(No fly zone) Non fly caught fish pictures

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

Doing a bit of scouting, solo, out of Chokoloskee (the ten thousand islands area in Everglades National Park ) two days ago, working a few of the bights south of Rabbit Key when I got a surprise... That day I was checking redfish spots using both bait and lures (setting a bait next to mangrove jungle shoreline while working lures in the same area) - and always on the clock....  What I'm trying to do is spend no more than 15 minutes at any one spot and keep moving to locate spots to bring my anglers this fall.   Been doing this sort of stuff for a few years now whenever there's no bookings and all of my shopwork is caught up (that's my excuse anyway....).  That day - not one redfish at any of the spots I stopped to fish - and only a few jacks, speckled trout, and one small snook.... That bait rod though - it stayed busy with sharks of every size (and usually within 15 minutes).  That coast is just over-run with them - bulls, lemons, young blacktips...  Without a wire leader they quickly went on their way and after tying on a new hook I was down the road as well.  A bit discouraging but it's the only way I know to find out whether an area is worth a look with anglers aboard (not the kind of fishing most on this board will ever do, I know...).  Although I'm pretty sure the situation will change as waters cool off in coming weeks but that's my world.   This time of year night fishing is our best bet.  At the last spot I checked though - things changed.   A quick bite on  the bait rod and we were off to the races.  Figuring is was another hot shark at first, then I saw what looked like a big redfish - the surprise when I was able to get closer was that it was a triple tail - a big one, and the biggest I've hooked up in recent years.  Once on board my Boga Grip showed it at 12 pounds (our normal triples are sight-casted and between three and eight pounds, biting lures and flies along the coast [ particularly around pot markers and other structure... Here's a pic

not a  very good photo, the reel used was a Shimano 400 for size comparison.   I tell my anglers that have never caught one to expect what looks like a freshwater crappie - that's been living under a nuclear plant... They're very strong and even jump when hooked and can change colors from light to dark depending on where they are.  Their normal feeding tactic is to suspend motionless on their side like a clump of debris or grass then attack any small fish, shrimp, or crab that gets too close.  To  add to that they're nearly armor plated and have serious razor sharp spines and gill covers, making fileting one an adventure, until you learn the best way to go about it.   This one got invited home for dinner since they're very good eating - on a par with grouper....  Triples will readily take a fly when you find one floating near the surface.  Our usual gear is a Whitewater clouser on an 8 or 9wt rod and they're a challenge to spot, stalk, and present a fly to.... Great fun when they're around...

Just nothing like the 'glades... Tomorrow I'll be scouting out of Flamingo in the center coast of the Park about 30 miles north of Islamorada.... my focus will be on snook spots (along with tarpon)...

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

Still scouting a few days later - this time out of Flamingo, about 35 miles from where that triple tail was (Flamingo is in the dead center of the Park, 30 miles due north of Islamorada for those who've never been there.   On this day I did a round trip of nearly 70 miles through the backcountry - mostly just looking to see where things stood and whether different techniques were worth a try later with anglers aboard.  One of the great things about exploring a bit is taking your time to enjoy this or that.  Here's my only photo from that day, taken from Whitewater Bay about fifteen minutes before dawn, about eight miles from the  launching point....

just nothing like the 'glades... 

[cphubert 0]

Ahh nothing like the sunrise or sunset on the water or archipelago to stir a few memories, thanks for posting it.