While some flats-fishing enthusiasts might tell you that summer’s the wrong time to fish skinny water in the lower Keys, don’t believe it. True, it may not be a peak period, but you can find fast fishing if you make it out on the water very early in the morning, a magical hour when the waters of Florida Bay seem to be an infinite mirror, broken only by small islands — and perhaps tailing fish. “I prefer to start early and not fish much past noon,” says Capt. Mark Schmidt, one of Key West’s most experienced and respected flats guides. Besides the air getting uncomfortable, the water heats up over the shallow, sandy bottom. “I’ve seen water temps on the flats get into the 90s in August,” too warm for game fish. In general, permit and sharks are less bothered by hot water than other species, but even they will stay in deeper, cooler ...![Sport Fishing Mag]()
