Key Largo Backcountry Report: March 18,2009   

     It sure is nice when the weather gods give us a break from the wind.  It only takes a few days for the churned water to clear-up.  Take the opportunity to do some sightfishing when the wind cooperates between fronts since the oceanside and backcountry flats have been loaded with fish.

       On the Oceanside, there have been schools of bonefish moving around the flats.  You can find the bones moving on just about any of the flats from Ocean Reef down through Islamorada.  With the moderate water temperatures the bones will be up on the flats for most of the day.  If you are new to bonefishing, find a flat that has plenty of light bottom to give you a better chance of spotting these grey ghosts.  You will need to take a stealthy approach trying not to spook the fish before you can get a cast off.  When you do cast, make sure to land it at least 7-10 feet in front of the lead fish in the school.  As the school approaches, just lift the rod tip slightly to make sure your shrimp is not hiding in the grass.  This will ensure that the bonefish has an opportunity to see the bait.  Once you hook-up keep the rod tip high to avoid mangrove shoots and hold on for a wild ride.  This week a good customer, Greg Moffitt spent some time on the bow stalking bonefish.  After a couple refusals on live shrimp we made the switch to quarter sized crabs, and that was the ticket.  Greg made a perfect cast to the largest fish we had seen all day and the fish gobbled-up the crab and the fight was on.  The bonefish ripped-off about 150 yards of line in less than 10 seconds and 5 minutes later Greg landed his largest bonefish weighing in at over 10 pounds.  This time of year there are plenty of sharks prowling the flats looking for an easy meal.  If a shark gets after your fish the only thing you can do is open the bail to let the fish get away then when it’s clear get back to the fight.  Make sure to have the camera ready so you can snap a quick picture and get the fish back in the water and revived.

       In the backcountry, the snook bite has been good in Northeast Florida Bay.  I have been finding fish moving along the deeper shorelines and in the channels.  When the water is clear, you can spot the fish hanging tight along the mangrove roots which provides added protection from predators.  If you spot a fish they will eat just about any live bait or jerk baits rigged on a jig head.  If you keep your rod tip low to the water on your cast, you can skip the baits under the overhanging mangroves.  Make sure to set your drag as tight as possible because once the snook takes the bait he will head right back into the roots.  It also helps to keep your rod tip close to the water during the fight until the fish is clear from any snags.  Remember that snook must be between 28”-33” in order to keep it.  You are only allowed one per person in Monroe County and Everglades National Park. 

       Make sure to view the newly released General Management Plan alternatives from Everglades National Park.  You can find the 4 alternatives at their website, www.nps.gov/ever.  If you cannot make one of the public meetings, there’s an online comment form on the website.  The GMP will outline the management of the Everglades for the next 25-30 years so make sure to voice your opinion before it’s too late!!!

Until next week, tight lines and light winds!

Key Largo Backcountry Report: March 11,2009 

       Well, I normally start my article talking a little bit about the recent weather but as of now it’s been the same the past few weeks, 15-20 knots.  The big surprise was the late season cold front we had in the beginning of the week.  When on the water, conditions are constantly changing depending on several factors including wind, temperature and rainfall.  The two major factors that we have been dealing with this week are the drop in water temperatures because of the cold front and the excessive winds. 

       The recent drop in water temperatures back into the low 60’s has put a dampening on the snook bite as well as the beginning of the tarpon migration.  That doesn’t mean we aren’t catching any snook, but just a few each day.  Don’t worry because the great thing about the Florida Keys is that the water temperatures will quickly rebound within a few days and get those snook fired-up again.  But in the meantime, it doesn’t mean that you have to stay home and finish working on that ever growing “To Do” list.  You just need to alter your targeted species or find an area with warmer water temperatures.  Speckled trout are one of my favorite species to target because they don’t seem to mind the colder temperatures and provide a fun day of fishing for just about anyone.  All you need is some medium action rods with light line (6-10 lb.) and cajun thunder popping corks along with an 1/8 oz HookUp Lure and Berkley Gulp baits.  I’ve had the best results with the Berkley swimming mullet and shrimp for catching the bigger trout.  The trout are on the verge of their annual spring spawning cycle.  In the next few weeks, those monster 3-5 pound female trout should start showing up in the mullet muds.  If you don’t know of any good trout spots all you have to do is drift one of the many mullet muds from Key Largo to Flamingo.  In the northeast portions of the bay we have been most productive in grass lined bays with 3-6 foot depths.  Just about any of the grass bays and channels surrounding Flamingo will hold trout at one time or another.  Just give it a few casts and move along to the next one until you find them.  Many of the channels have also been producing some nice sized jack cravelles up to 7 pounds.  Pound for pound the jacks are by far the hardest fighting fish that swims in the backcountry and are a blast to catch on light tackle. 

       If you haven’t already done so, make sure to view the newly released General Management Plan alternatives from Everglades National Park.  You can find the 4 alternatives at their website, www.nps.gov/ever.  If you cannot make one of the public meetings, there’s an online comment form on the website.  The GMP will outline the management of the Everglades for the next 25-30 years so make sure to voice your opinion before it’s too late!!!

Until next week, tight lines and light winds!

Key Largo Backcountry Report: March 04,2009 

       Welcome to the wacky weather of the Florida Keys.  Over the next few weeks don’t be surprised if we experience record highs then fronts that drop the temperatures down to the 50’s.  If you are unfamiliar with the winter and spring weather patterns here in the keys, then you might want to buckle-up because it can be a wild windy ride or a simmering hot day.  But if you have a fishing rod in hand then don’t worry because the fishing has remained steady and is improving as we move into spring. 

       For all you snook anglers out there, March 1^st was the opening of snook season in ENP and the west coast of Florida.  If you plan on keeping one for dinner they have to be in the slot between 28”-33” with a pinched tail and you are allowed one per person per day.  Just remember that you don’t have to keep every “legal” snook, you can release them to fight another day and help preserve the species for future generations.    This past week’s cold front brought strong north winds which blew a lot of water out of Florida Bay especially in the central areas between Key Largo and Flamingo.  Many of the flats that are productive for redfish and snook have become cow pastures as they are high and dry.  This is not necessarily bad if you can find deeper water adjacent to these flats where the fish will hold until water levels raise enough for them to return to the flats.  The biggest concern is navigating through the extremely shallow channels as you snake your way back into the Park.  If you are unfamiliar with navigating the Everglades, I would highly suggest hiring a professional captain this time of year.  But if you insist on trying it yourself, there’s an important tool that you can get for FREE from the Everglades called the Florida Bay Map and Guide.  The Map and Guide supplements your navigational charts providing water depths for the various channels throughout Florida Bay.  Despite the low water conditions, fishing in the backcountry has been productive.  This past week, I spent most of my charters in the Northeast portions of Florida Bay where we had a good snook bite in the channels and creeks.  We have been catching plenty of juvenile snook in the 18-22 inch range which is a true testament of the affects of conservation for these fish.  The snook population is booming in the Key Largo area as well as most of the Everglades.  If you’ve never gone snook fishing in the Everglades you need to get out there and hook into one of Florida’s most exciting gamefish.  The pilchards have been on the sketchy side so we’ve been tossing shrimp under the mangroves letting them drift along the edge with the current.  The key has been to get the baits tight along the shoreline and try to keep it there for as long as possible during the drift.

       Over the next few months, I will be talking about the Everglades General Management Plan which will outline the management of the park for the next 25 or so years.  The planning process has started again and it’s important for everyone to get involved.  You can find additional information about the process and proposed alternatives at www.nps.gov/ever .  The public comment period is open for the next few months so educate yourself on the plans and voice your opinions.   

Until next week, tight lines and light winds!

Key Largo Backcountry Report: February 25,2009 

       This week’s weather did a 180 from last week when it felt more like summer than mid-February.  Last week water temperatures reaching the high 70’s but have since dropped back down to 60’s with the past few cold fronts.  But despite the cold fronts, fishing has remained steady and there’s always something to catch in the Florida Keys.  If you are a live bait fisherman, there’s plenty of finger-mullet and pilchards around the backcountry and the reefs are loaded with ballyhoo.  That’s right ballyhoo!  This time of year is great for getting out the patch reefs in my 22’ Shearwater bay boat.  The patches have been providing my anglers with plenty of non-stop action off the Upper Keys.   The variety of species included mangrove, yellowtail, mutton and hog snapper, gag groupers, cero mackerel, bar jacks, blue runners and the list goes on.  The rule of thumb is generally, the deeper the patch the bigger the fish.  I like to work patches in the 15-30 foot depths.  Bring along plenty of chum and a bunch of live shrimp, the rest of the bait can be caught at the patch.  For the mangroves, yellowtails and hogfish use a live shrimp on a ¼ HookUp lure and medium action rods.  For the muttons and grouper use medium heavy action rods with 30 lb. Spiderwire Ultracast and about 4 feet of 60 lb Vanish fluorocarbon leader weighted with about an ounce of lead and a 5/0 circle hook.  For bait, I like to cut ballyhoo into plugs about 3 inches long, you can also use the sides of small blue runners. Drop them down to the bottom and hold on for the bite and work the fish away from the reef with short pumps to keep its head turned. 

       In Florida Bay, the trout bite is as good as it gets.  Keep an eye out for the patches of dirty water which is an easy giveaway of the trout’s location.  A good place to start is the deeper basins with grassy bottom around Flamingo.  Also, many of the channels will hold trout especially at low tide when they are forced off the flats.  There’s plenty of keeper sized trout mixed in with the schoolies.  You can bounce baits off the bottom or suspend the baits under a Cajun Thunder popping cork.   The snook and redfish bite has fired up again after the cold fronts.  They are moving down shorelines and hanging in the channels along with the schools of mullet.  You can pole or use the trolling motor to maneuver down the shore or along the edge of the channel.  As you blind cast keep an eye out for puffs of mud created by redfish feeding on crustaceans in the bottom. You will also find some nice sized jack cravelle in the 5-15 lb range busting through the bait schools.   These jacks will eat just about anything you throw at them as long as you retrieve it quickly.  

Until next week, tight lines and light winds!

Key Largo Backcountry Report: February 11,2009 

       Brrrrr!!! It has been cold and windy in the Florida Keys after the past two cold fronts and accompanying winds dropped the mercury to the 40’s.  When water temperatures start getting down in the 50’s the snook go into survival mode and the bite slows down.  It’s hard to report on fishing this past week because unfortunately there were few if anyone out there.  I know that Capt. George Clark got out for a day in the backcountry and reported a good bite of snapper and jacks in the creeks.  He also reported some black drum and sheepshead in the channels over in Flamingo.  This week’s weather report looks to bring better news with a warming trend and lighter winds expected by the end of the week.  The bite should get better this week after the sun gets the water temperatures back up to the 60’s. 

       The good news is that the Miami Boat Show starts this Thursday and lasts until Monday.  The boat show will have just about any type of vessel and all the latest gadgets for fishing and boating.  If you are in the market for a new boat there’s no better time than the Miami show which will allow you to make comparisons and ask questions all in one place.  Buying a new boat can be an overwhelming experience if you are unprepared.  The internet has a wealth of information and gives you an idea of what prices to expect.  Many manufacturers will be offering incentives to coax buyers into pulling the trigger.  You can expect to get a few free extras when you purchase at the show especially this year with the industry struggling along with the economy.   Extras may include extended engine warranties, add-ons and accessories like GPS, trolling motors and/or Power-poles.  If you can’t make the trek up to the big city, don’t worry, many local boat dealers here are offering the same deals in the Keys during the month of February.  The best way to ensure a good outcome is to create a list of important items you are looking for in a boat.  This list will help keep you on track during the decision process.  The list should include things that are important to YOU, and not the salesperson.   Some things to consider are of course length, draft, person capacity, engine type, warranty and most importantly the servicing dealer.  Many people get caught-up in the moment and forget to think about the dealer that will be servicing the boat.  Service is a HUGE factor, whether its scheduled maintenance or warranty work.  A new boat can quickly become a headache if your servicing dealer is not customer oriented after the sale.  Take it from experience there’s plenty of nice looking boats out there in every size and class but there are few good servicing dealers.  You can avoid getting a bad one by talking to local boaters and fisherman to find out what type of reputation a dealer has in the community.  But, learn from my mistakes, do your homework and research to ensure a positive experience and years of enjoyment. 

“Til next time, light winds and good fishin’    

Key Largo Backcountry Report: February 04,2009

       This past week, Mother Nature brought a mixed bag of weather conditions to the Upper Keys.  We had a few days of summer-like heat with temperatures in the 80’s and light winds.  But, this weekend when a cold front passed through, temperatures dropped to the 50’s and the winds picked up.  This time of year is a crap-shoot when deciding whether to head out for a day of fishing.  But, the great thing about fishing in the Florida Keys is the diversity of our fisheries which gives us plenty of options for catching in just about any weather conditions.  You can head into the backcountry which is shallow and great for fishing in windy weather because there’s always a place to hide from the wind.  On nice days this is a great time of year to do some bottom fishing at the patch reefs on the Oceanside. 

       This week, I did a little bit of both, heading in the backcountry for a few days and out to the patch reefs.  The backcountry bite was good with some snook, jack cravelles and plenty of sharks in the northeast parts of Florida Bay.  Most of the snook we caught were in the creeks and passes around Key Largo.  Water temperatures got as high as 75 degrees which is high for this time of year, the snook were happy and eating well.  There are also a good number of jacks hanging in the channels along with the snook.  Jacks are a blast on light tackle and are pound-for-pound the hardest fighting fish in the backcountry.  If you like catching sharks this is a great time of year. The lemon and bonnethead sharks are on the prowl around many of the islands in the Everglades.  I like to add a short piece of wire with a long shank HookUp Lure XL and a live shrimp to catch these shallow water sharks.  Sharks are very forgiving on the flats and make for a lot of fun for sightfishing on the flats.  You don’t have to be an expert caster to have a fun time hunting for sharks in the shallows.  

       The patch reefs are full of snapper and grouper right now on the Oceanside of the Upper Keys.  This is a great way to get into some non-stop rod bending action when the winds are down.  I like to fish patches in 15-25 feet of water especially those off the beaten path.  You can catch just about anything from snappers like mangrove, hogfish, mutton, yellowtail to a gag and black grouper.  I like to bring along plenty of chum and about 10 dozen shrimp for the mangrove snapper and hogfish.  You can always catch ballyhoo or blue runners for the grouper and muttons while at the patches.  The chum will attract the ballyhoo along with the snapper.  If the ballyhoo get close enough you can cast net them, if not you can hook them with few small gold hooks and a piece of shrimp. With some stout rod send down a fillet or plug of ballyhoo on a knocker rig and hold on for the bite.  If you’re looking for dinner or just plenty of action the patches are a great place this time of year.  

Until next week, tight lines and light winds!

       A big THANKS to Capt. Kerry Wingo for filling-in while I spent some time in Louisiana for the holidays.  It’s always great to spend time with family and friends while also getting a chance to do plenty of fishing for reds and trout in the marshes of south Louisiana.  Returning to the keys last week, I was greeted by some typical winter weather for South Florida, a barrage of cool fronts with limited sun and plenty of wind.  This is the typical pattern for January and February here in the Keys.  But, don’t let a little bit of weather discourage you from getting on the water.  The fishing may not be as comfortable as fall and spring, but there’s still plenty of rod bending to be had out there. 

       In the backcountry, the snook bite has remained steady between the upper keys and Flamingo.  I have been finding fish in the creeks as well as moving along the deeper shorelines looking for their next meal.  When the water is clear along leeward shorelines, you can spot the fish hanging tight along the mangrove roots which provides added protection from predators.  When you spot a fish, they’ve been eating just about any live bait as well as Berkley’s Gulp baits.  If you keep your rod tip low to the water on your cast, you can skip the baits under the overhanging mangroves.  Make sure to set your drag as tight as possible because once the snook takes the bait he will head right back into the roots.  It also helps to keep your rod tip close to the water during the fight until the fish is clear from any overhanging snags.  In the deeper creeks and channels, use an 1/8 oz Hook Up Lure rigged with a live or gulp shrimp.  Work the bait slowly by bouncing it along the bottom giving it a rest for a few seconds after each twitch.  We’ve been catching snook, black drum, sheepshead, and redfish using this technique.  These fish like to school in the deeper creeks so when you catch one make sure to work the area thoroughly.  Your best bet is to fish the deeper channels in the mornings and then get up on the flats surrounding Flamingo in the afternoons.  When the snook and reds move up on the flats they will tend to hang with the schools of mullet.  You can pole along looking for tailing and waking fish as you blind cast.  Also, reds will create little puffs of mud as they feed along the flats.  Make sure to cast to any muds and potholes you see along the way.  When rigging for the flats my bait of choice is a Gulp Jerk Shad rigged weedless and slowly twitched through the grass.

       Bonefish are probably the most temperature sensitive species in the Upper Keys.  Targeting bonefish this time of year can be very tidal dependant when choosing where to go.  Overnight temperatures will drastically cool down water temperatures on the shallow flats.  During an early morning outgoing tide, work deeper depressions and troughs as these areas will hold the warmest water.  But once the tide turns bringing in the warmer ocean water, expect the bonefish to disburse across the flats searching for their next meal. If you are new to bonefishing, find a flat that has plenty of light bottom to give you a better chance of spotting these grey ghosts on a windy day.  You will need to take a stealthy approach trying not to spook the fish before you can get a cast off.  When you do cast, make sure to land it at least 5-7 feet in front of the lead fish in the school.  As the school approaches, just lift the rod tip slightly to make sure your shrimp is not hiding in the grass.  This will ensure that the bonefish has an opportunity to see the bait.  This time of year there are plenty of sharks prowling the flats looking for an easy meal.  If a shark gets after your fish the only thing you can do is open the bail to let the fish get away then when it’s clear get back to the fight.  Make sure to have the camera ready so you can snap a quick picture and get the fish back in the water and revived.

Until next week, tight lines and light winds!