Tailing Water Expeditions — Local services in Stock Island

I just finished fishing for 5 days with Capt. Nick LaBadie. While Capt. LaBadie is exceptional with both gear and fly fishing for all of the flats species, his main focus is on fly fishing for permit and tarpon. He has not only had high finishes in the major permit tournaments as a guide, he has also won the IGFA permit tournament as the angler. This gives him the unique perspective of being both guide and angler. He was a wonderful combination of being extremely serious in his approach to finding fish and getting the best possible shot but at the same time being very positive when I didn't see the fish well or didn't make the perfect cast. After each opportunity he makes observations. Some times he would say that he wouldn't have done anything differently, but other times would tell me how I might have made a better presentation. He always did this in a way that was very helpful. We did change things up when conditions weren't optimal for permit and caught both tarpon and bonefish. It was a fantastic trip with one of the best guides in the Keys today who also happens to be a fantastic person! If you are a flats fly fisherman who wants to test yourself against permit, tarpon, and bonefish in the Keys, do yourself a big favor and spend several days with Capt. Nick LaBadie. It will not only be fun, but he will help to...

If you're thinking about fishing with Capt. Nick Labadie, stop reading, call him now, book your days, then continue reading.

My girlfriend and I have fished with Nick a couple of times now. Every day is just as good as the last. We are usually down in the Keys in winter time so you never know what you're going to get...tarpon, barracuda, jacks, bluefish, bonefish, sharks etc. I even had shots at Permit last year...

Besides the fish, Nick is a phenomenal guy and even better guide. I felt right at home as if I was fishing with an old fishing buddy the moment I stepped on his boat. He is a phenomenal teacher and had my new to fishing girlfriend catching all sorts of fish in no time.

Bottom line, if you spend a day with Nick you won't be...

I jokingly called Captain Nick Labadie a fish Whisperer but that's exactly what he is. Literally within 10 minutes of being on his boat I had already hooked an over 60 lb tarpon . We proceeded to catch two other Tarpon within what seemed like minutes while most of the other boats around us appeared to have not been on any fish at all . Later that afternoon while hunting bonefish I hooked another over 60 pound tarpon on an artificial lure (definitely the highlight of the trip). Captain Nick then got me onto a bone fish with fantastic directions. All in all I would absolutely recommend Tailing Water Expeditions and Captain Nick Labadie as my go to fishing guide while...