PERMIT (Trachinotus falcatus)

Permit are the greatest challenge on the flats. They are not as abundant as other species, and are extremely skittish and very hook shy. Being a member of the Jack family, Permit are incredibly strong fighters, but unlike a Jack Crevalle who has sharp teeth, Permit have rubbery mouths made for eating its main diet - the blue crab. The flats around Key West hold the biggest Permit in the world and some of the greatest numbers

BARRACUDA (Sphyraena barracuda)

Haunting the flats in great numbers, especially in the colder winter months, "cudas" can be mistaken for so many logs embedded in the sandy shallows. In fact, they are lying in wait, with sharp eyes and sharper teeth, to ambush their prey. Barracuda can measure up to 50 inches and weigh as much as 30 pounds and are among the fastest fish, able to out-swim bonefish and leap as well as tarpon. At the top of the ocean's food chain, barracuda challenge all anglers.

TARPON (Megalops atlantica)

The "silver king" can grow over 200 pounds, measuring up to seven feet long. Although we have local tarpon here in the Keys that live all year round, the main migration begins around March bringing thousands over the next few months. When hooked these massive fish shake their heads violently side to side, leaping from the water repeatedly, sometimes fighting to the death. Early morning and night trips can be very productive in channels and day time can offer unmatchable sight fishing. Key West is a world class Giant Tarpon fishery.

BONEFISH (Albula vulpes)

"The gray ghost," named so because it is difficult to see this fish in the water, are very illusive. They are also hard to approach and fool. Bonefish feed by rooting out small crustaceans with its rubbery mouth. When hooked they put up long fast runs. Key West is not known for having great numbers of bones but hold some of the biggest specimens in history.

JACK CREVALLE (Caranx hippos)

They swim in large schools through the meandering channels that snake through the flats and are seen often following rays and sharks in the shallows looking for a free meal. Jacks are aggressive feeders and are exciting to take on surface flys and lures putting up a bullish fight.

SHARK

Sharks patrol channels and glide along the flats, hunting for prey with their dorsal fins and tails breaking the water. Bonnet heads, a member of the hammer head family, grow up to three feet, mostly feeding on shrimp and crabs using their shovel shaped head to dig with. Black tips and spinners often jump high in the air, twisting erratically when hooked. Lemon shark invade these waters as well as the most aggressive shark in the world, the bull shark. Battling any one of these brutes with light tackle, you will be fighting for the top of the food chain.