Capt Bob LeMay 0 Report post Posted February 7, 2012 Local angler Brad Golub teamed up with visiting angler Vince Williams from Maryland to fish with me this past week with a day in the 'Glades and last night in Biscayne Bay. We had pretty good action - as usual the pics will tell the story... Last week it was Everglades City, this week Flamingo. We were fishing on Brad's Redfisher that he's busy sorting out and learning the backcountry with so it was a chance for me to fish in a very nice boat.... Brad used spinning gear while Vince stuck with the fly. Each type of gear had their strong points... Here's a nice trout by Brad (we were in them so well that most hookups were doubles...until we wore them out). That jighead and Gulp tail was all that Brad used that day and everything ate it... Brad went on to get bites everywhere we went on light spinning gear and that same small lure. Here's his best redfish of the day... Not to be outdone Vince proceeded to catch and release a great variety as well along with lots of trout - all on the Whitewater Bay Clouser... Here's a few pics... the bluefish weighed in right at 4lbs, Pretty good sized for the middle of Whitewater... the fish looked starved- it was long and lean. With a bit of feeding the next angler will have a fish that weighs a good two pounds more... He also hooked up on a gag grouper in less than three feet of water... that fish instantly dragged him back under a downed tree and he did a great job in working it back out of there (that particular leader took a beating....). The highlight of the day was when Brad hooked up a tarpon we estimated at 60lbs on that same small jig... He got four jumps out of the fish before it pulled free.... I was too busy to even think about reaching for my camera... After a day's break we worked up a night trip (last night) using my old Maverick (fishing around bridges at night is not the place to be with a shiny new skiff....). We hit the water just before the tide began to fall and at first it was spot after spot with no tarpon... We finally found them loaded up under one the many bridges that run between Miami and Miami Beach. Vince didn't have long to wait before hooking up on his first tarpon on fly.... It was the perfect small fish (we estimated it at 20 to 25lbs) and just attacked the fly. Vince did everything right and about 15 minutes later I had the fish leadered at the boat. With a quick head shake the fish released itself so the only photo I got was Vince doing everything right.... At the next bridge we went to it was finally Brad's turn for a solid hookup (two fish had already taken him to school, breaking off on the first piling they could reach...). That fourth fish actually tried to jump into our skiff on its second jump, soaking Brad and me in the bow... As hot as that fish was it was almost 30 minutes before it gave up at the boat. Here's a pic or two... At an estimated 30lbs that fish was a great catch on light gear (10lb spin). Day or night, the fishing is very good now. If it stays mild I expect that it will just get better. The big tarpon are up inside Whitewater and Oyster Bays now, all that's needed is the wind to lay down a bit and some good sunny weather to be able to see them properly. Lots of shrimp running at night now locally in Biscayne Bay.. One bridge we went to last night had hundreds of gulls and terns picking shrimp right off the surface in the bridge lights nearing midnight - and we had the bridge all to ourselves... Tight Lines Bob LeMay (954) 435-5666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chefben4 0 Report post Posted February 7, 2012 Always look forward to your report Capt. Bob! Do you fish the Miami area often? I'd love to fish with you and sometimes I can get a pretty good deal on flights to Miami airport! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Bob LeMay 0 Report post Posted February 7, 2012 These days I only fish Biscayne at night (and that's when the shrimp run has the tarpon lining up...) during winter and summer. The winter run has just started and will go all the way through the end of April. The summer run will kick off during June and go through the first two weeks of August. The night scene is tide specific - you need an outgoing tide the way I fish. Twice a month that falling tide is in the early evening and we're in business as the sun goes down for about five hours. That means that every month you get two five day windows to fish when it's reasonable - but there's always a falling tide at night (and I'm comfortable starting a trip at midnight or later if that's what is needed - most would rather sleep...). One other thing about night trips... they seriously conflict with daytime bookings. Some years I do lots of night trips, other years I get lots of requests that I have to turn down since I'm already booked for the days. Anyone thinking about a special trip down this way ought to call me before making plans since I have the tides dialed in on my computer for several different kinds of trips... Tight lines Bob LeMay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightheron 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2012 As always, love living vicariously through your guiding. My guide season ramps up in about six weeks, until then I'm enjoying watching you work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ditz2 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2012 Thanks for posting another fine report. Looks like a lot of fun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
