Full moon fishing!
Capt. Jim Hobales
July 22, 2013
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
72013
Mark, Casey and Matt are down for a couple days of fishing one at Flamingo and one offshore with my buddy Jorge. We got out a little late today and the baby Tarpon bite didn't happen. I fished Whitewater bay all the way to Ponce Bay catching plenty of Trout, Snappers, Ladyfish and Jacks. I was looking for much bigger bites so I kept moving around. I found some small baits dimpling on the surface and netted them, perfect size chummers. I started to chum and had some big Red's and Tarpon start boiling in the chum but then just disappeared. I moved around and it just wasn't happening. I looked off in the distance and some some giant explosions on the surface and ran over it was big Jacks. There were thousands off them blowing up baits but moving really fast. I got in front off them and Matt got hooked up. The fish pulled hard and of course on the lightest rod in the boat. It took 20 minutes or so to land it and after a couple of pic's we were off looking for them but they were gone. I made one last stop on the way in hoping for a small Tarpon or Snook and we got got into both, the mullet schools were pushing thru and the Tarpon were popping them. We hooked 10 or so and caught a handful of Snook. I looked at the guys they were beat, I was beat so I headed in.
072213
I dont' sleep great the night before trips, because I always worry about catching fish! Coming off a tough trip the day before never helps either and full moon makes me an insomniac. I came up with a different plan for today and explained it to my customers Wolfgang his son Marvin and Curtis. Wolfgang said as long as we catch some fish o.k.. We started out catching bait Pilchards, Pinfish and Pigfish. I had the chum bag out and they were wearing out the Trout, Jacks and Ladyfish. I threw the net a few time got some nice baits and Marvin asked if he could throw the net. My day is already getting better! He throws the net really nice but he has a 6'6 frame which makes the net feel small. We had enough bait and they had caught 30 Trout and were ready to move on, Marvin had a good 20 inch Trout. We moved on to spot # 1 and all we caught was one Snook while casting at Tarpon which were rolling all around us.
On spot 2 nothing, but on spot #3 we tore them up. Curtis was first us with a 120 lb Lemon Shark and then he hooked a 25 inch Redfish and then another. Marvins turn and he caught a 35 1/2 inch-14 lb Snook. The bite was non stop with a lot of Shark action from 30 t0 100 plus pounds. I think they hooked 30 otr40 Sharks which is an incredible amount of hook ups. The quality fish weren't done Wolfgang said he wanted to try a Pilchard, a Redfish hit it as it hit the water. Marvins rod doubled over and he was hooked into another big Snook, a 36 1/2 inch fish. It didn't stop there, I grabbed one of the Pigfish and rigged up Marvins rod. The pigfish grunt and it better than a popping cork for calling fish. Marvins hooked up again and this time its a 33 inch Redfish.
The funny part of this day was we never got a break , I never stopped rigging because of the Sharks cutting them off. It was getting late and I tried one last area, I was just about to leave and we had a giant explosion on Marvins Bait. The line was being ripped off his reel as 110 lbs. of pissed off Tarpon is leaping out of the water. This was a great fish, he made 5 or 6 jumps and pulled us around for 55 minutes. Marvin is on 20 yrs. old but has great angling skill and did a great job. Marvin showed you can land big fish on light tackle , he was using a 7 ft Biscayne Rod with 15 lb Suffix braid. The rod was rigged for Snook not big Tarpon, it had 4 ft of 40lb leader and a 1/0 circle. This was an outstanding catch topping of his "Grand Slam" day. It was possible the biggest slam I've ever had with a charter. Wolfgang had a "Slam" of Snook, Redfish and Trout as well. This was a great day and I knew they really enjoyed it, and that's why I do what I do!
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