Everglades City & Chokoloskee - Sight Fishing
Capt. Charles Wright
July 26, 2009
Everglades City - Saltwater Fishing Report
Inshore/Backcountry …
The summer's been very hot so the water temperature's between in some area has been over 90 degrees. The unusually persistent southwest winds drive the cooling thunderstorms inland. I am ready for some lightning!! The high temperatures does not bother the red fishing. In fact this year, we are seeing mores reds, earlier. All of June and thus far in July the fishery has been great. You'll find them in the shallow waters, particularly at the tail end of the falling tide. They bite very consistently. Flies, small jigs and DOA shrimps seems to be best.
Snook fishing, well what can I say. It's summer, it's awesome. The fish are big but they don't bite all day long. Fish early and fish late. Top waters in the morning until the sun gets high; then switch to jigs.
They still are plenty of tarpon around. You find them the passes most every day. The juveniles are in the creeks. You can still find the full grown dinosaurs laid up in the shallows. Again, like everything else in the summer, they bite best early and leave. Garrick Huber wore out the juveniles in his kayak yesterday morning on fly …
Offshore
We are finding a few cobia, smaller fish. Most, however, are long since gone. But they will be back in October. Permit are still marauding the structure and live bottom and big snook are thick, as well. Jigs on the bottom are very productive. The hot shallow water have pushed the trout offshore. Once you find … "a fish every cast"
Everglades City Fishing Forecast:
Everglades National Park – September and October
The summer's been very hot so the water temperature's between in some area was been over 90 degrees. The unusually persistent southwest winds drove the cooling thunderstorms inland. However, most all of June and July the fishery was been great, although we did have an unexpected "slump" the first of July.
The high temperatures did not affect the red fishing, at least in some areas. In fact this year, we saw mores reds, earlier. You will still find them in the shallow waters, particularly at the tail end of the falling tide. They bite very consistently. Flies, small jigs and DOA shrimp seem to be best. The sight-fishing was particularly good.
We can expect September to remain hot and so the fishing. The afternoon thunderstorms will become more numerous and regular and cool the afternoons and evenings quite a bit. This usually triggers an afternoon bite.
In October, the water cools and the air dries and the fishing patterns change.
In September and early October, a split day is the ticket. We fish very earlier in the morning until the bite stops. It is then back to the casa during the heat of the day. In the evening, when it cools, we are back on the water. By the end of October, the morning bite sustains into early afternoon
The Everglades are in the sub-tropics and we usually get reminded of that several times during this period with "named" tropical storms and hurricanes. This is not all bad. The days just prior to a tropical event can trigger incredible feeds in this area. It can be an experience that fee anglers can forget. If you can, try it … be vigilant, of course.
Large schools of white bait should again "splash" the shores. Fishing around these giant cafeterias is usually a good plan … a very good plan (hint!!). "It is all about lunch"
Snook season opens again in September 1st so be sure to book trips early. The fall snook are my favorite, bar none. They are post spawn and look to "fatten" up before the water cools. Fall snook are usually the most aggressive. Typically, a bit smaller than then the summertime fish, they are, however, feistier and usually much better fighters. It is hard to resist top water plugs in the morning. When this bite wanes, begin working your way down the water column.
Redfish should still be plentiful and sight-fishing superb. The greatest concentration of redfish for the year is in September and October. With number of fish here in the summer, I am expecting some very good days. The bigger fish will still run down your big top water plugs in the morning and you can certainly expect many shots at them in the shallows while sight fishing. Fish the bait pods and topography.
Tarpon This year, especially earlier was the best tarpon fishing that I can remember. While there are plenty of big fish around, it is the juveniles that dominate my anglers time in September, we often start off the day by jumping the juvies!
Permit will be on the structure for duration of October in large schools. By the end of the month, they thin out. Flies and jigs, yes, but a live crab is best. These fish average 18 lbs with a 25-30 fight on 8 lb spinning gear.
Speckled Trout will be tough until the arrival of the white bait as they are typically in the deeper cooler waters until. Once they are here, they should be thick. Rising tide, jigs, Clausers minnows.
Cobia The cobia will be far and few between until the water cools in the northern areas of the state and drives them our way. The end of October can be great; September, not so.
Black Drum They are here, but with everything else going on, why target them.
Snappers … lots … live shrimp under the mangroves.
Gag Grouper … Too early for the inshore bite, give it couple of months
Sheep head … nope, not yet.
Action Fish … Jacks, lady fish, and Spanish … catch them until you are tired … once you locate them.
See you on the water!
Capt. Charles Wright
www.ChokoloskeeCharters.com
www.EvergladesKayakFishing.com
239-695-9107
Target Species:
Snook ,Tarpon, Redfish, Permit, Cobia, Speckled Trout
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