The Florida Keys and Everglades National Park

From Islamorada in the Florida Keys, to deep into the Everglades National Park, I offer guided fishing trips specializing in fly and light tackle sight fishing for tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook, and redfish. Additionally, I guide for largemouth bass, peacock bass and offer canoe trips in the Everglades 'no motor zones.'

I'm frequently asked the question - what's the best time? In my opinion the is no definitive way to predict the perfect time of the year to target a particular species. There are however higher percentage months or "seasons" for some gamefish such as tarpon. In the Florida Keys and Everglades, weather, migratory patterns, feeding, spawning habits, fishing pressure, and environmental impact all play a role in our fisheries predictability.

Expecting the unexpected and being flexible is a good rule live by while fishing here or anywhere else. More often than not, the best fishing of the year is a surprise, such as a warm-up with perfect weather in January or February, providing great permit and tarpon fishing opportunities.

Fishing Methods - Fly Fishing and Light Tackle

When I was in my teens growing up in South Miami, I was lucky enough to meet Don Ingram. Don was one of the few saltwater fly fisherman and fly tying experts around South Miami back then. The legendary fishing guide, Capt. Bill Curtis and angler/author Chico Fernandez were the only other fly fisherman that I had heard of. I met Don at a rod building shop in Culter Ridge; known as Rod Makers South which was one of the few places around twon that you could find saltwater fly rod blanks. If you wanted a decent fly rod, you had to build it yourself and Rod Makers offered instruction, stocked the blanks, and sold all the components. After some persuasion, Don agreed to show me how to fly cast on a golf course pond in Cutler Ridge for the sum of twenty dollars. I also bought some flies form him, some of which I still have set aside to this day.

Since then, my fishing method of choice has mostly been the fly rod, but a lifetime of experience as a fishing guide and angler has taught me that the fly rod is not always the right tool for the job, that 'fly fishing' takes more expertise than simply 'fly casting,' and that technical expertise is no substitute for on the job experience - or what we refer to as 'time on the bow.'

Many times the weather conditions, the type of fish, and the surroundings can make fly fishing difficult, if not impossible. For example, many of the places that I guide deep in the Everglades are small tree lined ponds, connected by even smaller creeks, too narrow at times for fly fishing, nevertheless, the fish are there.

In my opinion, the challenge along with and skill level required for making a good presentation to a wary gamefish like a snook, with plug or spinning gear is no less demanding than on fly. I encourage everyone to become a 'complete angler' by mastering all the different methods of casting, making it possible for you to maximize your fishing experience no matter what the conditions or topography.