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Flamingo Grand Slam Possiblities
Capt. Alan Sherman
June 25, 2008
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
This is a fishing report that I always enjoy writing! Unfortunately though some of my clients for reasons that they only understand cast the report off as either not true or just something they don't have time or money for. Your probably wondering what I'm talking about so let me get on with the report.
I returned from a family cruise a week and a half ago and am back to fishing clients again. My last four charters have been in Flamingo in Everglades National Park where fishing has been about as good as it can get. Recent rains have moved a lot of fish from the backcountry out to where the salinity levels are more to their liking. Weeks ago the fishing in Whitewater Bay had been very good for snook of all sizes, redfish, trout, nice snappers, gag and goliath groupers, sharks, jacks, ladyfish and a few tarpon. These fish continue to be in Whitewater Bay but a lot of snook have moved into areas that they will stay around for most of the summer as they prepare to spawn and then spawn. For some reason schools of redfish will hang out in the same areas and compete for the natural and artificial baits that we will throw at them. For the next three or four months it is possible to catch snook in numbers that are unthinkable. The same can be said for redfish. Tarpon will make a surprise visit as well and lots of ladyfish, trout and jacks will take up the slack in between lulls in the snook action. Mangrove snappers are in big numbers and their size is quite respectable. Legal snapper limits can be easy to come by. Large sharks are around but their numbers will only increase as the summer moves on. Cobias although more plentiful in the cooler months will make a surprise visit as will large tripletail and permit. Even Spanish mackerel and bluefish will show up and cut your lines in a quick flash. Now the reason I think some of my clients choose not to fish Flamingo in the summer is due to the bugs and the heat or maybe the occasional thunderstorm that may be around. Each one of these can be dealt with in a reasonable way. The bugs mostly mosquitoes now can be handled by wearing light fitting long pants and long sleeved shirts. Mosquito clothing can be purchased but you can get away with a good insect repellent. I use two kinds. I use a cream that can be applied by hand while I am in my car. I apply it to my face, ears, neck and back of my hands. That will protect you when you step out of your vehicle. Now you can use a spray to cover the rest of your body. Once on the water the bugs normally leave you alone until you return to the boat ramp. That takes care of the bugs. The next is the heat. Wear light clothing. Drink a couple bottles of water before you get to the boat ramp and continue to drink throughout the day. Wear a hat and sunglasses and you should be fine. The thunderstorms can be a welcomed sight because they can cool things off. If there is lightning in the area I will either head back to the ramp or find an area where we are not out in the open or just run away from the storm.
Check out my recent catches to see what we have been catching.
Fishing in North Biscayne Bay has been good. Best action has been early in the morning from 7 to 11 AM and then again from 6 to 10 PM. Sea trout, snappers, jacks, ladyfish, tarpon snook and barracudas have been cooperating during the cooler times of the day. For those who like bonefish and permit they are available and again it's early and late in the day. My boat does not float shallow like the shallow skiffs but with my trolling motor we can get close to these cagy gamefish.
Fishing offshore is for bonitos, kingfish and the possible dolphin schools that will move in and out along the Gulf Stream. I will target these species but only when I can get live baitfish and only on the calm days. I start all of my charters inshore and then decide on if it is safe for us to venture offshore. If an offshore trip is all you're interested in I have plenty of fellow captains that I can refer you to.
Now with all that said I would recommend a Flamingo trip as soon as you can arrange it. If you want to fish closer to home then book a local trip. I do have open dates scattered throughout the summer.
Most Recent Catches:
Fished Jerome Chaves and together we caught and released 71 snook but lost over 30 others when they spit the jigs back at us or broke our lines. We also had three redfish, a dozen sea trout, three goliath groupers, jacks, ladyfish, and went one for two on tarpon and Jerome lost a cobia between 35 and 40 pounds. 40 of the snook were caught between East Cape and Shark River and the others were caught in Whitewater Bay. Jerome had a Grand Slam with the catch of snook, tarpon, redfish and sea trout. All of the fish were caught on artificial lures except two of the goliaths, the lost cobia and the tarpon.
Fished a three boat charter in the morning and had Alex, Michael and Mike on the boat. We fished close to the marina and the guys started off with some nice mangrove snappers, then a few trout, jacks and ladyfish. Michael hooked a good fish on a Hook Up lure tipped with a Gulp shrimp and after three spectacular jumps and many lightening runs Michael landed a 23 pound barracuda hooked in the lower lip. He then followed that fish with a six pound permit and then a five pound black drum. The other guys snuck in a few trout, missed a couple of snook and then missed a shot at a large tarpon that ate a live mullet twice but never got hooked.
I brought my son down with me the same day knowing that I would be finished with my morning charter by noon. He hung out around the marina until I finished the charter and then we headed back out. We caught some pinfish just in case and then headed for the beaches. Our first stop was at a marker where we spotted a 30 to 40 permit. We threw everything we had at that fish but he would not eat. On top the beaches. Throwing Hook Up lures tipped with Gulp Pogies we landed over 40 snook, six nice redfish, two of the five sawfish that we saw, snappers, jacks, trout and ladyfish. We both ended up with backcountry slams.
I fished with Brian Markey in a driving rain almost the whole day. We went into Whitewater Bay to get behind some islands to protect us from the wind and the lightning. Between the two of us we ended up releasing seven snook to nine pounds, seven goliath groupers to 10 pounds, jacks, ladyfish and a gag grouper and kept four mangrove snappers to two pounds and four out of a dozen sea trout to two pounds. All on artificial lures!
I fished with Steve Bukowski and his daughter Corrine and son Collin in Whitewater Bay and along the Gulf coast shorelines during a very windy day. By the end of the day the Bukowski's had caught and released six snook to eight or nine pounds and lost a few others plus a redfish, snappers, trout, ladyfish, jacks and two sharks, one was 40 pounds and the other 60 pounds. We also saw a tailing sawfish.
So that's what's happening in my neck of the woods. Now it's your turn to become part of a fishing report.
Sponsors: Yamaha, Bob Hewes Boats, Maverick, Minn Kota, Lowrance Electronics, Daiwa, General Motors & Chevrolet, Rapala, Mustad, Ande Lines, Pure Fishing, Precision Tackle, Capt. Hank Brown's Hook Up Lures, Hydro Glow Lights, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, Saltwater Assassins, Key Largo Rods, Lee Fisher Cast Nets, Smartshield, Master Repair in Stuart Florida, Power Pole, Stow Master Nets.
Tight Lines and Great Fishing!
Capt. Alan Sherman
"Get Em" Sportfishing Charters
www.getemsportfishing.com
[email protected]
Flamingo Fishing Forecast:
Fishing in Flamingo will only get better but now the weather conditions are cooler then they will be in a few weeks to a month and open dates are available now but maybe not later.
Target Species:
Snook, tarpon, Redfish, Sharks, Goliath Groupers Snappers, Trout
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