Here we go folks; the winter fishing is in full swing. The recent cold fronts have done the trick in bringing the winter bite to a full term. Flamingo's gulf edges are full of macs, cobia, tripletail and snapper and the flats around the inside are teaming with large trout, redfish and snook. December will bring the backcountry of the Everglades alive.
The "PRES" Chris Dolne came down again and the score was 7 bones, two permits and over a hundred cuda's...for the 5 day trip.
Whitewater Bay will soon be seeing the winter tarpon run and fishing the creek mouths on the northeastern shores are already producing redfish and snook, as well as a great snapper bite. The DOA plastic baits are responsible for many of the redfish and snapper we caught in the backcountry. The ½-ounce shrimp pattern in clear does the trick.
A water temp of 76 to 84 degrees is the optimum range for the bonefish, but he will feed in much cooler water. As the water in Biscayne Bay cools down you will see the bonefish begin to congregate in larger and larger schools. This is a great advantage to an angler due to the competition factor. When presenting bait or a fly to a school of feeding fish you have a much greater chance of a hook-up. The fish are not as spooky in a school of a dozen or more and will move across a flat in a formation like combat aircraft leaving a very noticeable head wake.
Our flats here have bonefish constantly moving on and off of them throughout the tide flows as they feed. This is why an experienced guide will fish a flat that someone has just moved off of, but only if he moves off slowly. Poling to the edge of the flat and idling till you have at least two feet of water or more is the best way to ensure that the fish have not been spooked. Taking the time to move off a flat will also ensure that you will not dig a wheel ditch when you jump on plane. We all have seen these holes on our flats as well as the long wheel ditches going all the way across-these scars will take years to recover. This is also the ammo the "powers that be" will use to close our waters.
The wily permit is still around with the majority of them on the smaller side and in definite schooling patterns. Look for them around the western banks of Biscayne Bay due to the warmer water temperatures that are found there. The darker grass flats will hold the heat from the sun longer. Watch your surface water temperatures very closely during these winter months. If you can find a flat that has a two- to three-degree temperature rise you will find bonefish and permit on it for sure.
Until next time - Tight lines and quick releases, and I will see you "On The Flats."
GEAR CHECK:
My Maverick Mirage HPX-V is again being E-Tec Powered by Jack Rupp and Sea-Power Inc. I have the new 2010 90-HP. Running my Terrapin about as much as the Maverick and doing a bunch of days offshore has contributed to low hours on all of my engines. Jack is located conveniently at 13610 SW 142 Ave right here in Miami near the Tamiami Airport. Contact him at: or call 305-238-1386 for all of your re-power and maintenance needs. They are the best I have found by far...
The skipper would like to hear your fishing stories and reports for inclusion on the Chevy Florida Fishing Reports, his website and print, or to book a trip, call him at 305-248-6126 or e-mail him at djsutton@bellsouth.net.
His new websites are:
www.OnTheFlatsCharters.com
www.JulieSuttonMarineArt.com
We're now paying the price here on the Space and Treasure Coasts. With no hurricanes or major rain events this past year, water levels are treacherously low and salinity levels are on the rise. October was one of the warmest and driest months on record. To top it off, it seems the wind blew for a month straight. Isn't October supposed to be a month of change?
The record highs finally subsided around the first week of November and things began to get back to normal. I, along with others, will be glad to see 2009 as a memory.
Average winter temperatures will range from the low 50s in the mornings to the mid 70s by the middle of the afternoon. Water temps will range from the middle to high 60s to as low as the mid 50s during extended cold periods. During these cold fronts, the morning bite can be little to non-exsistent for many anglers, so do what I do. Sleep in! But, each passing cold front means an eventual warm up of the grassflats and offshore waters. Then it will be the time to get out and wet your lines!
Here's the skinny:
Trout/Redfish: Trout and reds will spend a majority of their time seeking warmer waters in the deeper troughs and holes along the ICW. During Florida's winter bluebird days, these species can be found sunning themselves in sandy "potholes" and atop the oyster bars of the shallows. A slow presentation along the edge of the holes with your favorite crank or soft bait should send the sunning predator into a feeding frenzy. When fishing the deeper holes and drop-offs, utilize popping cork rigs with either a live, dead or plastic shrimp. The popping action of the rig will normally bring the fish up and out of the deeper waters.
Black Drum: Large migrating schools of black drum can be found swimming, feeding and lounging north of the Pineda Causeway and in the Banana River "No Motor Zone." Live shrimp, dead shrimp and cut clams... well, just about anything will account for many of the monster catches. I recommend not using anything lighter than a 20-pound rig with 60-pound leader on these giants. Between grinding their heads into the bottom and running back into the school, the lighter rigs just won't hold up during a long battle with these brutes.
Inshore Trolling: Wintertime means trolling deepwater plugs along the deeper edges and troughs of the ICW for keeper snapper and grouper. It will take a good bottom finder for consistent catches of these prized offshore fish. If the winds will let you, try "slow trolling" with your trolling motor instead of your main engine.
Sebastian Inlet: Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead and drum will account for much of the wintertime catch west of the jetties. Silver spoons, jigs and windcheaters are the inlet angler's weapon of choice. For those brave enough to weather the wintertime blows, try fishing at night on an incoming tide.
Offshore: Bottom fishing for grouper and snapper is always consistent this time of year on the deeper ledges, reports Capt. Billie Stewart of Rouge Wave Fishing Charters. Drop fishing with jigs and live bait will account for much of the bottom catch. The kingfish bite will be dependant on the cycle of winter storms and water clarity. Within the next month, the National Marine Fisheries Service will be voting on the new bottom fishing regulations concerning these species. If you're an offshore bottom fishermen, it's now that the Coastal Conservation Association/Florida can use your support.
Dive Report: Lobster divers report that both spiny and shovelnose catches have been consistent on the 90- to 120-foot ledges. As usual, the 40- to 60-foot ledges have been picked clean early in the season. Grouper and snapper will be lining up for the spear fishermen on the reefs getting ready to breed in the shallower, inshore waters. Due to the cold water and deeper dive, Nitrox is recommended for those divers doing multiple drops during the winter months. Get your spear fishing in now-it may be your last for many years!
Waterfowl: Flats fishermen and waterfowl hunters will be sharing the grassflats through Sunday, January 31, 2010. Flats fishermen are reminded that these outdoorsmen only get to enjoy their sport for 60 days a season. A 300-yard buffer will let hunters and flats fishermen enjoy their traditions.
"See you on the boat or in the blind!"
Capt. Jeff Kraynik