Islamorada Fishing Report

The Islamorada Fishing Report

Fishing in the Florida Keys this past week was amazing. The wind finally settled down and there was plenty to do. I ran all over and it seemed the fish were everywhere. Downtown Islamorada was hot with tarpon, bonefish, and we even had some shots at permit. Bonefish were up on the flats and hungry during the incoming tide and fished best at the top of the incoming. Permit have been around bridges and their usual summer flats.

Tarpon are eating flies!

Tarpon have been pretty much everywhere. We have been getting eats on the ocean side, as well as great action in the back country. I have done some live baiting for them under the bridges but mainly fly fishing. Fly fishing for tarpon is the reason I moved here and though this season has been tough with cold weather conditions and wind most days, the season is here and tarpon are rolling!

Speaking of Tarpon, I just finished my article on “Choosing a Saltwater Fly Reel”

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Everglades and Backcountry

Fishing in the backcountry has been hot fire. We’ve been seeing great numbers of trout, redfish, and snook. The trout fishing has been spectacular with anglers catching 20-50 fish a day! Snook and redfish we have been working a bit harder for, but when we get on em its been great. The Flamingo side up the East Cape have been producing a lot of fish lately. Hopefully this wind comes down soon so we can get back out!

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What to Expect this Week

Weather this week has taken an unfortunate turn for the 30mph worse. Winds picked up yesterday and things are cooling off a bit. The weather looks like its going to be pretty nasty for the next few days until Sunday. Next week looks amazing with low winds and clear skies. Should be dream weather for anglers! So get that honey do list done this weekend so you can get out on the water next week!

Thanks for reading,

Capt. Josh

Islamorada Fishing Report

Tarpon Fishing Everglades

It seemed just yesterday the wind was blowing 30mph and there was nowhere for a small flats boats to fish. Well after having a few willing guests we were able to punch the Maverick through the wind and waves and head out to the back country a few days ago and we got paid! The Snook and Redfish bite has been tough the past few days, however we just jumped from spot to spot working water quickly and moving on. This has been working best for me in the Glades. There are absolutely some awesome fish to be caught right now in the Spring windstorms.

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Snook Fishing Everglades

We have also been finding a few big tarpon around. My guests have been hooking them in town and out in the Glades. It is still just a touch early for tarpon but looking around and being patient is the key. This time of year looking for the silver king can be difficult, but my guests that are willing to put in the work have been hooking fish daily.

Redfish Everglades

I have been using flies, some soft plastics and shrimp to get my guests on fish, so if you want to come down and challenge yourself on the fly rodding for tarpon or just want to pitch plastics into the mangroves let me know! I have some availably next month!

Thanks for reading,

Capt Josh

Islamorada Fishing Report

Fly Fishing For Tarpon Islamorada

The weather warmed up and the Tarpon got happy! The past few days have been a ton of fun hooking tarpon on fly and spin gear. Black flies have been working best and soft plastics in white and black have been getting them too. This colder weather coming in might put them off for a few days, but the season is right around the corner and my guests and I are stoked!

The backcountry up the East Cape has been awesome this past week. We’ve been Catching Tarpon, Snook, Redfish and Black Drum. We’ve also been finding schools of nice trout that are game to eat pretty much anything. Fly fishing up against the banks has been epic, we’re seeing good numbers of redfish and snook.

Thanks for reading! I hope to see you on the water,

Contact me for availability, I still have some days open February and March

Cast Josh

Fly fishing for Redfish Everglades

Islamorada Fishing Report

Windy! It has been blowing like crazy here for the past few days. The water has been turned up in the backcountry and its looking like its going to stay that way for the next 2 days. Last weeks fishing however was great. Big snook on flies and a few nice tarpon were jumped! Nothing was landed, that’s how it goes with bigger fish, they beat the unseasoned angler, all the more reason to spend more time tarpon fishing!

This week the wind is looking to die down around Wednesday. Its gonna to be chilly so tarpon fishing is going to be tough. If the weather calms down enough there should be permit out and about on the edges of flats and bonefish to be found fishing live bait on the edges of flats. Snook and Reds will be in their usually winter holding waters.

Tarpon Season is right around the corner and with the amount of fish we’ve seen last week it should make for a great season. I still have dates available and would love to get you into the fish of a lifetime!

Capt. Josh

Islamorada Fishing Report

We have definitely been having out ups and downs with weather this winter! Seems like one days its 75 and sunny and the next is 50 and blowing. That hasn’t been stopping me and my guests from getting on the water and making it happen! This past week was a lot of fun! A lot of firsts, I had some newlyweds that crushed the snooks and reds, and a veteran saltwater fly angler that had never caught a snook, we made it happen and his rod stayed bent for the rest of the day.

The inconsistencies in weather have the fish moving around a lot this time of year, which is fine once we’re able to find them. They seem to be hungry and willing to eat flies, artificial baits, and live bait. This time of year I’m doing long runs out to the park and spending most of my time fishing edges of different keys until we find on that’s hot. One thing I’ve noticed this week is the lack of gear that guests are bringing on board. Though I love a clean clutter less boat, it is important to remember to dress properly. You can bring whatever cold weather gear you want and we can always stash what you don’t use. I know it seems warm on the islands but when we get out on the water and are underway at 30pmh it gets chilly. Shorts and a T when its 60 out is gonna make for a chilly ride. Try to dress properly, and as always, call me if you have questions on what gear to bring!

Another thing I have noticed are guests forgetting or not bringing on the boat is a pair of polarized sunglasses. The $20 polarized glasses at the local sporting goods store will get it done in a pinch, but a nice pair of Costa Del Mars, or Smiths, are even better. It can make or break your day if you can see subtle changes underneath the water surface, and you can see fishies!

Thanks for reading and hope to see you on the water soon!

Capt Josh

Islamorada Fishing Report

Nicole with her first Everglades Flats Redfish

Its a chilly one here in Islamorada today. I stepped outside with a hot cup of coffee to let the dog out and was greeted with a cool blast of winter air. I thought I left the cold behind in Idaho! No matter, the warmer temps start blowing in this afternoon and this week looks like it going to be great.

Pre cold front the fishing was steady. I was finding redfish, snook, and black drum in their usual haunts. Deep holes with lots of current. I have been catching redfish up on the flats around Flamingo, and if you’re willing to take some chances and pole some flats with these super low tides the action has been good. Just have a way out, or bring a book and an extra sandwich if you get high and dry!

With these coldfronts coming and going the fish have been pretty dialed in on shrimp, gulps, and flies. When we can get out of the wind the fly has been working well tight against the bank. We’ve been seeing snook, tarpon, and reds on fly.

Weather this week looks great and its back on the water for me tomorrow! Hopefully this weather warms up and some bigger tarpon get moving around. I look forward to taking you fishing!

Capt Josh

Islamorada Fishing Report

2021 Happy New year! Hope you’ve all had an awesome holiday!

Wind has been the word for the past week. A front came in on Tuesday and it has been blowing ever since. According to the weather man its supposed to slow down later today and next week looks great. The wind makes fly fishing very difficult. Though we had one good day on fly, most days we left the long rods at the dock this week and focused on spin gear and live bait.

This week we spent in the back country of the Everglades fishing mangroves and deep channels. If the wind didn’t make it difficult enough, the ultra low tides definitely did. This moon phase we lost a lot of water making it difficult to get to certain areas, some spots were simply off limits. The plus side is if you can find deep water and a bit of current you can usually make something happen. We were able to get into a few more monster black drum, snook, reds, and even some triple tail.

This week looks good with wind coming down and the low tides starting to come back to normal. I have availability this month so feel free to give me a call and we’ll get on the water.

Capt Josh

Islamorada Fishing Report

Winter Everglades and Keys fishing is in full swing and it has been amazing this past week! The gulf fishing has been producing our larger fish and the change in tide in town has been getting some larger bonefish up on the flats. My clients have been catching a ton of different species this past week, grouper, black drum, barracuda, redfish, snook, trout, tarpon, cobia, and of course bonefish! The cold weather and the ultra low tides have fishing holding in deeper holes and close to the mangroves and we have been capitalizing.

If you want to come out and try for snook, redfish, black drum, permit and bonefish give me a call! I have dates available in January. Dress warm! 60 degrees doesn’t feel too bad when you’re standing on the dock, but when we’re jamming at 30mph for 45min to the Everglades it can get chilly!

Hope you and your families had a great holiday and I know I’m not the only person looking forward to 2021!

Capt Josh

Islamorada and Everglades Fishing Report

The past few days have been windy, though that didn’t stop us! We were able to get behind a few islands in downtown Islamorada and catch a few bones! Afterwards, we headed out back to the Everglades and the Flamingo area. The ride was a little rough but it was totally worth it. Almost everywhere we fished we hooked a lot of healthy snook, on flies, artificial baits, and some on live bait. The snook, redfish and trout are plenty in the Everglades right now and the trips have been flying by with the amazing action! Typical days have been starting in town fishing for bonefish then heading into the backcountry to catch snook and redfish.

We have also started doing group trips. If you have a group of more than 2 people let me help you book another boat and take care of finding you a captain that suits your needs and will provide an amazing trip for your family, friends, and associates!

-Capt Josh