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Everglades National Park - Flamingo
Capt. Bob LeMay
February 8, 2008
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing report, Everglades days - Biscayne Bay nights
I only fished a few days this past week in the daytime out of Flamingo and at night in Biscayne Bay. The backcountry has a lot going on now and the night scene is a fly fisher's tarpon wish come true...
My last booking at Flamingo was with Jack Machado and son from the Atlanta area. Although Jack has re-located up to that area he's originally from south Florida and grew up fishing with other young anglers that I've known for years... It was the first trip for his son so we started off with a little speckled trout action. We quickly caught and released fish on jigs (Dad) and an Equalizer cork with circle hook (son) at our first spot then it was time to introduce the young man to what trout will do to a surface plug worked with a stop and go retrieve... If you have a beginner on board that can catch fish with a popping cork it's a simple matter to switch to a topwater... I tell beginners to work the lure "just like that cork" and it didn't take but one or two casts before that little plug was hammered...
I didn't get a photo of the one taken on a topwater, it was the same nice size.... Next we worked a few areas for reds and snook, but found the action a bit slow so it was out to the rivers for a few grouper spots. The gag grouper and small goliath grouper were hungry but the big ones just took us to school. The usual routine was a violent strike then a short run to shelter as we fished straight up and down in 10 to 15 feet of water. Finally one of the goliaths stayed connected...
After a quick photo and release we moved to another grouper spot and again got our clocks cleaned in short order bouncing jigs or working small ladyfish deep near structure. After getting hammered more than once Jack hooked up and our grouper turned into a small tarpon....
It was just the right size for a father and son photo, then carefully released back into the relatively cold 65 degree water. We went on to catch and release a variety of snook, more trout, snapper and other assorted fish back in Whitewater Bay before calling it a day.
The night scene is finally on track with lots of small tarpon in Biscayne Bay that are eating any fly that's presented properly once the tide is outgoing. Rand Hodgson from Kansas City had fished Flamingo with his son about two years ago without success. We were targeting the big tarpon on fly then and the fish just weren't co-operating so he was still looking for that first tarpon on fly. He didn't have to wait long since the fish were just plain hungry, with lots of shots at small tarpon that were right at the surface under the bridges that connect Miami to Miami Beach. The night we fished the tide didn't get going until almost 10Pm so it was a late night. I think we saw only one or two other boats doing any fishing the entire night. We had to jump a few fish before one finally stayed connected... Here's a few shots of Rand's first tarpon on fly...
it was 20lb fish on a light rod, the next photo is nearing the boat. You'll have to look for the eye to spot the fish..
In a few short hours Rand had more than seven bites, put three or four fish in the air before releasing his first tarpon. The rest released themselves in fine fashion, including some that were nearing the 40lb mark. His son, Wes, will be dying to join him next time...
Tight Lines
Bob LeMay
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