Big Pine Key Fly Fishing
Big Pine Key fly fishing is famous in the flats fishing world, and for good reason. The back country of the Lower Keys is an area of deeper basins surrounded by shallow flats. These areas attract tarpon, permit and bonefish year round. The seemingly endless back country of Florida Bay offers miles of lush turtle grass flats. You could spend a lifetime here fly fishing and never learn all of it’s secrets. Beautiful beaches with giant coral heads play host to the fabled tarpon migration every year. One area known as Loggerhead has been the stomping ground of Stu Apte, Steve Huff and many other legends of our sport.
The oceanside fly fishing for tarpon in Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys is incredible. Every year from May through July the tarpon train rolls along the beaches of our area. Visually stunning flats hold large numbers of migrating tarpon as well as some monster permit. Opportunities to see thousands of tarpon in a day are possible this time of year.
These ocean side fish are tough, but we catch them all the time. Patience and persistence pay off big time when fly fishing for migrating tarpon. Big Pine Key fly fishing for tarpon is as good or better than anywhere else in the world. If you try it once, you will be back year after year. This is especially true once you hit a worm hatch right!
Fly Fishing Big Pine Key During The Palolo Worm Hatch
An amazing event happens every year around the new and full moons in May and June. There is a hatch of coral worms that drive tarpon insane! The palolo worm hatch is something all fly fishermen should see at least once in their lives. Millions upon millions of the 3 inch long worms streak across the surface and the tarpon lose all caution and feed like crazy. Hundreds of tarpon will be crashing these worms and the fly fishing is epic. If you want to book a trip Big Pine Key fly fishing the worm hatch, book ahead. These dates go extremely quick.
Big Pine Key Fly Fishing For Permit And Bonefish
The fly fishing for permit and bonefish is great as well. A few years back a 51 lb permit was caught on fly near Big Pine Keys. The proximity to the Gulf edge as well as oceanside flats make the Lower Keys an incredible place to chase permit on fly. On many days we will see hundreds of permit over the course of a trip. These fish are never easy to catch, but having numbers stacked in your favor certainly helps. I feel proud to call this place home and to be one of the guys pushing the envelope when it comes to pursuing permit on the fly.
Big Pine Key fly fishing for bonefish is very good in the spring, summer, and fall months. There are some really nice bonefish in the Lower Keys and the population is on the rise. With a nice mixture of turtle grass and sand, the habitat here is ideal for fly fishing for bonefish. The Sugarloaf Key area is one of my favorites due to the nature of the flats.
I am happy to say the bonefish population in the Big Pine Key area is once again thriving. We are seeing lots of younger fish and seeing some bigger fish than 5 years ago. After the freeze of 2010 it was dismal, but the bonefish are back in a big way!
Big Pine Key Fly Fishing Guides
If you are looking for a knowledgeable, fun, and passionate guide for fly fishing in Big Pine Key you have found him. My love for this place and the people who call it home runs deep. As a saltwater fly fishing junkie I can’t imagine living anywhere else. What makes Florida Keys fly fishing so cool is the fact that it demands the very best in you. It’s not easy, and some days it can beat you down, but when the stars align and the right cast are made it can be pure magic.
As a Big Pine Key fly fishing guide I try to bring my best to the table every day. This means when I am not guiding you will find me exploring the flats either solo or with a good friend. This fishery is incredibly complex, and uncovering the next secret is what makes me tick. If you want to see an incredible destination for saltwater fly fishing look no further than Big Pine Key.
Best Times To Fly Fish Big Pine Key
The short answer is any time you can get here. Big Pine Key offers great fly fishing 12 months a year. Some peak times stand out though. For big tarpon you can’t beat April, May and June. The fly fishing for permit is outstanding in March, April, June, and October. Our best bonefishing is usually September through November. Speaking of fall the fishing is fantastic, and no one is here. No pressure equals happy fish. Click here to learn more about the best times to fly fish the Florida Keys. When you are fly fishing Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys the options are mind boggling. There is so much back country here you could spend a lifetime learning it all. After you visit you will see why Big Pine Key is legendary in the fly fishing world.
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