Fishing report, Everglades Gulf coast

[lemaymiami]

The fishing this week has featured tarpon, tarpon, tarpon. On the water five of the last six days, we've been in fish now continuously until yesterday when the tarpon temporarily moved back out into the Gulf as a weather change occurred.... Put simply the "second season" for the big fish is well underway along selected areas of the gulf coast of the Everglades. Tarpon from 20 to as much as 100lbs and over are just gorging on baitfish now.

When the bite is on the birds mark fish as far as 500 meters off of the beach, but at the same time there are fish feeding all the way back to the shore. We've had many fish all around the skiff at times, ignoring us completely even when gulping bait right next to the boat... The downside is that the fish have been tough to fly fish. When they get on baitfish like this it's hard to convince one to bite a fly.. We've had some success with surface baitfish patterns and small popping bugs. We had a small bug blown up yesterday morning by a fish in the 60lb range... Lures and jigs have worked a bit better each day.

We've had some great moments, one small plug that we use for trout on top got just inhaled by a 60lb fish on light line. Another small plug got taken in around 2' of water by a fish that was easily 100lbs. That fish put on a show at close quarters until throwing the plug back into the boat. When the weather settles out the big fish should move in again and stick around for another few weeks. Right in the same areas where the tarpon have been working we've seen good numbers of spanish mackeral each day along with the occasional small king (either small kingfish or monster macks soaring as much as six feet in the air striking at the surface) The tarpon action will all end when the first cold front appears toward the end of this month. The mackeral will be around as long as the bait is inshore in good quantity. While we've been hunting tarpon mostly, we've also had some success with snook in Whitewater Bay most days although the Bay is almost entirely freshwater now.

I'll be back on the water in two days, hopefully the weather will have sorted itself out by then.

[Hoffer]

Captain, I visit the Carribean each spring with my family (Virgin Gorda) and my two sons (8 & 6) have the fishing bug, just like Dad. The area is crawling with Tarpon and Barracuda. I brought some metal with me last year and took out the Whaler a few times in the local coves trying to hook up. No luck.

Any general suggestions on tackle/method so we might have a shot?

[lemaymiami]

I must admit that I don't know anything about that area. Can you give me a brief description of where you found fish, water depth, clarity, bottom composition (soft, hard, grassy, etc.)? I might be able to give some advice if I had some idea of what their habitat is like. One thing is certain. 'Cudas and tarpon behave very differently and you have to fish them with that in mind. The cudas have very sharp eyes and generally won't bite lures unless you make a long cast so they see what's moving without seeing a boat... They also like action and movement since most of what they feed on is moving at flank speed trying to outrun them... Tarpon are quite different being fairly lazy and eating lots of shrimp and crabs as well as baitfish. The babies of each species feed a lot differently than the adult versions as well so let me know what size fish you're seeing and I'll try to point you in the right direction.

[Hoffer]

Thank you very much for the reply. Here is the situation:

The water where we have fished is very clear, and the bottom is mostly hard with some sand as well. Usually fish at relatively unopportune times, during the daywith alot of light.

Cuda are usually tucked back in the coves, and there are many. Usually approach in a small boston whaler. Most fish seem to be "small/medium" sized, I'd say 20"-30"(guess since I've had one out of the H2O). I had a few follow metal last year on a quick retrieve, but we were definitely in sight.

Tarpon we have seen have all been very large fish and in plain sight. We were fishing with shrimp last year early (small circle hooks that I brought from home) in the morning at the end of the main dock at the resort and picking up some small fish (not tarpon), when a huge tarpon swam up and took the bait, no hook-up.

[lemaymiami]

Like I said before I don't know anything about that area but here are a few suggestions based on what you've told me:

Cudas can be the easiest or the toughest fish to fool, depending on whether they know you're around. I'd set up with a rod you can cast a long distance, heavy line isn't needed, (my best cuda on light line was one of 30lbs on 6lb line...) A light to medium spinner with lots of 10# or slightly heavier line would be my first choice. I double the line for about 3' with a bimini twist or a spider hitch. Your leader needs to be wire and fairly light, #5 trolling wire (coffee colored) or light nylon coated wire in the 30# size and only about 18" in length if that. I'd choose a lure that you can cast a good distance, say at least 150 feet. A surface lure like a Zara Spook or a Bomber Long A (with the lip broken off) or a popping plug (chugger) that you can make a lot of commotion with would be my starting point. With the spook or bomber sail out a long cast (as far as you can) but not directly at the fish. Try to work your lure at right angles (parallel to shore if they're laid up in small coves) to the fish and keep your lure at least 10 to 15' in front of them so they have to come out to get a look. Work the lure fast and erratic with a stop and go action until one comes after it then it's off to the races with rod tip high and fast enough that the plug occasionally breaks free. You won't be able to reel fast enough to take it away from one that's interested... With a chugger plug the plan is a bit different. Just raise hell with it, the more noise the better but don't move it any more than you have to. Some of the strikes on chuggers can be scary. Remember though don't throw it too near a fish or you'll just scare them. You're looking to trigger an attack, that's the idea... An alternative to plugs or spoons are the sluggo or bass assassin style soft plastics. Choose bright colors and again rig with wire of some kind. These lures you can toss right at the fish then just work as erratically as possible. The downside to using plastics is that one fish destroys the lure, you'll need a few..

Tarpon are another matter entirely. Depending on what size you can gear up as you choose, 10 or 12lb line for fish up to 50lbs, 12 or 15lb for above 50lbs, and at least 20 for monsters. Again double your line for about 3' then tie on a leader that's at least 2' long. You need a bite tippet (some call it a shock leader, but it's really for the tarpon's very abrasive mouth, their lips are like 40 grit sandpaper...) of fluorocarbon, 40lb for the small fish, at least 60 for the bigger ones and maybe 80lb for the biggest and that's just a suggested minimum.. Now for the fun part. Most tarpon that you see aren't feeding at all. The rolling at the surface allows them to gulp air and augment their oxygen supply... They usually feed heavily at night and also at dawn and dusk. In the middle of the day one might eat, but most will ignore you. Any fish that knows you're around will probably turn off, but one that has just moved into range may not know you're there, that's a good shot. Every cast at one has to be precise. They'll rarely chase down anything. Toss your lure (more about that in a moment) right in front of the fish then allow it to sink to the fish'es level before starting a retrieve. Work the fish fairly slowly if one does eat do not react at all until you feel his weight through the rod. I can't tell you how many anglers I've seen strike too soon. The fish will open that enormous mouth then close it and turn -- that's your shot, stick the fish and keep on jabbing him until he takes off. Remember that their mouths are as hard as your boat, and are mostly all bone with very few places where a hook will work at all. I think most folks hook them the best if they never see the fish bite at all ( I tell my anglers they won't feel the bite, the lure will just stop as though they snagged a log, then the log explodes...).

For lures you can use almost any plug with extra strong hooks. My favorites are the Mirrolure 65M in green and silver or blue and silver, Bagley Mullet plug (sinking version in any color), a Bomber Long A (their new model the Asalt is the right size) in chrome with black back, or a Zara Spook for surface action in any color. For smaller fish it's tough to beat a DOA shrimp in 1/4oz size, natural color or clear, or the DOA Terroreyz in root beer color. They also make another very good tarpon lure, the DOA Baitbuster (I use the sinking version) in red and white. With every lure take extra care to sharpen the hooks until they're dangerously sharp... One other lure that's accounted for every size of tarpon there are is a plain old white bucktail in 1/4 oz or slightly heavier. Make sure the jig has a strong hook and work it slowly as though you didn't care if it ever came back to the boat.

If all else fails tarpon are also complete scavengers (they're very lazy until you hook one). I've caught them up to 175lbs on nothing more than a fresh piece of cut bait... When I say fresh I mean it was kicking when you cut the small fish up... Use a circle hook, a Gamakatsu or Owner "octopus circle hook" in size 7/0 or 8/0 is my first choice. Toss the bait out with rod in holder, locked up, and let the bait drift down to the bottom, use a sinker only if necessary. The fish will hook itself if one picks up the bait. If you choose to go the bait route use the heaviest rod available, you might need it.

You didn't ask about flies, that's a whole other subject. Good Luck, let me know how you do.

[Hoffer]

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your insight/experience with me! I will definitely let you know how we do on our next trip.

Good luck and good fishing!