Everglades backcountry report, 6 Sept (what hurricane?)
Capt. Bob LeMay
September 6, 2017
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
With all that bad weather coming (what hurricane?) I thought there still might be a bit of time for a fishing report.... Of course, just after I got the email from the Park today - Everglades National Park is now closed until Irma passes by (and if they get torn up - who knows when they'll re-open...).
Our last day on the water was last Sunday and we made good use of it... My anglers caught and released snook, redfish, snapper, sharks, and a variety of other species - all mostly on the small side using lead heads with Gulp tails. The highlight of the day was a few tripletail - the biggest weighed in right at 10lbs - an outstanding catch using the lightest rod on the skiff... Here's a pic of Randy Abelman's fish...
[img][img]https://imgur.com/a/VtKKK
His partner, Lenny, promptly tossed another small jig at the same spot and came up with one that weighed in at seven pounds... All of this was in less than six feet of water on light ten pound line... Both fish managed a jump or two during the fight -then promptly went into the cooler since they're outstanding table fare. We managed a third much smaller specimen which was carefully released. There will be tripletail this size and larger the next few months, much closer in shore now that all of the crab traps are out of the waters a bit farther out....
We ended the day with a shot or two at a few very aggressive goliath grouper up in a nearby river - that just took us to school. I'm guessing they were in the thirty to fifty pound range and were holding very close to a severely undercut river bank near the Little Shark river... You can guess what I'll have to say when FWC's workshops are held near my house in a little over a month... Sure would be nice to have them removed from some of the current protections. The jewfish (goliath grouper for all you politically correct types) have made an outstanding comeback after more than 20 years of complete protection.... They're one of my favorite fish in the 'Glades - absolutely fearless and willing to hit a variety of live and dead baits - as well as lures and flies... Tough as an old leather boot - they just never give up when you hook one...
Enough for now - the next two days I'll be armoring the house with heavy shutters and getting ready to bunker down for the weekend. Here's hoping that all stay safe and get a chance to fish a bit after all the cleanup that we'll surely be facing...
Be a hero... take a kid fishing
Tight Lines,
Bob LeMay
(954) 435-5666
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