I have to admit, I am terrible at keeping up with my blog posts. Something about getting off the water and getting on the computer is not really on my list of things I want to do. That said, I am going to put forth a better effort from now on.
So, in catching up, this summer has really produced some great fishing, for permit in particular. Some of the greatest numbers of permit I have ever seen have come this summer, schools of micro and medium sized fish pushing across flats, as well as large singles and groups feeding and tailing hard. While the bonefishing is still down from what it was back in 09′, there still are fish to be found but they have mostly come as a bonus while looking for permit. I do feel that the bonefish numbers are up from the last few years so lets hope that trend continues. Thankfully, we have had a welcome number of redfish in the lower keys to take up some of the bonefish slack and I have enjoyed fishing for them. Plenty of tarpon and baby tarpon have also been available throughout the summer, as usual.
To recap one of the more memorable trips of the summer, back in June I fished Rowdy and Arnie from Massachusetts, who are quite the pair. These guys have been fishing permit with crabs together since like 1983! We got skunked the first day but then the weather and the fishing really got prime and we were able to land 12 permit in 4 days with a couple others lost, as well as 1 tarpon landed and one jumped. Great fishing with these two characters!
Recently I also had the very cool experience of fishing with Don’s son Shawn, who is now living in Key West and going to the community college. I have fished with Shawn many times before but always with Don and his other son Dawson. This time was different being only Sawn and I. Don and I moved to the Keys at the same time and we spent years learning to fish here together so it was really great for me to be on the water with his son.
Proving that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Shawn proceeded to hook and land this nice permit within our first 10 minutes on the flats. I’m pretty sure it won’t be his last…
Ryan
