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Flamingo - Everglades National Park
Capt. Ariel Cabrera
March 19, 2002
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Break a Pole for Good Luck
Whoever said you had to break a leg to be lucky? How about a push pole? I am not superstitious nor do I follow horoscopes that make predictions but this is one true fish story.
After a long day of fishing for snook with Tom Domack and Herbert Newton, we decided to try shark fishing before calling it quits. I was planning to stake out at the edge of a flat near the Flamingo marina with my push pole, of course. Unfortunately, one of the brackets supporting the pole broke and my only push pole was tossed into the water while on plane. When we returned to recover the pole it had cracked in two pieces so I was left with no choice but to anchor.
We anchored near the Flamingo Marina in about four feet of water with the simple intention of bringing in a blacktip shark. No strategic position was needed because we would lure the sharks with chum. This would be a piece of cake, right? Especially since we put out fresh bait on a twelve-pound outfit.
Within five minutes Tom was awakened by a quick run and leap of a shark. I fired the engine and Herbert assisted in lifting the anchor rapidly in order to retrieve line from the half-empty spool. The shark made two more jumps but we couldn't get a close look at it. This shark acted really strange because it would make a run and then come towards the boat. When it neared the boat it would cross underneath, making handling tough. I was getting real nervous but Tom instinctively lowered the rod practically all the way down beneath the waterline both instances the shark went under.
The shark ended up being a 17 (seventeen) pound snook! What a shark, I mean snook! What are the chances of breaking a push pole and catching a 17-pound snook on March 17, St. Patrick's Day aboard my green-colored skiff? This was Tom Domack's first snook and my first broken push pole. It was our lucky day!
This push pole was no ordinary pole either. It was a G.Loomis graphite model that was handed to me by fly fishing pioneer and legend Capt. Bill Curtis about six years ago when I bought his old Jon boat. I was hoping this pole would be around as long as this well-respected guide has been - he is now in his late seventies and still fishing. Thank you Bill.
Fishing is red hot at Flamingo! Weather has made a turn for the better and a variety of species are readily available. We have also been catching large trout, snapper, drum, and big tarpon have been reported. If you are looking to hire a guide, you need to hurry because dates are filling fast - no bull!
Good fishing,
Capt. Ariel
305 552-9788
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