 |
Everglades National Park - Flamingo
Capt. Bob LeMay
October 20, 2004
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
The weather dominated the fishing action this past week out of Flamingo. We now have had our first cold front of the season. With it came heavy rain on Friday and strong westerly winds along all of the areas that I fish. The good news is that the quick moving front only dropped water temperatures slightly. At dawn, by Sunday, surface temps were down to 70 degrees in some areas. By the end of the day they were back up to around 75. The real effect of the cold front was to muddy up the water and move baitfish away from shorelines. I talked to more than a few anglers at the ramp on Saturday and Sunday who had disappointing days. The best bet when there's a sudden change in conditions is to remember that the fish probably haven't moved much from their previous patterns but they will have changed how they'll feed....
We found snook, redfish, and trout both days. Downed trees that held fish the previous week still held them, we just had to slow down a bit and work them more thoroughly. Tipped jigs worked just fine but you had to slow the retrieve a bit. One or two casts at a tree just won't do it. Remember the fish simply can't see very far when it's murky so we had to be a bit patient and not only cover both sides but also in front of structure to be certain of a good presentation. Our best snook was weighed at 9lbs on the Boga-grip before the release. Most of the reds were solid slot-sized fish. The trout were still a little on the small side.
The projected weather pattern for the rest of the week looks quite good. By the end of the week the water should have cleared up and once again the baitfish should be thick along the coast. Any shoreline with lots of egrets and herons should be worth a look. Although the tarpon weren't evident this past weekend they should be around in good numbers as long as water temps stay above 70 degrees.
Tight Lines
ps: If you're not a member of CCA please consider joining. They are the only organization that has an effective presence in Tallahassee and in front of the various agencies that control our fishing. In a time when regulators are seriously trying to close areas to anglers and put in place rules that limit where you can fish, it's important. Like a lot of other guides I support the Coastal Conservation Association by donating trips for auction and helping out in any way that I can
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
