Herman Lucerne Tournament
Capt. Jim Hobales
September 15, 2008
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
091208
I am down in Key Largo for the Herman Lucerne Memorial Tournament, I arrived early in the day and checked out a couple spots that had the mullet pouring thru just for fun. I got into a big school of Jacks terrorizing the mullet in the Adams Waterway, after playing with them and visiting friends I made my way to the captains meeting at Sundowners. I learned my team did not show up and I would be used as the camera boat for the filming of Rick Murphy's Sportsman Adventures. Being on the boat and watching one of the best in the business work was not a bad deal!
091308
We left the dock at 630 am and ran to Flamingo where Rick put his anglers on fish, after about 2 hours of watching his anglers catch fish, Mike his producer /cameraman wanted to catch a few himself. I pulled out a rod and put it in the rod holder, Mike took advantage as he caught 20 or so Snook while they were on a break. Ricks anglers had 51 Snook and a Redfish by 930 am. I couldn't get my 22 Pathfinder into an area where he was going for Tarpon so I waited and made a few cast myself in 45 minutes I had 22 Snook and 1 for 3 on Tarpon. This might have been the best 45 minutes I have ever experienced. We fished around for the other species and although we were filming, Mike caught a lot of fish. Not all was great, on the way back I spun a hub. Being prepared saved the day, I swapped out the hub fitting and we were back on our way. Rick's team was second overall on day 1 with 126 inches.
091408
This morning we ran to the same area early on to upgrade a couple species, The bite was good the finger mullet schools were pouring down the flat and the Snook were absolutely busting them clear out of the water. Rick's anglers had 100 Snook plus Trout ,Reds and 15 Tarpon by 1030 am and improved there Tarpon by 6 inches. Mike said he had enough footage for a whole season and put his camera away and started catching Snook. He got a hit on every cast from either a Snook, Redfish, Trout or Tarpon, the bite was incredible. I tried out a new bait from Berkley called the Hollow Belly swim bait and it got blasted pretty hard by a big Tarpon. I made a few more cast and had a hit on every cast and put it a way. Mike on the other hand was in heaven, he caught his Slam, a Redfish, Snook and Trout and just missed out on a Grand Slam. Mike couldn't keep the Tarpon hooked up but managed to catch 25 Snook. The wind was blowing from the N.E. and blowing the water out so we had to get out. Rick and his anglers went on to look for the remaing species they needed, Mike said he was done take him home.
I don't know the results but I'm sure Rick's anglers were close to the top, as for me I watched and learned from the best.
We are lucky the Hurricanes haven't hit us directly so we can take advantage of what they conditions they bring .
Give me a call at 305 333 8149 if this interest you and I"ll put you on them.
Check out http://www.insiderfishing.com/seminars.php , I do a daily report on what happening on the water.
Let's go Catch'em
Capt Jimbo
Flamingo Fishing Forecast:
mullet run in full swing, start out around haulover run beaches and look for the schools
Target Species:
Tarpon ,Snook,
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