Went fishing with Al and Bruce for the past 2 days. Our first day found us East of Key west jig fishing in some of the backcountry rivers. We found a massive school of busting jacks feeding on Ballyhoos. I am not sure of the number of fish we caught but we had several triple and double hook-ups. All the jacks we caught were 10+ pounds.

The next day flats fishing started in Key west harbor. We were fishing for Bonito and had 3 eats, 1 on but did not land any. The waves got huge and made this fishing unsafe so we went to a inshore wreck where we caught snapper and grouper. We went for the jacks again but our first fish was a huge black tip shark. We ended up getting into the jacks again but it was not as good as the day before.

Key west fishing report by aws charters

I took Shannon and Kevin Donnellian out flats fishing, the species we were after were sharks, barracuda, permit and jacks. the first flat was slow but the second one was on fire, we had a double hook-up on jacks and the shark fishing was incredible. We hooked up on a 15 pound barracuda on the next flat. Our total for the day was 5 jack, 4 sharks and a nice barracuda.

Key west flats fishing report brought to you by Capt Anthony Skinner, a 12 year veteran Key west fishing guide.

Key west Bone fishing has been very consistent on the lower stages of the tide cycle. I have been given my clients many shot, a tipped brown jig has been the ticket for my bait fisherman and a tan Clouser or Gotcha has been my go to for my fly fisherman. My last Bone fishing trip was with Matt meihue from D.C and he landed 2 very nice ones fishing west of Key west

The Permit fishing is a little slow and I don’t think the majority has come off the spawn. I do believe july will see an increase of Permit invading the flats. Here is a picture of Lee Ashlock and a nice Key west Permit.

Shark fishing is always excellent this time of the year off Key west. We mostly catch Lemon sharks between 3-6 feet long, however there are Black tips, Bulls, Bonnet heads, nurse and Bull sharks that inhabit the backcountry off Key west. The best method to tangle with 1 of these is to find strong current and chum with a Bonito, here is a very happy Carl Knoblock with a Lemon shark caught on fly.

Key west Barracuda fishing is about at its end my clients are still getting a few shots. The picture is a truly huge Barracuda caught by Steve Smith while fishing Tarpon.

Key west fishing report
By 12 year veteran Key west fishing guide
Capt Anthony Skinner

Key west fishing has been a little hit and miss, you can go from hero to zero every trip you take. Fly fishing tarpon right now is all about staying put and waiting for the Atlantic side fish to come into casting range and placing your fly ahead of the cruising fish. If you are bait fishing, the Tarpon fishing in Key west harbor has been very consistent, if you can get their at first light you will be greeted with thousands of finning Tarpon waiting to eat anything you might throw at it.
Permit fishingKey west, It was landed by Lee asholock and I caught it all on video so you can check it out right here. “you tube video”. The next was caught flats fishing just east of Key west by Stan Britton this 1 fell pray to a well placed crab and topped out close to 30#.
Key west Bone fishing has been getting a lot more consistent the times I have been going for them, Todd Rowen landed a very nice 1 fishing a shrimp tipped jig. The shark fishing has been absolutely outstanding throughout the backcountry off Key west.
Fishing report brought to you by 12 year key west fishing guide.
Capt Anthony Skinner
A.W.S charters
www.keywestflatsfishin.com

This past week I introduced a few people to Key west fishing. The first day I fished with Deb/Craig Brachue,we Landed 2 Tarpon, 2 Permit and 1 shark. All the fish were caught sight fishing east of Key west. David Stearn was next ,we landed 1 nice Tarpon around 70# and then went flats fishing. For 30 minutes after the tide started to fall we had shots at waves of Bonefish and a few tailing Permit. We came up empty handed and then the fishing just shut down. Joe Tokash was the next I introduced to Key west flats fishing, we Landed 2 Tarpon on bait and had 2 eat well presented flies. Last of all I fished Bill/Betty Richter, we went 1 for 4 on Tarpon with 1 over 100#. The 100 pounder frayed the leader at boat side so I did not get any pictures of this trophy Key west Tarpon.

Report written by

12 year veteran Key west fishing guide Capt Anthony Skinner

AWS charters

keywestflatsfishin.com

This past week I have been targeting Tarpon, Permit, and Bonefish. All the species were caught this past week by my clients. The first four day I fished with brothers Doug and Duane Frosch, This was there first time experiencing Key west fishing, They landed 10 Tarpon, 2 Permit, 1 Bonefish and a lot of Lemon sharks.  I believe they will be back again to try some more Key west flats fishing. The last 3 days were spent with long time clients Bob and Jake Bunt, we fished early around Key west harbor for Tarpon and landed 4 with the largest around 100#, We also landed a nice Permit. The Bone fishing was tough with a few shot but no takers maybe next year. I would like to thank you all for the business.

Capt Anthony Skinner

AWS Charters

keywestflatsfishin.com

is fantastic, with great catches of Tarpon, Permit, Bonefish and sharks. My fly fishing clients have been having plenty of shots at Tarpon with most of the hook ups coming at first light. The Key west Tarpon run has just begun, you can find them along the Atlantic side flats moving west to east. My bait fisherman have been having multiple hook-ups on Tarpon using live pin fish and crabs. Key west flats fishing on the low moon phase has been greet for Permit using crabs and Bonito for sharks. All and all the, Key west fishing report is awesome and should continue to be so for the summer.
www.keywestflatsfishin.com

Key west fishing report 4/11

Tarpon, Permit, Barracudas, Jacks, and sharks have been the name of the game here in Key west. The Tarpon have been just about everywhere. My fly fisherman have been having great success in the backcountry and the basins, while my spin fisherman are getting multiple hook ups in Key west harbor using live bait and plugs.

With the strong tides and low moon phase the permit have been invading the flats searching for crustaceans. My anglers that put in the time have been hooking permit on every trip.

Key west Barracuda fishing have been producing some truly monstrous fish. The last 3 cudas have all been 25-30 pounds.

Last of all sharks are always an option, we have been catching tons of Lemons, Black tips and a bull.

April will see even better fishing off Key west so plan your trip A.S.A.P.

Key west fishing

both with a fly rod and a spin rod has been fantastic this week. The warm weather and the low winds has produced some fantastic catches, My clients have hooked up Tarpon on every trip. They also had plenty of shots at Permit and Bonefish, the most memorable trip produced 2 Tarpon 1Permit and 1 Bonefish to achieve the Key west flats fishing slam. My clients have also caught plenty of Barracudas and sharks. Barracuda fishing is the most underrated fishing in the Florida keys, they can be as difficult as permit to feed with a fly and the hit that they produce on a tube lure is truly amazing.

For all of you who have been thinking of some Key west fishing The Tarpon is going to get better as will the Permit until they start their spawn at the end of the month. The bone fishing will remain steady as the water temp rises and stays consistent