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Random Quote: I've upped my standards...............so up yours
Hey Florida Guys, I am looking for advice on hiring a guide to fish the flats in the keys. I have made no plans yet, so I am open to all options. Here's the thing though, I have had several friends who have been extremly dissapointed in their Florida Keys fishing experiences. Some have gone for whole days without catching a single fish. I know I might be a little spoiled by Louisiana Fishing, but if I hire a "professional" , I damn sure expect to catch something. A good trip for a weekend warrior "amateur" like myself in Louisiana would probably include 40 -50 trout and 10 redfish. Our charter captains can almost garuntee a boat load of fish. Now If I come, I would want to target the "glory fish" of the flats. I would be looking for Bonefish, Tarpon Snook and Permit. If I hire a guide and he takes me fishing for Spanish Mackerel and Jack Crevalle, I am going to be very dissapointed. So anyway, I am just looking for advice on where to stay, who are some reputable guides, when are the best times to come, any other advice you may have to better my odds. Thanks!
hi. I live in the keys. Right now at any od the bigger docks there will be an open guide. The chances are good of either catching a tarpon or snook. Bonefish have been caught but nothing of size from what i've heard. Only problem is the tarpon snook and bonefish are all being caught pretty far apart from eachother as a long with redfish. This is just what the guides have been sayin at the docks though.
Check with seaboots.com on Big Pine Key. Jim runs a 43 footer for off shore fishing, and is connected with guides that do the back country stuff. I heard Capt. Lenny is one of the better ones.
I fished with Jim for sailfish, and felt he was at the top of the game. No reason to think his company wouldn't have the small boat fishing under control.
__________________ 29 alloy Armstrong Pilothouse. Single F350. F9.9 Kicker
I would try Pat Bracher of Overtime Flats Fishing Charters in Big Pine. I haven't fished with him in florida but Did offshore fish with him and his brother Arch Bracher who owns and captins the Pelican out of Oregon Inlet, NC. They are both great fishermen, and super nice folks. Pat mated both time I fished with him and he did a great job. Check out his web site, fishovertime.com. His fishing report says they did good last week catching tarpon, bones and permit. I'm sure there are a lot great guides down there but I know for a fact you won't be disappointed with Pat.
there are 2 captains by the name of jim bennet 1 lives in the keys and fishes all year he is captbonedaddy.com 305 289 3487 the other is there half the year and in mich. for the other fishing steelhead. i have fished with both and had a great time and would use both again. out of robbies in islamarada are 2 good guys capts donny and capt rick another great guide is al polofski the spelling is not right but im sure you can find him on some of the keys sites. as far as catching a boat load of fish i have had 12 tarpon in an afternoon and other trips with no fish. the old saying thats why they call it fishing not catching as much as i hate it is true.
Thanks for the info guys. What time of year would you say would give me the best opportunity to cathc these fish? Obviously different species would be different times, maybe you could break it down by fish?
Florida Keys Charter Fishing 
