Fishing Key West with
Captain Mike Bartlett
October 2024
It’s migration season in the Florida Keys, the fall run of snowbirds has begun. I have had a few sightings already in mid September but it’s still a bit too hot for most. The snowbirds will be piling in over the course of the next few weeks completing the route from their summer homes up north.
Snowbirds aren’t the only migratory species that call the Florida Keys home for the winter. There are a myriad of species of birds that have a stop over in the Keys on their way further south including several birds of prey, smaller warbler/sparrow type birds and some marine birds.
I haven’t got totally immersed into bird watching yet but one of my clients is really into it and we had a few days on the boat last fall when we did a little fishing and a lot of bird watching. It really peaked my interest again (ornithology was my favorite subject in college) and I am looking forward to spending some time this fall checking out the different birds and learning their habits.
Some of the more notable species I have seen over the years are various hawks and falcons. Most of these birds of prey are larger and easy to see from the skiff while fishing as they fly around the islands hunting.
Last year, with clients on the boat, we nearly witnessed a murder on one of the islands west of Key West. I was poling along looking for bonefish when heard a terrifying screech from the mangroves. We looked over and saw a falcon had flown into the mangroves where a green heron was perched. Thankfully for all involved he was able to get away, I really didn’t want to watch a falcon tear apart another bird alive.
There have been times however I heard a falcon ripping through the air only to look up and see a puff of feathers. For those who aren’t aware, falcons soar high in sky watching for other birds flying around. When they lock in they fold their wings back and dive down (stoop) reaching speeds in excess of 200 mph and club it’s unsuspecting prey with it’s feet, knocking it out the sky. It’s wild to watch it happen.
White pelicans are another interesting bird that has a rest stop in the Keys. I seem to only see them on one sandbar west of Key West. Though last year for the first time I saw them swimming and feeding just a few miles from Key West. At first I couldn’t figure out what they were doing but later learned they don’t plunge into the water like brown pelicans but rather swim around dipping their beaks. They are a very pretty bird and a lot more graceful than their dopey cousin the brown pelican!!
There’s a little green finch like bird, that I can’t for the life of me remember what it is, that I see flying around in small groups every fall. Over the years I’ve had individuals land on the boat usually perching themselves on the rod my angler is holding. They don’t seem to mind us humans too much while hopping around the boat or sitting in the shade for a spell.
That’s enough bird talk for now, there’s plenty more of that to come.
It’s still the same old same old on the flats and in the backcountry, I am still mainly targeting bonefish, tarpon and permit, but change is on the way. As we get deeper into fall and early winter the water and air will cool down considerably triggering species like barracudas and jacks to come back into the shallows.
I am really looking forward to some cooler weather. It has been unbearably hot the last couple months and I am ready for a break. I am also looking forward to bird watching this fall. If I remember I’ll try to keep track of what I find and maybe dedicate an entire article with my findings and photos.
Capt. Mike Bartlett
www.facebook.com/CaptMikeBartlett
