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Everglades National Park - Flamingo
Capt. Bob LeMay
August 18, 2005
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing along the Gulf coast of the 'Glades has been very good, and getting better. Water temps at dawn range from 83 to 84 degrees and waters have cleared up substantially with the easterly winds we've had for the last week or so. Every morning there are lots of small to medium tarpon just off of points north of the Shark River. We've had lots of bites on small topwater lures. Although I haven't had any fly anglers this is the time to work popping bugs until about 9Am each morning... Snook have been biting both lures and bait around river mouths. Our best this week weighed an even 10lbs on the Boga-grip before a photo and release. On our last outing I also saw more than a few 3 to 5lb spanish mackeral rocketing through schools of small bait just outside of where the snook are holding... We've also been finding numbers of small trout inside and small to medium redfish along the coast. The reds have shown in the same places that the snook have been holding. This time of year the weather is tough, bugs are biting at the boat ramp, and every afternoon thunder storms are the rule. On the plus side the fish are biting and there's almost no other boats in sight anywhere along the coast if you fish during the week... That will change in two weeks when snook season opens.
Last night we were back in Biscayne Bay fishing around bridges for baby tarpon with light spinning gear. The baby tarpon are still working in the shadows under the bridges we checked. The fish range from 15lbs to over 30lbs and are very hungry for a well presented shrimp (for those that prefer arties, the DOA shrimp in the 1/4 oz. size would be my first choice). Although we're using 8 to 12# lines, the business end is almost always a short piece of 40# fluorocarbon... That size bite tippet is standard when tossing flies at them as well. Although the action was hot, the fish did all of the releasing last night. We got hooks in at least ten fish and got treated to every trick in the book, from dodging around pilings to just plain jumping off. What a great fishery, and all within sight of either downtown Miami or the bayside houses of Miami Beach. The night fishing is definitely the way to beat the heat this time of year.
Tight Lines
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