mullet run -still strong
Capt. Jim Hobales
October 5, 2008
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
October 2008
October is the beginning of change not politically but seasonally! The Noreasters are kicken, mullet schools are moving south, water temps are down in the mid to lower 80's and we are almost out of hurricane season. A combination of all these things make for some great fish catching opportunities.
Miami Beach
The mullet schools are the primary focus on the beaches right now, the Tarpon, Snook, Cuda's, Sharks, Jacks and a few other species are in them, in between catching its a great show to watch. Tarpon blowing up thru a area of blackness and leaving a giant white hole, that's exciting.
South Biscayne Bay
Bonefish and Permit are on the flats longer during this month because of cooler water temp. The tides start to get back to normal this month after have 2 months of astronomical high tides. The south bay flats also hold plenty of Sharks, Barracudas, Jacks, and Snappers, even on the toughest conditions we can find so kind of action.
Flamingo
This is one of my favorite months to fish Flamingo, the mullet and other baits are pouring down the west coast into the Fl. Bay back country which in turn causes the predators to follow and feed. There are opportunities for big catch numbers some days or to catch big fish on others. The Flamingo and Gulf of Mexico will give up some quality catches especially on good weather days with clean to just off colored water combined with tide and bait schools.
Whitewater Bay
Whitewater Bay can be awesome during October, the last few months have had plenty of rainfall and it moves a lot of the fish to where the fresh and saltwater meet. Snook and Redfish are the two we target, but there are big Mangrove snappers, Goliath Groupers, Gag Groupers, Tarpon, Ladyfish and Trout that we get as by catch. This type of fishing back here is referred to as saltwater Bass fishing. Get on the trolling motor and make cast in to the Mangroves once you get a bite slow down and work the area.
100208
I'm with Andy, John and Mike fishing the mullet run out of Haulover inlet, the mullet schools that were here so thick a day ago have move on. I did not want to waste time so I netted some pilchards and went to a spot holding Tarpon. the Tarpon started to roll everywhere and the guys were excited. I gave them a couple Twitch n Raps and rigged up a live Pilchard and explained what to do. I started to live chum, there were some big Jacks in there which were busting up our chum baits but not eating our live ones. Eventually John hooked up to a 50 lb Tarpon which gave him a couple good jumps. This was his first time he had ever hooked some thing that big and was confused on what to do. The winds picked up and we moved to a spot which might produce some more bites. It didn't take to long all 3 guys hooked up with either Trout and Cuda's with the biggest Trout being 24 inches and close to 5 lbs. This was only a half day and they had a business meeting they had to get to so we called it a morning.
After I dropped them off I went looking for the mullet schools down coming down the beach, It didn't take long. I came around the north jetty of Government Cut and they were inside the buoys at 7 St. This did me no good because you aren't allowed in there. I kept running and found a few more pods one I could reach from outside the buoys. It was a 100 yards long and the Tarpon were inside the school busting them up. I cast my X Rap inside the mullet school and caught Jack, Bluefish and Blue runners but the Tarpon we only eating mullet. I moved north up the coast and found pod after pod of mullet but all were tight to the shoreline and impossible to reach. I kept running and finally noticed some movement out side the buoys, it was big schools of Jacks but there were Pompanos mixed in. this was the mother load thick enough that when the Pompano's started skipping they skipped into the boat. I cast and caught Jacks,Bluefish and Blue runners and then something big ate one of my hooked fish and then again looked to be big Cudas. I ran back to the marina and called it a day!
There are plenty of opportunities right now so if I can so if help plan a trip and or catch the fish of a lifetime give me a call at 305 333 8149.
Let's go catch'em,
Capt Jimbo
Flamingo Fishing Forecast:
read above
Target Species:
Tarpon, Snook, Jacks, Sharks, Redfsih, Permit
More Fishing Reports:
