Backcountry report, 1 December
Capt. Bob LeMay
December 1, 2014
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
We only fished three days last week but found fish every day despite bad weather conditions and water temperatures that went up and down like a yo-yo. Our first day had us fishing in high winds with intermittent rain. That day we were fly fishing and I had local angler Mike Shore aboard. With winds blowing at 20 and gust to 25 that day we made tracks for one of several rivers that drain from the east into Whitewater Bay. As we concentrated on points and structure it took a few spots before we hit our target -small to medium snook just looking to tag anything coming their way. Here's two pics from that day (we went on to catch and release a half dozen snook in that bad weather.... all on my version of the Clouser minnow...).
[img][img][URL=http://s235.photobucket.com/user/lemaymiami/media/fishpics/ShoreMikesnook1_zpsa9646d65.jpg.html][IMG]http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee111/lemaymiami/fishpics/ShoreMikesnook1_zpsa9646d65.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[img][img][URL=http://s235.photobucket.com/user/lemaymiami/media/fishpics/ShoreMikesnook2_zpsd2ea3626.jpg.html][IMG]http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee111/lemaymiami/fishpics/ShoreMikesnook2_zpsd2ea3626.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
As you can see from their dark coloration these guys had been up inside for a while... That day the warmest waters we found anywhere were barely 67 degrees.
A few days later I had local doctor Tony Muina aboard and most of our fish that day were misses but with some interesting highlights. Water temps had risen almost eight degrees in three days which made finding them a challenge. One of his first fish that day was a nice small mackeral (we're finding them up inside rivers that drain directly into the Gulf) -here's a pic. The lure shown is what we used most of that day when we weren't bait fishing.... it's a 1/4 or 1/8oz lead head with a Gulp tail and everything eats it...
[img][img][URL=http://s235.photobucket.com/user/lemaymiami/media/fishpics/rivermackMuina_zps3d55b273.jpg.html][IMG]http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee111/lemaymiami/fishpics/rivermackMuina_zps3d55b273.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
A short time later we started using live and dead bait and ran into more than one fish that just took us to the cleaners... The first was a big grouper that made it back under a tree (from the fight I'm betting it was a Goliath grouper...). Our next big fish was a hot blacktip that went at least 80lbs and almost spooled us before wearing through the heavy mono leader (we were set up for grouper and reds at the time..). Tony got to watch some serious greyhound type surface running as well as a couple of great spinning jumps before we came un-stuck.... We went through this routine on more than one occasion - telling me that we're finally moving into our cold water winter fishing along the coast....
Our final day on the water with father and son Robert and Rob Abramitis was more of the same... heavy grouper action and again a large blacktip that both just took us to school. Finally Rob got his first redfish and it was a dandy. At 28" it was just over the slot limit- here's a pic.
[img][img][URL=http://s235.photobucket.com/user/lemaymiami/media/fishpics/AbramitisRobbigred_zpsd74da941.jpg.html][IMG]http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee111/lemaymiami/fishpics/AbramitisRobbigred_zpsd74da941.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
We also caught and released a bunch of small speckled trout before finding a couple to bring home... here's another pic, this one is Robert...
[img][img][URL=http://s235.photobucket.com/user/lemaymiami/media/fishpics/AbramitisRoberttrout_zps51fcb295.jpg.html][IMG]http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee111/lemaymiami/fishpics/AbramitisRoberttrout_zps51fcb295.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
I'm expecting more of the same in coming weeks. We'll also be looking for the first big tarpon to come back up inside Whitewater Bay just before Christmas if the water stays on the warm side....
Be a Hero! take a kid fishing!
Tight lines
Bob LeMay
(954) 435-5666
ps... Since it is December it's time to think about a gift certificate for your favorite angler. With a phone call you can arrange a trip with me to be taken any time in the coming year....
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