Captain Tom Rowland - Big Blue Fly Fishing

Please visit Capt. Tom Rowland's site at http://BigBlueFlyFishing.com Capt. Tom Rowlands May 1st Fishing Report for Key West, FL

Visit www.bigblueflyfishing.com for complete details

The month of May has anglers from around the World flocking to the Florida Keys in search of TARPON. As the month most often highlighted for the migration, May is a time when good weather also coincides with good fishing. Like a bird migration, tarpon will move through the Florida Keys. While there are tarpon in Key West year round, the months of April, May, June and July are quite obviously when the largest concentrations of the fish are here. It is not uncommon to see 1000s of fish in a day whether you are fishing on the ocean in the path of the migration, in the backcountry channels or in the harbor. Not only can anglers see a lot of tarpon in May, but they will catch them as well. The tarpon is known as the Worlds greatest gamefish for many reasons. I agree that the designation should go to the tarpon who can grow over 300 pounds and leaps out of the water when hooked. Combine this with spectacular runs and you have quite a gamefish. In my opinion, what separates the tarpon from all other gamefish is the opportunity to catch them in so many different ways and on so many different types of tackle. Conventional fishermen enjoy drifting baits back to tarpon in the harbor and can enjoy numerous hookups while doing so. Anglers who would like to stalk the tarpon and tempt them with live bait can do so extremely effectively in the backcountry channels with spin tackle. Anglers who want to sight cast the fish on the ocean in the migratory path can have lots of opportunities to do this with light spin and artificial lures while fly fishing for them is also highly productive. Not only do tarpon allow for many types of tackle but also many different times of the day. As a nocturnal animal, tarpon are the most aggressive at night and during low light times such as dawn and dusk. Night charters can be highly productive. Early mornings and late afternoons are also productive. Day time fishing under high sun allows anglers to see the fish and experience the thrill of the strike. At Big Blue Fishing, we fish for tarpon primarily this time of year but there are also other fish such as permit, bonefish, snappers, jacks, sharks and barracuda that are available. We have boats available for ½ day, full day and night trips so that you can experience the thrill of the tarpon while you are in Key West. We can work with all experience levels and ages. Give me a call to see how we can hook you up with a Tarpon this May. 305-797-2238

Captain Tom Rowlands March 1st Key West Fishing report

The harbingers of Spring have arrived in the Florida Keys for 2005. With water temperatures consistently remaining above 73 degrees, tarpon, permit and bonefish have filled the shallows and nearby channels. In anticipation of a period of absence from the flats, the Permit is hungrily grazing and chewing on the flats surrounding Key West and the Marquesas. When the weather is warm and the skies clear, March ranks as the top month for catching permit on the flats. As the calendar nears the end of the month, the permit will begin to gather on the shallow wrecks, coral heads and offshore structure preparing for the spawn. It is at this time that flats anglers catch very few permit and offshore anglers are able to put up big numbers as the schools of permit are discovered in offshore areas. With my 2005 Skeeter Bay Boats as a fishing platform, we can maneuver the wrecks and structure to sight cast for these large schools. Permit will not be the only action on the wrecks, cobia, large Jack Crevalle, barracudas, sharks, grouper, snapper and gigantic Goliath Groupers are also prime targets this time of year. Tarpon fishing will also reach peak opportunity to catch fish using all manners of tackle, techniques and styles. Tarpon are considered to be the Worlds greatest gamefish due to their strong fights, spectacular leaps and fast runs. An omnivorous fish, the tarpon is catchable in a variety of ways to suit any angler. Whether you are a flyfisherman who likes to throw to a target, a conventional angler who enjoys using artificial lures, someone who use the most productive means or simply a beginning angler who wants to catch a big fish, tarpon fishing in the spring is for you. Flats anglers will pole areas in a small skiff and look for fish cruising or laid up in the shallow areas and cast small flies to individual fish. Backcountry anglers will live bait tarpon with light spinning or conventional tackle or throw lures to rolling fish. Anglers who want to use the most productive way to catch tarpon anchor in Key West Harbor and chum with Shrimp Boat by catch. Bonefishing is also highly productive this time of year. Flats anglers will see the fish moving back into the backcountry areas and will be able to get plenty of shots during the day. Bonefish are also easily chummed to the boat by using fresh chopped shrimp allowing even inexperienced anglers the thrill of catching bonefish on ultra light tackle. Other fish that offer great action for all anglers are the Jack Crevalle, Cobia, barracuda, and large sharks. Using a barracuda or bonito as chum, anglers are able to easily chum in sharks over 300 pounds and catch them on light tackle. Shark fishing is exciting and a wonderful experience for young anglers. Anglers of virtually any size can catch a shark as big or bigger than they are from a small boat. This is an experience that few anglers will EVER forget. Call me at 305-797-2238 or visit my website www.bigblueflyfishing.com to discuss your trip to the Florida Keys.

Capt. Tom Rowlands February 1st Fishing Report

Weather is the determining factor in fishing the Florida Keys. 2004 was an unprecedented year in terms of weather not conducive to prime fishing conditions. With the extreme cold and the record number of hurricanes behind us, 2005 is shaping up to be a year of good weather. February is probably my favorite month to fish the Key West area. Water temperatures have bottomed out for the year and will tend to be on the rise throughout the month. This means that anglers can look forward to the best fishing of the year as it coincides with spring like conditions. For those who would like to catch a lot of fish in a wide variety of situations, this is the time. Utilizing my 2005 Skeeter Bay Boats, we can take customers from the shallow flats in pursuit of Permit, Tarpon, Bonefish, Barracuda, Sharks and Jacks to the offshore wrecks for a wide variety of species including Permit, Cobia, Snapper, Grouper, and much more. This fishing is great for all ages and experience levels. As the temperatures warm, tarpon will begin to show up in the Key West Harbor, channels and flats throughout the Lower Keys. Many different approaches work for these fish including flyfishing from the skiff or using the Bay Boats to live bait, chum or fish with artificials in many different areas. Permit are already chewing up the flats from the Content Keys west to the Marquesas and this month will host the largest numbers of these fish on the flats making it prime to attempt to catch one on fly. The permit is a fantastic gamefish and is not just available to the flyfisherman. In fact, catching one of these species on fly is considered to be the most difficult feat in flyfishing. Conversely, catching a permit on light spinning equipment is far easier and lets everyone experience the hunt and fight these fish offer. Bonefish will venture from only Oceanside flats to the backcountry waters which make them available on a wide variety of tides. Cobia are a good bet on the 100s of wrecks and offshore structure and will also venture onto the flats and follow behind stingrays for a neat sight fishing opportunity. Jack Crevalle are found on the flat following rays as well as in the channels. These fish will top out at 12 pounds but the angler who wants to catch fish larger than that on light spin and fly will want to head to the deeper water. Jacks are an exciting fish because they can be teased into biting by using a hookless lure. Imagine 100 jacks churning the water and chasing the plug to the boat and then doing a bait and switch allowing you to hook the largest fish in the school on light tackle. Snapper and Grouper of all species are biting well and can offer incredible action. Shark fishing for all available species is at the peak due to the warming water temperatures and availability of baitfish. Using fly rods and spinning equipment, we can subdue a fish over 250 pounds on a regular basis. Barracuda round out the winter schedule. Barracuda under 20 pounds lay motionless on the flat waiting for the next meal. Casting flies and lures make for exciting surface strikes to fish that we have sighted long before they have seen us. Anglers who want the ultimate in barracuda fishing can live bait or flyfish for the fish stacked like cord wood on the wrecks. Catching fish up to 50 pounds is not only possible but often a reality. Contact me at http://www.Bigblueflyfishing.com or Permitfly4@aol.com to see how you can get out on one of my boats and experience this exciting winter fishing.

Captain Tom Rowland's Christmas Fishing Report Merry Christmas! Christmas Fishing Report

Two severe cold fronts descended into Deep South Florida in the last 2 weeks and dropped the water temperatures from the high 70s into the high 50s. Extreme temperature change creates both problems and opportunity for the Keys fisherman. The problems that the plummeting mercury causes are mostly associated with the Flats fishing. Because the flats are shallow and the water may stay on top of the flat for 4 hours, the temperature of the water will follow the air temperature almost exactly. While all the fish that inhabit the flats are able to exist in cold water, they absolutely hate quick and distinct changes in the water temperature. So, to avoid the quick drops the fish begin to vacate the flats when they feel the severe fronts coming. In order to survive, they go to larger, deeper bodies of water like the nearby channels or the very deep gulf or Hawk Channel. Not only do the gamefish leave, but often the baitfish, like pilchards, become much more difficult and unpredictable while moving towards deeper areas. It sounds as if the fishing goes down hill as the temperature drops and in many cases that is true. However, when flats fish disappear from one area they have to go somewhere and often that means that they congregate in large schools. For example, Permit will leave the flats and congregate around reefs, wrecks, coral heads and various bottom structure, cobia will be more available, tuna will be marked as giant red masses on electronic screens and mackerel and Jacks will form schools acres wide. Anglers finding these concentrations can experience fishing that a freshwater angler might relate to bream fishing when the fish are on the bed. Yesterday, I guided Stuart Grossman of Boca Raton and we experienced some very good Cobia fishing. Stuart landed several on fly including a 35 pound cobia that I saw on the surface 200 feet away. I hurled a hookless teaser plug the the fish and was able to keep it just in front of him and got him very excited. He was drawn within casting range and Stuart delivered the fly and the bait and switch was successful. This technique is one that I employ often to coax fish into range and it has worked with all types of Jacks, Cobia, Barracuda, Mackerel and Sharks. On the flats, when the water begins to warm, baitfish will return and with them will come an abundance of outsized barracuda and sharks of all species found in the Keys. Days of 20-40 barracudas, and giant sharks are common and rarely can an angler find a fish that is more fun. The winter opportunities are ever changing and to fully take advantage of the best fishing, anglers need access to different boats. A flats boat will offer the best opportunities when the water temperature is on the incline while bigger boat will be the best fish catching machine when the mercury plummets. As illustrated, opportunities are sometimes limited on cold days however; patch reef fishing is at its best on the coldest days for snapper, grouper, mackerel, cobia, sharks and barracuda. Flamingo and Cape Sable also will have the redfish, snook, tarpon and trout congregated and biting for anglers willing to brave the cold and rough conditions. The diversity of species, techniques and tackle that are offered year round make the Keys the most interesting destination in the World. Call me at Big Blue Fishing to discuss your fishing vacation, ask questions or just get a fsihing report. Please visit my website at www.bigblueflyfishing.com to view previously published articles as well as original content only found on my site. Topics include knots, techniques, casting, tournament news and fishing reports. I hope to see you in the Keys someday soon. Capt. Tom Rowland, Key West, FL

Past Fishing Reports for Capt. Tom Rowland

Captain Tom Rowland's December 1st Fishing Report Visit Tom's site at www.bigblueflyfishing.com

Since Hurricane Michelle spoiled the Redbone Tournament in early November, several years ago the event has found a home in the first weekend in December. Cold winds and even rain have accompanied the event in years past but for 2004, the weather could not have been nicer. Over 70 boats departed the Loreli in Islamorada in search of the Bonefish and Redfish combination which earns additional bonus points. The tournament is one of the "Trilogy" in the Redbone Series held in Key West, Islamorada and Key Largo. The Redbone began as a single event in Islamorada with 15 which has grown into a series of tournaments successfully raising more than 1 million dollars for Cystic Fibrosis. Celebrities such as Lefty Kreh, Jim Kelly, Clarence Clemmons, Mike Stanley, Chuck Lamar and Tim Wakefield fished this years event while everyday ladies and gentlemen mixed in their company. The highlight of the tournament was seeing my good friend Christian Goodpaster, celebrating his lung transplant due to Cystic Fibrosis; get a chance to fish with the legendary Lefty Kreh. My team consisted of Saltwater Angler Owner, Ernie Maynard, and Cody McMurry of Key West. We traveled into the Everglades National Park and managed to catch 5 redfish on the first day. Matching that score with a nice bonefish from the middle Keys on day two earned Ernie Runner up in the Pro division. Winner of the event, Jim Bokor guided by Tim Hoover accumulated 1600 points by collecting bonus points for the bonefish/redfish combinations while Kal Blumberg and Capt. Mark Krowka earned the series Grand Champion trophy and Gold Rolex. Congratulations to all who participated in this year's great event. The waters of Key West have been particularly good on the inshore patch reefs for Mackerel, snapper and grouper with the lone 25 pound barracuda not far behind. Jack Crevalles and cobia have been active and catchable throughout the lower Keys while the Permit fishing remains an excellent bet with the unseasonably warm temperatures. Bonefishing has been consistent but the tarpon have become a little scarce. Please email me with any questions and visit my website at www.bigblueflyfishing.com to read articles on other tournaments, learn about knots and techniques as well as learning casting drills sure to improve your casting. Thank you for reading! I hope to fish with you soon.

Captain Tom Rowland's November 15th Fishing Report

Fast approaching the Florida Keys is a cold front expected to drop the temperatures and raise the winds for several days. Anglers fishing in November can expect weather changes creating optimal conditions for those anglers willing to keep their options open. For many years I wrestled with the early winter cold fronts and tried to continue fishing for Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon throughout the high winds and cool temperatures. Hard work and perseverance can pay off making it possible to continue flyfishing or spin fishing for the big three even under the worst conditions but altering fishing plans and strategy to meet the changing conditions can result in fabulous days on the water full of action and excitement. Many fish appear on the flats during these volatile conditions and present unique opportunities to the savvy angler. Giant Jack Crevalles hunt and forage in the channels and off the edge of the flats while schools of Mackerel may cover an area acres wide. These can be World Record fish that the flats angler may not see again all year. Studying the World Record book and having a plan of attack on a particular specie is a must if you intend on attempting a World Record. Preparation is the key and having several rods rigged with the exact IGFA specified tackle or many IGFA legal tippets tied for fly fishing is essential to success. Cobia, Yellow Jacks, Bluefish, Kingfish, Tuna, Wahoo and more are commonly caught this month and anglers willing to give the flats and the offshore waters a try may encounter world class angling. November ranks among my favorite months in the Keys because of the significant lack of boats on the water. Tourism seems to slow in the Key West area just before Thanksgiving and Christmas only to explode the day after Christmas. This means that anglers can experience the Keys the way they were 100 years ago without seeing another boat at the ramp or on the water for several days. Shark fishing for Blacktip, Bull, Lemon, and even the Great Hammerhead will improve as these supreme predators become more aggressive with the cooling water temperatures. The appearance of late season mullet draw the tarpon back to inshore waters and landing fish over 100 pounds is not uncommon. Nice days reveal bonefish and permit tailing on the flats in the backcountry and on ocean side flats while the flats of Flamingo and the Everglades National Park are still fantastic for Redfish, Snook, Small Tarpon and Trout. Plan your fishing vacation to take advantage of the light angling pressure or simply come down for the weekend. My website contains articles I have written for national magazines as well as exclusive technical articles. Learn about Knots and casting drills and catch up on tournaments from the local Keys tournaments to the National Redfish Tournaments. Please visit my site at www.bigblueflyfishing.com or email me at Permitfly4@aol.com. Thank you, and tight lines Capt. Tom Rowland

Captain Tom Rowland's November 1st Fishing Report

Fishing the Florida Keys in late October and November is one of my favorite seasons. Gentle cold fronts begin to moderate the summer water temperatures from mid to high 80s back to the very high 70's and low 80's. We may not have Maple trees showing us it is Fall by changing the color of their leaves, but when the water temperatures fall for the first time of the season, those in tune with the water certainly notice a seasonal change. Jack Crevalle, Cobia, Tuna, Mackerel, Barracudas and other Jacks show up in places that have been vacant for months and the regular flats fish like Permit, Tarpon and Bonefish feel comfortable enough to stay on the flats throughout the day without having to escape to deeper, cooler water.

Fish behavior also changes and we may see Permit congregate on the reefs, wrecks and coral heads in 5-20 feet of water, or we may see cobia following sharks. These are signs of winter fast approaching and if you can hit it right, your fishing experience can be one you will not soon forget.

Today, I finished my trip with Drew Cunningham of Denver, CO. Drew was a permit fan who had traveled to Mexico and to the Keys in search of permit on fly. He had landed a few but none of the size that are common to our Keys waters. Drew had an opportunity to cast his own fly that he tied in preparation for this trip to a large, mudding and tailing permit in the Marquesas Keys. After a couple of casts, the fly landed perfectly and one strip to get the fish interested was all it took for Drew to land his largest permit ever, a beautiful 25 pound Marquesas Permit on fly.

Just before Drew arrived, I was fishing with one of my very best clients, Dr. Mo Smith of Memphis, TN. Mo is a world renowned neurosurgeon who covets his fishing time and practices in the little time he is not in surgery, traveling or spending time with his family. A few years ago, Mo came to Key West for his first permit trip. He, like Drew, had fished elsewhere and landed a couple. Once Key West showed Mo what the fishing can be like here, he has never returned to the foreign destinations. Mo landed 3 permit on fly in 45 minutes on the same flat before the light faded and we could no longer see into the water. Each fish was over 20 pounds and it was an experience neither of us will soon forget. For those who have pursued these fish a story like that sounds impossible, but when the conditions create the perfect situation and anglers are able to present the fly, multiple fish in a day are possible.

This trip was different. We intended on flyfishing for permit but when I told him that due to the last cold front, the flats were not as productive as he was used to, we opted to fish out of my 24 foot Skeeter and explored coral heads, wrecks, flats, and channels. The permit were congregated on this type of structure and the first day, Mo landed 3 permit on fly and another 5 on bait. Obviously, day two was spent in pursuit of these fish and Mo not only added another 11 permit on bait but also a 36 pound cobia on 30 pound test. Unable to resist, we spent the remaining days of the week in the big boat and Mo's final tally was an AMAZING 50 permit landed! He weighed another 36 pound cobia on 50 pound test for the Key West Fishing Tournament as well as releasing an estimated 250 pound Goliath Grouper.

A fantastic week for Mo and an unforgettable week for me much of which was due to the boat we chose to use. Every day I fish out of my 24 foot Skeeter I am amazed at the versatility of the boat. Check the boat out at

http://skeeterboats.com/Product_pages-Lowres/ZXSaltBoats/ZX2400.html.

Please visit my website for complete information on my service at

http://BigBlueFlyFishing.com

Do not hesitate to contact me to ask questions or to discuss current conditions.

Thank you,

Tom Rowland