New Premit Regulation Workshop?

The Florida Wildlife Commission is having a workshop to get input from area fishermen and divers on the need for further regulation of Permit the fish. It is really nice that they ask for input, but there is no data available online to see if there is even a need to have a workshop.

I found this kind of odd since fisheries management decisions should be base on detailed studies and complex math. Since I missed the previous meeting on the gag grouper closure,I think I need to dig a little deeper in how these stewards of our fishing environment come to their conclusions.

Ill informed is ill advised in my opinion so I think everyone that can should contact your local game wardens and fisheries commissions to have the data used to generate these decisions placed online for review prior to a call for these workshops. Since there is no apparent need to add regulation to a thriving and heavily regulated species like permit, I think review of the field data and methodology could be entertaining.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

General Update

Not many boats fishing this time of years as is normal. The bite though is pretty steady on all fronts with the flats guys doing very well in the warm water and big tides. Daytime sword fishing is pretty good for those that have the gear and the boat to get out past the wall. That's out of range for most rental boats so a charter is the way to go if you want to tangle with a sword.

The real job thing is coming to an end at least at the Navy base so I may just have to take the Flatlines out to charge the batteries and collect a little fish fry while I take her down to Little Torch Key. May even take Mikey to collect a few bugs.

This season I plan to spend more time targeting snook. That is going to involve a lot more live Pilchards than I normally use. So fishing 101 is going to include a more intense cast netting portion than normal. So be ready to learn how to throw a larger cast net. Getting the snook to bite can be a challenge, but the by catch while hunting them can be pretty impressive.

Since snook and tarpon share the same areas I will be getting on more tarpon than I normally do since I rarely tarpon fish. Not that I don't know how to tarpon fish, I just find it boring as hell. With live pilchards instead of mullet there is a lot more action which is a good thing for me. If you want a pure bridge tarpon trip I will turn you on to Jeff Knapp or Jeff Shelar. They do the night trips which are more productive than the early or late trips I do. There are times when the morning bite is pretty hot so I am up for a few tarpon trips if the bite is right.

BTW here is a link to the Bahia Honda Bridge camera if you wonder why I like to fish the bridges here in the Keys. Watch it around slack tide for the best viewing.

I still haven't figured out the camera on my new cell phone so try to email me as many fish pictures as you can.

ETA I added a camera photo just to see how it looks. It's a cloudbow.

Also added a link to still photos at the bridge camera location.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

ETA The link to Florida Sportsman fishing forum is now fixed. They changed the forum and had quite a few bugs to deal with but now it is up and running.

A September Update

I am still alive and kicking. Actually feeling pretty good since I quit taking one of the friggin' blood pressure medications. I think the doctors were trying to kill me with some of that crap.

Fishing wise things are pretty good. The dolphin bite is still on with plenty of good size fish to 15 pounds coming to the dock. Not many big fish, but plenty for the freezer. The Yellowtail bite is pretty strong and the Mangroves are biting good almost everywhere. The mutton bite in Marathon is a little slow but that may be because there aren't that many people targeting them now that the spawn is over.

With the new moon we have been having some wicked high tides. The highest I have ever seen down here. The tides haven't effected the fishing very much but watch were you park or you may have to wade back to your car. The high tides do make it a little easier for the shallow water guys to chase bonefish and permit. Both of which are biting well in the warm water as usual.

Other than the Peterson's poker run there is not a whole lot happening in the Keys. Lots of bikes down here right now if that is your kinda thing. Fantasy Fest is coming up the last week of October. So if you want to get in a little fishing and naked lady ogling that is a good time to come down.

I have one more week of real work at Boca Chica then it is back to scrounging around for odd jobs until the season gets rolling again. So far it is looking pretty good. I have been getting a few calls from customers instead of bill collectors for a change. By the way, Doc and I made the center fold of the Southern Most Flyer newspaper with our little temp job.

If you have the time, pop on down to do a little fishing or bring a bottle of Scotch and just shoot the breeze. The weather has been pretty tame this year so it is not a bad time to do a little catching.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

September 11, 2008

On the eighth anniversary of 911 I was working at Boca Chica. The guys and gals their did a good job of showing their respect. Some of the guys ran PT in bunker gear and with the morning temperature in the high 80's degree, that was pretty inspiring, at least to me anyway.

I was supposed to have a couple of trips this weekend, but due to a death in the family my regular had to head back home just after getting settled into his room at Pips. My condolences to the family.

So now I will have a normal weekend. I'll be watching some football, may fire up the grill and just chill. That is not a normal thing for me because weekends and holidays are meaningless for a fishing guide. Everyday is just another normally, but this weekend I will just chill.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

No Fishing Reports for a While

Y'all aren't getting any fishing reports for a while because I had to get a real job for a few weeks. Working a warehouse delivering stuff for the Navy. It may just tide me over for the off season, but I suspect that Scotch and quality cigarettes will be in short supply for a while.

This whole bad economy thing has me in barter mode. I had a farmer call me today about a trip in February. I gave him one price if he just shows up and a good discount if he brings me a quarter of venison. Now if you want to come down and have access to some prong horn antelope, goat as you may call it, I may barter my price down a touch more. Ain't nothing like goat on the grill.

Until I get done doing work that requires me to wear shoes and carry my reading glasses, the fishing reports will be a bit thin. But as the season gets closer remember.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

It Is September!

September is without a doubt the slowest month in the Keys business wise. It is the time when most folks down here haul their boats for maintenance, close their businesses for vacation and just try to find something to do. In a typical September I spend my time playing online poker and watching the weather channel. This September is a little different.

Rob Harris, the owner of Conchy Joe's bait and tackle in Key Weird sent me an invitation to play Mafia Wars online. I used to like Rob. Anyhow this Mafia Wars thing can be addictive. I thought it was just me being bored out of my mind that caused me to spend way too much time on the computer. It turns out though that people that actually have a life are doing the same thing. All of this online addictive stuff started after I opened a Facebook account. Since then I am being bombarded with all kinds of requests to join different things to waste time. I generally can waste time with the best of them, but Facebook takes time wasting to a new level.

Now back to what I do. Believe it or not I may have a few fishing trips lined up for the month. It is all weather dependent, but I have gotten a few calls. This is a bit unusual since September normally has everyone boarding up and prepared to dodge hurricanes. This year the 'canes appear to be cutting us a little slack. With the nice weather and other people realizing they are getting addicted to cyber stuff there are a few that want to have real world experiences. Fishing in the Florida Keys qualifies as a real world experience so what the heck they are planning a trip.

It don't get no cheaper to vacation down here than in September and October. The fishing is still good and you don't have to wait for a server in any of the local restaurants and bars. As long as you don't wear black socks with sandals, most folks will treat you like a local this time of year.

By the way make a note that my phone number has changed to 305 395-1923. This was one of those economic necessities, my changing the number. I don't know if y'all have noticed, but the economy has been a little on the down side. Which really sucks if you trying to make ends meet, but is really great if you are not.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas