Islamorada Florida Keys backcountry fishing report May 15-31 2013

Posted on 5/27/2013

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Hello everyone! Another great week of fishing in the Florida Keys backcountry. The Trout continue to feed through out the Park. Find your self a mullet mud and most likely you will catch some Trout. Popping corks and soft plastics will get plenty of action. Anglers stalking the shallow flats, Island and mainland shorelines are encountering really nice size Redfish with some Snook as well. Shrimp, Pilchards, Pinfish and artificial's are getting the job done plus the fly aficionados are getting plenty of shots with different fly patterns. Fish the run offs in Snake bite channel for a decent Redfish, Snook and Trout bite on the outgoing tide. Look for the good Sharking action on the deeper channels around Flamingo to continue. Dead Ladyfish, Jacks or Mullet are getting plenty of attention from hungry Sharks plus the occasional Tarpon. Further west towards the Cape Sable area look for the Snook and Redfish bite to continue. Fish the mainland shorelines from East Cape canal all the way up to middle Cape and beyond. Pinfish and Pilchards are the best baits but scented soft plastics will help you find the fish faster allowing you to cover more ground if you don't know where they are. Look for Tripletail to be free floating in the same area, a shrimp casted in front of them will not be refuse.
The areas adjacent to the Everglades National Park boundaries like Schooner and Springer banks are full of action. Trout, Snappers, Ladyfish, Jacks, Bluefish and Sharks are all there ready to keep your rods bent. Drift while casting artificial's, a white Bucktail jig bounced close to the bottom will be deadly. Drifting a half Ladyfish or Jack behind the boat will get you hooked up with a nice Shark to add up to the excitement. We have been Shark fishing around the banks with great success. On a recent trip we hooked up multiple big Lemons and Blacktips. We also had a nice Tiger Shark in three foot of water eat the bait right behind the engine. If you haven't done it yet give Shark fishing a try and find out what all the excitement is about, it beats the gym!

Anglers looking for Bonefish are finding schools of fish on the Oceanside flats through out the keys. Look for this fish to be mudding on the higher stages of the tide and tailing or pushing on the lower stages of the tides. A live Shrimp or small crab will get the bite. Permit continue to patrol the deeper edges of Oceanside and bayside flats and banks looking for a passing crab. A long stealthy cast in their path is your best bet at a hook up. Fish also the bridge pilings on the change of tides for the Permit, cast a crab up current and let it drift next to the structure for best success. The Tarpon bite continues to be normal with the best time being in the dark. Fly fisherman continue to get plenty of shots at cruising fish around the points of Oceanside flats and channels. A dead butterflied mullet on the bottom continues to get the best bites during daytime hours and live crabs drifted on the outgoing tide in the local bridge channels is making for the best action. It's that time of the year when thunder storm can pop up at any time of the day. Play the weather right and get out on the water for some great Florida Keys backcountry fishing!
Captain Juan Garcia