, but remember our shallow water fish can be just as wimpy as those of us living year-round on land in the Keys. In other words, it might not seem cold to you, but it might seem pretty chilly to our fish.)

When the Flats get chilly, Bonefish will move off of the deep edges to find temperatures more to their liking. We may resort to blind casting off the deep edges, chumming fish onto the edges of the Flats or even delaying our trip until the temperatures climb some. Of course, when Bonefish leave the Flats, Large Barracuda often move in, sunning themselves in the shallow water. Cudas ranging up to 25 pounds and more provide great winter action. And as it warms back up again, hungry Bones and Permit reappear, and we’ll be there to take advantage of their appetites!

YEAR-ROUND:

Flats and Backcountry angling is about a lot more than just catching fish. Every season brings something special to see from Roseate Spoonbills and other migratory birds to Sea Turtles, Dolphin, Manatee and other marine life. It’s quiet on the water as we pole along on sight casting trips, or while we anchor or stake out the boat waiting for fish to come to us or deciding where to look next. You can reconnect with your spouse, your kids or even yourself. So remember, whether it’s a family vacation or a diehard fishing trip, you’re in the Keys-you should LIGHT N UP!