The Backcountry provides constant action throughout the day, all in calm protected water. Non-technical fishing by nature, even the first-time angler will enjoy success here. The perfect choice for family, group and corporate outings, the Key West back country leaves an indelible mark on the memory forever…
To the angler, the Key West Backcountry is the very pinnacle of world-class light tackle fishing. Legendary species roam these nearshore, inland waters such as Tarpon, Bonefish, Sharks, Barracuda and Permit near and on the flats. Mangrove Snapper, Barracuda, Snook and Redfish in and around the Mangrove islands. Yellow Jack, Sea Trout, Lady Fish, Jack Crevalle, Blacktip Sharks and Redfish in the grassy bays and basins. Mutton, Mangrove and Yellowtail Snapper, as well as Red Grouper, Cobia, Sharks and Yellow Jacks call the many channels between the flats home.
Where we go…
“The Backcountry” in Key West refers to a location, as well as a form of light tackle fishing.
Visualize mile after mile of pristine shallow waters flowing across flats and around isolated mangrove out islands, while forming into bays and remote estuaries within the Great White Heron National Marine Refuge. These calm, protected waters and the flora and fauna of the area complete a sanctuary of immeasurable beauty and serenity for the outdoor enthusiast. The typical runtime to the better spots is between 15-20 minutes, depending on the target species…
How we fish…
A very typical day in the Backcountry is all about action. We begin our trips collecting live bait, this is the most productive way to catch so many of our Backcountry species. Taking the time to collect live bait can increase your productivity exponentially. We like to use live Shrimp, Pilchards, Pinfish and Crabs…
We fish in the Back Country several different ways; Channels, Basins, Edges and in the Mangroves…
In the Back Country there are hundreds of 10-15-foot-deep channels that separate the hundreds of flats within the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. We like to set up big chum slicks in these channels where the majority of the Back Country species live. As the chum rolls out, the fish quickly come right to the boat, especially the Mangrove and Yellowtail Snapper, the Yellow Jacks and Jack Crevalle’s… As time goes by, more fish show up, that is when the predators like Tarpon, Cobia, Barracuda and Sharks arrive. Lots of quick action…
We also drift fish in the basins for Redfish, Sea Trout, Jacks, Lady Fish, Snappers, Barracuda and sometimes Tarpon. This is a wonderful way to really cover some ground. We like to fish light jigs, tipped with shrimp, from the front of the boat, as it drifts over grassy bottom in like 6-9 feet of water. It’s a very productive way to catch so many fish that prefer that kind of bottom….
Fishing the edges of the flats are a dynamite way to target Barracuda, Sharks, Tarpon, Redfish and Permit. We pick ambush points for the different species and sight cast to those specific species. It’s extremely common to throw your bait directly to a specific species this way, while a little more technical, it’s pretty easy to learn to cast accurately…
Fishing up and around the Mangrove islands is very much like freshwater Bass fishing… We use lots of top water lures and even live bait to target Mangrove Snappers, Barracudas, Tarpon and Snook this way. There’s nothing better than a perfectly placed bait getting crushed this way, what a thrill!
The backcountry trips are such an awesome way to experience the beautiful waters we have to the north. These trips sell out very quickly in winter and spring. Come spend a wonderful day on one of our state of the art 24’ Backcountry boats for an enjoyable day on the water.
BACKCOUNTRY GUIDES – 24Ft. Bay Boats (Yellowfin, Pathfinder, Skeeter)
Backcountry Boats 1 to 4 Guests
1/2 Day $750 (4 hours)
5/8 Day $800 (5 hours)
3/4 Day $900 (6 hours)
Full Day $1100 (8 hours)
Full Day Marquesas Trip $1200 (8 hours)
Split Tarpon Trip $1300 (8 Hours) – (6-10am & 5-9pm TBD)
Sunset Tarpon $650 (4 hours) – (5-9pm TBD)
Fuel Included on ALL Charters
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