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Everglades National Park - Flamingo
Capt. Bob LeMay
November 24, 2005
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Everglades National Park, 10,000 Islands area
My last fishing report was just about a month ago and a lot has happened since then. Flamingo, unfortunately, is still closed with no immediate relief in sight. I imagine the folks that run the Park are getting a bit tired of being asked about it... At any rate eventually they'll re-open the boat ramps even if everything else down there is still out of commission. In the meantime I've been fishing and exploring out of Everglades City, working the far west end of Everglades National Park and having some success. Two weeks ago the outside areas were still producing fish even though that area really got renovated (tore up?) by the hurricane. Recently, though, a combination of strong winds and dropping temperatures have made the interior areas the place to be.
For those that have never fished that area it's miles and miles of shallow water, studded with oyster bars, islands of every size with creeks, rivers, and bays. It would be tough to learn it all in a lifetime and that's what keeps a lot of anglers to areas with clearly marked trails. That leaves lots of areas that rarely even see a boat or anglers.
Yesterday we fished the interior to the east and found a variety of fish. We caught and released snook, redfish, jewfish, snapper, sharks, black drum. All were taken on lures or a shrimp under an Equalizer cork. The bigger snook eluded us but we had our shots. This is a prime winter sight fishing area and will be good for the next few months. For fly anglers it's perfect for rods 7 to 9wt. The best sightfishing is always found with a push pole and that's what we did all day long. Looks like I'll be getting a lot of exercise every day...
When weather conditions allow I may make the run over toward Lostman's and I'll report what I find. Water temperatures yesterday ranged from 64 up to almost 70 degrees (in one spot) by the end of the day. For anyone wanting to fish out of Everglades City or Chokoloskee the ramps at Glades Haven, Outdoor Resorts, and the Rod and Gun Club are open and shrimp is available out of both Glades Haven and Outdoor Resorts. I imagine I'll be seeing a lot of anglers that I normally see out of Flamingo there...
Tight Lines
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