captbruce Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 New to the forum. I've been a Key West guide for almost 40 years. I am "kinda" restoring a '84 Hewes Bonfisher (the boat was already in pretty good condition, and I just got everything back to the way I like it.)and have some posts on the HEWES portion of this site. Here's some schooling Tarpon on a flat NE of Key West taken mid April this year. Thought you might enjoy it. Catch'Em UP !! captbruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Very nice! Thank you for posting! MOD2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Awesome shot ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChasinSnook Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Cool pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16bayfisher Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Very nice! I've got to get down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intheslot12 Posted September 1, 2015 Report Share Posted September 1, 2015 Capt. Bruce, First of all I've never seen that (except on TV) so thanks for sharing but my questions is how do you reach for the camera and not the rod?....... lol Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ksayles44 Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 Really cool picture. I'd love to do that some day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captbruce Posted September 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 Unfortunately, I was poling !! I was lucky to get the camera ready in time. My customer started casting (Fly) and the lead fish saw the rod waving and started to veer. Nowadays you must keep the false cast to an absolute minimum. (1 double-Haul and cast) Along with Mono fly lines of even dying the line "Sky Blue" Sometimes they see the fly line and "Blow" right off the flat. They are becoming VERY wary. This day, and I think it was April 15th, fish were abounding on the flats, and we saw maybe a dozen schools, that were migrating West, along the Gulfside NE of Key West, near Snipe Key. along with Permit and Bonefish. We only hooked 4 Tarpon all day and 3 jumped off and we released 1, (70 pounder). We could not get near the Permit or Bonefish. But I told my customer at least we had a "Visual SLAM" !! On the days you can see them good, They can see you REAL GOOD too!! I'll head back to KW around Christmas and stay till July. captbruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dave Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 Very nice! Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jettyrat3200 Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 DROOL ......... Great pic What is the best month for flats fly fishing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captbruce Posted September 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 Traditionally... Apr-May-June captbruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MA18Colorado Posted September 8, 2015 Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 Bruce, I am thinking about taking the family down to FL for a month next summer, renting a house via airbnb, renting my house out here in Colorado via airbnb, and working from there (I can work remote). For a guy who has not spent much time in the salt, but has a flats boat, and wants to learn, where would you suggest we set up camp? Need to find a place that is close to the fish, and has plenty of stuff for my little ones and wife too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captbruce Posted September 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2015 If you are thinking at all, of the Keys, I wouldn't stop till I got to Key West. The rents are not that much higher and the fishing is still GREAT. Seriously... Way better than Islamorada. Don't believe the hype. IMO, if they say Islamorada is the "Fishing Capital of the world" then Key West should be called the "Center of the Fishing Universe" !! Take it from Capt. Bruce... or better yet check the IGFA World Record Book !! They are been over 500 "World Records set in KW. More than any other place in the world. Some days I wind up (with customers) only 100 yds. from the swimming beach and catch Tarpon, Permit, Cobia (Sharks too), and for the kids there are good sized Yellowtail, Jacks, Mackerel, Runners... ALOT of "Rod bending" action. PLUS, Key West has been in existence over 200 years, and the town has much more History and things to do, and see. The rest of the Keys were only built as work camps for the Railroad (circa 1930's) captbruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MA18Colorado Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 Great advice Bruce. Having not truly ever fished the flats with my boat, other than a week down in Texas, I think I want to get a guide to take me out for a day or two early in that month we will stay down there, and school me on some of the basics. IGFA Florida Records Link: http://wrec.igfa.org/WRecState.aspx?co=USA&st=Florida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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