Permit/Bonefish Report – Key West
- This topic has 19 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated Sep 27, 2009 at 8:21 pm by
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My good friend Kyle and I made a trip down to Key West over Labor Day. Kyle had been there a couple of times, but it was a first for me. Bottom line – it’s an incredible fishery. I can’t wait to go back.
We started in the upper keys and wade-fished our way down on Saturday. After figuring out the tides, waiting out a huge storm, and a few bloody marys, we each had a few shots at big solo bonefish. No takers.
We grabbed a couple hours of sleep after a late night on Duval street and met up with Captain Will Benson for a day of flats fishing. As I’ve heard here, on the podcast, and now experienced – the guy knows his stuff. Highly recommended. The best part is the dude loves to fish.
We were lucky with moderate winds, strong currents, and manageable temperatures – all adding up to a sweet day on the flats. Captain Will kept saying ‘this feels like a Fall day’ – the temperature was much cooler than I’d expected. The other unexpected part was when he told us we’d be targeting Permit. And heading to the Marquesas. After that things get blurry.
Below is what transpired. All I can say is it was intense in the best possible way. Thanks to Will for taking many of these shots (he grabbed the camera and jumped right out of the boat for a few shots).
Setting up
Waiting
Bonefish tug
We came up on a football field sized school of mudding bonefish. Our guide had to keep the boat steady, so we landed our own fish. Absolute chaos.
My first bonefish
Kyle’s first bonefish
First Permit. It was my second cast ever to a Permit – I got lucky and hit it close. The fish charged the crab fly like a freight-train – he came almost completely out of the water on the take. Fighting him was like pulling on a concrete pancake.
He swam off strong
The awkward low-five celebration.
All in all, I learned that flats fishing on a good day is tough to beat. In all honestly, I am having a hard time getting the look of those permit out of my head. The feeling you get seeing them cruise in the water is something you never forget.
Also had a few encounters with baby tarpon – created a video of the trip that can be found here: http://www.vimeo.com/6693696
I’ve really enjoyed the posts from you guys this summer. They’ve kept me sane in the office. If anyone in DFW is heading up to Broken Bow in the next few weeks, let me know. I hope to head up there soon.
Wes
Second cast and you hooked up on a permit!!! Nice report, man!
Once you get salt in your blood, you can’t get it out.
Thanks guys.
Kyle – the run to the Marquesas really wasn’t that bad. Probably 20 minutes crossing over a deep trench. I only feared for my life a couple of times. It’s absolutely incredible out there.
Mark – I completely agree. I’ve used up my Permit karma for the next 5 years I’m sure. We had about 10 legit shots that day; I doubt we’ll be that lucky next time.
Since football season started, I can’t help but compare casting at these things to trying to hit a receiver in stride from 20 yards out. The only problem is they aren’t good route runners. On the one that counted, what started as a crossing pattern turned into a deep post at the last possible second. I just hauled as hard as I could and hoped the line didn’t snag. The 10 wt one-piece Loomis helped, but it really is surprising how fast they cruise on the flats.
Here are a few more shots from landing him:
I usually retrieve right handed, so fighting him was questionable at all times
The handoff
You never realize how bullet-shaped these things are until you get a top-down view
Wes
Wes, sweet shots! I also am a right hand retrieve fly fisherman and can’t reel for s**t with my left hand.
That makes it even cooler in my book!
Right handed retrieve fly angler? FREAK! lol.
Great job-I went to the Keys for the first time last JUne–I will be back!
One of my fishing buddies succumbed to the pressure (self imposed pressure) of trying to use left hand retrieve reels for a couple of years. It was like watching a Monkey make love to a football-He finally changed everything over to right hand retrieve and he has never looked back.
I will use a right hand retrieve on casting rods and left hand on spinning and fly rods-I can go either way (man, did I just say that on the internet?) Some people really have a hard time fighting strong fish when they are using a reel that is not set up to be on their preferred or strong side-I am lucky in that respect I guess.
Those pics are really making me long for the flats–I think I am going to sell a kidney so I can go back next year 😉
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