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Biscayne Bay reports are in. The Bonefish bite is
ahead of schedule.
Capt. Dave and Beth Williams of Buffalo, NY show off a 21-pound Permit
caught off Key Largo
The water is warming early this year due to a lack of
cold fronts and the Bones are liking it. Permit have been seen in
regularity, too. Now, if the wind would only lie down and get to its
normal 10 to 15 mph, we would be all set.
April will see an increased number of Tarpon traveling
south and also an increased number of anglers out on the deep edges
looking for them.
The Grand Slam Outfitter team of guides has been
scoring a few Tarpon just under a 100 pounds and a couple of huge
fish. Captains have taken a 168-pound and a 145-pound Tarpon on fly
during the day, as well as a few large ones while bait fishing at
night. Some very large sharks also were taken.
Tarpon fishing at night can be very exciting when a
big fish takes the bait and you are not sure what it is until it
jumps.
While fishing with Beth Williams and Sarah Yahn of
Buffalo, New York we took a nice 21-pound Permit off the oceanside of
Key Largo and when Frank Arbor and his brother Bill from Detroit
caught their first bonefish, no one could have expected the fish would
be 10 and 10 1/2 pounds.
Big fish have been taking small crabs really well this
season so give it a try. You can get silver dollar size crabs at A OK
Bait on Lucy Street and Krome Avenue. Just break off one of the points
on the side, go in there and out at the joint where the claw was
removed. This allows the crab to swim naturally and he'll live a long
time.
TOURNAMENTS
The Ocean Reef Backcountry Tournament is slated for April 20-21, with
one day in Flamingo, the next in Biscayne Bay, sunrise to sunset. I'll
let you know how we make out.
Have you sent in your application for the World Class
Outfitters tournaments yet?
Make sure you call Dave Navarro at 1-305-743-6139 for
information on the 24th Annual Ladies Tarpon Tournament, May 5-6, and
the 34th annual Marathon International Tarpon Tournament, May 11-13.
All the best anglers and guides will be there.
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
The bite has been getting better with the warmth of the water and the
spring tides. The bite for most of the fish will all but shut down
when there is a south or southwest wind. The inside will see a run of
large Tarpon all the way up to and including Tarpon Bay and the deep
edges of Lostman's River. The Tarpon and Snook bite will just get
better in second and third Bays, and even deeper into Onion Bay. So
dust off your GPS and go deep in April.
The gulf wrecks are still holding some fish and the
redfish are up on the crowns of the flats in Flamingo when the water
is not too dirty. Fish the outgoing, but stay aware of your water
depth. I have seen a flats boat stranded on the mud for the duration
of the tide. I picked up the two anglers and gave them a ride back to
Flamingo to wait out the tide in some comfort, but it's not fun being
in mud up to your belt. Know your tide times and play it safe.Tight
lines and quick releases. I'll see you on the flats.
Captain Dave Sutton is a US Coast Guard licensed
Captain and an Everglades National Park Guide fishing Florida Bay, the
Upper Keys and Biscayne Bay. He is on the G. Loomis, Ross Reels, Orvis
and Mercury Pro Teams, is a Grand Slam Outfitter Guide and a Guest fly
tying instructor for Biscayne Bay Fly Shops. Questions may be sent via
the Internet to djsutton@bellsouth.net
or access Sutton's website at www.saltwater-flyfisherman.com.
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