Email Cell -305.393.1245
Email Cell -305.393.1245
I’m Geoff Colmes, and I’m fortunate to call the Village of Islamorada in the Florida Keys my home. As a United States Coast Guard licensed Captain with over 30 years of full-time guiding and a lifetime of fishing experience, I specialize in fly and light tackle sight fishing and give anglers the chance to enjoy the world-class Keys and Everglades National Park fishing.
Whether tarpon, bonefish, and permit in the Florida Keys are your target species, or snook, redfish, and bass in the Everglades are what you’re looking for, I’ll work hard to put you on fish and give you a memorable experience. Sight fishing here is as much about the pursuit as it is about the catch and the special environment that makes the Keys one of the world’s premier fishing destinations.
Beyond fishing, the Florida Keys have something for everybody. After a day spent out on the water, you can rest with great accommodations, enjoy great seafood dining experiences, and visit bars and craft breweries within easy reach. Whether you like to have a quiet night with water views, enjoy live music, or explore the local culture, there are many ways to enjoy your downtime off the water.
Fly and Light Tackle Sight Fishing in the Florida Keys
Fly and Light Tackle Sight fFshing in the Everglades
The Florida Keys to the Everglades
Specializing in fly and light tackle sight fishing, I provide guided fishing trips for anglers from the flats of the Florida Keys to the secluded corners of Everglades National Park, my trips offer the opportunity to target some of the world’s most challenging species, including tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook, redfish, and bass.
When’s the Best Time to Fish?
I get this question a lot, and the truth is – there’s no perfect answer! While some species, like tarpon, have higher percentage “seasons,” fishing in the Florida Keys and Everglades is shaped by a mix of factors: weather, migration patterns, feeding and spawning habits, and weather.
Flexibility is Key
One of the outstanding things about fishing here is embracing the unexpected. Some of the year’s best fishing comes as a pleasant surprise, like a warm spell in January or February that brings fantastic conditions for permit and tarpon. Staying open-minded and ready for anything is the best way to make the most of your time on the water.
Growing up in South Miami, I was lucky to cross paths with Don Ingram. I met him at a small fly shop in Cutler Ridge, and after a bit of persuasion, he agreed to teach me how to fly cast. We met at a nearby golf course, where, for twenty bucks, he put me through my paces. I also bought a few flies from him, some of which I still have today.
Since then, fly fishing has become my go-to method. Along the way, however, I realized that a fly rod isn’t always the best tool for every situation. There’s a certain humility in recognizing that every technique has its time and place. Fly fishing, in particular, is about so much more than just casting; it’s a method that requires patience, precision, and what we often call “time on the bow.” It’s not something you can rush or master overnight; that kind of understanding only comes from countless hours spent on the water, learning from each moment and appreciating every challenge.
Sometimes, the conditions or location make fly fishing nearly impossible. Many of the places I guide in the Everglades are small, tree-lined ponds connected by narrow creeks, spots where there’s just no room for a fly rod. But there are plenty of fish there, and catching them takes just as much skill and finesse, even with spin or plug gear. That’s why I believe in becoming a “complete angler.” Learning to master all kinds of fishing techniques makes you more adaptable, so you can enjoy the challenge no matter where you are or what the conditions throw at you.
I’ve 
been thinking about you a lot lately, the trip, the mothership, etc. as I get into my new novel. I wanted to thank you again for a wonderful few days out there on ‘Fishabout.’ It was a real pleasure that I’m sure I’ll remember forever. I’m also using a Mothership-like vessel in my story – I haven’t looked yet, but I assume I can find a lot of the specs on the website. If not, is there some handy way you can send me the tonnage, length, etc. so I can give the ship a better description?
You also mentioned the novel A Land Remembered, which I said I’d read. But if I read it, I don’t remember it at all. Maybe I just started it once and put it down. I’m halfway through it now and loving every second of it. What a wonderful evocation of that time and place. It’s a great story and one I’m going to try to use parts of in mine. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Anyway, hope your season is going well and all is happy with the family. Again, thanks so much for your guidance and inspiration.
James W. Hall
Thank-you Geoff,
It is my good fortune to fly fish around the world for a living, including my own fly fishing trips to the Everglades; so I get to see some great fishing locations. And yet, fishing the Florida Everglades with Geoff is one of the highlight trips of the year, year after year. Geoff’s vast knowledge and enthusiasm for the area is unsurpassed. Easygoing and good humor are also part of the days fishing. And his poling approach to sighted fish, always makes my casting as easy as it can be under challenging circumstances.
My son Stephen and I, have taken many double-figure snook with Geoff. And then when he takes you in the backcountry, way back where only a handful can go, at best, it is like seeing the glades as it must have been hundreds of years ago. A labyrinth of red mangroves, tunnels, saw grass buttonwoods, creeks, lakes, and bays, mixed with snook, redfish, tarpon, largemouth bass, and bull sharks. It is one of my favorite places to fly fish in the world. Till the next fishing trip,
Su Amigo, Chico Fernandez
When I’m not out fishing, I’m usually behind a camera, capturing life on the water and beyond. I’m also a licensed and insured FAA Part 107 remote pilot, which allows me to fly drones commercially.
Everglades National Park began collecting entrance fees for all park visitors on January 10, 2019 – including anglers with licensed fishing guides, Effective January 2025, 7-day passes will be $35 per person. You may also purchase an annual Everglades National Park pass for $70. Children aged 15 and under are always admitted free.