Biscayne Bay Flats Fishing
Capt. Carl Ball
August 17, 2009
Biscayne Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Sight fishing bonefish and permit in Biscayne Bay has it ups and downs. This report is a good example of how things go.
This was the baby, but I like the picture.
Rich Schuster from Hallendale Beach, Fl. caught three permit with live crabs. This all happened before 9 am. I thought it was going to be one of those banner days. After the third permit I could hardly find a fish. We had a couple shots at permit and bonefish but we needed more.
Derek Olson from Fort Collins, Co. caught a 15 lb permit and a 7 lb bonefish. This was actually one of the toughest days of finding fish for the week. Not only that but I forgot the camera. However, the few shots we had were good ones.
Jason Joseph from Austin, Tx. fished with me again and I had another tough day of finding a bunch of fish. I think we had 5 shots at permit and could barely find a bonefish. But, when we found that school of tailing bones on the outflow of a deep hole in 6 inches of water, Jason threw the perfect cast to entice a 7 lb bonefish. The bone screamed half way across the flat with blazing speed and really made the day.
Thanks for making my day
I really don't want to mention the day with Bert Vorstman and his son Thomas from Coral Springs Fl. This day made the other days this week look great. Other than messing with a few ladyfish in the morning, for shark bait if needed, we had 5 shots at permit in one spot and didn't get one. You know the saying. "It was just one of those days".
Luckily a good friend of mine blew me off for a fishing trip over the weekend because I really need the rest so I could be on fire for the next week.
I took Sue Cocking, who is the outdoor writer for the Miami Herald, for a shot at catching a bonefish or permit for a story in the paper. First, we had shots at tailing bonefish but just couldn't get lucky with the spookiest bonefish on the planet. At the next bonefish spot we ran into three permit with their faces planted in the mud. Sue tossed the live shrimp and made a perfect presentation which got the attention of the one that was 12 lbs. We had some shots at mudding bonefish but it just didn't happen. When we started fishing the next permit spot, Sue spotted a very large dark brown silhouette that possibly could have been a small shark. Again, Sue cast the crab into position and presented it so the 24 lb permit could not refuse it. Now Sue was fired up to try her skills with the fly rod. She had several more shots at permit and had 2 followers and a possible eater that just didn't come tight. Big kudos to Sue!
Paul Anselmo from Fort Lauderdale, Fl. had one of those, "I can't get them to eat anything", "My cast was perfect they just didn't want it", "What was wrong with that!!!" days. However, Paul wound up catching a 24 lb permit and a 7 lb bonefish. Paul thought he was the man with his ability to bring reds and snook to the boat in Flamingo, but I think this trip brought him back down to eye level.
Biscayne Bay Fishing Forecast:
More of the same until fall when it gets better.
Target Species:
bonefish, permit, tarpon
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