|
Flamingo and Florida Bay Report
As of today and probably for a while the Flamingo marina is closed with access from the marina area to Whitewater Bay only. If you wish to fish Florida Bay, you need to depart from one of the many Keys boat ramps and make the run across the bay. Flamingo marina and lodge sustained severe damage from wind and storm surge but the reason for the continuing "off-limits" for the Florida Bay ramp is from the large deposit of mud that has settled in the boat basins and on the ramps, it has been said that the national park service is going to bring in a dredging crew to deepen the marina basin during the next couple of months to make the area safe for boaters. For those of you who can handle the inconvenience and don't mind the longer boat runs that come with the launching from the Keys or in Whitewater Bay will quickly notice the main advantage of having the outside ramp shut down, the lack of boaters. Since hurricane Katrina the Flamingo area has seen a small fraction of its normal boating traffic which can only help the fishing.
If you want reds and snook, check the flats on the nicer days and the creeks and Whitewater Bay on the cooler or cloudy days. Shrimp are running now so I would "match the hatch" with your artificials or go for the real thing to seal the deal. If the current is moving with some zip, use troll-rite rigs and bounce them on the bottom and if the current is slow try free-lining shrimp or other live bait near the shore or along drop-offs, this works great with braided lines due to the no stretch and casting ease. As far as Whitewater bay is concerned, look for the reds and snook to hold around structure and near points, when approaching a possible spot for casting, make sure to work the area off of the structure as much as the area around the debris. I find on the cooler days many of the fish are sitting several yards off the the structure or point in question and should definitely not be ignored.
This is a great time of year to get those kids in on the action, load up the livewell with shrimp and head towards Flamingo from the Keys, fish the channel edges, creeks and the canal for black drum, trout, sheephead, redfish and snook. Try either anchoring and using bottom rigs or drifting tossing jigheads with live shrimp along drop offs, around structure and in some of the deep holes near the bends in the creeks. If the water is cold, I would recommend hitting the creeks, these fish have more protection from the cold winds causing the water to warm qucker and get those fish moving. Last year the drum and sheep head fishing were good as usual but the snook fishing last January was very good also, these guys were sitting off the shore a ways and were readily taking troll-rite rigs bounced on the bottom. I like to work the channels when the flats surrounding the deeper water are just starting to show and the sun has had a couple of hours to warm the falling water. It works like a switch, as soon as the water warms in the channel the fish begin to feed like there was no tomorrow.
I like to slow my retrieve down when the water temps drop, I'll have my customers work the shrimp/jig rig against the bottom like working a worm for a bass. The hits are very soft and easy and you must pay close attention to your line, many of my customers mistake the pick up for bottom debris and dont' try to set the hook until its too late. This method will produce mostly black drum and sheep head with a few reds mixed in for good measure many of these fish will be decent size and will offer a great fight on light tackle. Food wise, I prefer the reds and sheep head over the black drum but its hard to beet the sheer power and aggressiveness of the drum and they have become one of my favorite fish on light tackle.
Trout fishing should be very good in the channels when the water temps are down and over the grass beds when it heats up a little. A jig with a grub-tail or live shrimp shouldn't last too long before a fish grabs it. The out side grass flats from the middle of the rising to the flood tide should be great on most of the areas in front of the marina, between Bradley Key and the entrance of snake bite. Try the tried and true Cajun Thunder rig with your favorite artifical or live bait hanging 2-3ft below and you should get y our limit in no time. The trout fishing in Whitewater Bay has been very good so far this year with many of the fish measuring in the upper teens to low 20's which are beauties no matter where you fish.
Whatever you choose, good luck and good fishing.
|
