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Tarpon, Tarpon, Tarpon! That's the targeted species
this month.
The run of fish has been a little slow this year due
to the weather patterns we have been experiencing. Water temps are
fluctuating a little more than normal and the afternoon storms are
stirring up a little early in the afternoons. But, all in all, the
bite has been good.
The northbound fish have been moving since the first
week of June while the southbounders have been the more aggressive
eaters. Morning colors should be darker than middle-of-the-day colors.
Use a combination of purple and black with a pink collar, black and
red with a purple collar and solid purple with a red collar for your
mornings. I have had very sparse flies get eaten during the midday
hours in bunny strips of pale yellow with a bright yellow collar and a
chartreuse hook shank. All my flies are tied on Owner hooks in a #2/0
to 3/0.
If you are not a long rodder and a spinning rig is
your forte, then a large shrimp on a hookup jig head in white should
be your staple. The shallow running fish that get pushed in by an
incoming tide against the shore will respond well to the tipped jig
and a two-inch crab would be my second choice. I have thrown a few
small finger mullet and some pinfish at them too, but not with as much
luck.
While everyone is out on the deeper edges looking for
the Tarpon, I have been one of the few harassing the bonefish lately.
Bonefish have resumed after a little lull in the action from spawning
this first week of June. I have seen pushes of over 100 fish right out
on the outside flats of Broad and Caesar's Creeks this week and they
have been eaters. These fish have been eating strong on both the
outgoing and incoming tides.
Staking up on the outer edges of the deeper flats
looking for Tarpon, I always have a one-inch crab on a spinning rod
ready for the Permit that will always show up during the one instant
that you are not paying attention; and they have . We have seen a lot
of pairs and multiple fish in schools of up to seven fish. If you can
get a crab out in front of them without spooking them you will have a
good chance.
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
The Tarpon are on the outsides in the backcountry as well as in the
cuts and channels. I've had several days with four fish to the boat
and at least six more jumped. Bait in the channels has been almost a
sure bet. Snakebite has been the steadiest place to soak a mullet.
Lots of Redfish up on the crowns of the flats and if you can get
skinny there are some Snook as well. Using Mr. Wiffel jig tails in
clear and green for Snook and clear and copper for the Redfish has
been the ticket.
Lake Ingram, on the incoming tide has been great for
Reds. Fish toward the shore line as the tide comes in, from the north
end of the lake around the little island move south as the water gets
deeper and as the tide rises. Reds and Snook will be feeding the edges
as the water gets deeper and leads them to new grounds.
See you on the flats!
Captain Dave Sutton is a full time fishing guide in Biscayne Bay, the
upper Keys and Everglades National Park, an outdoors writer, a guest
fly-tying instructor at Biscayne Fly Shop and a guide for Grand Slam
Outfitters of Ocean Reef. To contact the captain or to book a trip,
please call 305-248-6126, send email to djsutton@bellsouth.net
or visit him on the Internet at www.saltwater-nyfisherman.com.
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