Split a guide in the Keys 4/16-4/18???

[mctrout]

Am going to be in Islamorada or thereabouts on sun-tues 4/16-4/18. Love to split a guide with someone for Bonefish or Tarpon if you twist my arm. Anyone have any suggestions for the keys I would love to hear it since all flats fishing I have done was in mexico and a few Bahamas islands. should I bother fising without a guide. I have good eyes and some experience with bones, permit, tarpon etc... thanks for the replies if you have time
Brendan

[Adam-Albino]

I was down in December. Fishing was terrible, but the guide Allen Finkelman was a good guy (http://www.keysguide.com/).
He does half and full days, but you really need a full. Personally on those Flats skiffs I can't imagine 2 anglers.
<IMG align=baseline alt="" border=0 hspace=0 src="http://photos.netclubs.com/live/photos/v/9/t/2/t2c710a3839h31nr004cfcdhuo/flyman2.gif">

[striperguy]

Bendan - saw your note on going to the Keys - I would definitely recommend that you get the guide. In my experience there vs. the Bahamas or Mexico/Belize, the fish are much more difficult to spot. That area has a consistently mottled bottom, and you're more likely to be fishing in deeper water (1-2ft) than you're used to in those other areas. Also, in mid April you're going to have some wind that, coupled with the deeper water, makes the sight fishing harder. One more thing - you're not going to find the schools of 10-20 bonefish there - they'll be loners or in pairs, but BIG. You should be there during Tarpon time, however, and they're not difficult to spot! Good luck and tight lines!

- Greg

[PeterC]

I envy your trip to Islamorada.

I've fished that area a couple of times. It's possible to catch a bone wading flats from shore, but it's difficult. The best flats require a boat.

Bonefishing the keys is different from the Bahamas and, I suspect, Mexico. The flats are generally covered with turtle grass, making fish much morre difficult to spot. And the fish travel singly, for the most part, or in groups of five or less. Many, perhaps most, fish are in the 8+ weight class. A guide on his spotting platform really earns his keep, if he's good.

One good guide in Islamorada is John Wildeman. Contact him through his web site <www.bonefishing.net>.

Good luck,

PeterC