Key West fishing for Permit

The most sought after fish that swim in our shallows in the Florida Keys are Tarpon, Permit and Bonefish. Captain Justin targets these species along with Barracuda and Sharks. Other fish that swim on the flats include cobia, mutton snapper, gray snapper and jack crevalle.

Tarpon are found on the flats of the Florida Keys from late January through the summer months. They are hard fighting fish that offer a gill rattling acrobatic show when hooked.

Tarpon can weigh anywhere from ten pounds to 180 pounds. On a flats skiff we have the ability to find both baby tarpon and larger tarpon.

Tarpon : Megalops atlanticus
Silver with huge scales and a bucket mouth. Tarpon is also known as "the Silver King" and when hooked he will certainly show you who is in charge with several gill rattling jumps into the air. Tarpon are found throughout the Florida Keys from February through October. The annual tarpon migration is from April through June. Tarpon come from the west predominantly across the ocean side flats. They are strong in numbers and are hunry for bait, both live and dead, and will eat a fly readily when presented correctly. Tarpon in Key West can get up to 180lbs or more. Fish that travel along the deeper flats average around 70lbs. In Key West if you don't fish for them on the flats or in deeper channels, you'll find them in Key West Harbor. Fishing guides will chum for them with Shrimp by-catch and can get multiple hook ups in a day. The fight in deeper water can last well over an hour if you don't fight the fish right.

Check out more photos in the fishing photo gallery...