Back country bite!
Capt. Jim Hobales
March 25, 2009
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
031909
I am part of a 2 boat trip today with Capt. Benny Blanco, I am with brothers Jim and Jerry. I started out in Ponce De Leon Bay looking for Tarpon we saw a few early so I put out a live mullet while the brothers cast lures. It didn't't take to long to get a bite, a Tarpon took the bait but threw it. While Jim was reeling in a 65 lb Spinner Shark ate it next to the boat and for the next 30 minutes or so he battled this Shark, I couldn't understand why it was taking so long! Jim finally got the Shark boat side and that's when I saw the hook had come out and snagged a pec fin. I made the run to the Harney River and found the mother load of Tarpon we spent a few hours up there casting and casting with only a bump and a follow up. There were some Trout, Jacks and Ladyfish mixed in but Tarpon was what we wanted. Late in the day we headed back and stopped for Groupers, Gags and Goliaths. These two fish hit hard, run and pull, I always try to explain their fight but you really have to learn first hand. We caught a hand full of 10 pound Goliaths and had a really good Gag on until he got into a tree,again I explained how fast you have to be on the reel. This is close quarters combat if your a little slow they win. We picked up and then went to my big Goliath spot on the ride home. I had a few 2 lb. Jacks in my live well and it don't take long here. On the first presentation a really big fish came out and ate the bait the brothers were shocked and all of a sudden Jim's arm was sore and didn't' t want to touch the rod. The 75 lb Golaith ate the Jack and we were off to the races, Jerry did a good job keeping it out of its tree. He fought the fish hard and had him under the boat, I was getting ready to grab him with the boga grip and then I heard a nasty sound. The sound was a 20 lb Biscayne Rod snap due to high sticking ( high sticking is when you raise the rod straight up and try to pull using the tip, the rod can't take the pressure and breaks).
I don't like loosing big fish but it hurts when a rod breaks, I use the best rods made Period! If you fish with me our other guides that use Biscayne Rods you will appreciate the the rod enough to go buy one for yourself.
032109
I am fishing with Brooks and his son Brooks Jr. today. I ran by a lot of good areas so I could get up to Tarpon Bay early and catch the last of a falling tide. I pulled up to the first spot and found some big Snook sunny themselves on a bank but they spooked off. The bite was slow until the tide switch and then it was every cast for about 30 minutes. Brooks Sr. caught a nice Redfish and then followed
it up with a few Snook. Jr then did the same. The bite shut down and I ran west to the Harney River hoping to find the Tarpon that were there a day before. The place was a ghost town I never saw a rolling Tarpon, I power poled down and started fish a point while keeping an eye out for them. On their first cast both Brooks caught fish. Jr. with a nice Snook and Sr. with a big Trout to give him a SLAM for the day. This spot produced a bunch of Snook, Trout, Jacks and Ladyfish. We moved on and got into some baits that's where getting busted up, they caught some nice Mackerel up to 6 lbs. They caught plenty of Jacks and Ladys while the Tarpon were free jumping around us but not eating our lures. I took them in for some Grouper fishing but the lack of tide hurt us. I made on last stop for big Goliaths on the way in. We had a couple big fish on only to tree them then they turned off it was time to head home, they were tired and had a great day.
Flamingo Fishing Forecast:
Spring is getting close, temps are warmer both air and water. Baits are showing up in the upper Gulf of Mexico and tarpon have benn right behind them. Its going to happen soon!
Target Species:
Everything
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