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South Florida Report - Flamingo, Biscayne Bay & Miami
Capt. Jim Hobales
February 20, 2008
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
021408
I was supposed to fish with Sam Rose yesterday, but with the still pending tornado warning's and the driving squalls we canceled. Sam lives on Fisher Island which borders Government Cut which makes it easy; if the weather is good I pick him up. The weather has cleared and we have a spectacular morning cool with a light NW wind. We started out drifting jumbo Shrimp on the South Beach side but it wasn't happening. I said let's check the cut, they will be there when the tide switches to incoming. It didn't take long and the Tarpon started rolling all around us right as the incoming rip started to form. A school of Tarpon rolled right next to us, I told Sam cast in front of them he did and the fight was on! The fish stayed down for the first 5 minutes, I told Sam it's either a really big Tarpon that don't want to come up or Permit. The fish stayed down and I was convinced it was a Permit! The next 45 minutes was enjoyable for me knowing it was a good one and we needed to land it. Sam is 72 and the fish was not giving up, by know we had an audience watching and the "Giant Permit" came up but just short of being able to net it. The fish went back down for another 10 minutes, but now we new we had at least a 30 lb. Permit hooked up! It was long after the fish came to the surface where I netted it, but not with out an incident. The fish was to big for the net, his head was massive. I finally netted the Permit and we like the other boats were yelling like school girls. I have caught big Permit up to 37 lbs before and this one dwarfed any Permit I have seen. Sam said the same he has caught many in the 30 lb class he said it was 50, my guess 42-46 lbs and my 30 lb boga grip was useless. I took some photos of a very proud Sam Rose after a bottle of water he said let's go "I can't top that today".
I dropped Sam off and headed back to the cut, I don't get to fish much so I took advantage. My first cast I caught a Mutton Snapper, then a Grouper At 1222 pm I hooked a 90 lb Tarpon at 1245 I released it. My phone rang it was my buddy Pete, asking what I was up to. I told him what the last 2 hours were like and he said I'm on my way! I grabbed lunch, Pete showed up and we went back out. I wasn't long after we got into the cut, I hooked a 30 lb Tarpon on a Gulp Shrimp. This fish didn't take long and was quickly released. We stayed out until dark but the fish didn't bite anymore so we called it. I had an awsome day!
021708
I am fishing with engineers and sales guys from Yamaha outboards which are in town for the Miami boat show, this is a nice break from their hectic schedule. I only understood one name so I am sorry for that. I along with Captain Alan Sherman have done this for the last 2 years and the trips aren't getting any easier, the weather just don't cooperate. It is breezy today @ 20 mph with some serious rain coming thru; but we managed to catch plenty of fish. They caught plenty of Trout, Jack, Ladyfish. Kurt is the one name I did get he hooked a 120 lb Tarpon for a few minutes, the Tarpon made 2 sky rocketing jumps which brought cheers from Captain Alan's boat. Kurt was extremely excited and will remember that Tarpon forever. He really couldn't wipe the smile off his face, the Tarpon out weighed him by at least 20 lbs. The bite was good but we were looking straight into a nasty squall and decide to make a run for it, we had been wet for 2 hours and they had enough!
021808
Today, I am with Kenji, Suzuki and another engineer from Yamaha, which again I'm sorry I can't pronounce his name. The wind is as strong today but out the south which gave me a little protection in Government cut and along South Beach. We rigged for Tarpon with the expectation of Mackerel, Blue runners and the outside chance a Tarpon. It is tough to get them to eat in the middle of the afternoon but that's time slot they were allotted. It didn't take long and we had a nice Spanish Mackerel hooked up, but it was bumpy and they didn't seem comfortable. I told them when it's to rough let me know and we will move. I finally got the impression it was time to go so we trolled a plug around the bait schools which caught a bunch more Mackerel. The guys seemed much more comfortable trolling, so I continued around the jetties. The 12 lb Biscayne Rod with a X rap trolled behind it was to much for the first Snook, The fish fought extremely hard in the current and choppy waters, which was from wind and boat show traffic (test rides). Kenji landed the 26" Snook and after a couple photos I asked if they would like to try again, they liked the way the Snook fought and wanted to make another pass. I got the plug back out and Trolled the same pattern again as the plug went by the rocks it got slammed again, this was a 25" Snook. We took some more photos and did it again so the last guy could catch a Snook. I trolled by the same spot one more time with the same result, but this was a much bigger Snook. The boat was rocking, the fish was pulling and I was trying not to end up on top off the jetty! The fight continued and I wanted that Snook, it was a good one. Suzuki got it close and I grabbed it, at the same time throwing the boat into gear and running it off the jetty (just another day at the office). I thought this could make a great photo opportunity! I put he Snook in the livewell and had Captain Alan get a group shot then, we released the Snook for another day. The guys had enough of the swells and boat rocking they asked for calmer water so we finished up in the bay with a bunch of Trout.
Let go catch'em
Capt Jimbo
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