Florida Keys backcountry fishing report late April 2013

Posted on 4/25/2013

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Florida Keys backcountry fishing report late April 2013

Amazing week of fishing in the Florida Keys backcountry. We had a couple of rainy days and windy days last week but that didn't stopped must of us from getting job done. Trout fishing in Florida bay is as good as it gets with lots of big 20 plus inch fish being caught lately. Popping corks, Jigs and your favorite soft plastics will get you hooked up with plenty of other rod benders as well. Find the many mullet muds especially in between Key Largo and Flamingo for non stop action. This big fish are females full of eggs so take good care of the since they are the future of our fishery. The bite in the Flamingo area continues to be excellent. The runoffs in Snake Bite are holding good numbers of Redfish, Snook and Trout. Live Shrimp, Pinfish, Pilchards or scented soft plastics will get the bites. Same goes for the adjacent area flats and island moats. Fish the deeper channels with live or dead mullet for some Sharking and Tarpon action. If you don't have mullet Ladyfish will work as well. The Cape Sable area continues to be very productive as well. Tarpon, Sharks, Redfish and Snook can all be found around the channels, creeks and shorelines. Cast scented soft plastics like Berkley Gulps while looking for the Snooks and Redfish. Live baits like Pinfish and Pilchards will get the most attention but if your trying to cover some ground to find the fish stick to the soft plastics. Tarpon can be seen rolling in the area, cast swim baits or fish live baits where you see them roll for your best chances.
Look for the good bite to continue from Sandy Key out to Sprigger Bank. Trout, Snappers and all the rod bending action you want can be found while drifting in between Oxfoot and Blue banks. Cast white Bucktail jigs or plastics under a popping cork for the best action.

Tarpon fishing this past week was Epic for both bait fisherman as well as the Fly guys. Great numbers of Tarpon are pushing through our area and the action should continue for a while now. Look for laid up fish on the incoming tides around the local bayside banks and basins. The daytime bite continues to be best with live or dead mullet while fishing the local bridges and channels. Fish are being caught on both stages of the tides but the outgoing is always better. If your not afraid of the dark drift some medium size crabs on the outgoing tide during night time ours for the best action. Very important that you watch what other boats are doing and for everybody to line up their drifts in harmony. Don't run or idle in the area where you or the other boats are drifting, go around in a big circle to start your next drift. Also if you see the rest of the boats in the area drifting don't anchor up since must likely your going to interrupt their drift. This will not only benefit you but every other boat in search of the Silver King as well.
Bone fishing has picked up dramatically this past week. Captain Randy Stalling has been catching some monster Bonefish over thirteen pounds in the Islamorada and Key Largo area and Captain Brian Gwilliam reported seen multiple schools of over a hundred fish in downtown Islamorada as well. The incoming tide has been the most productive with fish mudding and pushing while looking for their next meal. Look for tailing fish on the outgoing tide around the oceanside flats. A live Shrimp is the bait of choice for chance at a hook up. The Permit continue to make their regular appearance around the deeper edges of Flats and banks both Oceanside and bayside. Be stealthy and ready with a silver dollar size crab for a chance of hooking up with this amazing fish.
Don't forget to bring the family fishing and take advantage of all the great things the Florida Keys backcountry has to offer.

Captain Juan Garcia