Islamorada Guide

[hyefisherman2]

hey guys,

the family and i will be taking a vacation in march from the 14th-18th to the worlds premier florida keys. me and the dad will be the ones doing most of the fishing. :brow we want to try fly fishing for tarpon, permit, and bonefish. via with a backcountry professional fly fishing guide/captain. ;)

do you guys have any suggestions of guides? who to book? when to book? book from where?

any suggestions and/or help would be greatly appreciated.

thank you

hye

[bonefishdick]

Hye

I would suggest you try to contact Pete Rowney, he worked up hear for quite awhile at the Bears Den and then moved back home to Florida to guide. He always takes the time to post on this sight with reports to keep people posted on whats going on.

I'm sure if you check you will find many reports on this sight from him.

Also, he is one really one nice guy. :)

[browndog]

Capt. Mark Bellefleur is very good. He's located in Islamorada. 305-852-7366.

[LeeG]

Capt. Greg Poland. He's in Islamorada. I've fished with him and Lefty Kreh says nice things about him.

http://www.gregpoland.com/

[lemaymiami]

Whoever you choose book them now! I'll be surprised if you find one available at this late date. Here's another vote for Greg Poland, I've been tying flies for him for a lot of years now and have worked on one film project with him. He's first rate.

[hyefisherman2]

is he a nice man and can he tolerate kids?

[Tarpon41]

As previously posted it's going to be difficult to get a booking now March starts the Tarpon season ...my suggestion would be to contact Sandy Moret's shop on islamorada if you cannot get Greg Poland...and specifically state your requirements for a guide experience level of kids and your expectations for a guide...I initially used his shop and always found his selections to be quite good...and it's his reputation that is also in play...and you don't have 2...3...or 4 calls out to guides waiting for a response...if you go out of the Loreli as opposed the Bass Pro World Wide Sportsman...you will see the" old days" of keys flats fishing...

[Slamdance]

I first started with Greg Poland when he was living in Miami and fishing Biscayne Bay. He moved to the Keys about 10 or 12 years ago and I continued fishing with him down there. He's a great guy and an excellent guide. Tell him I say hello.

[hyefisherman2]

thank you guys.

i think im going to book with gregg. he has some afternoons open :brow

[AlderBrookFarm]

I second Steve's choice. Capt. Marc Bellefleur. Have fished with him 2 different years down there. He keeps his boat at The Chesapeake. Last year we were there second week of January and the day we fished with him we caught redfish, black tipped reef shark ,snappers, lady fish, Atlantic sail catfish (don't touch, they're poisonous), and saw manatees and had dolphins playing in our wake. Had shots at a couple of snook and a nice Lemon shark. Didn't target tarpon or bones as the water was too cold. He broke his shoulder falling out of a tree stand last fall but I worked with his brother today and he said he is fishing.

[Butch Leone]

Check out Paul Dixon out of the Ocean Reef Club on Key Largo. He should be down there that time of year and is a great guide and guy. Tell Him Butch Leone from Aitutaki says hello.

[hyefisherman2]

what do you guys think of greg? is he good with kids? cause i am only 15 years old. --123-3

[Tarpon41]

what do you guys think of greg? is he good with kids? cause i am only 15 years old. --123-3

Ask him and tell him your experience...that is fishing and not your internet "Ferris Bueller" experience by your post time of !0 am - 10:45 am and location Mass..unless it's a school holliday in Mass(or your home schooled) 10-1045 am on a friday at 15... should be in study hall, break, or your pda on top of your government or history text and the teach thinks your taking notes of his/her lecture. but if you seriously want to seriously fish and learn to fish tropical salt he's a serious fisherman as are all of the good guides in the Keys...

[hyefisherman2]

Ask him and tell him your experience...that is fishing and not your internet "Ferris Bueller" experience by your post time of !0 am - 10:45 am and location Mass..unless it's a school holliday in Mass(or your home schooled) 10-1045 am on a friday at 15... should be in study hall, break, or your pda on top of your government or history text and the teach thinks your taking notes of his/her lecture. but if you seriously want to seriously fish and learn to fish tropical salt he's a serious fisherman as are all of the good guides in the Keys...

i go to a private school in worcester. Bancroft School.

...we have a 4 day weekend this weekend because we dont have feb. or april break like most public schools do. instead we have 2 weeks in march.

they call this 4 day weekend a "mid-winter break" and im enjoying every second of it so far! --127-3-

[gsrdude]

what do you guys think of greg? is he good with kids? cause i am only 15 years old. --123-3

I would also recommend Capt. Bill Bender http://www.captainbillbender.com in Islamorada. Not sure if he's got an opening that day, but give him a call.

He's great with families and has over 50 years experience fishing Florida, and over 20 years as a guide in Islamorada alone. I've been fishing with him every year for the last 4 Decembers. Each time bringing different friends along for the trip. Never a dull moment and he's great with families.