Flats Fishing Report

June 1, 2013 by

June 1 2013 – Perfect weather and decent tides rewards an angler with 2 nice days of weather, some great shots and 4 nice fish, flats fishing with Capt. Steven Lamp of Dream Catcher Charters.

Starting off early is great for tarpon fishing here but for a quick tide shot at some sight fishing for permit and bonefish I decided that an 8 am depart was great for me to pick up a last of the out going and first of the incoming tide in an area where my logs told me there would be some opportunities lurking. Fishing with a regular customer of ours but our first time fishing together. We set off in my Lake and Bay flats boat. Nathan had landed many tarpon and some other species with our guides here at Dream Catchers and now his dream was to get shots at and catch a nice permit or bonefish that was sight fished on the flats. He was up for the task…

bonefish

Nathan Catches a nice Key West Bonefish.

First day was off to a decent start, the flat felt fishy as I worked the shallows of an edge falling out with the tide. Shrimp in Key West have been scarce so it was an artificial sort of morning using a special tied buck tail jig that I am fond of in grassy areas for bonefish. Working the skinny water many smaller sharks were looking for some fun as well. Backs out of the water they are easy to note the difference from that of a bonefish. The bones were cooperative coming through in schools of 6 – 10 in the smaller sizes. Shots were made and things just did not come together. I spotted some fish tailing right up on the shallowest part of the flat. The cast made, Nathan was hooked up large on a nice bonefish. Weighing in at 6.5 lbs. A very respectable Key West bonefish.

Moving on down the flat we poled a good ways. Interestingly enough there were an amazing amount of tarpon in the channel just to our backs, but Nathan was on task for his tailing permit. The tarpon were not going to be harassed today. A few more shots at bonefish were made but no connection as we got to where I knew some permit would be poking about.

Permit

Capt. Steven and Nathan pose with Nathan’s permit.

Now using the bonefish rod as a secondary to the permit rod we made ready with one of the few crabs to be found in Key West for permit fishing. Not long at all and we had our first shot of the day. three nice fish working a shallow spot of the flat just ahead and what luck, working our way. Nice.. A cast was made and the largest of the three fish ate and Nathan landed his first, largest and sight fished permit. 23 lbs. Nice first fish. It was a real fighter too making many runs across the flats. And that was a wrap on our first day of flats fishing..

Day 2.

The bonefish Gods were making things a little tougher. with some high clouds for tough viability. we go into the flats a little early in the tide but that did not mean the fish were not there. After being mugged a few times Nathan landed a nice jig shot right into the middle of some bonefish traversing their way from shallow to deep for his second sight casted fish. This fish ate well and fast. Coming into the scales at 4.5 lbs. Now we were off to compound on some permit..

permit fish and angler

Nathans 2 permit day 2

It was a slow mid day on the hunt for permit. We saw a few fish but the water was moving slowly and the fish were super wary blowing out early before we got in range. as the day progressed I felt a geography change was needed to get our shots. so I jumped and made a 15 minute run. It paid off.. Right off the bat we had a shot at 12:00 but the crab landed at 11 then a 1:00 again 11. Now Nathan was angry, silence fell between he and I as he realized any chance of bettering yesterday was fading. Then I spotted a nice fish tailing on the flat in a white spot. These fish can be super spooky on the white.. I took the time to explain exactly where he was to Nathan, he said nothing. Do you hear me? he nodded.. Ready? nodded, Cast!! He did and the shot was Perfect.. 10 minutes later we landed a nice 13lb permit to add to his list.

Nice day fun times..

Capt. Steven Lamp

If you would like to fish the flats of Key West or the Lower Keys with Capt. Steven
Call 305-292-7212
www.fishingkeywest.com 

Filed Under: Fishing Story, Flats Fishing Tagged With: , , , ,

Key West Fishing Report

May 13, 2013 by

 

May 13 2013 – Tarpon migration continues, reef bite is strong deep sea fishing is EPIC.

Redfish

Angler fishing with Tommy Z of Dream Catcher Charters catches this redfish on the flats of Key West..

One can never tell whats going to happen from one day to the next here in Key West. Weather, fishing and even the tides are goofy and tossing surprises at us every time we turn around. It keeps us on our toes though here at Dream Catcher Charters showing our anglers a great time on the waters here off f Key West.

Tarpon Fishing – The tarpon are on the beaches making their way down the coast on the traditional migration pattern. Eating live and artificial bait as well as fly fishing for them. Crabs are starting to do the trick BUT.. there are no crabs to be had anywhere in the Lower Florida Keys. So, we are resorting to artificial and live pin fish. Our trips here at Dream Catchers are producing 2-6 hook ups per half day and the larger fish are running the clock on fight with some battles going longer than one hour no matter how hard we try and wear him out.

We expect the tarpon fishing to stay strong during the day here through till the full moon then the evening bite will prevail. This week we have some winds coming up tuesday making it 20 mph through the end of the week.

Flats Fishing - The shallows are making the spring fishing great. With the return of the permit from the spawning grounds things will be back to normal on the flats by the end of this week. Capt. Tommy  Z of Dream Catchers busted up on some nice redfish here out of Key West with some fish up to 6 lbs in the shallows. Capt. Kyle Walsh and Tommy Z have been harassing the tarpon on the morning and afternoon fishing charters. Capt. Steven and Capt. Kyle Kelso fished the Marquesas Keys this weekend and had some stellar shots at permit with a mix of barracudas. Both boats were unable to seal the deal on the permit but the cudas were fun as well as the Plug fishing for 30 inch black groupers in the shallows.. What a hoot.

The flats are full of all sorts of life.. Don’t be afraid this time of the year to have a top water plug ready to toss at a monster barracuda waiting for a snack while you wait for a shot at a bonefish or permit and on your extreme tides (high and low) don’t forget to cast plugs on your hard bottom in 4-9 ft of water for a snack..

 

Blackfin tuna

Anglers fishing with Capt. Steven Lamp at Dream Catcher Charters Catch Blackfin Tuna

Deep Sea Fishing -   NOW IS THE TIME… Give us a call to get on one of our boats for some incredible deep sea fishing here out of Key West. The last few days have been EPIC.. Large dolphin up to 50 lbs have been reported with some wahoo and sailfish. Blue Marlin full moon coming up next week should light things up a bit for an added feature to any day of offshore deep sea fishing.

The wrecks and reefs are holding the permit and Mutton snappers as they spawn. We do not condone, recommend, or suggest that ANYONE fish a spawn to catch fish. Its just dumb. There are plenty of legal sized black and red grouper inside the reef on the shallower patches. Capt. Steven was out near the Dry Tortugas on Saturday where they got into some nice sized Blackfin tuna and Groupers fishing behind the shrimp boats.

BOOK A CHARTER

Here at Dream Catcher Charters we do most of it. And what we do not handle we can certainly point you in the right direction over the phone to get you the Exact experience you desire.

1-305-292-7212

Filed Under: Backcountry Fishing, Deep Sea, Fishing Reports, Flats Fishing, Reef Fishing, Tarpon Fishing Report Tagged With: , , , ,

Flats Fishing Report

April 29, 2013 by
Bonefish

Fishing with Capt. Steven Dan catches a monster bonefish right out of Key West.

April 29th 2013 – The tropical weather is here… Now lets get some shallow water fishing done.

Key West is well known for its epic flats fishing year round. But like anywhere, some times of the year are better than others. Now is that time. The beginning of May marks the beginning of our Carribean tarpon migration and frankly is has already started. Tarpon are pushing along the beaches in traditional fashion exciting the hearts of may anglers that encounter the many hundreds of fish that may be in a strand. This is a great time of the year for fly fishing for the tarpon.

Permit are back.. Permit are done with the spawn and large numbers of big fish are being seen everywhere and its only going to get better. The last few flats fishing trips that I have run, permit have been up on the deck tailing away. Also.. look out for the larger than life bonefish. Capt. Kyle of Dream Catcher Charters the other day helped his angler land a 8 lb bonefish. WOW. thats a stud.

May is a busy time of the year here in Key West with more fishing guides than you can shake a stick at. There are a huge amount of part timers that come here to claim a stake on the water calling it their own. Its unfortunate for our fishery but it is what it is. Would not be so bad if most of them weren’t so unfriendly. Get out there early and get with a LOCAL guide.

Flats fishing is a great way to spend the day on the water. There are many talented flats fishing guides in Key West. Capt. Steven, Capt. Kyle and Capt. Brandon are all of our in house shallow water specialists here at Dream Catcher Charters. With a combined 45 years of experience we can certainly show you an incredible day in the shallows sight fishing for your dream fish.

Call Island Genn to reserve a spot on one of our shallow boats for Flats Fishing here in key West.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Flats Fishing, Tarpon Fishing Report Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Big Week Ahead For Key West Flats Fishing

April 21, 2013 by
tarpon

Fishing with Capt. Steven Lamp, Jerry lands this nice sized tarpon fly fishing in Key West

April 21 2013 – Full moon coming up, smooth weather and perfect conditions for backcountry tarpon fishing, beginning of tarpon migration and the return of the migrating permit on the flats.

We have been busy as heck here at Dream Catchers taking our folks out on the water and showing them a great time. The last two days have been tough on the tarpon fishing with a lack of flow from a meager mid moon tide, however not to fear we still put fish up and bent some rods..

This coming week things change a bit. With the heat the fish will start to move shallower and the official “tarpon migration” is right around the corner. The tarpon are here but they are not in migration mode just yet. A few fish have been spotted on the flats and lots of fish are laid up in the backcountry but next week might get them to do the parade down the beach where strings of dozens and hundreds of tarpon move along in the shallows in search of a mate and a snack… If you have not secured your tarpon fishing guide yet.. DO SO….

Flats fishing will heat up with the weather. this past week was slow on the bonefishing with few fish reported being caught or seen. I poled the flats all last week and saw many fish but our main focus was permit, where we had lots of shots at them as well.  Out in the Marquesas Keys tailing conditions were present for permit in our “special” areas but our anglers thought hitting each fish in the head with a crab was the key. Not so much…

Permit fishing will improve right on into May. Not that this month has been bad at all for permit. After this full moon the numbers will pick up. What IS on the flats now are Slobs.. and Micro permit. Great time to catch your beast of a permit out there all alone tailing up a storm on the flats here in Key West.

Flats Fishing Trips are being offered here at Dream Catcher Charters on board our state of the art flats skiff “Indigenous”. Fish with Capt. Steven Lamp on board this boat that he re incarnated from his flats fishing tournament days.

For Flats Fishing Charters 
Call 1-305-292-7212

 

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Flats Fishing, Tarpon Fishing Report Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Backcountry | Flats | Fishing Key West

April 15, 2013 by
flats fishing guide

Capt. Steven Lamp Poling his Flats Boat Indigenous

April 15th 2013 – Backcountry and flats fishing report in Key West Florida with Dream Catcher Charters

Flats Fishing

Today was the day.. Wow, very nice. this weekend was favored by some pretty incredible flats fishing as well. The shallows are super clean and full of life. This is the start of the Key West flats fishing season. Bonefish, tarpon and permit will be the big three focus for fishing guides like Capt. Steven Lamp and Capt. Kyle Kelso both of Dream Catcher Charters. Over the weekend many shots at permit and bonefish were had in the shallows. Also for fun and entertainment we had some great shots at some hard pulling barracudas and super light black tip sharks.. Our flats boat has some dates available for dedicated flats fishing trips for these species.. Get with us and set something up.

Bookings for flats fishing with Capt. Steven and Capt. Kyle are filling up for the summer and fall. Call us..

Backcountry fishing.

The word of the day for backcountry fishing this time of the year is always tarpon. But thats not all. Fishing the basins and along the edges we have been getting into some kick ass trout fishing. Fish up to 4 lbs. Yea.. 4 lbs.. thats a HUGE Key West trout. Along with the trout bite we have also experienced some great hard pulling fun fishing with the Lady fish. Capt. Hugh of Dream Catcher Charters had an angler that caught a 4.2 lb lady fish on 12 lb test. thats a hoot. Shark fishing is also great this time of the year. We have been getting into some large bull sharks and lemons with little effort showing our anglers a great day on the water.

We are super busy this time of the year with our bay boats and flats boats.. Most of our trips are tarpon fishing But Call us anyway.. We may know someone that has the day open or we have a cancellation in our schedule that you can take advantage of..

The Forecast…

Looks like ESE winds will prevail keeping it warm and mild. 10 – 15 mph with some days higher.. A trend for lighter winds will be coming on the 21st.. Keep in Mind the tarpon will be on the flats in May along with the rest of them.

To Make a reservation
Call 1-305-292-7212

Filed Under: Backcountry Fishing, Flats Fishing Tagged With: , , , , ,
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