Captain Tom Rowland’s November 15th Fishing Report
Fast approaching the Florida Keys is a cold front expected to drop the temperatures and raise the winds for several days. Anglers fishing in November can expect inconvenient weather changes creating optimal conditions for those anglers willing to their options open.
For many years I wrestled with the early winter cold fronts and tried to continue fishing for Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon throughout the high winds and cool temperatures It is possible to continue flyfishing or spin fishing for the big three even under the worst conditions. Hard work and perseverance can pay off but altering fishing plans and strategy to meet the changing conditions can result in fabulous days on the water full of action and excitement. .
Many fish appear on the flats during these volatile conditions and present unique opportunities to the savvy angler. Giant Jack Crevalles hunt and forage in the channels and off the edge of the flats while schools of Mackerel may cover an area acres wide. These can be World Record fish that the flats angler may not see again all year. Studying the World Record book and having a plan of attack on a particular specie is a must if you intend on attempting a World Record. Preparation is the key and having several rods rigged with the exact IGFA specified tackle or many IGFA legal tippets tied for fly fishing is essential to success.
Cobia, Yellow Jacks, Bluefish, Kingfish, Tuna, Wahoo and more are commonly caught this month and anglers willing to give the flats and the offshore waters a try may encounter world class angling.
November ranks among my favorite months in the Keys because of the significant lack of boats on the water. Tourism seems to slow in the Key West area just before Thanksgiving and Christmas only to explode the day after Christmas. This means that anglers can experience the Keys the way they were 100 years ago without seeing another boat at the ramp or on the water for several days.
Shark fishing for Blacktip, Bull, Lemon, and even the Great Hammerhead will improve as these supreme predators become more aggressive with the cooling water temperatures. The appearance of late season mullet draw the tarpon back to inshore waters and landing fish over 100 pounds is not uncommon.
Nice days reveal bonefish and permit tailing on the flats in the backcountry and on ocean side flats while the flats of Flamingo and the Everglades National Park are still fantastic for Redfish, Snook, Small Tarpon and Trout.
Plan your fishing vacation to take advantage of the light angling pressure or simply come down for the weekend.
My website contains articles I have written for national magazines as well as exclusive technical articles. Learn about Knots and casting drills and catch up on tournaments from the local Keys tournaments to the National Redfish Tournaments.
Please visit my site at
www.bigblueflyfishing.com or email me at
Permitfly4@aol.com.
Thank you, and tight lines
Capt. Tom Rowland
