Still breezy but catching fish!
Capt. Jim Hobales
March 21, 2008
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
031208
I am fishing with Ed and Brian in Whitewater Bay today and this was an interesting day. Ed is a pro bass angler and did some things just a little different than I normally do. He started out by throwing this big swim bait like they use out west, it caught a 36" monster of a Snook first thing in the morning . The swim bait got hit all day but the Redfish could not get the whole thing in their mouth. Ed changed to a Spinner Bait that he makes under the name of "Hook inc." this thing caught a few fish too, I have thrown spinner baits before but I have very little experience with them. Ed put on a clinic with it, the Gag Groupers seemed to love it. He had a big fish hooked up and I thought it was a big Goliath Grouper it ended up being a 27" Gag Grouper. Brian pulled a nice Snook of that same spot, as we covered a lot of water I enjoyed watching their fishing ability. We caught plenty of small Snook but they wanted to try for Redfish. I took them to a Redfish spot and we caught one and then Brian caught a 28 " Snook and we had several other hit. There were a lot of Jacks, Ladyfish, Goliaths and Trout thrown in the mix as well.
031308
I am fishing with Rick and Kathy today, it's cool with a brisk NW wind about 15-20. I started out close to Flamingo hoping the sun would come out and warm it up. We saw some fish early on but they would not respond. we caught the tide chance at East Cape and the bite was on! Rick hooked a great Snook which fought him all around the boat. We landed the 33" beauty, this put a smile on Ricks face. I re baited and it wasn't 2 minutes Rick was in a real battle with something big. At first I thought it was a big Snook but after a minute or two we would of seen the Snook, this fish stayed down and fought around and round. I finally told Rick its has to be a big Goliath Grouper by the fight. Rick fought the fish for at least 10 minutes and the fish found a tree out in the middle of the canal, Rick could feel him moving so we tried to hand line him in. We almost had him up until the hook straightened out! While we are dealing with the Goliath, Kathy is yelling "she got one." Kathy caught nice 24" Snook. I had a small live Ladyfish out for bait, most of the big fish will eat a Ladyfish. The rod doubles over and the fight is on, the line is coming to the surface, as a 5 foot Spinner Shark comes 5 feet out of the water. The Shark did this 5 or 6 times putting on a great show while a couple of boats watching video taped the fight. Rick landed this fish and said these fish fight harder than our "New Jersey Blue Sharks". It was getting late so we called it a day.
031408
I am with Travis and Tim in South Biscayne Bay today, we went looking for Mutton Snappers until the sun came up but there was a lack of current so they were nowhere to be found. The tide started to rise and we got out on the edge of the flats, I spotted a school of Permit just floating on the surface, this is where the adrenaline starts pumping. I told Travis throw it in front of them as he cast the shrimp flew off. I put another one one and we tried again same result, I said at least we are chumming them up, let try one one more time. This time they swam away into a glare and we lost them but very cool to see.The Sharks made an appearance and we worked them with lures and bait but they just seem to circle us with no intention of eating. the Barracudas didn't let us down we cast and caught plenty of them.
031508
I am with Travis and Tim again today at Flamingo, we started out in the fishing for Tarpon. There were a few free jumping but the winds kicked up and once that happened it made it tough to spot them. I headed for some protected shorelines and the guys ended up with Redfish, Snook, Trout,Jacks, Ladyfish and Snapper.
031508
Afternoon trip with Bruce he is a rep. from Pure fishing he and his wife Amy are from Wisconsin so this weather is great for them even though its windy. I told Bruce in a little while we will have the whole place to ourselves. We started out fishing some mudding Sting ray's on the flats getting a shot at a nice Lemon Shark which didn't want to play. The next spot was just to let them catch some fish the caught plenty of Jack,Trout and Ladyfish for a warm up. The wind was gusting at 25 mph so I was trying to figure out the best area for us to go, the tides were extremely low so I picked the back of an Island I usually find nice Snook on. The tide had just switched and started to come in the Snook were on the edges but not eating at all. the Sharks started waking coming right at us, I rigged a top water plug and let Bruce cast at them. He was having a blast with the Sharks so I cut up a ladyfish and threw it out . It didn't take long and Bruce was hooked up with a Shark that was leaving town the fish had a hundred yards of line out and bit thru the leader. Bruce was really pumped up. We went back to casting the shorelines when I spotted a wake on the edge I cast at it and hooked a Big Snook. I passed the rod to Amy as she was fighting the Snook a big Shark came up behind it. I told her just keep winding and pulling. the Snook was running for its life and she passed me the rod and said "you do it". We could see the fear in the Snook eyes when it was close to the boat. I tighten the drag and with his forward momentum hoisted in the boat. The Shark circled looking for the Snook and just couldn't figure out where it went. We looked at the Snook and could see where the Shark had grabbed it just behind the dorsal but some how the Snook got away. I put him in the live well for an hour or so and released it in the Marina where the Sharks wont get him. It was getting late so we headed in.
031708
Lenny, Harnold and Jack are at Flamingo today, unfortunately it cranking 25 plus. We started out in an area that's protected, we did have a bunch of Ladyfish and on Snook hooked up. we moved looking for protection catching Trout, Ladyfish and Jacks. I was very limited in what we could do these guys were between 70 and 84 years old. so I wasn't going to beat them up . we stayed closed catching fish all morning until they decided it was enough.
031808
David and his son Jake are onboard today and because of the winds I'm fishing Whitewater Bay. I found some protected shorelines and we worked them, They got to cast at Redfish, Goliaths, Sawfish, and caught Jacks, Trout, and Ladyfish. David had a couple Goliath Grouper with there backs out of the water (it was shallow), he cast and had the 25 lb grouper just ripped line off his reel. David tried to get tight but the Goliath got away. He had never experienced anything like that before, and was truly excited. The winds again today have been brutal hopefully the are going to disappear in April. On our last spot Jake caught some Snappers and big Trout.
The conditions have been difficult because of the winds some days but we are still catching fish.
If you would like to give it a try give me a call at 305 333 8149.
Captain Jimbo
Flamingo Fishing Forecast:
The winds have to come down soon, which means the Tarpon will start biting!
Target Species:
Snook
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