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Flamingo - Everglades National Park
Capt. Ariel Cabrera
August 24, 2002
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Boy Battles Snook- Lady Lands Tarpon
Fishing has been great! Action began when Eduardo (five years old) reeled up a black drum. His older brother, Jose (ten years) would battle and defeat a 26” snook that made an impressive photo. Then it was Jose senior’s turn at fighting against a double-digit snook that just overpowered man and machine. Jose jr. had another solid hookup to a snook that really moved him (literally). I did what I could to save this one from mother mangrove but it had a mind of its own. Even though we hop scotched around the skiff and reeled as fast as he could the snook played the violin with the line thus making it part. The real bread winner here was actually Eddy who ended up catching several keeper snapper in the 12-13” range. Later, while little Eddy napped on the bench seat his brother and dad landed two blacktip sharks, five and twenty five pounds, respectively. The boys also released a three-pound ladyfish. All in all this family would have a great story to share with their friends when they arrived back at Dominican Republic.
Rick and Dianelys Hernandez would join me for another great day of fishing at Flamingo. Dianelys can really fish and she proved it by catching a slam of trout, redfish, and tarpon. The tarpon was the best aerial show and it happened last around noon. Rick caught a few trout and a couple of keeper snapper, including a 14” fish but his wife led by quantity and quality. Sorry Rick.
Outdoor columnist for the Miami Herald Sue Cocking would join me the next morning for a shot at tripletail fishing. We found a nice floater probably in the ten pound range drifting towards the boat and Sue made a great cast. Suddenly, the three fins headed downward for the bait but apparently this fish didn’t get so big by falling for baited hooks. One more fish came our way but did not cooperate either. Tropical waves and tripletail obviously don’t mix too well but one never really knows. It was a neat experience despite 20-25 kt. winds with gusts to 30. Tournament anglers had similar luck with redfish.
Finally Paulo Rui of Camargo Brasil would come aboard with his son-in-law, Luis, for a taste of Everglades peril against our tough fish. Paulo faced severe entanglement with what I hypothesized to be a goliath grouper (jewfish). Indeed, it was a jewfish and Paulo patiently brought this fish out of the mangroves and into the landing net. His immediate words following this treacherous quarrel were, “BOA SORTE,” which translates to good luck in Portuguese. I don’t know why he would say this of me because sometimes the fisherman makes the captain just like the student molds the teacher. Nevertheless Paulo would reel in two more snook one of which was caught on one of his favorite $18.00 Brazilian plugs at high noon. Another snook would steal Luis’s bait and beat him to the mangroves.
Next report will include fresh tarpon and snook action.
Capt. Ariel
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