Fishing in the Keys
February 20, 2012
Florida Keys with Captain Mark Schmidt
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Winter-time fishing in the Lower Keys and Key West means dealing with cold fronts. These cold fronts cool the water down and encourage the migration of baitfish. Once the baitfish get established, it doesn’t take long before migratory fish find them and start to feed. A cold front cooling the water actually helps the Florida reef and offshore fishing in general, but hinders the flats fishing for shallow water species…
February 20, 2012
Lower Keys and Key West
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The weather has been pretty stable until the last cold front hit. The wind tuned into the east and blew pretty hard for a few days. The wind is now moderating and fishing should get substantially better. Offshore there has been kingfish, blackfin tuna, little tunny and a few sailfish and dolphin (mahi-mahi). Chelsea Bumpus with a big barracuda There have been good catches of mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper,…
September 09, 2011
Islamorada Hump
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Taking advantage of calm seas and light breezes, my clients Nathan Eolvin, his three buddies and I headed out in my 24 foot Sea Hunter. We were leaving from the Islamorada Yacht Basin at Lorelei in search of Mahi-Mahi. The fish have been in the 20lb range and I've been very successful using a favorite of mine -- smoked buckhead jigs slow-trolled. The Islamorada Hump -- one of several famous deep-water "sea mounts"…
June 09, 2011
A Legend named Greg Poland
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Time goes by quickly when you're having fun (or so 'they' say, whoever the heck 'they' are?). It has been six incredible months since David Rieumont and I started talking to Captain Greg Poland in the Florida Keys. He's the stuff that fishing dreams are made of, and has lived in the world of high-end, high-stakes tournament fishing that most of us have only read about in big national magazines, or seen on the Sunday TV…
June 04, 2011
Fishing So Soon After the Vows?
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We've been talking about the site's redesign for what seems to be six months now, and what nobody knows is how much time is really being spent on it. This picture of anglers Louis and Amy Fantasma is something I had two weeks ago and hadn't gotten a chance to post. But considering the fact that they were on their honeymoon when they decided to fish with one of the best guides who's ever fish the Florida Keys (our friend…
May 22, 2011
A Pocket full of Memories; Saying Good bye to Billy Pate
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Yesterday, 05/21/2011, Billy Pate, with close friends, family and fly reel, were laid to rest in “The Pocket”. It is one of the most desirable places to fish at Buchanan Bank, on the edge of the Back Country. A tarpon-rich area of flats and channels that stretches out for more than 20 miles before the open sea is reached. It has a cull-d-sac of about 30 X 30 feet, where for some unknown reason tarpon migrate and follow…
.jpg&w=150&h=125&zc=1 "Florida Keys Silver Kings!")
April 14, 2011
Florida Keys Silver Kings!
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Rick & Mikey Angling for Kings The crisp morning westerly breeze slipped across our faces, as we headed out of Islamorada in search of the annual migration of the Florida Keys Silver Kings; Tarpon! Rick & Mikey Mandrel, his son age ten, were eager to get out on a father, son fishing trip and experience the thrill of angling in the Florida Keys together. During April through May, Tarpon can be found migrating both north…
April 06, 2011
Crabby Permit
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FISH ON! Knowing that we had a storm a brewing off the coast meant the words I preach the most to all who fish the inshore to offshore, keep an eye on the sky because it can make the difference between a good day out on the water or a bad day at sea where it could cost you more than it was worth. Listening to the marine channels, eye to the sky and the bait well full of crabs, Tamara & Christopher Stevens from New Jersey…
.jpg&w=150&h=125&zc=1 "Tune in on Channel 2, Tarpon, Florida Keys Style")
March 30, 2011
Tune in on Channel 2, Tarpon, Florida Keys Style
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From the Editor: At Mile Marker 73 in the Florida Keys, is the famed Channel 2 Bridge. Fishing the bridge from shore one can claim everything from Yellowtail Snapper to the famed Silver Giants of Florida, the Tarpon. If you can add a professional guide who has years of knowledge and has lived there most his life, the chances you're going to lay into the fishing experience of your life dramatically improves. This story of…
March 23, 2011
The Mad Fin
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We spoke this morning with Captain Greg Poland as he and Captain Mark Schmidt of Sundance Charters headed out of Key West towards the Tortuga's. Their destination was to play their dual role as the camera crews for the new Outdoor Life Network and the Mad Fin Shark Tournament. Captain Poland was on one boat, with Schmidt on another (with camera people with them). On a third boat was prior tournament winner Tommy Sanders,…
March 10, 2011
I've Got Him, Mate!!!!
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I spend a lot of time on the phone with Captain Greg Poland and the incredible collection of professional charter guides he brings to the table at TheOnlineFisherman.com. Eight months ago, when we first started talking, the conversations were about business and fish. They've evolved into something much more personal. Lives grow and change. The lives of the people involved in this site have grown and changed side-by-side.…
.jpg&w=150&h=125&zc=1 "Indian Key Cero")
March 07, 2011
Indian Key Cero
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From the Editor: The winds of March roar like a lion and roar they have across the Keys here at Islamorada, Florida this week, in keeping many a pleasure to charter Captain alike in port but Greg Poland is always looking for an opportunity to get out on the water an get some business done! This week, he and a friend found a break and scooted out in some hot water action on a cool breezy day. Like Captain Greg says, " Ah…
February 19, 2011
Fishing Tournaments with the A-Team...
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From the publisher: The Miami Boat Show is going on this week, and our friend and associate Ohero Proffessional Greg Poland is down there with the people from Plantation Boat Mart. With the Rally next week at the NMFS headquarters, we've been a week behind (excuse; I am personally ALWAYS behind -- ask anybody) and I haven't had much chance to talk with Greg, although an hour on the phone with Captain Mark Schmidt from Key…
February 17, 2011
Spanish On The Fly
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Armed with a 9 weight outfit, a couple of bags of chum and a beautiful day ahead of us, Allen from Maine and I headed out of Islamorada, Florida in search of Spanish on the fly. Bob Clouser had recommended to Allen to look me up if he really wanted to experience the whole world of fly fishing saltwater. To me this was quite a complement and one to which I wish to thank him for. Temple Fork Outfitter flyrod using Ohero…
February 09, 2011
Caught in Flight With Greg Poland
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I pay real attention to the warming trends in February (like the one we're having now). They happen now between the cold fronts, and as they often simulate a good mackerel bite. The calming dark waters, just of Islamorada, Florida, has a sandy white ocean floor that in a short distance, plunges down into the deep blue darkness of a locker room and a range of sportfish to please the most diehard angler. The drop-off is…
February 07, 2011
In the Florida Keys...
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You can spend a fortune or you can spend far less than a fortune in the Keys. There are a lot of mystical things about them, and the feel of the place can change from hot nights in hotter bars to a feeling that you're in a strange and magical past where art deco isn't a 'fashion' trend that comes and goes with the seasons. David and I have had chance to stay in one of those magical places in Islamorada -- called the La…
February 01, 2011
Team Keys
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Captains David Rieumont, Greg Poland, Mark Schmidt, Matt Bellinger, and Alex Adler. Alex had just taken the Gold Cup Sailfish Tournament. This team of professionals, put together by Greg Poland, is going to be working to provide our readers the best content in the world -- daily, custom fishing information and education from the Sport Fishing Capital of the World. Keep watching this week for the whole story.
January 22, 2011
Catching Smiles
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"Catching Smiles" from Duck Key, Florida BAMBOO CHARTERS w/Capt. Matt Bellinger Using a boat, that is built from the ground up by Yellowfin Yachts, they laid down a design with comfort, safety and speed in mind. This fishing craft is 24 feet, ten inches long, with a beam of eight and a half feet wide, making it great in stability when angling from its platform. Two bait wells, communication gear, as well all the whistles…
.jpg&w=150&h=125&zc=1 "Captain Alex Alder: Wins Gold Cup Series")
January 22, 2011
Captain Alex Alder: Wins Gold Cup Series
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Out of 17 teams, competing in three different tournaments during the past two months, Team KALEX, with Captain Alex Adler caught and released 23 sailfish throughout the three tourneys to take home the Gold Cup Series. Nice Work Team KALEX! Captain Alex Alder: I live next door to one of the best Offshore Captains in the World. Capt. Alex Adler, his 48ft Sport-fisherman the KALEX is no stranger to the winners circle, &…
.jpg&w=150&h=125&zc=1 "The Lower Keys")
January 21, 2011
The Lower Keys
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Brooke Van Pelt tackles a Cero. Captain Schmidt (not the young one) is one of the incredible anglers that come along with our new Keys Editor Captain Greg Poland. The quality of this fishery -- and the men that will be feeding us regular articles, reports, and education from the Sport Fishing Capital of the World - knocks us out every time we see or read it. You can check out the Captain's site (and some pictures that…
.jpg&w=150&h=125&zc=1 "Cuda's Kings & Sails: The Keys with Greg Poland")
January 14, 2011
Cuda's Kings & Sails: The Keys with Greg Poland
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The back country of the Keys can be hot this time of year in cold Florida but heading out into the ocean, just after the sun breaks the horizon, to fish the offshore reefs is beautiful. Decked out in my Columbia Sportswear Overalls, I use when up north in snowmobiling, I was warm as a bug in a rug and ready to go get on some fish. Winter time in the Keys produces many a Speckled Trout, Redfish, Ladies to Jacks but we…
January 06, 2011
Lower Keys-Key West
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Jack Dubose's Prize Catch The wind has given us fits down here the last week in the Florida Keys, changing direction from northeast to east then hard southeast. As I’m writing this, the wind is trying to die out but we have another cold front on the way, leaving but a small window of opportunity in catching fish but catch we shall! Wind or slight wind, none of this seemed to matter to the fish on the reefs, as there were…
January 06, 2011
The World Record Kingfish, that wasn’t!
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The World Record Kingfish, that wasn’t! By Captain Mark Schmidt Back in the mid-1980’s the IGFA opened up the 20lb tippet division for fly fishermen. When a line class opens up there are many more opportunities to set a world record. These fish may not be the biggest or represent the line class that well but they were the first fish to be caught on the open line class. If your goal as a fisherman is to set a world record…
.jpg&w=150&h=125&zc=1 "Dick's Tarpon Challenge")
January 03, 2011
Dick's Tarpon Challenge
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Large or small Tarpon is a fantastic fly rod challenge, know matter what time of the year it is but when your angling just off of Palm Island, in the Florida Keys, it is a gem on both counts. Little Palm Island, in the Keys, was once used as the exclusive fishing retreat of President Harry Truman. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the island's hospitality has drawn an impressive guest list, including the late…
December 31, 2010
Doubled-up on Sailfish
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For some reason my email hasn't gotten the gorgeous pictures for this story Greg's been trying to send us, but these reports coming from the Keys are going to become a regular starting the second week in January, right after we make a couple of national media announcments that are going to be important to the fishing community. The only thing we can figure is that EDF's hacked into our mail servers in a weak attempt to…
