miami in november

[Jacob K.]

i will be traveling to miami for a week long meeting in november. i was thinking of going down a day early for some fishing, and fishing nights while i am there. any suggestions? ifi go a day early i will fish with a coluege of mine, and we would be interested in a party charter on the cheap. and party charter tuna boats that run out of miami? if i bring a rod down for night time tarpon fishing, what should i bring? 9 wt, 11 wt? what sort of flies?
thanks
jacob

[lemaymiami]

It's a great month to fish that area. Check out my archived fishing reports on Cyberangler. com. The night time baby tarpon fishing is availble but not at the level it will be just after Christmas when the shrimp run. An 8 or 9wt rod with floating line is all we use. If you can you should consider a trip to the nearby Everglades, there's nothing like it in the world.

[Jacob K.]

what kind of fsihing is in the everglades? do you need a guide? can you rent a boat without a guide?

is there any other fishing besides tarpon? any spanish macs or albies at that time of year?

thanks
jacob

[lemaymiami]

I'll try to answer each question briefly. Most folks think of the Everglades as miles and miles of freshwater, sawgrass, alligators, and airboats... That's what most of it is, but at least a third is saltwater or brackish; many square miles of mangrove jungle with bays, creeks, and rivers that drain out into the salt. It's very much like the interior of Costa Rica along the coast. The Park, itself, is less than a third of what was the Everglades (the 'Glades used to extend all the way to downtown Miami) but it still is almost 90 miles by 90 miles... The entrance to the Park is near Florida City and Flamingo is the only facility of note for anglers. It has a motel, marina, restaurant, and campground but not much else. Flamingo is about 70 miles from Miami. There's two ways to fish there, toward the Keys into Florida Bay or back into the interior across Whitewater Bay and then along the Gulf coast.

Most folks fish by boat here and a guide (that's me..) is a good idea. However, they do rent boats, canoes and kayaks along with small motor skiffs to anyone interested. A great way to fish out of Flamingo is by kayak if you want to fish without a guide since most of the adjacent waters are very shallow and there's lots of sheltered small bays and creeks when it's blowing. Of course there's saltwater crocs and 'gators at the boat ramp... Every year I fish folks that bring their own canoe or kayak. They fish with me for a day or two then strike out on their own. Remember this is true wilderness. Once you're away from Flamingo the nearest anything is more than 30 miles away. The most targeted species here are tarpon, snook, redfish, speckled trout, and a variety of other species. It's a real "jungle rules" kind of place. One day a fish is having breakfast, the next day it's on the menu. I've had fish up to 7' long eaten while an angler is fighting it. I've lost as many snook to gators as to big sharks.

Spanish mackeral are always present out of Flamingo but are a good run by boat out towards the Gulf. There aren't any albies down here. The closest thing you'll find are little tunny (as the IGFA lists them). We call them bonito and they're found along the Atlantic coast, not out of Flamingo.

If you decide to consider fishing by kayak send me an e-mail. I have a set of directions for solo fishing out of Flamingo that I'll forward your way. Good Luck

[kirbyt]

Lemay is a darn good guide and giving you the valid options. He failed to mention that he too guides in the Key Biscayne area south of Miami as well as night fishing the waterways of Miami. I have used him for about the past 4 plus years for night fishing and the Everglades.

The Everglades is the spot I would recommend. And I would suggest that you use a guide to get your best shot at being at the right spot at the right time. You will see a wonderful world of fishing opportunities that can only be done with an experienced guide, LeMay or others. It is really easy to get lost in the maze of islands and rivers if you use motorized craft. The kayak option would be good as a 'cheap' thrill. Just carry a GPS, a compass, and a good map. And yes you will have a chance to see the 'gators at the boat ramp or the one that pops up behind you deep in the everglades. And there are some really large sharks that keep that eco system in balance.

Been there, done that, but going back for more.

Kirby T

[Jacob K.]

lemaymiami- please check your PM.
jacob

[albienut]

don't forget to ask about a fishing permit, i think it's required.

[lemaymiami]

If you're a visitor and not with a guide you'll need a saltwater license. The state allows licensed captains to purchase a license that covers everyone on their boat up to a certain number. Mine (which costs over $200 per year) covers up to 4 anglers... It's particularly handy for someone who's only going to be in town for a day or so to be able to hook up with a guide without having to find a place that sells licenses, etc.