Flamingo in the Spring
Capt. Alan Sherman
May 7, 2008
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
I had an interesting day on the water with angler Rodger. We were fishing Florida Bay in a deep channel with flats on both sides and we were casting 1/4 ounce Hook Up lures tipped with four inch Gulp shrimp. Not much ation was taking place along the flats and the tide was outgoing so we continued to cast to each side. Rodger caught a small mangrove snapper and then hooked a large snook over slot size that made two lightning runs and then tried to jump but only managed to throw the hook. 1 nice lost fish. I got a bite and landed a four pound bluefish. Rodger got a hit and lost a trapon after one jump. Another lost nice fish. Things slowed so we staked out and fished a few pinfish on Hook Up lures. Rodger had a solid hit but the hook didn't penetrate and he got back a crushed pinfish. The next pinfish got hit but again ddn't get hooked but the leader was full of slime. Catfish! Time to move on. Our next spot was similar to the first. Here we released many sea trout, snapper, jacks and lost another snook. The tide has turned and its time to move on. We ran to the Gulf but only had shark action so headed for East Cape. On the way we saw three tripletail releasing two 15 inchers on shrimp and spooking the biggest fish. Soon after we encountered a nice cobia and hooked him on a pinfish but lost the fish on some debris. Rodger who has fished Flamingo many times before expressed his satisfaction with a beautiful day on the water in Flamingo even though all of the big ones got away this day.
Today I am fishing with Richard and William and decide to run throuigh Whitewater Bay out to the Gulf. Once in Whitewater Bay we encounter an unexpected strong west wind and decide to fish the backsides of the inside islands. For the next six hours the guys had steady action on sea trout to 17 inches, snappers to 1 1/2 pounds goliath groupers to 5 pounds, ladyfish, redfish and snook. They were casting 1/4 ounce Hook Up lures tipped with Gulp Pogys and shrimp. The water was gin clear on the outgoing tide and we saw dozens of snook, dozens of redfish, hundred sea trout, 1/2 dozen goliath groupers, loads of snappers and jacks, sharks and at least 6 nice tarpon that spooked before we could get a cast off. The high light of the trip was when Richard
hooked a one pound sea trout between two islands and had a pair of 20 pound snook try and eat it. One snook did eat the trout and was hooked on the Hook Up lure and after a long fight eventually tired of us and ran right into the trees cutting the line. That fish was hooked on 10 pound mono. We rigged a bigger rod and cast a 2 pound ladyfish into the area and got a hit immediately. This fish was Williams and weighed an estimated 25 pounds but spit the bait back to us. We re-cast and hooked up again but the braided line broke on the hook set. They guys had a great day and released over 70 fish.
Flamingo Fishing Forecast:
Fishing in Flamingo both inside and outside is ready to explode. With summer conditions just around the corner snook and redfish will be staging in areas that they spawn and will eat almost anything thrown their way. Big sharks will be plentiful and sea trout, tripletail, large jacks, ladyfish, lots of snappers, goliath groupers, tarpon and permit will all be available.
Target Species:
Snook, Tarpon, Trout, Cobia, Sharks, Redfish, Tripletail
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