Inshore Fishing in North Biscayne Bay is Red Hot!
Capt. Alan Sherman
September 17, 2011
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
As I sit in front of my computer writing this fishing update in the middle of Biscayne Bay from Dumfoundling Bay south to Ocean Reef schools of medium to large silver and black mullet have settled into South Florida after being pushed into our region a little early by Hurricane Irene. The first schools of finger mullet are starting to arrive as well. During a normal late summer and the beginning of Fall these baitfish schools arrive during the last week of September or during the whole month of October but these mullet schools are ahead of schedule and have been in the Bay for at least two weeks attracting the attention of the only fish in the Bay that can eat them. And that would be tarpon of all sizes, snook, jack crevalles and large sea trout and barracudas. Soon schools of small and medium sized bluefish, large jacks, sharks and some huge tarpon and monster ladyfish will join in on the feeding frenzy. As water temperatures cool down further north pilchards, Spanish sardines and threadfin herring will follow the mullet schools and that is when our fishing in South Florida will really take off. Read further and I will explain!
In North Biscayne Bay tarpon from 10 pound fish to tarpon of over 100 pounds are feeding at times throughout the day on the mullet schools. A few big snook that have finished spawning are feeding right alongside of the tarpon. Sea trout, snappers, ladyfish and barracudas are eating small summer baitfish that has been holding over the grass flats. Bluefish and even a few pompano have been around these baitfish schools as well. Throwing Rapala Clackin Minnows, Rapala X Raps, Skitter Walks and Sub Walks have been scoring on all of these fish when fished along the edges and over the tops of the shallow grass flats. Casting live threadfin herring, pilchards and mullet and the Rapala plugs has helped us score on lots of tarpon strikes but all of the fish that ate our baits including our plugs spit the hooks on the jump or broke off except for the 39 inch 16 pound snook that I released on a live threadfin herring cast up into a few inches of water where what we thought was a tarpon feeding on mullet but obviously it turned out to be that snook. This fishing will only get better when the schools of bluefish, mackerels and big jacks arrive.
SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT THE TARPON IN THIS PICTURE PLUS THE RAPALA CLACKIN MINNOW IN IT'S MOUTH!
Offshore fishing has been a bit disappointing though. But this can change overnight! When the schools of baitfish start their big push southward schools of bluefish, Spanish mackerel, pompano, big jack crevalles, large ladyfish, big tarpon, snook and sharks will be right behind them. Then as some of these baitfish schools move further offshore the kingfish schools, sailfish, bonitos and blackfin tuna and of course dolphins will be right there waiting for them. This is some of the most exciting fishing will see all year. Grab your casting gear and the plugs and artificial lures you have been hoarding and cast these lures along the edges of the feeding frenzies taking place along the beaches and offshore under the birds and hang on.
Fishing in Flamingo is on fire as well. Hit the right spot on the right tide and redfish, snook, tarpon, jacks, snapper, ladyfish and sharks are there waiting for you. Add to that tripletail, sea trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel and you have a full day of hot fishing.
I sold my 2008 Pathfinder last week and now have my new 2012 Pathfinder 22' Tournament XL with a 2012 Yamaha VMAX SHO 250 Four Stroke outboard. The new Get Em is equipped with a Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchor and I Pilot trolling motor and a Humminbird side scan depth recorder. The boat has all of the added options of my last boat and is trailered by a new Continental trailer. The new trolling motor has added all kinds of options to my fishing and the Talon has given me an extra foot of anchoring depth. The Humminbird recorder has so many features it will take me a few weeks to figure it out.
I have plenty of open dates for the next month so give me a call and lets go catch some big trout and tarpon.
Give me a call at 786-436-2064 or e-mail me at [email protected].
Let's go catch some Fish!
Check out my new web site and to read about the weekly catches and to see your pictures.
www.getemsportfishing.com
[email protected]
Rick Berry of Key Largo Rods (www.keylargorods.com) recently got in a new shipment of jigging rods. There model numbers are 843 and 844. These are 7 foot spinning rods with a lot of beef that will easily handle 12 to 30 and 15 to 40 pound braided line and a one to two ounce vertical jig. I have been using them for live bait fishing for snook, tarpon, sailfish, bonitos and dolphins and am very excited about the strength and feel of these new rods. I can't wait to give them a shot on snapper and grouper on the reefs! Check out the Key Largo Rods web site or give the shop a call and have a few made up.
Want to stay cool and look like you belong on the water? Than gear up with some Columbia Sportswear! For starters slip on a pair of cool fitting and quick drying Aruba III Zip Off Pants. They are so light you won't even know you're wearing them and they quickly turn into shorts if you feel the need. Find yourself in Flamingo in Everglades National Park where at times bugs can be a problem then add The Bug Shield long sleeve shirt that has the new Insect Blocker technology that keeps six-legged pests at bay and it offers Omni-Shade UPF 40 sun protection, and Omni-Wick advanced evaporation technology that keeps you cool, dry, and collected - leaving you free to focus on the adventure at hand. And then last but not least slip on a pair of Omni Free gloves and neck-buff that is outfitted with a UPF 30 sun protection enough sun protection to get the Skin Cancer Foundation's seal of recommendation.
Check out my report in the Miami Herald's Sports section under Fishing Updates each Thursday, the Florida Sportsman Magazines South Florida Internet Fishing Report (www.floridaspotsman.com), my monthly Action Spotter Fishing Report for the South Region in the Florida Sportsman Magazine each month.
I have been wearing a lot of Columbia Sports Wear on my fishing charters and the new Blood & Guts shirts are amazing. I have had mackerel, cobia and snook just splatter me with blood and one good washing and the shirts are as good as new. Check out their web site at www.columbia.com
Sponsors: Yamaha, Bob Hewes Boats, Maverick, Minn Kota, Lowrance Electronics, Daiwa, General Motors & Chevrolet, Rapala, Suffix, Trigger X, Mustad, Pure Fishing, Gulp, Berkley, Precision Tackle, Cajun Thunders, Capt. Hank Brown's Hookup Lures, Hydro Glow Lights, Saltwater Assassins, Key Largo Rods, Lee Fisher Cast Nets, Smartshield, Master Repair in Stuart Florida, Power Pole, Stow Master Nets, superfishlight.com, Columbia Wear, Tempress Seating, Aluminum Fabricating Inc.
Capt. Alan Sherman
"Get Em" Sportfishing Charters
786-436-2064
www.getemsportfishing.com
Field Editor of the Florida Sportsman Magazines Action Spotter Report South Region
Field Editor of the Florida Sportsman Magazines Internet Fishing Forecast South Region
Editor of the Miami Heralds South Florida Fishing Report Thursdays Edition
Miami Fishing Forecast:
Miami Fishing Forecast:
I expect the fishing to be pretty consistent for the next three or four months with lots of SEA TROUT, JACK CREVALLES, LADYFISH, BARRACUDAS, SNOOK, TARPON in NORTH BISCAYNE BAY and OFFSHORE of MIAMI KINGFISH SAILFISH and DOLPHINS available on the calmer days and in FLAMINGO in EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK will have a huge amount of wildlife like the WHITE PELICANS, ROSEATTE SPOONBILLS, SKIMMER BIRDS,GULLS, OSPREYS, EAGLES, TERNS, EGRETS, HERONS, ALLIGATORS, CROCODILES, BOTTLE NOSED DOLPHINS, MANATTEES, SHARKS and TURTLES and of course the wide variety of fish that migrate into FLORIDA BAY and the GULF waters during the cooler months of the year. SNOOK, TARPON, REDFISH, SEA TROUT, SHEEPSHEAD, TRIIPLETAIL, BLACK DRUM, SNAPPER, GOLIATH AND GAG GROUPER, POMOPANO, COBIA, MACKEREL, PERMITS, BLUEFISH and I'm sure I am leaving a few other fish species out will be available to all anglers at one time or another throughout the rest of the Summer.
Target Species:
Target Species:
LARGEMOUTH BASS, SNOOK, TARPON, REDFISH, SHARKS, DOLPHINS, SAILFISH, TRIPLETAIL
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