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Everglades National Park & Biscayne Bay
Capt. Jim Hale
October 7, 2005
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Capt. Jim Hale’s aboard fishing report from 9/1/05 to 10/6/05
Fishing days have been numbered throughout September by tropical systems and too much fresh water in Biscayne Bay and in parts of Florida Bay. Florida Bay is coming back with a lot less fresh water than three weeks ago. My usual flats for the bonefish in Biscayne Bay are just now starting to hold fish again. Since the South Florida water management was letting out a lot of the fresh water into the Bay the ratio of fresh to salt was extremely high.
This is my first fishing report since Hurricane Katrina and the following has been my observations while fishing. The landscape has changed in Florida Bay in some areas such as Cape Sable, Lake Ingram, Shark River and some of the run offs into Florida Bay common from Hurricane Katrina. Some of my targeted spots for fishing under and by mangroves and points are now under water or have washed away, making for numerous snags, but hasn’t deterred the fish from eating, as a matter of fact it has made for more protection for the fish looking for their next meal!
Black Drum started showing up early this year, they have not been the 20 to 30 lbers, but we have caught them up to 10lbs in the deeper cuts with good water flow using shrimp tipped jigs. Along with the drum some good-sized reds have also been taken. Fishing the mangroves around Florida Bay has been producing good to a very good snook bite. Some days are producing up to 20 fish a day and the average size has been in the keeper range, most all of these fish have been released to catch another day. Tarpon of all sizes are still here in some of the deeper water around the flats. The bite, however, was not that great because the fish must have been full from all the baitfish around. I have jumped a couple of big poons on the gulf side, seems to be a lot of them over there.
The flats around Flamingo have been red hot on some days and other days the only bite is from that horse fly doing circles around the boat that just wont leave you alone! I had the pleasure of taking Bob Maucher, from Outdoor Florida Magazine, out last week. We fished the flats for reds and snook and had a pretty decent day catching 5 good-sized reds and missing a whole lot more. Just one of those days where the fish didn’t like the hook, we saw an estimated 100 fish tailing the flats, no schools but singles everywhere. We were field-testing some of the baits I had mentioned in my last report, mostly Gambler plastics. They have come out with a new line and the 5” super stud bleeding shrimp was knocking the redfish out. Gambler also has a bullet weight that is no slide and can be brought up and down on the leader that I feel in love with. Spike-It holographic baits made by grand bay lures have been a great snook lure fishing them in potholes on the flats or around mangroves. I want to thank Val Osinski for supplying us with Gambler lures and hope that the future anglers out there can see the value of what I believe to be a great lure.
More reports from Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay will be coming soon. Let’s pray for some good weather and some better fishing conditions. If you are eager to bend a rod on some of these reds and snook call Island Fishing Adventures and book today.
Tight lines and gin clear water
Capt. Jim Hale
Cane Polin’ Charters
800-950-FINS, ext. 1
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