Adapting is the key!
Capt. Jim Hobales
March 22, 2010
Government Cut - Saltwater Fishing Report
I am with Martin and his grandson Jason today, it is cold and windy again. It seems that this pattern we have had for 3 months now don't want to leave us quietly. We worked around the Lake Ingraham area and couldn't get a bite. I think what has happened is the area has been over fished this winter due to some really cold days where the Redfish and Black Drum gang up in holes. The same spots get hit day after day and you have to wonder if it takes a toll. This is just my opinion!
We worked around all morning and finally found some really nice Black Drum up to 7 lbs., we caught a bunch and decided it was cold and time to head in.
031810
I am out in Government Cut with Danny and his son Nick from California, Danny really wants a Tarpon but it is cold this morning, the water is around 67 degrees. We stuck it out in the cut all day and caught allot of fish, we used live Shrimp and Gulp Shrimp on a jig head. The Grouper have really been stacked up in Government Cut, today we caught a couple Gags, a bunch of Reds and 1 nice Black. There were plenty of other species as well, we caught Yellowtails, many Mangrove Snappers, Porgy's, Blue Runners,Sheepheads and Grunts galore. The conditions were not great for Tarpon but we tried all day as the water temps actually dropped while we were there. The Tarpon rolled every once in a while just to let us know they were there but not interested. We called it a day and would be back tomorrow.
031910
We got out early trying to get the last of the night time conditions, the bites came quickly but again today it was cold and the water temps were @ 69 degrees. I thought it would warm up and the temps would rise. We waited until 1100 or so but the Tarpon didn't bite even at the change of the tide. We ran inside the cut and caught bait and headed offshore. Danny said he would like to catch a Sailfish and could we try. The conditions were good everything but a north current but we put out our baits . The first bite had the drag screaming off my Okuma reel and eventually Danny landed a 12 lb Kingfish. The rods were continuously bending as we caught Bonita's and had a big Yellow Jack on for 20 minutes until something ate it. Not so long after that we saw what probably ate it as a 8 foot Hammerhead swam up near the boat. We pitched out a bait, it turned on it; hit it but missed it. The big Hammerhead turned on a dime and hit it again, now Nick was hooked up and the line was screaming off the 20 lb Biscayne rod. Nick fought it for about 30 minutes until it finally cut thru the line. We ended up the day back on the beach looking for Tarpon but only had a few Mackerel bites.
The list of fish caught today were long again, more Mangrove Snappers,Yellowtails, a big Jack Crevalle, both Red and Black Groupers,Grunts,Blue Runners and a Nice Hog Snapper.
Government Cut Fishing Forecast:
It has to warm up one of these days but until then, just keep adapting. The late night Tarpon bite is real good.
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