Whatever it takes!
Capt. Jim Hobales
March 1, 2009
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
022009
Tonight I am fishing with Mark and his father Tom. We attempted to fish the beaches just south of Haulover but with a straight north winds, an outgoing tide and a swell i decided to run to Government Cut. It was sloppy but we we able to hide behind the south jetty and do our drifts. We had one big hit and lost it and then managed to catch some Snappers and Jacks in the Inlet. We hit some docks and bridges on the way home but it had got really cold and they weren't dressed for it. we called it a night.
022109
Today I am with a buddy Danny who brought his buddy Joe and his wife Chassidy down from S Carolina. Joe holds the hunting lease Danny hunts on so they swap trips. It was cold and windy and Joe gets seasick so I had to keep him in protected water, so I ran down to Stiltsville. The conditions were difficult but we caught a bunch of small stuff we just couldn't get out of the wind. I decided to run back to Government Cut and fish the inside, it worked out they caught some more Snappers, Hog Snapper and Grouper. Chassidy didn't look like she was doing so good so Joe said let go in.
022309
Todd and his wife Lynn are here from Alaska, it was cool and we had no tide movement this morning making the bite difficult at best. I ran from spot to spot looking for current and finally found it later on in the day. The tide switched and the bite seemed to pick up, we caught Trout, Jacks, Mackerel, Bluefish, and had a Pompano Smash a "Twitch n Rap". We did this for about 2 hours and on almost every cast they caught a fish and all on artificial's.
022709
I am with Bill and Diane Holleran today, I started out in Whitewater Bay and the bite was good first thing. On our first stop we caught Snook, Trout, Ladyfish and Jacks. On our second spot Diane schooled Bill on every cast for a half hour she caught a Trout, he was shaking his head and avoiding the area she was casting at but Bill finally managed a few of his own.
The tide slowed and it got a bit tougher so I started to cover some water. I ended up in Shark River where Diane caught a small Gag and Bill caught a nice 23 inch Gag Grouper. It got really windy so I ran outside and down the coast where we got into some big Tarpon. We got a couple really good shots at them and Bill finally had on hit an X Rap. It didn't last long but is still was a hit which makes me think I can get more. Mackerel, Jacks and Trout filled in while the Tarpon were playing hard to get. The total amount of species caught was 10 today. It was late and we headed home both tired and happy.
022809
Today I am fishing with Tim and Collin from Chicago. I fished with them last year and Collin reminded me it was kind of slow , so I had my work cut out for me. I started them out quickly and close to the marina so they could get warmed up. Trout, Jacks, Ladyfish, Bluefish and a Blue Runner were the first fish we caught but I was actually looking for Pompano, there had been a bunch around. I made my way to the area where the Tarpon were the day before ad set up. I didn't see any for almost an hour but they were catching more Trout, Jacks, Mackerel and Bluefish. Then they just showed up rolling behind the boat! I rigged up a couple live baits and got them out, only to have the Sharks eat them. The whole time the baits are out they were catching fish, the must of caught 30 Jacks on that spot.
The bite was over and the Tarpon disappeared so we ran into Shark River where Collin caught a
couple nice Snappers and then Tim's rod was doubled over. It was a good fight and when it was over a 10 lb Goliath Grouper rolled to it side. we released it and went back to fishing. Tim was hooked up again, this time it was pulling and running away. Tim finally got it up and it was a Sting Ray. I ran to a little spot where if its happening its "shear pandemonium"! I had a live well with a bunch of baits so I rigged up a Bluerunner that I had been saving all day. I rigged the runner thru the tail and pitched him out as soon as it hit the water the rod doubled over. I laughed as Collin fought the fish but eventually lost the big Goliath to a tree. I rigged a 1 lb. Jack the same way, same results now Collin is getting mad. I took a chunk of pinfish and pitched it out as the rod bends and Collin is pumped up and ready and this time he wins! The best part is, it was a 22 inch Gag Grouper a couple more inched and that guy would be dinner. Ok now its Tim's turn, we we catching snappers and pitching them out as fast as we could. Tim rod doubled over again and again, he lost a couple in the tree but he finally caught the biggest one off the day. It was a solid 30 lb Goliath, after that fish he sat down for a few minutes. Collin was back up and caught another small one of 10 lbs. They caught 3 Goliaths and a Gag we had over 30 hook ups like I said "shear pandemonium". It was late,I was tired they were tired and they had a big grin on there face. Collin won't tell me it was slow next year, they caught a total of 11 species!
Flamingo Fishing Forecast:
It seems to be getting a more stabile lately, this is what we need to produce day in day out.
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