Key West Flats Fishing with Capt. Mike O'Brien Fishing Reports

We had a big wind and rain event over the weekend.  It blew up to 30knots and rained close to 15 inches in four days.  The fishing was not happening but the kiteboarding was killer.  I was back on the flats today out east in the backcountry fishing hard with two super cool hard core anglers, Tony and Drew.  The water on the flats has dropped 10 degrees from the low 80s to 72.  We saw some bonefish and had a few shots.  They were moving around fast and hard to see.  It looks like the cudas are starting to show up un the flats with the cooler water and we saw a jack on a stingray.  I could not find the permit today.  Here are some shots of the kiting last Sunday.

It's pretty insane to be this close to a waterspout

I was out late this afternoon with Bill again and we had good shots at permit.  Then it started to rain with the sun still out and  we were running to a new spot when I saw an insane waterspout.

Enjoy the photos.  We were way closer than it looks ing the photos.

Bill stings a nice bonefish on fly before sunset very close to Key West

Captain Mike and Captain Bill out for some evening tailing permit and bonefish. I love fishing in September and October

Captain Bill brings the spent bonefish back to life after tagging

When the wind blows hard in Key West we kite.  I’m talking about wind over 20Knots.  The past few days have been blowing around 25 out of the NE so we take our skiffs out and ride off the sandbars.

The other night, capt. Aaron Snell and I night kited.  There was no moon, just ambient light.  Wind was around 25knots.  What a rush!  Check out these photos of me and Aaron.  If you enjoy kiting and are down in Key West when the wind is too north to ride from Smathers beach, then call me to take you out to kite the flats.

Aaron goes big with a beach start at midnight

I was out the other night within sight of Key West fishing solo and it was red hot.  I saw several schools of bonefish tailing and permit too.  I had a hard time even wading to the tailing bonefish but finally stuck a nice one just before dark.  I also had a really good shot at a pair of tailing permit.  I dropped the fly 18″ from one and they spooked.  Permit can be so frustrating but when one eats all the work seems totally worth it!   On to the next big fish.

Capt. Mike fishing solo