 |
South Florida Report - Flamingo, Biscayne Bay & Miami
Capt. Jim Hobales
February 5, 2007
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
020107
I fished with Glen from Toronto today. We woke up to some strong winds today; but with the incoming tide I knew we could fish Government cut until the tide switched to outgoing. It was a little sporty but Glen fishes the big water up north and has his sea legs.The shrimp had ran pretty good during the night a good sign of that was the Tarpon were making there way out of the bay and back to the inlet and onto beach. We stayed on them dropping a jig and 4 inch Gulp Shrimp all the way to the tip of the jetty. Glen had 1 big hook up which ran across the ledge and broke us off, we could only guess to what is was. Glen just wanted to time outdoors since it was 20 degrees in Toronto were he would by this evening. We gad a nice day he caught Barracuda's and Trout in 25 to 30 mph winds while never complaining about the wind.
020207
Today we are doing a large corporate group of 6 boat down at Flamingo, before we left the dock they all got their box lunches. Why is this important, here's why! The weather was great, the water, air and tides were all perfect, so what the point right. No fish! We continued fishing and all we could come up with is a couple Ladyfish, which we thru in the well for bait. We made our way to East Cape Canal where the fish are usually cooperate. There was a boat in front of us in the group catching a few fish yet we couldn't get a bite, that's when I started looking around the boat we had 7 box lunches and inside "7 BANANAS". 1 banana is bad luck; 7 is the kiss of death! I tossed them out and as proven time and time again the fish started to bite. Ian hooked up a giant Goliath Grouper on a live Ladyfish, he fought it for about 5 minutes and then the fish didn't want to play no more and broke him of. I decided to try something else we moved in to a creek that had some water moving, we used live shrimp on the bottom here. We caught 4 Redfish and 2 Snook, then we hooked a large Shark. The day was short and sweet once we got rid of the "Bananas".
020307 I met Bill, his grandson Reed, Chris and his son Jordan at Flamingo this morning. This is a day none of us will ever forget! Today's weather is beautiful, the sun is out and clear skies, which allowed us to see some dorsal fins on the surface a couple hundred yards away. I thought at first they were Tarpon, as we got closer it was obvious it was a big Shark. I rigged a swim bait lure up and gave it to Chris, we followed the Shark around on the flat we were in 1 foot of water. The Shark was awesome it was cruising but I couldn't figure out what type of Shark it was. It had a blunt dorsal and a very large tail, finally the shark swam next to the boat it was a "Tiger Shark". This is not a common site on the flats of Flamingo it's only the second one ever I've seen. Chris is ready with his lure and as the Tiger Shark approached he made his cast, he turn and hit the lure as quickly as anything I have ever seen cutting it in half. I rigged a second rod with a 8 inch Chartreuse Bomber plug, the big shark was still prowling the flat not bother by us. we followed this monster for 25 minutes. Chris cast the plug in front I told him to let it sit in his path, the Shark approached I told him twitch it. "FISH ON" this was coolest sight casting I have ever been involved with. The Shark made a short run in front of the boat that's when we noticed the plug was in his dorsal, he turned and hit it so hard it must of went by him into the dorsal. Either way are hooked up to 9 feet of Tiger Shark, Chris fought it for about and 1 1/2 hours getting it to the boat twice. This is where quality tackle came into play a Biscayne Rod, Okuma Reel with 20 lb Fireline Crystal. I only got 1 photo I hope Bill's turned out. The shark pulled us out to the basin into deeper water , I told Chris he was going to have to put as much pressure as possible other wise we would be here all day, because of the way he was hooked. the Shark finally hit the line with his tail breaking us of.
The rest of the day would seem mild compare to the Tiger Shark, Reed caught a 28 inch Snook, Jordan, Bill and Chris caught numerous Reds and smaller Snook. Reed and Jordan fought several Sharks taking turns catching a Bull, Black tip and a few that broke off after the initial run. This trip wasn't over I stumbled across an area loaded with rolling Tarpon, the guys cast and cast catching 50 ladyfish while the Tarpon refused there lures. Chris finally had one come up and follow his lure until it picked up some grass. I said this was a truly memorable day, I know it was for all of us.
020407 I'm at Flamingo with Bob from Chicago today it is raining, windy and just miserable a great day to fish. Today is why Flamingo is a great place to fish, there always somewhere to hide out of the wind. Bob cast Gulps and caught some Redfish, Trout, Jack and Ladyfish. I also had some live Shrimp so we Power poled down and started catching fish. I stayed basically in the same bay moving from point to point for 8 hours. Bob caught 10 Redfish, 25 Trout, Jacks to 3 lbs, a 150 lbs Bull Shark, a small Spinner Shark, a Black Tip he also had a Tarpon hooked up and had a nice Snook. It was none stop almost all day.
The back country Tarpon are almost in, a couple days yes and then they disappear until it warms up enough. The winds have been brutal on the Tarpon fishing so far this season.
It looks like we should have an early spring, the way its been lately, so hopefully plenty of Tarpon,Snook Bonefish and Permit.
This can become a dream come true, give me a call at 305 333 8149 if I can help.
Thanks,
Captain Jimbo
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
