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Fish Everglades National Park & 10,000 Islands
Light Tackle and Fly Fishing in the Pristine Waters of the Everglades Backcountry
Over one million acres of sheltered waters, excellent year round weather,
fine accommodations, a richly diverse fishery ...
Flat Out Trout
The recent warming trend has had a positive
effect on the fishing. The baits are slowing starting to move back in towards
the shore and so are the fish. Those that have been fishing with shrimp have
had some very nice catches … mostly sheep head and a pile of “rat” reds with the
occasional “keeper” mixed in.
The snook bite has been predictably slow
this last two weeks due to the weather. Those working the long wands (fly
fishermen) have been doing fairly well with the smaller snook species with an
occasional slot-sized fished thrown in. Just about any white pattern is
producing 12-15 small snook, a couple of small tarpon and few rats just about
every trip. That eight pound jack crevalle that shows up about every couple of
hours spices things up a bit. The spin fishermen have been doing a little
better on snook, but not enough really to talk about.
With the warm-up, the flats have been
producing well. The trout have moved out of their deeper, warmer holes back into
the grasses. Blue fish, ladyfish and the mackerel are back. Most importantly,
the baits are easing back in so these fish have something to eat! The trout
bite has been consistent and filled in the gap for those seeking snook the past
several weeks.
Trout season opened with the New Year. With
the relatively slow bite, elsewhere, many are fishing the grass flats. You can
expect some good catches, but also lots of company. A little courtesy goes a
long way. There is lots of water out there and the Park is a very peaceful
place … the real reason why most of us are here. Having that peace and silence
broken by the uninvited conversation of other anglers is extremely annoying to
put it mildly. Please keep plenty distance from others. Go “over board” with
courtesy. If you see others on fish, resist the temptation to pull up wind to
drift on to their fish. Remember it is about the whole experience of being here
and not the fish that you take.
This area is a vast nursery for a great
number of species. One of the most important ecosystems here is
the grass flats … they are the cradle for the young and the water filters of the
area. They are also the most sensitive and directly impacted by poor boating
practices. We have low tides in the middle of the day here in the winter.
Please, please run around the grasses and not through them. Do be the one who
cuts a scare down the middle of the flat. That scare will be there longer than
you will be here! If you do get shallow, stop, tilt your engine up as far as
possible and idle off the flat … slowly!
When I fly over the keys the massive damage
that ignorant boating has caused to the flats is grossly evident. I am started
to see them here. Be sensible, drive around the flats. This is not the
Keys!!! Let’s keep it that way.
Call us to Plan Your Next Adventure!
For more information or to book a charter with Capt. Charles Wright:
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