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Report by : Bamboo Charters
Good fishing from the bridges to the backcountry. March 27 2005
The first real warm weather has set in on the Keys . Not that we really suffer with what most would call cold weather , but now that there is less than a 10 degree swing in air temps from day to night water temps are staying above 70 F and the fishing is booming . Warm water temps bring bait , mullet to be exact . Mullet means tarpon and they are running from 70 - 150 lbs at the larger bridges and 30 - 60 lbs at the smaller ones . Mullet , pinfish , shrimp and crabs are all doing the job . The warm waters also have the bonefish spending more time up on the flats . These fish are much happier with water temps staying above 72 F . Oceanside flats have been the place to be on in coming tides . In the backcountry of the Everglades National Park fishermen have been catching large numbers of large sea trout . These fish are over 20 inches and almost all are females loaded wih eggs . The best baits have been those that simulate mullet . The reason is simple , mullet supply trout with fat , fat is used by the trout to coat the eggs they lay to protect her eggs . So plugs , jerk baits and lures along those lines trigger these big girls into a fight . Its fine to keep a few trout for dinner , but release the larger fish to breed , keep the 15 -17 inch fish . Redfish and snook have been swarming the 'Glades flats looking for snacks and blind casting soft plastic jerk baits rigged weedless has been very effective . Snook to 12 lbs have been caught this way and several 10 lb reds have been caught and released by area guides and there clients . While drifting deeper flats for trout it has been a wise thing to drag a live ladyfish on a heavy outfit for tarpon . If nothing else a large bull or lemon shark will jump all over a nice lady given the chance . No one can catch these fish ifv you don't get out on the water . So pack up the kids and book some time on the water.
Website : www.Islamoradabackcountry.com
Phone : 305-393-0909
Base Price : $325.00 per Day