Spring time Tarpon are here!
Capt. Jim Hobales
March 21, 2016
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
I have had some computer and website issues plus throw in some really strange weather so the reports haven been posted. The fishing has taken off in last few weeks with Tarpon making a great showing. The Tarpon fishing has come alive in Whitewater Bay, off of Cape Sable and in Miami / Biscayne Bay. The Snook and Trout fishing in the Whitewater Bay has been pretty good as well, not to many monster's but lots of fish!
030916
I am fishing Flamingo today with Chris Peterson his grand daughter Blue and her friend Gabby. We started out in Whitewater Bay because it was blowing 25 mph+. I told Chris it was going to be tough, he said he new Blue is only here for a couple days. Chris has called me the last couple years to fish with his granddaughters and they are really into it. We started out with some Trout, Jacks and Ladyfish. We looked for Tarpon but with all the white caps it was tough to see and uncomfortable. We moved around looking for protection, the wind seemed to come thru just about everywhere. We set up using Ladyfish chunks out on the coast and had a few bites the best was a 6 lb. Redfish.
031216
I am fishing with my nephew's Mark and Andrew today , we are in Whitewater Bay and off course it really windy. Mark runs my Instagram account so I pay him by fishing! On our first stop we looked for Tarpon in a spot that's usually unfished. We did have one Tarpon blow up a school of Mullet but that's all, Mark caught a big Mangrove Snapper on a Shadow Rap. We moved on and worked a typical fall down in the back country which was loaded with Snook, Snapper and Jacks. I told them we are going to fish stuff I normally don't fish today and it paid off with a bunch of Snook and a lost big Redfish. By 1 o'clock the bite had slowed down and the winds were cranking 25 + so we called it a day.
031416
This morning I am fishing out of Government Cut with long time client Sam Rose and his grand daughter Natalie. I had got out early netted some Pilchards and picked them up at 8a.m.. We ran to Government Cut and on first drop on the north jetty we had a double Tarpon hook up, both rods doubled over and two 20 lb. Tarpon were in the air. Natalie's came off and then Sam's fish was also gone it happened so quick they didn't know how to react. We had caught the tide perfect and got those hookups right before it went slack. It was getting a little sloppy so we ran inside to try bending the rods. The bite was non existent so we ran down to Key Biscayne and found some Tarpon but no bites. We went to Bear Cut bridge and found some more Tarpon. We put out our baits and had a few Jacks eat them, then we had a different type of bite. The rod doubled over and Natalie was holding on, when she finally got the fish to the surface to my surprise it was a Flounder! We took some photo's and weighed it was 3.8 lbs. it was going to be Sam's lunch. We mad a run back to Government Cut and had 2 good bites both came off so we called it a day.
031916
I am fishing down at Flamingo today with Fred and Gus. I was hoping for pretty calm day but when I pulled up I noticed the flag was stiff with a strong wind blowing. We launched the boat In Whitewater Bay and went looking for Tarpon, the wind wasn't so bad first thing. On our first stop we had some Tarpon rolling around the boat. Gus had one roll up on his lure but miss it right next to the boat. We moved on and caught a few good Snook and big Trout on every cast for 40 minutes.
We got to the Tarpon area 8:30 and it didn't take long , Fred hooked a giant @150lbs. and fought it for a minute but then the big girl thru the lure. We had 6 or 7 Tarpon roll up and hit lure but ever take it. I kept changing lures and they seemed to respond to the deeper divers worked slow. Gus was next, his drag was screaming and a really big Tarpon came out of the water straight up in the air. The lure went 20 feet higher than the fish did, this was Gus first Tarpon, pretty cool! We kept casting at fish in the area and had a handful more short strikes and boils.
We had some pods of mullet coming thru but nothing hitting them, we netted some and went Snook fishing for while. We caught some nice Mangroves and a few more Snook but Fred and Gus wanted to get back to the Tarpon. We put out a couple finger mullet and it was on the first drift we hooked a 60 lb. Tarpon that jumped 5 or 6 times .Gus was having a blast and then the Tarpon let go. This was on circle hook that was in the rod holder with a fish running away, that supposed to be a well hooked fish. It came off but there wasn't to much disappointment. We gave it another half hour but it was over so we made our way back.
If anything above gets your blood pumping give me a call at 305 333 8149. I know its spring break I am a kid/family friendly charter.
Caughtlookinharters.com has just been redesigned and should be up this week (032116)
Thanks,
Captain Jim Hobales
www.caughtlookincharters.com
Target Species:
Tarpon
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