Fishing is back scorching hot!!! It must be springtime!!!. Schools of snook are coming in from offshore. Tarpon are in the rivers and beaches. Redfish are on the bars. Did I mention the Permit … they're thick and most are in the 15 - 22 pound range!!
Terry Phillips of Smoketown, P.A. flew in to Everglades City. Even though the weather did not cooperate, they were able to bring back some snook, redfish and trout to their friends up north. Jack and Tammi Lee, of Cape Coral, Florida had a good day this last week boat snook, trout and Permit. The action was very hot with the permit. The fish were big. Both anglers requested that we take break so they could rest. These permit are true tackle-testers. However, Jack and Tammi were not out of the game for long! James Card of Winter Haven, Florida fished three days over last weekend. Focusing on permit for two of the days, he boated over a dozen fish ... all over 15 lbs. A few snook were also mixed into catch. We took a deep backcountry trip one day when a third angler was on board. Unfortunately, nothing but small "sandwich" size snook were found. It was, however, an eye-opening experience for both angles to see and fish that terrain. Even though he was complaining about the rod bruise in his stomach from the permit, James did jump a dinosaur about 125 lbs later that the evening. I believe he now understands my passion for the Silver King! Right James??!! Since the last writing, Chokoloskee Charters has hosted two different fishing/camping trips. Both were great successes. Supported by the Mothership (a 30 foot screen enclosed pontoon boat) for gear, food, drink and cooking, all twelve people had a blast!! The fishing highlight had to be the four large tarpon jumped by Bruce Hitchcock and Jim Webster of Broward County. HOWEVER, the food topped everything. As an example, on the first adventure ... Friday night we served Capt. Chucky burgers that are venison stuffed garlic and onions; Saturday's breakfast consisted of banana pancakes, bacon and eggs with mimosas; Lunch was blackened snook and shark on the grill; Saturday night we cooked a Low Country (Cajun) Boil with shrimp, crabs, sausage, whole garlic, onions, and potatoes served with cold beer, pull bread and a key-lime cake for desert! Sunday we had to repeat the breakfast but finished the evening with steak and lobster on the grill. I think you get the idea!!!! For those that have not tried this trip yet, it can be a life-changing experience!!! Fishing is only getting better!!! Come see us!!!
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As the winds lightened up the catching picked up. Venturing offshore to the near-shore structure proved to be the right choice. Tossing both gold flake and root beer colored Cotee jigs produced several large snook. All three fish took the bait near the surface and within 15 feet of the boat. The relatively cold and windy weather had significantly reduced water clarity the previous week. It also likely reduced the feeding opportunities for these fish. The calmer wind and seas had allowed the surface temperatures to rise and the near-surface water to begin clarifying quickly. These hungry fish following baits into the warmer water just could not let it go even after seeing the boat. One other snook was lost just after the strike. It was interesting to note that not one snook strike occurred near the bottom.
Two juvenile Jewfish, in the 30lb class, were also pulled off the bottom testing the 12lb tackle. Two others freight-trained into the structure. We also had a very "early release" of a suspected "brown marlin", though we did not see the fish. This is encouraging as the cobia fishing has been very slow recently. Oddly enough, we came across but one lonely and now, sore-mouthed, tripletail. Sunday, with the return of the winds, we turned our focus to the creeks. All the redfish and the "sandwich" snook were released. However, a limit of mangrove snapper caught on live shrimp ended up as a shore lunch on one of the tidal beaches. Tough to beat!! The Everglades National Park and the 10,000 Islands are some of the most pristine and richest fisheries in the entire State. The opportunities to view the South Florida wildlife from your own boat, canoe or kayak are unmatched anywhere else. The right to use and access the Park should be vigorously defended so that our kids and grandkids can experience this wonderful place. I would encourage all to oppose any action that restricts your free boating access to these waters. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering closing the waters in and around the Everglades National Park to all types of watercraft activity. The declared purpose is to provide the West Indian Manatee with additional refuges and sanctuaries. However, recent population studies show that the manatee population has been growing every year and that record high numbers were counted this last year. The existing programs are working!! Restricting the use of boats in and around the Park is unnecessary. It will only deny us all our right to recreationally enjoy the park and devastate the commercial enterprises serving the area. Take action now to stop this regulatory process and insure that the EVERGLADES ARE FOR EVERYONE!!! Remember, "MORE FISH ...LESS POLITICS" Please send your comments supporting your continued boating access rights to: Fish and Wildlife Service fw4_es_jacksonville@fws.gov Cool Weather; Hot Fishing for the Kids. As a charter guide, some of my most memorable trips have been with families. A child experiencing the outdoors with their parents is perhaps the most rewarding part of this job. While I still get excited when I catch an angler's eyes as he first realizes that he has been dumped deep into his backing, few things top the joy of a child catching fish with their dad. I was the fortunate witness to this over the weekend while fishing with John Driscoll and his son, Kyle.
We had hoped to start the day with a scouting flight over Everglades National Park. However, the influx of relatively moist air over the weekend combined with the cool morning temperatures left a blanket of radiation fog over the island and near shore waters. This made for a very cool morning ride. However, the day soon gave way to a crisp, but breezy, bluebird day. With the stiff breeze and the trip being geared to the youngster, we fished amongst the near shore islands. The catch consisted of the typical "winter mix" of trout, ladyfish, jacks, snapper, sheephead, redfish and small grouper. With dad throwing deceivers with his fly rod and Kyle tossing live shrimp under (in) the trees, the score early on as announced proudly by Kyle was … Kyle - 14 and Dad - 2. The score keeping soon ended. Sight fishing was tough in area we were fishing. The morning fog lifted into low-lying stratus layer that delayed the warm-up of the shallow waters so few fish moved before the water got too deep. However, the creek fishing was very good (especially for Kyle) and made the day. The trips with dad and son are some of the best. So those of you who anguish at leaving the kids at home … Don't … Bring them along. Please! |
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October 2005
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