Winter flats fishing report
Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 4:36 pmHappy New Year from the Florida Keys!
Hard to believe another year is coming to a close.
The fishing has been hit or miss this month. We have had some "Chamber of Commerce" postcard perfect days. Intermixed with some cold front days that were better suited to tying flies and doing laundry. Currently it is almost 80 degrees with some wind out of the east. Water temperatures have been unseasonably warm for Dec. making for some good flats fishing conditions. There are not as many bonefish and permit around this time of year. But we have been finding them on the flats on the incoming tide on the warmer days.
Dawn is a magical time to find tarpon on flat calm days. When the water is flat and the light is low, schools of tarpon can be spotted rolling on the surface. We had several epic mornings before Xmas when all the planets were aligned and 3 foot tarpon were crashing bait on the surface. We jumped and boated fish after fish on poppers untill the the sun rose.
The lower keys is not known as a redfish destinantion. But we have been finding some redfish tailing in some very skinny water. I have been seeing more and more redfish each year.
Blind casting a clouser or a shrimp tipped jig in the mullet mud and basins on the gulf side will produce a mixed bag of ladyfish, trout, jacks and snappers.
Barracudas are always around in even the coldest of days and are lots of fun. A tube lure ripped across the surface will produce some aggressive takes. A four foot cuda goes crazy when he is hooked in a foot or two of water. No where to go but up and out..
Tight lines and Happy New Year!
Capt. Scott Yetter
Sight Fish Charters
www.sightfishfloridakeys.com
305-304-6132
Hard to believe another year is coming to a close.
The fishing has been hit or miss this month. We have had some "Chamber of Commerce" postcard perfect days. Intermixed with some cold front days that were better suited to tying flies and doing laundry. Currently it is almost 80 degrees with some wind out of the east. Water temperatures have been unseasonably warm for Dec. making for some good flats fishing conditions. There are not as many bonefish and permit around this time of year. But we have been finding them on the flats on the incoming tide on the warmer days.
Dawn is a magical time to find tarpon on flat calm days. When the water is flat and the light is low, schools of tarpon can be spotted rolling on the surface. We had several epic mornings before Xmas when all the planets were aligned and 3 foot tarpon were crashing bait on the surface. We jumped and boated fish after fish on poppers untill the the sun rose.
The lower keys is not known as a redfish destinantion. But we have been finding some redfish tailing in some very skinny water. I have been seeing more and more redfish each year.
Blind casting a clouser or a shrimp tipped jig in the mullet mud and basins on the gulf side will produce a mixed bag of ladyfish, trout, jacks and snappers.
Barracudas are always around in even the coldest of days and are lots of fun. A tube lure ripped across the surface will produce some aggressive takes. A four foot cuda goes crazy when he is hooked in a foot or two of water. No where to go but up and out..
Tight lines and Happy New Year!
Capt. Scott Yetter
Sight Fish Charters
www.sightfishfloridakeys.com
305-304-6132