Captain Kip is a native of South Florida. Soon after moving to Key Largo in 1980, he received his captain's license and began chartering light tackle and fly fishing enthusiasts into the Upper Keys and Everglades National Park. Kip specializes in targeting bonefish, tarpon, permit, redfish, snook, sea trout and, of course, shark fishing. Most of his charters are sight fishing the flats in a 17-foot custom L & H skiff. The boat is powered by a Mercury 60 horsepower outboard and drafts a mere 6 inches. The only means of propulsion he uses on the flats is a push pole, therefore, no electric motors to spook the fish.

Capt. Kip on the cover of Florida Sportsman Magazine (click to enlarge)

Charters are available all year round; although, some species are only in South Florida at certain times of the year. For example, tarpon migrate into our waters during late February and stay for about four months. Early morning and evening are the best time to catch tarpon. Bonefish don't like water temperatures too hot or too cold so they stay in deep water and only venture onto the flats to feed when it suits them. That means in the summer, sunrise (before the temperature rises) and sunset(as the temperature falls) are the best time to stalk tailing bones. Winter bonefishing is usually best all day unless an extreme temperature drop occurs. Redfish and snook are caught all year long. Spotted Seatrout are usually around but are at their lowest levels in Florida Bay during the Fall. The first strong northeast winds which follow cold fronts will move schools of trout into the bay. Sharks are full time residents also but move out to deep water during low temperatures.

Kip's Territory:

(click to enlarge)