April Offers The Chance Of A Flats Slam Off Key West
April on the flats of Key West brings with it warming water and some of the best sight fishing of the year. During this short window, all three of the most sought-after flats gamefish—tarpon, permit and bonefish—are feeding in shallow water. This month offers anglers one of the best shots of the year at a grand slam.
Permit: The peak season for permit on the flats is short. The “prespawn” period, when schools of permit can be found feeding in shallow water lasts from late February to mid April. After that, most of the permit move offshore.
For many fly anglers, sight fishing for permit presents the ultimate challenge. Anglers using spinning tackle can significantly increase their odds using live bait, but either method offers the excitement of seeing and then casting to sometimes large schools of these fish, which will often weigh 15 to 20 pounds.
The key to finding them is to look for their forked black tails. Once spotted, it takes a stealthy and patient approach and a well-placed cast. Convincing a permit to eat a fly can be downright frustrating. On the other hand, a live crab combined with proper presentation will usually result in a hook-up. Even with bait, though, some skill is necessary. Once spooked, permit will not offer anglers a second chance.
Tarpon: While permit should be moving off the flats this month, migratory tarpon should be moving in. At Key West, anglers get some of the first opportunities at these fish as they begin their migration. Catching the short window when both species are thick on the flats at the same time is key to achieving a slam.
And while permit may be considered the ultimate challenge for fly anglers, tarpon are the ultimate flats gamefish. Silver kings weighing upwards of 100 pounds look out of place cruising in water just a few feet deep. In the clear waters of the Keys, groups of them can be spotted from a long way off.
Flats fishing for tarpon is all about the hunt… and the fight. No other species can match tarpon when it comes to size, power and willingness to take an offering in shallow water. Although long casts may be necessary, there’s not really much a tarpon is afraid of on the flats. Often they will take a fly or bait right up next to a quiet flats boat.
Once you’re hooked up, hold on. The aerial displays and raw power of a fight with a tarpon are legendary.
Bonefish: These grey ghosts are thick on the flats of Key West and the Lower Keys when the water is warm, which means they’re there most of the year. The fishing peaks in mid-summer, but it is good March through October.
They are small compared to the other two species that make up a slam, but they make up for it with spunk. A 5- or 6-pound bone will rip line off a fly reel to the backing in a few seconds. These fish are what sight fishing is all about. Unless they are tailing in flat water on a sunshiny day, they can be tough to see. And once they are spotted, a well-placed cast at just the right and on the first try is what it takes to hook-up.
If a shot at all three species in a single day is what you are looking for, now is the time to book a trip on the flats.