Top 5 Bonefishing Tips from Florida Keys Guide Capt. Chandler Williams

With: captchandlerwilliams

We caught up with Capt. Chandler Williams, a guide who’s living proof that all it takes is a Walmart setup and a whole lotta grit to chase down your dreams. From practicing casts in the front yard as a teenager to poling clients across the gin-clear flats of the Florida Keys, Chandler’s journey is a true testament to what happens when passion meets persistence. We sat down to talk bonefish, guiding challenges, and why the lower Keys are hotter than ever.

What first got you into fly fishing, and how did that passion turn into guiding full-time in Florida?

I had kind of just picked it up on my own at a young age. I was doing yard work for a neighbor I was around 13 i believe, when asked how I wanted to be paid I said I wanted a fly fishing set up from Walmart up the road. I Spent my free time in the front yard learning how to cast ever since that day going forward. I had kind of always knew I wanted to be a fishing guide, I love hunting and fly fishing is that in fishing form.

So Fly fishing really took that passion for fishing to another level in which became my love for sight fishing the shallows. my eyes were always on south Florida as that was the dream and the goal! With south Florida being the fishing capital of America I knew if I ever wanted a chance to make it to the highest ranks of guiding, Florida would be the place to try and make that mark. it truly is home to some of the best and most renowned guides in our industry, and that really fueled me and my dreams of guiding in Florida!

It’s been amazing to say the least, I have the best group of mentors and Guides  that have taken me in as one of their own. It’s one big family and it’s a blessing to get to learn from these guys!! 

What are your five top tips for targeting bonefish in the Keys?

1. Look for places with a good mixture of grass and sand bottom!

2. Low tide is your best friend in this game

3. Practice your casting so that you can be stealthy and accurate laying the fly where it needs to be softly! These critters can be spooky

4. I prefer all clear floating lines especially for those big  tailing fish as they can be spooky.

5. Handle these guys with as much care as possible and keep them wet! Bone fishes slime is highly vital to its survival. Keep them as wet as possible. 

What’s the best time of year for bonefishing in the Keys, and why?

I love spring and I love fall! You get chances at big schools of fish and there can be lots of them around. September and October I love the most. I believe this goes along with the spawning times and there seems to be more of the bigger fish around during those times. But You can pretty much fish for bonefish year around in the keys depending on the weather. 

Have you noticed any changes in the bonefish population in the Keys over the years, and what are your thoughts on their current status?

I think a lot of us can say without a doubt it’s became incredible. The lower keys and key west seem to be infested with them and it seems like there are more and more each year. And it’s getting better and better each year in my opinion. It’s so good I see a lot of them when I’m not even looking for them. I don’t see those big down town Islamorada bones like the old timers would talk about. But the fish I see in the lower keys are usually really nice size fish and often more than not I’ll come across some absolute giants. 

What are some of the biggest challenges you face when guiding anglers for bonefish, and how do you help them overcome those challenges?

A lot of anglers I think face a challenge of accuracy and speed to get on top of the fast shots while placing the fly accurately. So when I have less experienced salt water anglers who we are working the kinks out with as a caster and angler I choose certain spots based on how fish move. Putting them in spots where the fish will flow directly towards them giving them time to put the fly way out in front of them,  then fishing the fly once they come into the zone of where you placed that fly. Sounds easier said than done right haha. 

What’s next for Capt. Chandler Williams? Any big goals or new adventures on the horizon?

I’m gonna have my hands full this year that’s for certain! I’d really like to get a win in the permit tournament trail this year in the keys thats the big goal for my anglers and myself going into this season. Along with that I’ve decided to open my calendar back up to guide in the Charleston, South Carolina! It’s some of the best Red Fishing the East Coast has to offer along with the scenic beauty of the Low Country!