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Everglades National Park & Biscayne Bay
Capt. Jim Hale
May 31, 2005
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Cane Polin’ Charters Fishing report May 19th through May 30th, 2005
Fish in Biscayne Bay have been showing up in large numbers. Mornings that are calm are producing large amounts of permit from 15 to 40 lbs. We’ve been chasing schools, which have, from 10 to 50 fish in them. Some mornings they are spookier than others. Last week Steve Shelley, of Homestead, FL caught 2 nice permit, one 20# and the other 25#. The bait of choice is that beautiful silver dollar crab that the permit can’t refuse.
Bonefish have been showing up in smaller schools from what I have seen. But some of the bonefish are large 12 to 14 lbers. The smaller bones 8 to 10 lbs have a little more to their school. The slimy bones are fast moving and sometimes are not ready to eat.
Tarpon on the other hand are all over the place on the Oceanside flats. Pilchards have been a thorn in the side for these tarpon as well as the skidder walk top water lure early in the mornings. Later in the morning the live crabs have been working well as has Pilchards and Mullet. Night trips are producing large tarpon over the 150# mark on live ladyfish. Last week I had Fernando Ramos and Steve Bussell fishing with me for Tarpon, we were using tasty succulent pilchards for bait. These guys were pretty good and new just where to place the bait. Well here comes two 40 lb’ers next to the boat, both guys made beautiful casts and sure enough one of the fish swallows a pilchard and takes off, here we were waiting for the sweet sound of success and nothing is happening. When both guys came back with baits still on the hook we realized that a “Ghost Pilchard” appeared out of nowhere and was eaten instead! That’s just plain wrong!!
The Snook bite is at night around the bridges and deeper passes with good water flow and ample lighting always helps. Nothing beats a live pinfish for bait. Remember Snook season closes June 1st, and the season is already closed for Monroe County in the south region.
In Florida Bay and backcountry the redfish are showing up in large schools. This past Sunday, May 30th we chased over 300 reds but caught only 5. Schools up to 100 fish are not uncommon. Most of these fish are ranging from 6 to 10 lbs. and some in the 15 lbs. mark. The bigger reds are singled out and not following the schools. Tarpon are rolling early in the mornings in some of the channels along with nice schools of jack crevales. I like fishing the tarpon and jacks on top water plugs as it makes for a fun morning. The snook and reds are also hitting top water plugs even at midday. We got 3 snook and 2 reds in three hours over the weekend. The snook average 8 lbs. and one redfish being 10#.
South Florida backcountry has came alive with warmer weather and the relentless winds dying down. Now we just need to watch our fast moving thunderstorms. Getting out early and getting a good day of fishing in always elevates this problem. Until next time…
Tight lines and gin clear waters!
Capt. Jim Hale
www.canepolincharters.com
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