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Everglades National Park - Flamingo
Capt. Bob LeMay
October 26, 2004
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
I managed one day out of Flamingo, Monday, and it was a good day. Water temperatures continue to hold up, with 73 to 76 noted. Water clarity is improving and along with it there's bait along most west coast shorelines. Yesterday was a day of exploring without any customers aboard and I was able to check out a few new areas while actually doing some fishing myself. That's a luxury a guide just doesn't have once the winter and spring seasons arrive. Unlike the weekends, most weekdays the boat ramp is deserted with only one or two rigs where the weekend traffic was a mob scene. On the water you'll hardly see anyone else at all until you get within range of anglers fishing out of Everglades City / Chokoloskee. A lot of the areas that I fish regularly are just as far from there as Flamingo (around 30 miles whichever way you run).
On an exploring day I like to fill the livewell with white baits (mostly small herring and pilchards yesterday) then work a variety of spots by chumming with the "livies". It's not only deadly effective but quickly shows what areas are holding fish in a given situation. It's the perfect set-up for anyone who's learning to fish or moving up to fly-fishing since the action is close and you'll get lots of shots. A nice red or snook that's missed is followed by one that doesn't miss the bait, fly, or lure.... I was able to catch and release (mostly) snook up to about 30", lots of slot-sized redfish, small grouper, and even a nice flounder in Whitewater Bay.
During the day there were lots of opportunities to work medium and large tarpon that seemed to stay about 200' off of the shorelines in the areas I checked out. This time of year they're feeding heavily on black mullet and ladyfish when they're not just loafing near a food source. It's a good time for that end of season tarpon. Another cold front or two and they'll be gone until next year. Last year, this week, a local angler with his young son caught and released one in these same areas with me. We estimated it at 150lbs.... the closer to the skiff, the bigger the thing got.
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