Everglades City, Chokoloskee and Everglades National Park

Capt. Charles Wright
October 27, 2002
Everglades City - Saltwater Fishing Report

Brown Marlin Season!!



October is in full swing with lots of redfish along the shorelines and oyster bars.  A tipped jig seems the be the best bait now, as the water is turbid.  The rains have all but gone and the glades are nearing the bottom of the flush. This has been producing lots of turbidity in the water making sight fishing a bit

tough as of late.(Richard Massi with an early season cobia.)

(Kevin Stutz, Ohio with a "fat" snook from the black water.)  However, there have been lots of white bait around, especially the ever-favorite "saw-bellied" pilchards. If the baits are big enough, try hooking them from underneath near the bottom fin.  This way they will swim away from the line and tend to dive.  It is great a way to send a bait under a mangrove canopy for snook and redfish.  If you do not get a strike on the first few passes ... move!!  This technique also allows you to fish very close to the mangroves by easily controlling the bait's movement.

(Wayne Bowers, Ft. Lauderdale) While poling the shorelines, I have definitely seem an increase in the number of nice sheep head and small drum. I am not a big fan of using shrimp because of all the "by-catch", but they are a sure-fire method of taking these fish. 

The snook bite fell off around the full moon but has picked up nicely recently.  This time of year the snook fight their best.  They are fatting up, well past their spawn and are very healthy.  While typically not as heavy as a spring or summer fish, they run farther, jump higher and strike harder.  My favorite time of the year for snook.  The fishing in the inside waters has been consistent for us though not red hot.  The outside seems to be following the same pattern.

(Mike Booron and crew, Ft. Lauderdale)  The "gummers" have just begun to move in.  Though I have not located the big pods yet.  We are getting

one or two shots at the cobia just about every trip ... enough to make the effort worth while, but not like the typical half dozen shots we should be seeing anytime now.  The pods are here, I just have not found them. I am taking the airplane up today for a look around ... I'll find them today!!!  After all it is Brown Marlin Season!!!

I have had a couple of anglers come from Naples fly fishing and a few others from PA fly in for the everglades fly fishing. It has been real consistent, with good numbers of small snook and tarpon, as well as. lots of trout, ladyfish, mackerel and jacks.  None have taken the time to fish offshore.  That is a real shame because the excellent permit fishery. 



The 24' Morgan is in service!!  The Blue Bird Daze made here maiden voyages with good success ... grouper, kingfish, permit and cobia.  Just what the doctor order.  She is docked at the City Seafood Cafe' in Everglades City.  Come is and try some of Virgil's smoked mullet.  It is the best!!  Joanie will take real good care of you.  Be nice, her (new) husband, Dave is the Chef.  (That's Dave on the boat with a nice permit)

 

For those who are attending the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show, I will be speaking at noon on Saturday Nov. 2 about fishing this area.  See ya there.

If you would like to book a charter with Chokoloskee Charters, contact Capt. Charles Wright @www.ChokoloskeeCharters.com or call him @ 239-695-9107.  Tight Lines

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