South Fla Report

[Bud Man]

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Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable
Includes Pompano Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Homestead.

October 30 - November 1




High pressure will build over South Florida and along with the high, east winds at 10 to 15 knots are expected throughout the weekend.



Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Haulover, Government Cut to Ocean Reef



Schools of baitfish continue to move south along the Southeast coast attracting attention from Spanish mackerel, bluefish, large jack crevalles, ladyfish, snook, tarpon and sharks. Baitfish schools can be spotted by looking for bird activity over the water. If these birds are diving and you see white water explosions nearby expect any of the above mentioned species to be feeding on these baitfish. Cast shiny spoons, X Rap hard plastic plugs, soft plastic imitation baitfish and live baits in and around the feeding bait. A large bait fished with a little weight to get the bait under the baitfish school can often get you a good strike by a hungry tarpon, snook or shark. Rig your lines with a trace of #3 wire to protect your mainline from the teeth of some of these predators. Further offshore kingfish should make a strong showing with the approach of the full moon on November 2nd. Mutton snappers have made a good showing along the oceanside reefs but many are just less than 16 inches. Sailfish and dolphins have returned to the offshore picture and can be targeted when fishing for the kingfish and snappers in 100 to 200 feet of water. Swordfishing has been hit and miss and nighttime bottom fishing on the reefs and in the dredge holes is producing a mixed bag of snapper, grouper, kingfish, mackerel and bluefish. High tide at Government Cut Friday night will be at 6:48.



North Biscayne Bay Inshore



Large baitfish schools seem to be moving south slowly through North Biscayne Bay as they work their way to the deep water of Government Cut. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, barracudas, sea trout, snapper, tarpon, snook, ladyfish, large and small jack crevalles and bluerunners plus bonnet head, bull and blacktip sharks have been feeding on these baitfish schools. Look for the birds to locate the bait and then either throw a cast net on the baitfish or use a Sabiki rig to catch the bait or buy some bait from Lester’s Live Bait or Capt. Jimmy Lewis. Lester can be contacted on channel 08 and Lewis can be contacted on channel 80 on you VHF radio. Fish the live baits free lined or under a Cajun Thunder float near the baitfish schools or throw Rapala X Raps, Twitchin Raps, Skitter Walks, soft baitfish imitations or Hook Up lures tipped with a baitfish tail along the edges of the baitfish schools. Nighttime snook and tarpon action continues to be fair around dock lights and shadow lines on the outgoing tides. Lots of small jacks continue to hamper this type of fishing. Inlet snook and tarpon action has picked up when baitfish move through the inlets.



South Biscayne Bay



South Biscayne Bay waters remain in the 80’s keeping a lot of the bottom feeding species and some of the migratory species out of the Finger Channels. However the warm conditions have kept the bonefish and permit happy. Early mornings and late afternoons continue to be the best times to target the bonefish and the few small tarpon that have been feeding along the Oceanside flats. Best tide has been the beginning of the incoming. While stalking the tailing bonefish with live shrimp and skimmer jigs keep an eye out for cruising and tailing permit. It’s always a good idea to have a silver dollar sized blue crab hooked and sitting in a bucket of fresh saltwater just in case that permit does show its’ self. Tarpon can be targeted with a Rapala Twitchin rap or small white soft plastic baitfish. High tide at Soldier Key on Saturday will be at 7:54 in the morning.



Flamingo in Everglades National Park



Spanish mackerel have invaded the edges of Florida Bay and the Gulf Coast. Water temperatures are still warmer than expected this time of year but the mackerel don’t seem to mind. Find a fishy looking area in eight to 12 feet of water and start chumming as you fish live shrimp under a Cajun Thunder or hooked to a ¼ ounce red Hook Up lure. Live pilchards can used in the same way. Give a spot 30 minutes and if nothing happens move on. As long as the current is flowing and you have chum in the chum bag the action should continue. There have been some large schools of pompano in these areas as well and the pompano will eagerly strike a live shrimp. In Florida Bay snook, redfish and sea trout continue to be available on the mud and grass flats and on the channels. Along the shorelines of the Gulf snook, redfish and sea trout have been feeding under the large schools of baitfish, In Whitewater Bay golden colored sea trout have been feeding along the deeper hard bottom flats and along the deeper channels next to many of the islands snook and snapper are biting Hook Up lures tipped with a white jerk bait. Look for a good current flow and baitfish schools to help you locate the best spots to try your luck. Low tide at Flamingo in Florida Bay on Saturday will be at 9:55 AM and in Whitewater Bay low tide is at 9:58 AM.


By Captain Alan Sherman
shermana@bellsouth.net | www.getemsportfishing.com