Enjoy the chill in the air, get your Christmas shopping done on time and make sure to allocate sufficient time to fishing Biscayne Bay this December. Last year this time of year I was finding big bonefish on the flats and plenty of rod bending action in the channels. So often I get calls from potential charter clients looking to fish in December and am asked "what is biting now?" and so often I have to take a deep breath before I begin. So much is going on in Biscayne Bay this time of year the action is sure to please anglers with all kinds of angling skills and piscine goals. Anglers armed with a couple of chum blocks, dozens of live shrimp and a cast net are sure to make the most of the opportunities presented to them.
On a typical day, the flexible angler can start the morning early with a live well full of pilchards and have a blast fishing the finger channels while waiting for the water temps on the flats to warm up. Once the drags (and anglers) have been warmed up, it is time to hit the flats with the 8lb class rods and begin the search for bonefish. If we have a cold December, make sure to take water temp readings while on the flats. I like water around 72 degrees or warmer but also look for other life on the flats to dictate whether I will invest more time on the flat or not. There is no need to have a fancy GPS or depth finder with a temp gauge, a simple and cheap digital temp gauge sold at aquarium stores works very well for those of us with no electronics onboard.
Since cooler water has a higher oxygen content, this is the time to break out the 6lb class spinning rod and really test your skills with the local bonefish without potentially exhausting these fish to point of death. Six pound class tackle has its advantages such as longer casts and the ability to cast small shrimp without a split shot making a quieter presentation possible. However, with the lighter line your knot tying and fish fighting abilities will be tested. Oh, did I mention that by 6lb class tackle I mean 6lb test monofilament? Yes, the old clear stuff that we used to use not so many moons ago. With the lighter line make sure to use a bimini twist about four feet long with a three foot section of 20lb quality fluorocarbon leader tied to the bimini by way of either a double uni-knot or double surgeons knot. The longer leader (a total of 7 feet) will give you an added benefit when you get the fish close to the boat as you can grab the leader which is now 12lb test at the double line. Don't forget to use a landing net and keep the fish in the net and water as much as possible between pictures in order to ensure a healthy release and set the drag at 10% of the lines breaking strength and don't touch it again.
This has been a great year on the water for me and I hope it has been for you as well. If you want to treat a loved one to a great Christmas/holiday gift, give me a call and we'll set up a trip. Have a great Christmas, New Years and holiday season to all and make sure to make some time to hit the water and make that drag scream!
Capt. Mo Estevez
www.NewDawnCharters.com
786-853-1409