FLATS FEVER
Captain Rick Mager's
Flats Fever Winter Fishing Report, Key West, Florida
Hi! This is Captain Rick Mager on "Flats Fever" here in Key West, Florida. Here is an update on winter fishing:
After fishing Key West for over 40 years, it's still hard to pick my favorite season. The beauty part is the variety of fishing the backcountry offers all year round.
I guess you could say winter is upon us. To most northerners, winter in Key West is sort of a joke. To them, anything above freezing is a heat wave. Me, on the other hand, after living and fishing here for years, my blood has thinned out. Anything less than 60 degrees is winter to me. Break out the Polar Bear jackets and foul weather gear! In all honesty though, I enjoy the cool weather. Just like you are getting sick of freezing temperatures and snow, I have to deal with the heat. You might say, "That guy has a hard life fishing in the keys!" Kind of makes you want to cry into your soup, doesn't it? It never fails when leaving the dock during a cold front - I'm layered up with long pants and a warm coat. My anglers on the other hand, still have on their T-shirts, shorts, and sunglasses. When asked if they want something warm most reply, "Why? Is it going to be cold today?" I guess it's all relative!
Winter time does offer up some really good fishing. For the most part, cool water brings in a whole new array of fish. Not to worry, the Tarpon Permit, and Bonefish do not go away. They simply move off into deeper water. But all it takes is a few days of southeast winds and these fish move right back into shallow water and its business as usual.
One species of winter time fish is the Florida Pompano. They range from 3-5 lbs and fight like bulldogs. They look just like juvenile permit. Whether on a 6 weight fly rod or 10 lb spin gear, Pompano provide anglers with some great wintertime action.
Trout have been making a good showing out in the basins as well. All you need to do is find the muds and you will find the trout. These trout find live shrimp hard to resist, and some get up to 6 lbs. These fish provide action all winter long
Winter fishing also provides anglers with a chance to do battle with big Crevalle Jacks. On fly or light spin gear there is nothing more exciting to see than a 20 lb Jack cremate a top water plug or fly. These fish are criminals and they will tear your gear apart, and if you don't think they are great fish, well think again.
Now that the water has cooled down, big Cudas have returned. These predators patrol the flats and provide angers with some great action. These fish can run 50 yards of line at 35 mph while leaving a wake of white water as they greyhound across the flats.
The Bluefish are back! All you Northeast fishermen probably get your fill of these fish, but me, I never get tired of them. These scrappy fish come out of the Gulf of Mexico and push into the shallow channels. Best part is you can sight fish them and I ain't talking about chasing birds everywhere! Whether you are a Jersey fisherman or not, these 8-10 lb fish are as much fun as you can have and still keep your clothes on! ;) Big schools of these fish pile into small areas and will annihilate anything that hits the surface.
Well that's about it for now. For booking and information, please call TOLL FREE 888-574-0178. Sorry, this time of year I am too busy fishing to answer emails, so please give me a call.
Captain Rick Mager
1420 Washington Street
Key West, FL 33040
888-574-0178 or
(305) 744-8985
Key West Flats Fishing | Flats
Fever | Key West Flats | The
Fish
Key West
Fishing Report | Contact Flats Fever
Key West Tarpon | Permit
in Key West | Cobia | Key
West Bonefish | Barracuda
in Key West Flats