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