Colder than usual
Capt. Jeff Legutki
February 22, 2010
Ten Thousand Islands - Saltwater Fishing Report
This has been a tough February to say the least. With colder than usual temperatures, it took a lot of work to find cooperative fish and sometimes could not.
I would see nothing on the shorelines for hundreds of yards and then stumble upon a mass of fish huddled together. Of course this was due to the cold, gathering in masses for extra heat. I would see groups of 30 -40 fish together, redfish, mullet, snook, and sheepshead all in one group. Not wanting to move, or nibble on a well presented fly.
This would go on for a day or two, then we would get blessed with a nice, warmer day, and the fish turned on!
I am finding groups of redfish on the outside flushing in with the tide scouring the bottom for crabs and shrimp. I have been using the same crab pattern I would use in the Keys for permit. Leading the fish off and dragging the fly across mud, the reds would pounce on it, sometimes two fish fighting over it. Exciting to say the least!
A few snook are starting to make a presence in places not seen before. Most of these fish have denied just about everything we threw at them, but once again its still cold and I think these fish are in transition, moving to their preferred spot. A few smaller fish have filling the gaps, but nothing to brag about. Within the last couple days, I have seen bigger fish filling in, a sign I hope that the fish are on the way. March usually yields the biggest snook of the year on fly.
At night, under the lighted docks the fishing has been surprisingly good! I can't believe how well the fish are taking advantage of the heat from the lights to feed. Aggressively feeding through the whole tide. Small white flies, nothing special will get the job done. Most fish range from 2-6 pounds, but the numbers make up for the size.
I think the worst of winter is behind us now, and the fish are telling us the same. As the weather gets a little more stable and warm, the fishing is going to bust loose! Red fish are bringing lots of smiles right now, and the snook are leaving us enough to want to come back for redemption. And I suspect any week now we should start seeing tarpon. A few small ones are around now, but usually come as a bonus to the unsuspecting.
March is around the corner, and there is still some open dated. Come experience the Everglades and the finest winter time saltwater fishing.
Be sure to catch the Drake Flyfishing Filmfest, coming soon to a theater near you. Worldangling.com has put out a great new film about flyfishing the Everglades . Called "High in the lowlands".
Ten Thousand Islands Fishing Forecast:
Warmer weather is a must! You can see it in the fish, they are ready to bust loose with a little stable weather.
Target Species:
Anything that eats a fly,especially tarpon and snook!
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