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Everglades days, Biscayne nights --Good News.
Capt. Bob LeMay
January 26, 2010
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
This week's report will have some good news to go with all the bad news from the recent fish kills everyone's talking about. No doubt there was a lot of damage to our fisheries from the recent very severe cold spell - but some portions of the fish populations seem to have survived intact. In the backcountry of the Everglades out of Flamingo we've been finding fairly nice speckled trout up to 22" and some very nice, but spooky redfish. Whitewater and Oyster Bays have been the focus of most of our efforts this past weekend and all our fish were on artificials or flies. Our biggest trout was caught and released by Sebastian angler, Steve Shurmatz. The reds we've been finding were in groups working down shallow shorelines. They acted hungry but we missed our shots. Smaller reds pounced on a small jig with a Gulp tail, but their big brothers were just prowling and on the move. The moment the weather settles a bit both trout and reds should be active. Trout action, in particular should continue to improve as we move toward spring. It's fortunate that both the trout and the redfish seem to be able to tolerate the severe cold spell we had recently.
The best news this week as far as I'm concerned is that the night-time small tarpon in Biscayne Bay are in very good shape. We found fish at every spot we checked last night and they ranged from 20 to 60lbs with a few that looked a lot larger... All were actively working the tide just where they're supposed to be right at the surface. Compared to the reported tarpon deaths down in Florida Bay from the recent cold spell it was great to find the fish on line and looking to feed. We didn't score very well with the flies we tossed at them, only jumping one fish of about 40lbs (but a 40lb tarpon on an 8 or 9wt fly rod is all you can handle..) during the evening. Since a cold front had passed through the area just hours before dark, the fish didn't seem to be as hungry as usual. I'm betting that they'll be eating very well towards the end of this week... and they'll be available every night from now until the end of April.
Tight Lines
Bob LeMay
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