Finally the cold weather seems to be behind us but of course this is April so now we have the wind. Better the wind then the cold weather that had fish freezing and with a bad case of Lock Jaw. The breezes of April and the warmer conditions have sparked the spring spawning season for many of South Florida's fish species and the fishing has been very good.
In North Biscayne Bay the sea trout are spawning and I have had recent catches that have included sea trout to 4.4 pounds, Spanish and cero mackerel and ladyfish, jacks and bluefish to four pounds with over 80 fish being caught during a full day charter. These fish have been eating live shrimp and pilchards fished under a Cajun Thunder float and ¼ ounce Hookup lures tipped with Gulp shrimp under a Cajun Thunder float or fished by itself along with the Rapala Twichin Raps and X Raps. The fishing rods have been 7' foot Key Largo Rods in a medium to medium light tip along with a Daiwa Tierra or Advantage spinning reel loaded with six to 12 pound Mustad Ultra line.
At the Ocean Inlets when the wind has been light tarpon have been very active and on recent charters we have had tarpon in the 70 to 80 pound class on live shrimp that ate a large live shrimp hooked to a Mustad Ultra Point Circle hook.
Offshore fishing has been outstanding with large kingfish being caught along with blackfin tuna, sailfish and the first reel big dolphins. A few marlins have been sighted and a few hooked and landed.
Flamingo is starting to make a comeback now that water temperatures are back to the low 80's. Tarpon have moved into the channels of Florida Bay and along the shorelines from East Cape Canal north to Shark River and into Whitewater Bay as well. Snook are showing up but I have only encountered large fish recently. Lots of sea trout with some over 20 inches and mackerel, bluefish, jacks and ladyfish are still in good numbers.
Now is the time to take advantage of the warmer conditions before the summer sets in and the wide variety of large fish that are available here in South Florida.
Recent Catches:
Richard, Brando and Justin fished a half day charter in North Biscayne Bay and had over 30 fish including sea trout and ladyfish.
Andrew R caught and released an estimated 60 to 70 pound tarpon fishing in Government Cut.
Jeff Myers and his kids Elliot and Marilyn teamed up to catch and release 23 sea trout, bluefish and snappers during a half day charter in North Biscayne Bay.
Dr. K and Norman and Paul teamed up to catch bluefish, sea trout, ladyfish, jacks, catfish and Spanish mackerel fishing in Flamingo.
Jerome and his grandkids Jake and Spencer fished North Biscayne Bay during a full day charter and caught over 80 sea trout to three pounds plus Spanish and Cero mackerel to five pounds.
Jordan D. fished two half day charters in North Biscayne Bay. The morning charter was with his dad Norman and his sons Eric and Adam and they released 30 trout to 2.5 pounds plus a four pound bluefish and a mackerel and then in the afternoon Jordan fished with his wife Jennie and daughter Donnie and caught and released another 38 sea trout to 4.4 pounds.
Fishing in Flamingo with Steve K during a full day charter the catch included a 10.5 pound snook plus sea trout, jacks, ladyfish and catfish.
Fishing in Flamingo during a Busman's Holiday I had the pleasure of fishing my son Zach and wife Dana during a day that was cut short due to a very bad rain storm. Fishing the outside of Shark River we had tarpon in the air and released lots of sea trout to three pounds plus jacks, ladyfish and lost a few mackerel. Thank God for Columbia Sportswear Rain Suites that kept us perfectly dry through a driving wind and rainstorm.
YOUR UP NEXT! Just give me call and let's see what we can catch!
www.getemsportfishing.com
shermana@bellsouth.net
Check out my report in the Miami Herald's Sports section under Fishing Updates each Thursday, the Florida Sportsman Magazines South Florida Internet Fishing Report
www.floridaspotsman.com), my monthly Action Spotter Fishing Report for the South Region in the Florida Sportsman Magazine each month.
I have recently been wearing a lot of Columbia Sports Wear on my fishing charters and the new Blood & Guts shirts are amazing. I have had mackerel, cobia and snook just splatter me with blood and one good washing and the shirts are as good as new. Check out their web site at www.columbia.com
Sponsors: Yamaha, Bob Hewes Boats, Maverick, Minn Kota, Lowrance Electronics, Daiwa, General Motors & Chevrolet, Rapala, Mustad, Ande Lines, Pure Fishing, Gulp, Berkley, Precision Tackle, Cajun Thunders, Capt. Hank Brown's Hook Up Lures, Hydro Glow Lights, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, Saltwater Assassins, Key Largo Rods, Lee Fisher Cast Nets, Smartshield, Master Repair in Stuart Florida, Power Pole, Stow Master Nets, superfishlight.com, Columbia Wear, Tempress Seating
Capt. Alan Sherman
"Get Em" Sportfishing Charters
786-436-2064
w ww.getemsportfishing.com.
