Fishing Report for December 12th, 2003!

I hope everyone and your families have a Happy Holiday Season. Can you believe it, it is almost the end of the year, and Christmas is around the corner.

Don't forget Christmas and the New Years is a great way to give gifts to the ones who love fishing, either to fish for the holiday or to give them a jump on the Spring Tarpon and Bonefish Season.

Its a great stocking stuffer, and who wouldn't want a Great Gift for your Husbands, Kids, the ones off for College, or just a Great Get Away for you and your loved one, the Keys is the Place for all kinds of Saltwater Gamefishing.

I can put together a great package for you all either flats fishing and backcountry, or Flats fishing and Offshore fishing. Just give me a call and I will put together a nice cover letter, and send it off for you to put in the Christmas Stocking. So, don't forget to call me at 305-664-5891, and I will be happy to work with you, and make sure you get it on time for the holidays!

We have had an array of weather here in the last few weeks, with plenty of wind, cool mornings, but sunny skies, and some great fishing for all anglers.

It's been a sensational Fall Season, which is coming to a close, but the Winter fishing should be spectacular flats fishing, backcountry, on the patches on the reef, and offshore of course.

I can only tell you the fishing has been good on some days, and slow on others, but one thing is for sure, the report has a variety of fishing you will enjoy.

Some of the days have been spotty bonefishing, oceanside, but on the bayside to our South the bonefishing has been good.

I would like to thank Bob and Denny Martin, Bob's wife Colleen, set up a birthday gift to Bob for bonefishing, and winds were a factor our first day, and we did fish a half day the next, and the bonefish were not too cooperative, but we did hook up some sharks, and some other species. It was Bob's first experience on the flats, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of sightcasting. I certainly enjoyed seeing them both enjoy the morning, and certainly hope to have them both back in our upcoming tarpon season.

I also want to congratulate Tom Crane who came from Ohio, who came to flyfish for bonefish, we caught and release 2 nice bonefish, one weighing in at 8lbs and the other at 10lbs. We were using Crazy Charlies with Chartruesse Green, and Epoxy head, with a bit of Crystal Flash, and we were in a small school, but really Tom did all the work and nailed the cast at 2 o'clock, and the fish worked over to the fly, and he did a beautiful job landing him to the boat. It was later in the morning, we caught and released the big one, and again using the same fly, he hooked up a nice bonefish in a school of 3, and I poled, and poled, and what a fight on an 8 weight rod, the fish zipped across the flats, and it was about a 30 minute fight and was a memory that will last forever for the both of us. Great job, and see yah back soon.

I would like to thank Bill and Elyce Murphy from North Carolina, Bill too is an avid flyfisherman, and it was a very cool morning, and the fishing was very slow, but we too had a good morning, but the bonefish did not cooperate.

So, fishing on the flats has been a joy and disappointment to some anglers, and the weather has been a bit tricky, but with the warmer weather coming back, the fishing should once again get better and better.

I also want to reinsert this write up, because they just got back from their vacation, and may have not had a chance to read it from the last report, I do apologize, but I have a big congratulations to Marek and Julie Plater, from Pennsylvania, we fished a few days, and they too caught and released several bonnetheads, ladyfish, and jack crevelle, and also had the pleasure of meeting Billy the Barracuda, he really gives the anglers a thrill when he comes up out of no where, and scares the by-jimmines out of you. We also caught and released some small snapper too. But the cout-de-gras was on the last day of fishing, and we decided to just bonefish that day, and we did see some bonefish early in the morning, but not enough to get some good casts too, but the last 20 minutes of our charter, I looked behind the boat on the falling tide, and there it was a Big School of 50 fish coming right to us, this was it! Do or die! Marek casted at a nine o'clock shot, and there it was, his first bonefish on 8lb test! He did it! The initial hook up, and Marek, couldn't believe the speed on the speed demons. He did a great job listening to me, and working the boat where the bonefish was going, and we landed him in about 20 minutes, and she was a beauty, it weighed in at 8 1/2 lbs. What a beautiful fish, we had Julie taking the pictures, and it was the biggest thrill for us all. We worked feverishly to get Marek his first bone. He was exhausted and needless to say, exhilerated, and very happy. I too was very proud, and he looked at Julie and said, next year it is your turn. I thought that was Great! Good Job Marek, and really look forward to seeing you both back for another line stretching and reel screaming morning.

So, it has been a fair fishing week and a great time stalking them elusive bonefish, and can be quite cumbersome when they are not around, but that is the love of stalking these gray ghosts. It can be a bit trying on the nerves, but once you hook up the adrenaline takes over, and your knees start shaking, and the thrill of the line zipping out in less than a minute, as Marek said I cannot describe the feeling, until you actually hook up. But, let me tell you, that it is one of the most fasinating, and intriguing experiences you could ever have, whether on fly or light tackle, it will have your heart racing, and have a lump in your throat, and a smile on your face, when you hook up!

So you can see the past several weeks of bonefishing has been great some days in in the early morning and good in the later part of the evenings just before dusk, and is a great fight on fly or on 8lb test with shrimp, or crab.

Some Cobia and Spanish Makerals have been spotted in the backcountry on the flats in Everglades National Park.

With the snook season reopened, we have had some great catches of 10-12lb. snook in Everglades National Park, using live bait, or jigs tipped with bait, pinfish, and pilchards, you are bound to hook up with these bruisers. With the limit on 2 fish on the species, makes for a fun day in the Backcountry.

I have also had reports that the redfishing has been good also in the Park, and with reports of several catches and releases between 7lbs up to 10lbs. on fly and light tackle. Using shrimp, crabs, spoons, and flies have been the going ticket.

Reef and Patch fishing has been good with yellowtail, mangrove and mutton snappers, all great keepers, and what a dinner.

Captain Alex Adler reports from the Kalex, that the Offshore Fishing is Great, finding early bait migrations have been very active for kingfish, bonitas, snappers. They have had a great run on the Sailfish, and with some great daily catches and releases of these beautiful gamefish. They have been catching tuna, dolphin, kingfish, cero makeral, a few wahoo, as the water temperatures drop, sailfish become more plentiful in 90-180 ft. of water, as well as the groupers and kingfish. This Past Week an early run on the sailfish, and blackfin tuna, dolphin fishing has been on the edge of the reef, with some hit and miss with the schoolies and amberjack.

Shallow water Reef and Wreck fishing has been great. This report for offshore has been supplied by Capt. Alex Adler, from the Infamous Kalex, and you will see updated Offshore Reports on my page, by Capt. Alex Adler for all you offshore fans. Also, make sure to check out my new Fall and Winter Fishing Packages we are offering for Both Flats, and Offshore Anglers who want to get the best of Both Worlds, here in the Sportfishing Capital of the World, Islamorada, Florida Keys.

Winter, and Even Spring Tournament Fishing is getting active, with some Big Fish Being Caught, and Released. If any of you anglers are interested in Some Great Comraderie, and Action, and would like to Enter Some Of Islamorada's Great Tournaments, please call me at 305-664-5891, or you can email me at CaptAnn@boneranger.com, and I will get all the information needed for such events.

Great way to benefit some great causes, and give a little back to some of the less fortunate, and a Great Way to have Fun, and make new Friends.

Flyfishing enthusiasts, this is the greatest time of the year to come and challenge all our gamefish on fly, the challenge can be quite rewarding, and a great way to get ready for your Spring fishing. Gives you all great hand and eye coordination, so those who you think are bad, don't think it your eyes that are going, its time to get some lessons. I do offer No-Pressure fly instruction, and love to teach you new techniques to build your skills for the Lake and Stream fishing your doing.

Make Sure to Plan in Advance for Spring Dates for Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit and Backcountry Fishing. It starts late March and runs through July. But, we get booked 6 months to a year in advance for the season, so don't delay, get your dates put together and we will let you feel the thrill of hooking up the species of choice, whether its bonefish, tarpon, or permit, you may be lucky enough to land a Grand Slam!

I have had alot of the Greatest Anglers here in the Florida Keys with their Families. I have had a great experience with them all. Thank you and Look forward to your Return.

So see whether you choose to go Flats fishing for our elusive Bonefish, or Powerful Permit, and/or those Giant Silver Kings, aka Tarpon, you will sure be surprised to find what is at the other end of your rod.

Other anglers are finding their ways into the Backcountry of Everglades National Park, or even Offshore to challenge the deep water species.

Whichever you decide to experience, it all has been an exciting and great way to spend a day with the family or with your friends, wife, or girlfriend. All I can say is the fishing has been at its best, and challenging anglers to all aspects of fishing.

So your fishing is not limited to anyone species. With the Fall fishing coming to an end, we have Winter fishing and that will definitely get you all geared up for the Great Spring Action You come to do, with the action and fishing heating up, the fishing makes it for all anglers challenging and quite the experience, no matter what fish you target!

Whether your flyfishing for bonefish, tarpon, permit, redfish, or light tackle fishing for the same species, the effect will have you hooked for years to come, and where else but, Paradise, can we achieve such tremendous catches and releases.

What a great way to enjoy the beauty of the island chains here in the Fabulous Florida Keys!

You definitely can get the fever for any of these incredible gamefish.

Reminder to All Anglers Snook Season is open and is open until December 14th, then closed Dec. 15th- Jan 31st, also closed, June, July, and August, but, don't forget we can still fish the closed season, and fish when snook season reopens, so be ready!

Many anglers are booking fishing trips for December, January, February, and for the Upcoming Spring Fishing, to fish the flats or travel the backcountry in Everglades National Park to fish for these beautiful and powerful fish, and enjoy the trip with some beautiful bird watching also, and seeing the many islands, dolphins and other wildlife to be had back there.

So before heading back into the backcountry in Everglades National Park, don't forget your cameras to take some grand pictures of some of the most intriguing birds, and of course the fish of the day you caught.

So drop me a line, or call up and make sure you get the bookings that you are looking for, and don't forget an Evening trip is Great too, and what a good way to see our Fabulous Sunsets. Bookings can get full, and limited, so make sure you call in advance, so you too can experience the wonderful challenge of all species we have to offer.

So, don't forget you can always book for the Season, and I suggest that, for we get booked 6 months to a year in advance for the season, so don't forget to get a jump on your bookings to get the dates your looking for, in the hottest fishing spot in the Keys.

It's great fun, on light tackle and fly! April-July is best for these Giant Silver Kings, and we offer evening trips for these awesome species, and bonefishing in the evening is great fun too, what a way to catch a sunset, and fish too.

With the Winter Breaks, or Easter, great time for the kids and Mom's and Dads, and husband and wives, friends, or just fishing enthusiasts, and graduations, anniversary's, birthdays being just around the corner, why not get a jump start on a great way to treat one of your loved ones or friends with a gift certificate to come fishing in the Keys. Great Fall and Winter Fishing Packages for Great Savings!

Check out our New Fall Fishing Packages I am offering to Anglers for this upcoming Fall for those who want to get away from the kids, just getting out of the office, or just to experience some of the off season. Anglers can get a great deal and want to do some great fishing in the off season, great on your pocketbook, it is a great value, check it out on my Rates and Package Page!

I can provide a nice Fishing Package for anglers with a nice cover sheet, and certificate for them to have in their stocking or in a present suited just for them. So, just drop me and email or give me a call and we can set that up for you, and it's even great for the upcoming season.

I am sure you will see many happy faces and you will be giving them memories of a lifetime to treasure. With any of the Fishing Packages, or Daily Rates, I offer Flyfishing Instruction for those New Beginners! So check it out on my Rates and Packages Page!

With the New Flats and Offshore Fishing Packages are great and Brand New, Please check them out on the Fishing Package and Rates Page.

The Flyfishing and Light Tackle Fishing Packages that are on the site give everyone the best of both worlds, to come down and challenge their skills for Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, Redfish and Snook. What a great way to treat yourself and a loved one to some great action! That is why we are the Sportfishing Capital of the World.

I offer No Pressure tactics, and offer Fly Instruction, and what an experience for either the beginner fisherman or advanced fisherman, to benefit a day on the water. It is the growing trend, to stalk these gamefish on fly and what a wonderful sport it is, and a great way for some great hand and eye coordination for you to learn how to cast to these beautiful fish! What memories you and your fishing companion to experience together, or you can make it a family event, and ladies don't forget, we too make it as a great pasttime for ourselves to pick up the fly, and surprise yourself how enjoyable and challenging it really is.

Isn't that what it is all about, the grandure and power of all of these great saltwater gamefish, whether you choose bonefish, tarpon, or permit, the memories are there forever!

I would still like to say a special thanks to all of the Anglers, and the ones that are still coming to Paradise to fish for The Best Saltwater Gamefish we have to offer from the Novices of anglers to the Experienced Anglers, and it gets no better than this.

Remember to book your trips accordingly, dates are full, and there is still some openings for fly and live bait, don't miss out on the best action available.

Don't forget we do EVENING TRIPS also for bonefish, and tarpon, and what a great way to watch the sunset with a big fish on!

Now don't forget I also offer Fishing Gift Certificates, whether this is for a Holiday gift, Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation, or Just Getting Good Grades, or just for that special someone! It is the Perfect Getaway, and the Best Relaxation for him or her, or both.

Make sure that all you Anglers have a good pair of amber tinted polorized sunglasses, it's essential, it cuts the glare a 100%, when your sight casting to our gamefish! Also, don't forget your sunscreen!

If you would like more information for fishing here in The Florida Keys, please check out my website at http://www.boneranger.com, and I will be happy to help and assist to make your fishing adventure, and vacation a memory of a lifetime.

Ladies, don't forget, we too can enjoy the splendors of fishing on light tackle or fly, and it's a great way to spend the day getting to know the waters and the beauty that happens here in the Keys!

Well, until my next report, tight lines, and Hope To See You on the Flats, and Remember Catch and Release for the Future!

Tight lines, and Keep Reeling, and Hope to See Yah on the Flats,

Capt. Ann Holahan www.boneranger.com

Florida Keys Fishing Report
for the backcountry of Islamorada Florida "Sportfishing Capital of the World"

Fishing Report for November 28th, 2003!

I hope everyone and their families had a Great Thanksgiving, and had plenty to eat. Don't forget Christmas Holiday and the New Years is around the Corner, what a Great Gift for your Husbands, Kids, Your ones off for College, or just a Great Get Away, the Keys is the Place for all kinds of Saltwater Gamefishing.

We have had an array of weather here in the last few weeks, with plenty of wind, but sunny skies, and some great fishing for all anglers.

It's been a sensational Fall Season, which is coming to a close. But, in the last few days, we have had exceptional weather, with the winds at a stall, but we should be experiencing a Fall Cold Front this upcoming weekend.

I can only tell you the fishing has been good on some days, and slow on others, but one thing is for sure, the report has a variety of fishing you will enjoy.

There are some small tarpon still around at the bridges, with reports of 15-25lb tarpon eating on pilchards, and mullet, on the early morning tide.

Some of the days have been spotty bonefishing, oceanside, but on the bayside to our South the bonefishing has been good. I would like to Cher Tufley, from Colorado, we ventured out in the winds seeking our elusive bonefish, and we caught and released several bonnetheads, ladyfish, jack crevelle, snapper, and other species. The winds were very prevelent when Cher was here, but like the great gal she is, we made the best of the conditions. Thanks, Cher, and hope to see yah in the Tarpon Season, and tell Barbara to enjoy that new car!

I would also like to congratulate Rick and Angela Norman, who too, had experienced some stiff winds, and again, we made the best of the situation, and fished and Angela caught and released her first shark, and landed several ladyfish in the 4-5lb. range, which kept us busy for a part of the morning, and Rick, had some catching up to do, but, the women overtook the catch of the day. We also caught and released several smaller ladyfish, jack crevelle, lizard fish, and snapper, but all in all, we had a great morning, we also had hooked up a 4-5' barracuda, who got a belly full of some great catches. Thanks again, and look forward to fishing with you again Rick and Angela.

Also, would like to thank Scott Stegen, and his girlfriend Lara, who came down and fished a few days with me, and we caught and released several bonnethead sharks, and Lara, hooked into her first, and had a great time on the light tackle with catches of several sharks, ladyfish, jack crevelle, and snapper, and they too, got to meet Billy the Barracuda, for some more brunch! He is in this area every time I fish there, and can be quiet the amuzement for my anglers seeing how gutsy he is coming up right next to the boat when we are ready to land the fish, and knab him. I hope Bill has had his fill. We also fished for some small tarpon by the bridge, but had no luck with them, but did catch and release some nice Blacktips, one weighing in about 20lbs, and some really nice snapper, and bonnetheads again, with the wind honking out of the North to Northeast really had hindered some fishing. Scott, did had a nice shot at some bonefish, but we beamed him on the head, and spooked them out.

Scott and Lara also had a great adventure offshore with Capt. Alex Adler on the Kalex, hooking up and releasing 4 sailfish, 2 for Scott, and 2 for Lara, with some great catches of king and cero makeral, and I believe they also got some great bonitas too.

Great job, and I look forward to seeing you back in the Tarpon Season.

I also have a big congratulations to Marek and Julie Plater, from Pennsylvania, we fished a few days, and they too caught and released several bonnetheads, ladyfish, and jack crevelle, and also had the pleasure of meeting Billy the Barracuda, he really gives the anglers a thrill when he comes up out of no where, and scares the by-jimmines out of you. We also caught and released some small snapper too. But the cout-de-gras was on the last day of fishing, and we decided to just bonefish that day, and we did see some bonefish early in the morning, but not enough to get some good casts too, but the last 20 minutes of our charter, I looked behind the boat on the falling tide, and there it was a Big School of 50 fish coming right to us, this was it! Do or die! Marek casted at a nine o'clock shot, and there it was, his first bonefish on 8lb test! He did it! The initial hook up, and Marek, couldn't believe the speed on the speed demons. He did a great job listening to me, and working the boat where the bonefish was going, and we landed him in about 20 minutes, and she was a beauty, it weighed in at 8 1/2 lbs. What a beautiful fish, we had Julie taking the pictures, and it was the biggest thrill for us all. We worked feverishly to get Marek his first bone. He was exhausted and needless to say, exhilerated, and very happy. I too was very proud, and he looked at Julie and said, next year it is your turn. I thought that was Great! Good Job Marek, and really look forward to seeing you both back for another line stretching and reel screaming morning.

I would also like to thank Cheryl and Vince Macfaden from Idaho. We fished a few days for those elusive bones again, and Cheryl hooked up her first bonefish, but not one, two in one day. She hooked up a nice 7lber, on the bayside, by the Marina, and about an hour and half later, released a huge bonefish weighing in at 11 1/2 lbs on light tackle of 8lb test. It was at least a 35-40 minute fight for Cheryl, and she too listened well, and worked all around the boat to land 2 beautiful bonefish, and we released them both with no harm to the fish, and saw them swim away. I am sure both bonefish were happy to be back out in the open waters to fight for another day again. Great Job Cheryl, and see yah back in the Upcoming Tarpon Season.

So, it has been a good fishing week, and a great time stalking them elusive bonefish, and can be quite cumbersome when they are not around, but that is the love of stalking these gray ghosts. It can be a bit trying on the nerves, but once you hook up the adrenaline takes over, and your knees start shaking, and the thrill of the line zipping out in less than a minute, as Marek said I cannot describe the feeling, until you actually hook up. But, let me tell you, that it is one of the most fasinating, and intriguing experiences you could ever have, whether on fly or light tackle, it will have your heart racing, and have a lump in your throat, and a smile on your face, when you hook up!

Some Cobia and Spanish Makerals have been spotted in the backcountry on the flats in Everglades National Park.

Reef and Patch fishing has been good with yellowtail, mangrove and mutton snappers, all great keepers, and what a dinner.

Captain Alex Adler reports from the Kalex, that the Offshore Fishing is Fantastic, finding early bait migrations have been very active for kingfish, bonitas, snappers. They have had a great run on the Sailfish, and with some great daily catches and releases of these beautiful gamefish. They have been catching tuna, dolphin, kingfish, cero makeral, a few wahoo, as the water temperatures drop, sailfish become more plentiful in 90-180 ft. of water, as well as the groupers and kingfish. This Past Week an early run on the sailfish, and blackfin tuna, dolphin fishing has been on the edge of the reef, with some hit and miss with the schoolies and amberjack.