The Fall Fishing Continues in South Florida!
Capt. Alan Sherman
December 15, 2012
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
What a crazy way to end a year! Due to tropical storm Sandy and then Hurricane Sandy disrupting the migrations our Fall migration of baitfish and predators that follow the baitfish schools never really materialized. We had some great fishing during the past few months but nothing like it should have been. A few good days of fishing and then a few mediocre days of fishing after the good days has been the norm recently. Now don't let that make you think there isn't something worthy to catch in North & South Bay, offshore of Miami or in Flamingo in Everglades National Park because there is. It's just not like years in the past where huge schools f baitfish attracted lots of mackerel, bluefish, large jacks and other migratory species.
Here's a sampling of what my clients and family have caught within the past few weeks in South Florida.
Fishing with Bill, Phillip and Austin in North Bay during a slow day the guys caught, one nice mackerel, jacks, bluefish and sea trout to 18 inches.
A few days later I took my wife Dana fishing offshore of Haulover Inlet. She caught a nice dolphin, a small shark and we each released a sailfish. We were using live threadfin herrings for bait hooked to a Mustad Ultra Point short shank hook.
On my next trip I found myself in Flamingo with Pat and Jordan. Winds were blowing at 25 at times but we managed four hours of good fishing before the tide changed and the water got real dirty. During that four hour period the guys landed 10 redfish keeping two of the bigger slot fish, released three of the four snook they hooked and released a bunch of trout, ladyfish and jacks. All of the fish were caught on Cajun Thunder floats and shrimp and Hookup lures tipped with shrimp and Gulp baits. We also had a special moment when we came upon two wild Flamingos feeding on a grass flat.
The next day I was In North Bay with Joel, Steve and Steve. Another windy day but the guys hung in there and caught lots of small trout, released two undersize gag groupers plus nine mackerel and one small king mackerel that were released using live shrimp and pilchards.
Back in North Bay with Greg and James for a ¾ day of fishing. This was one of the slow days but the guys did catch mackerel, bluefish, jacks, bluerunners and lots of sea trout.
Today I am with my son Zach who is back from Australia for the Holidays. After catching a bunch of finger mullet and threadfin herring we headed offshore to find things a bit slow. We hit a few wrecks and released a ton of small amberjacks plus a gag grouper. We then went looking for something on the surface and hooked up on some big schoolie dolphins but landed only one in the 8 pound range. We also landed a nice blackfin tuna that went home for sushi and grilled tuna.
Back in North Bay with Jason, Emily and Abe for a half day of fishing. After catching some bait we hit the grass flats and open water and shortly had 20 jack crevalles, six trout and two bluefish.
Today my son Zach and I headed down to Marathon to fish on the party boat Sea King. Zach wanted a big black grouper and I wanted to see him catch one. At the end of the day Zach had lost two big fish that broke his line and released an undersized black grouper. We did manage to get two legal limits of yellowtail snappers to take home for dinner. A nice day bonding with the son!
Back in North Bay with Steve and his wife Cecilia for a half day of fishing. After catching some pilchards we quickly got into the sea trout and caught a bunch on Cajun Thunder floats and on Hookup lures before hitting an open water area that has been holding bluefish and mackerel. We worked this area over for a while and ended up with six nice blues and missed three times that amount before hitting the last spot that yielded a few jacks and a few shots at tarpon in the 60 to 125 pound range.
Back in North Bay with Bill and Gene for a half day of fishing. Flat calm day. After catching plenty of bait and a few sea trout we hit a spot that had some tarpon but resulted in an 8 and 9 pound jack crevalles but no tarpon. We headed offshore and fished a wreck and the guys wore themselves out catching and releasing undersized amberjacks and bonito. Time for one more spot that resulted in lots of strikes but only on Spanish mackerel.
Last trip of the week is with Eddie his son Joel, and his daughters Janine and Erica in North Bay for 4 hours. After catching a bunch of threadfin herring the girls out fished the guys by catching and releasing a bunch of sea trout. In the next spot the hooked three big fish but lost each one to the rocks. A bunch of rainstorms moved in and shortened our trip.
Well that catches us up for now. More trips in the future after a short trip to Gainesville, Fl.
I am often asked when is the best time to fish? Normally I answer with "When you Can". From now till December everyday no matter what the weather is is the best time to fish. Miss a day during the Fall Migration and you may have missed the best fishing of your life!
All of these fish were caught using Key Largo spinning rods, Daiwa Advantage spinning reels, Okuma spinning reels, Shimano spinning reels and Stren and P-Line lines.
What are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and lets go catch some snook!
Many Thanks to Yamaha outboard engines, Pathfinder Boats, Bob Hewes Boats, Continental Trailers, Haber Vision Sun Glasses, Daiwa Fishing Reels, Key Largo Rods, Minn Kota Trolling Motors/ Talon Shallow Water Anchor/ Hummingbird Recorder/GPS, StowMaster Nets, Lee Fisher Nets, Hookup Lures, Mustad Hooks, Rapala lures/Trigger X, General Motors/Chevrolet, Berkley Products, P-Line Products, Grand Slam Aluminum Fabricating Inc., Precision Tackle/Cajun Thunder Floats, Florida Sportsman Magazine, Columbia Sportswear, P-Line!
I have many open dates in my calendar so if you're interested in getting in on some hot snook and sea trout action give me a call at 786-436-2064 or drop me an e-mail at [email protected]. Let's set it up today!
www.getemsportfishing.com
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Check out my report in the Miami Herald's Sports section under Fishing Updates each Thursday, the Florida Sportsman Magazines South Florida Internet Fishing Report
(www.floridaspotsman.com), my monthly Action Spotter Fishing Report for the South Region in the Florida Sportsman Magazine each month.
Sponsors:
Yamaha, Bob Hewes Boats, Maverick, Minn Kota, Daiwa, General Motors & Chevrolet, Rapala, Suffix, Trigger X, Mustad, Pure Fishing, Gulp, Berkley, Precision Tackle, Cajun Thunders, Capt. Hank Brown's Hookup Lures, Hydro Glow Lights, Saltwater Assassins, Key Largo Rods, Lee Fisher Cast Nets, Smartshield, Master Repair in Stuart Florida, Stow Master Nets, Columbia Wear, Tempress Seating, Aluminum Fabricating Inc.
Miami Fishing Forecast:
Miami Fishing Forecast:
The Fall Migration is under way and the fishing in Biscayne Bay, Offshore of Miami and in Flamingo in Everglades National Park will be red hot for the next three months. Look forward to catching SEA TROUT, JACK CREVALLES, LADYFISH, BARRACUDAS, SNOOK, TARPON, MACKEREL, BLUEFISH, POMPANO in NORTH BISCAYNE BAY, IN SOUTH BISCAYNE BAY GROUPER, SNAPPER, MACKEREL, COBIA, JACKS, SNOOK,POMPANO AND BLUEFISH and OFFSHORE of MIAMI, KINGFISH, BLACKFIN TUNA, MACKEREL, JACKS, BLUEFISH, COBIA, SAILFISH and DOLPHINS will be available on the calmer days and in FLAMINGO in EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK we always have a huge amount of wildlife like the WHITE PELICANS, ROSEATTE SPOONBILLS, SKIMMER BIRDS,GULLS, OSPREYS, EAGLES, TERNS, EGRETS, HERONS, ALLIGATORS, CROCODILES, BOTTLE NOSED DOLPHINS, MANATTEES, SHARKS and TURTLES and of course the wide variety of fish that migrate into FLORIDA BAY and the GULF waters during the cooler months of the year. SNOOK, TARPON, REDFISH, SEA TROUT, SHEEPSHEAD, TRIIPLETAIL, BLACK DRUM, SNAPPER, GOLIATH AND GAG GROUPER, POMOPANO, COBIA, MACKEREL, PERMITS, BLUEFISH
Target Species:
SNOOK, TARPON, KINGFISH, SAILFISH, REDFISH, SHARKS, SNAPPER, GROUPER, DOLPHINS, COBIA, SEA TROUT, MACKEREL, PO
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