December/January
The quality of the fishing at this time depends on the weather and most importantly water temperature. If the weather cooperates, bonefish, permit and tarpon are available target species. During that time permit are the most abundant of the three, having a better tolerance to colder water. This is a great time of year for shark, barracuda and jack, which are very reliable in the winter months. This is a great fishery for both the experienced on fly rod or inexperienced first time flats fisherman.

February
With warmer conditions around the corner, the first signs of tarpon begin to shown in a few of the basins and harbors. Permit fishing is picking up and if the water warms, permit fishing can be spectacular. Also with warm water, the bonefish and baby tarpon will make a showing. Still a great time for shark, barracuda and jack.

March
March is the month of change. Permit flood the flats during March before their offshore spawn at the end of April. Bonefishing can get very good, especially for the big bruisers. The tarpon start moving up onto the flats and basins. This is the start of our “laid up” tarpon fishery. Many believe that if the weather cooperates, this is a time when keys fishing is as good as it gets.

April
Tarpon fishing continues to get better by the day. Permit and bonefishing, its hard to decide, all three make a strong appearance. Fishermen’s dreams do come true. A sight of a tarpon taking a fly or bait is as exciting as it gets.

May/June
Prime time for tarpon during these months. Watching a 100 pound tarpon track, then rise up and engulf a fly is one of those scenes that can not be forgotten. During this time of year, it is not uncommon to see and throw at literally hundreds of tarpon per day. At the same time there are lots of bonefish on the flats and the permit start to come back to the flats in May and get really strong in June. June is one of my favorite months to fish – low winds, tons of fish.

July
Along with June, July is a great month to be here in the Keys. A lot of the part time guides have gone home out west, so there is little fishing pressure. The weather is great and the fish are plentiful. Baby tarpon are in their peak. The permit are schooled up on the flats. Big tarpon are still found, but are thinning out.

August/September
These are the sleeper months for flats fishing in the Keys. Fishing early in the days is great, with all three of the big game fish on the feed at first day light. A fly fisherman’s dream; low winds, rolling and tailing fish at day light. A great time of year for double digit bonefish and the coveted grand slams.

October/November
The water is cooling down these months which makes fishing good all day long. Best bet for bonefish, permit and baby tarpon. Very few anglers around. Barracuda and shark also are starting to get active back on the flats with the milder water temps.

Welcome to fishing the Florida Keys flats with Captain Todd Ziels.  The place for Florida Keys flats fishing, flats fishing Marathon, permit fishing, bonefishing, tarpon fishing, fly fishing the Florida Keys, flats fishing Florida Keys, fly fishing Florida Keys, fly fishing tarpon, fly fishing permit, fly fishing bonefish, Florida Keys fly fishing, shallow water fishing, backcountry fishing, fishing the middle keys, fishing Marathon, fishing with kids, light tackle flats fishing, shark fishing… enjoy the site, I am glad you are here, please contact me with any questions.