Early Morning Tarpon Fishing

Jumping tarpon last spring during a flat calm morning fishing the flats near Key West

Bonnethead Sharks

One of the silly things to do on a slow day of fishing is to tease bonnethead sharks that come up to the boat following the scent of crabs and shrimp dangling in the water.  It's good for a laugh if anything.

Key West Shark Fishing

I had the pleasure this morning to fish with Cole and his younger sister Katelyn - fighting a 5 foot lemon shark  pictured above - from Delray Beach, FL.  Cole and Katelyn do quite a bit fishing are in Key West with their parents and other siblings for a few weeks of fun in the sun on the family boat.  I met their father Martin the other day on the dock at Garrison Bight Marina and asked if I would take them out for some fishing.  I was more than happy to oblige and we decided on some shark fishing.  

Shark fishing on the flats of Key West can be very exciting and sometimes downright simple.  It's a great way to spend a day on the water with younger anglers, sharks are just awesome.  Once we get them chummed up and a bit excited we can keep them next to the boat for hours.  At one point we had 15 lemon sharks all 4-7 foot long next to the skiff trying to get to my chum bag full of stinky, bloody goodness.  

Katelyn and Cole each hooked and landed a couple of sharks before one them finally got his teeth on the chum bag.  We had time to hook one more as all the bait floated away down the flat which fortunately was near the end of our trip.

Marquesas Bonefish on Fly

Got to fish with my buddy Capt Ward Kowalyk from Fort Myers - www.captainward.com - a few days ago. We traveled west to the Maequesas and we were greeted immediately by a school of bonefish, in which Ward landed his first one of the day. Capt Ward ended up with 4 bonefish on fly and three permit followed his fly to the boat but we were not able to entice a bite. We got clouded out half way down the flat otherwise I think many more bonefish would have been caught and there would have been more chances at permit.

Ward is a great guy and if you ever get to the Fort Myers areas and have an opportunity to fish, definitely look him up.

Here is a short video we shot with the iphone of Ward's bonefish.  He may have hammed it up a little!!