Warmer weather brings active fish
Capt. Jeff Legutki
March 9, 2010
Ten Thousand Islands - Saltwater Fishing Report
We finally got a taste of spring weather the first week of March. Finally, no more long underware and heavy winter jackets. Calm winds and clear water has made fly fishing superb.
You can see it in the fishes reactions that they to are ready for warmer conditions.
Redfish has been the main target since the freeze, they tolerate the cold much better than the snook. I am finding schools of redfish in the shallows mixed in with the mullet. There is black drum mixed in the bunch, just cruising along together. Some days I can't get the fish to eat the fly, other days it is a free for all, fish fighting over the flies.
Borski sliders are working well, sliding them through the mud the reds just can't seem to resist.
This past week we have had a warming trend and the snook are finally cooperating. I have seen some real giants around, some over 20 pounds, basking in the sun. Until now, they have had a bad case of lock jaw, refusing everything. Alot of snook are still showing scars from the cold, marked up with soars and loose scales.
Yesterday, young Dakota Richard from Ct. caught his first Everglades snook on fly. A big 32.5 inch fish pounced on a well presented cast and ate a light bulb pattern streamer fly. We must have had 4 fish over 30 inches track the fly all the way to the boat before turning and running away. Arghhh!
The same day, younger brother Gryfon jumped the first tarpon of the year, a 20 pound resident fish, but lost it on the second jump(no bow). An exciting first day in the 'Glades to say the least.
On the cooler days when the reds and snook are being snobbish, I have been targeting trout over shell bottoms in 3-4 foot of water. Trout fill in the empty gaps along with ladyfish and jacks. Some real nice trout have been caught up to 24 inches. The flies are heavily weighted and bright in color with a slow hopping retrieve.
Spring is on the way and the action is getting better each day. I do still have a few open days left for anyone wanting to fish the Everglades with fly or light tackle.
Ten Thousand Islands Fishing Forecast:
As weather warms and stabilizes the action gets better. Tarpon should be showing up any week now! Excited, ready for some of the best sight fishing Florida has to offer.
Target Species:
snook, tarpon, and red fish that lurk in the shallows
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