Winter time equals fun fishing in the Everglades
Capt. Alex Zapata
December 10, 2016
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
As the end of the year approaches, the arrival of cold weather brings along several fishing opportunities for a wide array of species that are readily available during cold weather.
I spend most of the year sightfishing with clients after glamour flats species such as tarpon, bonefish, permit, redfish and snook. However, as much as I love guiding and fishing for all these great fish, I always look forward to fish for more accessible and less technical fish species. whenever possible, It is nice to take a break from all these challenging gamefish and change things up a bit. Winter is the perfect time for that.
I often face different scenarios when getting charter requests from clients. Every client has different expectations, goals and preferences.
I get the usual client that has zero to very little experience in saltwater fishing but he or she is already thinking about catching a 10lb bonefish, a 20lb snook, a grand slam, a permit on fly or a 100lb tarpon.
I get the typical die hard client, asking me to go after a particular target, with a particular tackle or technique, even when the weather, time of the year and/or fishing conditions will greatly limit our opportunities.
I get the seasoned flyfishing or light tackle expert that only focuses on one style of fishing or species in particular, yet understands the challenges and different variables associated with their quest.
I also get the typical family charter...father and son, couple, tourist with zero fishing experience , grandson and grandfather, beginner light tackle or fly fisherman etc.. they usually ask me to take them fishing for whatever is bitting best according to the conditions.
I greatly enjoy this type of charter as it usually gives me the flexibility to fish for different species (both glamour and fun species according to the available conditions) educating people on the basics of fishing while having fun in the process.
The key to success is being flexible and willing to adjust to the different conditions that we might face during any season, week or day.
That being said, winter time provides that assortment of opportunities to fish for a mix bag of species.
The flamingo area provides a wide array of fishing opportunities during cold weather.
The Spanish mackerel migrate down south and concentrate in Florida bay. They provide hot non-stop action and are capable to satisfy any angler regardless of their experience or angling level. they are also very good to eat.
The jacks, mangrove snapper, ladyfish and bluefish will be on the mix with the mackerel as well. Do not be surprised if a fat cobia shows up to your chum slick to add some extra excitement. Sea trout fishing starts to get very good throughout winter and into the spring.
Snook, sea trout, redfish and black drum will seek the deeper moats and channels to warm themselves up during those very cold days. When you find one you usually find a bunch of fish concentrated in the same area. Nothing beats a buck tail jig or a jig and live shrimp combination when doing that.
Shark fishing is also an excellent choice during winter time. These powerful predators are almost always hungry and willing to play unless the weather gets extremely cold. During these conditions, the sharks will also head towards deeper water and will stay there until the water starts to warm back up. Sharks will test your nerves and fighting skills to the limit, which is one of the main reasons why I like it.
I love fishing for sharks for educational purposes.
Sharks are the perfect practice for the beginner wanting to learn how to cast, set the hook on a fish and then fight it. Also, a great practice target for the beginner-intermediate fly fisherman or light tackle guy wanting to hone his or her skills for that future big tarpon, sailfish, marlin, giant trevally or just about any other big fish.
In other words "you must learn to crawl before you can walk". Sharks provide that opportunity.
We get several shark species in Florida bay such as Lemmons, black tips, bulls, nurses and the occasional tiger shark. Some of these can reach sizes of over 300lb.
though the cold fronts in winter time will limit our opportunities for the glamour species, please do not completely count them off.
When the weather gets hot in between cold fronts, we can have access to the most spectacular sightfishing for tarpon of the year, for rolling and laid up fish in the backcountry. These fish bite flies and plugs with abandon. During these hot weather spells in winter time, just about any other glamour species such as bones, permit, snook and redfish will get active and will come back to the shallow flats to feed, opening the sightfishing window for them again.
Feel free to email me or call me with any questions you might have. I love talking about fishing and can't have enough of it!!
Mackerel fishing action in the gulf
Duncan smith and Dad catching sharks on fly
Beautiful Black tip shark on fly
Fun trip with Duncan polishing his big fish fighting skills on the fly rod. He even hooked into a Tiger shark estimated at 250lb.
Book a trip this winter and let's go fishing
Capt Alex Zapata
www.silverkingcharters.com
(786)3174733
[email protected]
Flamingo Fishing Forecast:
Spanish mackerel are out in the gulf in big numbers. Snook, redfish, trout and black drum concentrate in the deeper channels and moats and will provide action during the coldest days. Shark Fishing will be good, excepting when the weather gets really cold. Tarpon will be out there during warm days.
Target Species:
Sharks, redfish, Spanish mackerel, snook, Black drum, trout, tarpon
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