Backcountry:

   Memorial weekend has passed. Note to locals: you can come out now. Although usually a very busy holiday on the water, rain and wind kept a few anglers off the water. Weather wise, a low sat over us for nearly a week, producing strong storms, plenty of cloud cover and even a few water spouts. Naturally, one had to work hard to have a productive day on the flats. The tarpon are here. Winds moving around the compass have them neglecting their natural routes. Although with conditions a bit unsettled, one will get the shots if patient enough. When the wind drops, the fish show well. Big tides this week had the fish moving well, especially on the change of tide. I fished from Key Largo, down to Long Key and out to the western banks. All provided at least a handful of shots in the nasty weather, some had us casting feverishly in all directions as the fish appeared.   Bonefish have been a bit put off by the weather. Most guides reporting perhaps only a weak turnout by the silver speedsters. I'll normally look for a good push of water over a flat. A narrow strip bank or flats that border main channels will draw fish up. On a warm day, current is key. IF the weather is such like we've had this week, focus on shallower flats or perhaps those with sand bottoms. Any advantage gained is necessary under adverse conditions. On the bigger tides, we've found quite a few permit reaching high onto flats, some nosing into the mangrove islands. Jack's velcro crab is one that I prefer to use. It'll also work on those big bonefish behind Islamorada. Although I haven't been redfishing, reports from the Everglades have been very good. On to the reports. With the nasty weather I did forfeit a few days to Mother Nature. On Thursday I fished with Mark and Ryan Kuyama. Early on, we did a bit of bait fishing in the 20+ winds. Unable to draw a strike, and seeing only a few fish tried our hand at the fly rod. We did have about 15 shots at tarpon during the afternoon. The winds increased to 25 or more on Friday, we canceled. Tuesday I fished with Paul and Gary Rice. During a cloudy, drizzly day, the guys worked hard and they deserved better weather. Gary caught his first bonefish on fly. As the day progressed we did have a tarpon bite, and a permit chase down a crab, but we were unable to hook them. On Wednesday, we targeted the tarpon on fly. We had a busy morning throwing at the tarpon then found a few bonefish later in the day, Gary released one about 8 pounds. I must also say he was quite impressed with the shark and barracuda he caught as well. On Thursday and Friday I had Tom Murray fishing with me. Tarpon on fly was our intended target. Although the tarpon cooperated, the weather did not. Wind, rain and waterspouts. We had it all. We had a few fish turn on the fly, but that was as close as we could get. I'm often asked by recreational anglers fly fishing for tarpon, why they can't draw a strike. Most anglers would benefit greatly learning to present a fly quickly to a  target. On the forward AND back cast. It's a common scenario. Here come the fish, false cast, false cast, false cast.  By the time the fly makes it to the water, we've had six or seven casts, most never gaining any distance from the last.  At 40 feet the tarpon sense that strange convulsing object on the bow and decide it's safer on the bottom. Get your casting distance and accuracy in order before your outing. Practice when the wind is cranking. Slick calm days are a bit rare down here. You'll thank yourself for it when the big slob inhales your fly.

That's it! Good Luck to you. Practice your casting at every opportunity, and you'll be a much luckier fisherman.

For more information please contact Capt. Barry Hoffman at:
www.flatsguide.com / guide@flatsguide.com
home 305-852-6918 cell 305-393-2587
 

Middle Keys Report

The dolphin have not showed up is any real numbers yet. we were out there today and caught 12 dolphin under a buoy and rope. 3 were  large dolphin and the rest were schoolies. The fish are mainly in the 10-12 mile range and we followed the weed lines and picked up the fish and then headed offshore and found nothing. On the deep wrecks there has been some good fish. We have been catching some big mutton snapper and black grouper and we even caught a 46 pound Warsaw grouper on 20 pound test line. There has been some tarpon in at Vaca Cut Bridge and some big sharks too. As for the Gulf the cobias are still around and the permit are starting to show up. The goliath groupers are still on every wreck and some times when you hook a fish he comes in and gives you the free up-grade!

   Lower Keys Flats Report