Its easy to find a fishing guide in the Florida Keys but hard to find a good fishing guide in Florida Keys. There is an old saying that goes something like this, “10% of fisherman catch all the fish.” I think the same is true for fishing guides, “10% of fishing guides catch all the fish.” Oh sure, there are lots of pretty guide brochures, lot’s of talk and lots of nice websites online. Many of these marketing materials are perfect for the average tourist who wants to do a day of fishing in The Sunshine State. After all, Florida is the home of Disney World and many tourists see a fishing trip as just another ride. There is nothing wrong with this and many guides do a great job of servicing the average tourist who is happy catching anything or even nothing at all. With a slogan like, “The Sport Fishing Capital Of The World” – its no wonder that fishing is and has historically been big business in the Florida Keys. I think of it kind of like “the major leagues” in baseball. Just like baseball, many saltwater fishing guides want and try to be in the big leagues. The difference with fishing is that there are no try-outs or anything like that. For all practical purposes, any fisherman can enter “the big leagues” with nothing more than a captains license. And, they do. The Florida Keys, by nature, are a very transient place. It’s somewhat rare, to meet someone who is born and raised in the Florida Keys. Most people and guides are transplants from other places. And, its common to see guides towing flats boats with license plates from Montana, Idaho, Michigan etc.. Don’t get me wrong, some of those guides are probably really good. In fact, I know some are excellent keys guides because I am friends with some of them. But, there is something pretty cool and very similar about the 2 guides I fished with last time I was in the Florida Keys. One of them wasWill Benson, a shallow water fly fishing guide, born and raised on Sugarloaf Key. The other wasAugie Wampler, an offshore fishing guide, born and raised on Islamorada. I could go into all the fine details about what makes both of these guys such great fisherman, but I won’t. Because, for me, the tell-tale sign that these guys were great fisherman – had nothing to do with awards, credentials, tournament wins or any of those things that don’t impress me much anyway. From the moment I stepped on each of their boats, I could feel it in my gut that these guys were fisherman. And, my gut turned out to be right. Boz and I ventured way off-shore (1,000 feet of water or so) with Augie and it was nothing short of spectacular! Augie was thrilled that we were fly fisherman and, true to what he told us the day before, he found us countless schools of Mahi-Mahi. Boz and I were in blue water fly fishing heaven onboard “The Predator” and Augie would get just as amped up as us when he found the fish. Then, I really got lucky! My long time friend Dave Teper squeezed me onboard Capt. Will Benson’s flats boat. Will and Dave had plans to film some permit fishing, Will wasn’t booked and it was a perfect day! Anyone who fishes the Keys, knows that “perfect days” are few and far between. To be honest, I felt kind of like I didn’t belong on the boat – but Dave assured me that it was totally cool. The plan was for me to film and Dave to fish, and I was way cool with that. Honestly, I was happy to just to be out there and see and learn how these guys fish. I had seen their Permit fly fishing films and Tarpon fly fishing films, so it was something of an honor just to be onboard and part of their crew. So, I set up with the camera and got ready to take a seat in the middle and chill out. Then, out of the blue, both Will and Dave say, “Jeremy, get up on the bow.” I really did not want to be up there on the bow, and I tried to get out of it – but they wouldn’t let me. Will takes his fishing very seriously, and he takes fishing the fly on the flats to a whole new dimension. There is a right and wrong way to cast, strip and present the fly. So, I tried my best to fish like he showed me. I stripped line off my reel, stood on the bow, Will made a couple pushes with the pole and before I could even think I had a bonefish on my line. I released that fish and within a few minutes, I was hooked up to another bonefish. Dave got on the bow. Immediately, Will found some Permit and Dave had multiple shots. Then it was Tarpon time. Will handed me the 12 weight rod and before I knew it, I was surrounded by laid up tarpon. The fish were very tough to get to eat. I lined a few, spooked a bunch and my confidence was way down. Then, I pulled myself together. Will found the perfect fish. I made the perfect cast, or “buttered it in there” as Will likes to say. I made long, slow, even strips and watched a monster Tarpon turn on my fly and inhale it! I set the hook and I was in fly fishing heaven! To date, this was the best Florida Keys fly fishing trip I have ever had. So, if you are a fisherman (not just a tourist), and you find yourself in “The Sport Fishing Capital Of The World” – consider a day of flats fishing with Capt. Will Benson and a day Off-shore with Capt. Augie Wampler. These two guys are fisherman. Also, if you find yourself in the keys – you have to head down to Key West and experience Duval street. Exactly what you will experience, is anybodies guess! Watch the video that accompanies this article and you will see what I am talking about. Also, wanted to say thanks to Will’s parents for putting me up in “The Rat Hole Studio”, Denny for some great meals, Mitchell for taking me night tarpon fly fishing, Bill Houze and the rest of the World Angling crew for a great time – and for making me feel at home.
Book
- Alaska
- Guide & Fisherman
- Guiding: Choosing Your Guide And Choosing Your Customer
- Guiding: Do It Yourself With A Guide
- Guiding: Evolution Of A Guide
- Guiding: Freshwater, More Than Meets The Eye
- Guiding: Friends For Life
- Guiding: Know Where You Are
- Guiding: More Than Just A Fisherman
- Guiding: Mystery Of The Fisherman
- Guiding: Payment
- Guiding: Saltwater, A Different World
- Rough Fish
- Fly Fishing For Rough Fish: Why Do It?
- Introduced Rough Fish: The Carps & Other Invasive Species
- Methodology: Gear & Tactics For Pursuing Roughfish On A Fly
- More Roughfish: Bullheads, Whitefish, Goldeye, Burbot & Drum
- Rough Fish Environments: Where To Look For Rough Fish?
- Rough Fish Species: The Suckers
- Rough fish: A Lifetime Of Learning
- Rough Fish: Fishing For Dinosaurs (Gars & Bowfin)
- Rough Fish: What Are They?
- The Hook: Some Common Rough Fish Fly Patterns
- Spey
- Spey: Applications, Where Can You Do It?
- Spey: Atlantic Salmon, A Significant Fish
- Spey: Defined And Demystified
- Spey: Gear, The Nuts And Bolts
- Spey: Lines, They Are That Important
- Spey: Steelhead, New Traditions & A Modern Movement
- Spey: The Energy
- Spey: The Flies
- Spey: The Swing
- Spey: Two Critical Casts
- Striped Bass
- Striped Bass: Fishing Rocky Shorelines
- Striped Bass: Fishing The Beaches
- Striped Bass: Fishing The Flats
- Striped Bass: Fishing The Reefs
- Striped Bass: Fishing Tidal Rivers
- Striped Bass: Flatwing Swing
- Striped Bass: Fly Line Options & Choices
- Striped Bass: Gear, The Nuts & Bolts
- Striped Bass: Migration Patterns
- Striped Bass: What They Eat
- The Art Of Escape
- Fly Fishing: A Natural Drug
- Fly Fishing: A Validation Of Freedom
- Fly Fishing: Don’t Fight The Current
- Fly Fishing: It Is What It Is
- Fly Fishing: Socialization For Asocial Individuals
- Fly Fishing: The Allure Of The Fish
- Fly Fishing: The Art Of Escape
- Fly Fishing: The Simplicity Of It All
- Fly Fishing: Time Flies
- Fly Fishing: Times You Remember & Try To Forget
I knew it would finally happen! You’ve been trying for a long time to get a “good” day in the keys, and I’m glad I could be part of your day. It was also a treat to finally get to show you what we’ve been up to down here. I can’t wait to show you a really “epic” day of fishing, maybe next time.
stellar film,editing and fishing..gave me a serious florida jones. killer.
Thats a hall of fame video!! Thats the trip everyone is looking for, more hook ups than you need to have a great trip!! OK, you got the Florida thing down to some kind of sick science.
Too much fun. That’s what this is. Way, way too much fun.
I could do it though. Yep, I could. I could even bend my knees and cast at those Permit.
Way cool vid.
“I started with nothing and have most of it left” Awesome. Great vid all the way around I like how you mixed in some night life shots. What a trip looks like you boys had a good time. Look forward to the next one.
Great Trip, nice video, been honest with this you get a instant deja vu.
Incredible video! and song..
Loved some of the subtle audio in it, and the shots from the night down on Duval Street were sweet!
Those Mahi were a blast on popper flies! Big thanks to Augie and the “Predator” for taking us way out to the big deep water. First time offshore, loved it!
World Angling Crew-thanks for hooking me up with Shane and Adam. Great guys, they put me on the bow face to face with some Permit… But I couldn’t get an eat. Thanks, you guys rock!
Another Killer vid in the arsenal. Well done guys. Looks and sounds like you had a killer trip. Next winter I gotta get my ass off the slopes and on the flats!.
This is the Trip, The best part of the Trip….That I really like.
The video is just so Coool and the song neat!!!
Awesome shots at Mahi Mahi schools.
Way to have fun and hook up.
Congrats guys!
Jeremy, great story and awesome video! After watching this, all i want to do is head straight for the saltwater. You couldn’t have said it any better when you stated why those guys are kick ass guides, because they are fishermen. Well said and oh so very true especially in this day and age where so many people are “guides”. Nice work once again, Jer! You continuously set the bar higher both in fishing, music and film
Incredible video and fish tale. Speechless
Thats it … just like a really cool fishing vid and fish tale should be..
Still a bit down ’cause my Florida trip did not work out… but now I have a house 300 ft from good fishing water 🙂
– So who’s complaining… Florida -> next year..
Keep the amazing vidz comming Jeremy …
Believe me .. the “treat” was all mine… Hard to believe how much fly fishing we have both done and how much we have both learned since 6 years ago or whatever when we met in Naples. And, basically because of you and all the killer guides you fish and film with like willy in the keys, kevin and jeff in the everglades, shadly etc.. I get to fish with all those guys too and even if i don’t – when you and i fish together, i learn from all the stuff you have learned from them. And, when fly fishing with you on this last trip and obviously watching while filming – and watching the way you fish the permit in this video … I can’t help but think .. “Holy S***, Teper is an unbelievable saltwater fly fisherman.” … Seriously, everything from the way you’ve learned how to cast, “butter it in there”, present the fly and SELL the fly to the fish .. is pretty amazing. I was talking to Joey after he watched this video and said, “Did you see Teper fish to and hook that permit in the video?” .. Joey was like, “Ya, he’s unbelievable .. really fluid.” .. It’s true. You probably don’t realize it because you are always filming and thinking about the next project you guys are doing or whatever .. but just wanted to tell you that your skill with fly, fly rod and any shallow water species is pretty impressive. And, I just think its cool that I get to go down there and get to fish with you, will etc.. – because I learn a ton – especially the “little” things like the way to present the fly to a bonefish in the keys is different from the bahamas and a permit is different from a tarpon etc.. It really is pretty technical stuff down there with so many “little” things that make ALL the difference between success and no-success. Still got a ton to learn – but, I’m gettin’ there! I must say, I was pretty proud of hookin’ that Tarpon … never thought that the strip and the eat would be like that .. and it worked! Just like will said it would .. those fish were tough! .. Thanks again dave.
Thanks whip! Much appreciated .. I’ve watched the video like 15 times already. It’s funny, when I’m putting together the video, I never really get to “see it.” .. As, I am just working with and moving around little bits and pieces. But then after much time and computer freezes etc.. , when its finally done .. I write the fish tale, put up the pic and the video .. and finally get a chance to watch and enjoy it! Thanks for watchin’! We gotta do a Delware River fish tale/vid together this season! You in?
Thanks greg! .. The only thing that I have “down to a science” is knowing guys like will and dave and augie …. Kinda like the old saying goes, “It’s not what ya know, its who ya know!” …. And, guys like these are good guys to know in florida.
Thanks marsh! — You are right — at the end of the day .. that’s all this is .. is just too much fun .. we’ve all had a lot of fun here on flies and fins throughout the years .. that’s for sure. And, I hope that this is still only just the beginning for all of us!
Joey — I thought that sign in the pizzeria in Key west was awesome .. and so true. After all of the “big plans” etc… in fly fishing and business plans started by thousands and fly shops opened and closed and guides in and out of business and new products that promised to re-invent fly fishing etc… at the end of the day .. we all, in some way or another, “Started with nothing and have most of it left.” … Lookin’ forward to alot more of “nothing” and lot’s of fly fishing!
Thanks!
Thanks boz .. as always, it’s always a blast fly fishing with you fresh water, saltwater etc.. You always bring good energy to the table — and you’re always ready and willing for 1 more cast or one last “ditch” effort and never lose hope. We’ve had some pretty spectacular trips together through the years .. met so many great and fun people … and this was just another one of those trips. How we ever ended up going from our own little piece of junk flats boat to meeting Augie on the dock and the very next day being way offshore on “the predaotor” is still mind boggling to me! I’ll never forget you and me being way up in the tuna tower and looking out over the ocean and both of us simoltaneously saying, “holy S***! This is SWEET!” Glad you were able to get a Mahi -Mahi under your belt …. the offshore game is pretty amazing – knew you would appreciate it! Glad you were onboard.
Thanks geib — Ya man – give the slopes a rest next season .. do some flats fishin’ (get in touch with headrush999 (dave teper) from world angling for the flats stuff .. and if you go down with a couple friends definately do a day off-shore too .. you won’t be dissapointed. And if you go down with friends and split the offshore trip .. its not too bad! and on a boat like augies .. 2 or 3 guys can be casting and hooked up to those mahi mahi at once .. actually boz and i were doubled up a couple times. If you do go down – call augie and mention flies and fins and he’ll give your group a discount – this goes for any flies and fins members. I like to go down to florida and do a couple days with guides and alot on my own (wading, etc.) .. its a good balance and makes for a fun trip down there. good luck.
Alexis — thanks!! Appreciate the comments! I still gotta get over to Guadeloupe someday and we gotta do a fish tale and video together! It’s been many years now of knowing each other through flies and fins .. it will be pretty amazing when we actually do meet and fish and get to do a fish tale together!!
PS. don’t forget about the option of you coming to the USA to fish here too .. marcel came last fall to fish the northeast satlwater in sept. and we had a blast! you’re always invited .. and you might like it .. as its usually lot’s of action .. and different from what you do there in Guadeloupe! Either way, whether we end up meeting and fishing in Guadeloupe or USA — looking forward to it. Til then.
Kory, thanks bro! Appreciate the comments! And can’t wait for the saltwater fly fishing to fire up in our neck of the woods – won’t be long now. It’s true .. so often it seems that fly fishermen get caught up in the technical things such as what fly to tie, or who’s a better fly tier, or being able to cast a lot of line on a grass lawn, or being able to have accuracy and put a fly in a hulla hoop on the lawn or whatever, and who can double haul and who can’t etc…. All of that stuff is fine and good .. but, there is an element that often gets overlooked .. and, that is, being a fisherman! And, I think being a good fisherman is not necessarily something that can be learned — you either are or you aren’t. period.
Thanks bro. Ask boz, the first thing I said to him when we were on “The Predator” and hitting the bluewater was “Alex would love this.” You were there in spirit man! Hope you get a chance to fish with Augie on “The Predator” some day and meet dave, will and the rest of the world angling crew .. you’d love it down there.
Nice — Thanks man!! Appreciate the comment! .. That sucks that your “Florida trip did not work out” this year .. Hopefully, next year it will for you. Good luck in 2009 .. Hope you have some good days on the water over in your neck of the woods!
Yup…just like everyone else said…great storyvidfishing trip! I can’t wait to get back out in the salt!
Thanks! — i hear ya, i love the saltwater fly fishing.
unbelievable tale …i missed florida this winter and the great fishing down there but… you just brought me there
Jeremy, great video, and so many fish!
hey ed — i missed fishin’ with ya down there … but word on the street is that you and alex are already doin’ pretty well on the stripers .. and before ya know it .. the bonito will show .. then the bluefin .. then the albies … etc.. looking forward to fly fishing with you and the crew this season! call me when you get a second.
Thanks John! — We gotta sail down there or around there next year .. perhaps sail from the keys to bahamas .. you take care of the sailing part … we’ll take care of the fly fishing part! The more I think about it … Sailing is pretty sweet for of saltwater fly fishing transportation. I was talking to Joey and he is a really well versed sailor and knows how to do celestial navigation etc… The cool thing about sailing and crossing long distances of open ocean is that its so much more of an adventure and there is not the reliance on fuel … I have very limited experience sailing and comparatively to you – I have basically none. But, it would definately be a really cool and adventurous and team driven trip if we combined sailing and saltwater fly fishing … perhaps we can even sail to and fly fish marthas vineyard or something like that this summer/fall? Either way and whatever the case — look forward to fly fishing with you sooner than later. Thanks again.