Tarpon Fishing Key West

Fished for tarpon early Sunday morning with Brian from Michigan.  There was a lot of small tarpon around and bites were hard to come by.  We only saw a few big tarpon roll in the slick calm conditions and the water was gin clear which added to challenge to get the fish to bite.  Brian was throwing lures and soft plastics and was in front of a lot of tarpon.  The one fish he finally got to eat was on a live bait thrown in front of a couple of rolling tarpon.

Finished the day in search of permit and bonefish west of Key West.  Conditions were good considering an approaching cold front, but we only saw a couple of permit and not much else.

Captain Mike Bartlett
http://www.keywestflats.net/
http://www.facebook.com/CaptMikeBartlett

March Merkin 2012

The 2012 March Merkin Permit Tournament was held this past week.  Three days of fly fishing for permit on the flats of Key West.  My good friend and fellow flats guide Captain Tony Skinner of Key West, guided me to a permit on fly in the three day event.  Thanks again for taking three days out of your schedule to push me around.

In total 10 permit were taken on fly in this year's March Merkin by seven anglers.  Greg Smith guided by Scott Collins won the tournament with four permit.  Three permit were caught on day 1.  Seven permit were caught on day 2, including three by Greg Smith.  Day 2 was the best day of weather and fishing.  Zero permit were caught on day 3 as we started the day with rain showers, wind and lots of clouds.

Our permit measeured at 14.5 inches and 57 points.  

Captain Mike Bartlett with his permit caught on fly during day 2

Is that a pomapano?  No, just a really small permit!  It's not the size that matters!!

Day 1, lined up on the docks of Key West Harbour Yacht Club. 

Captain Rob Kramarz

Shotgun start

Getting ready for day three

Captain Mike Bartlett
http://www.keywestflats.net/
http://www.facebook.com/CaptMikeBartlett

Snappers, Groupers, Tarpon

Fished with my wife over the weekend during some unbelievably wonderful weather.  We did a little night tarpon fishing Thursday night when it was flat calm and tarpon were popping shrimp.  Saturday afternoon we fished some shallow patch reefs for to catch some dinner.  It was a fun afternoon with lots of groupers, jacks, and a few nice snappers that made it home for dinner.

Captain Mike Bartlett
http://www.keywestflats.net/
http://www.facebook.com/CaptMikeBartlett