Everglades city Redfish 6-8-08

[miamiangler1]

I got a phone call from a friend of mine Captian Bob LeMay... He charters night trips on biscayne bay , Flamingo and Everglades city ... so he asked if I wanted to fish Saturday out of Everglades City ... I jumped on it since I`ve never been there before ... so our trip started at 4:00 AM in the morning two hour ride to get to the boat ramp ... while putting the boat in the water I was getting attacked by thousands of no -seeums ... I was sure glad ocnce we were on the way to the fishing grounds ... now I understand why long slieves and long pants are a must ! Since this is my first shot at sight casting to backcountry fish ... I wasnt sure How I would do .... after so quick lessons on what to do .. it was all up to me ... first couple of spots the tide was still not right ... did manage a few jacks which we kept for cut bait .... at one of the river mouths ..Bob hooked a small snook which was released unharmed .. I still had trouble getting the lures under the brush ... some thing I was not used to ... as Bob said no snags no fish .. took me a while , but stared to get the hang of it ... we did see lots of reds moving along the mangroves ... but none wanted to bite .... the tide started to change ..it was close to noon and decided since sight fishing didnt work ... there was a little creek mouth he knows where there will be reds ! After arriving to the spot we threw a couple of rods out with cut bait .... after a few catfish still no signs of reds 5 mins go by and one rod bends over and is screaming line off the reel going up the the creek .. no matter what I did couldn`t stop it after 100yds peel off the reel it stops and turns around Now I`m thinking WTF I start gaining line fast ... now it is at the boat..still cant see what it is ..then hell breaks loose it starts heading to the Gulf of Mexico at full speed .. all I could do is hang on for the ride ... then pop !Bob goes probably a big bull shark , but by the way it fought I like to think it was one of those shallow water swords after we get rigged up again I did manage to catch 2 snook .... now it was getting close to 3:00Pm .. after a nice HOT day on the water I was getting tired so Bob made one last stop at a snag we fished in the morning with no luck ... Now that I learned you got to throw your lure inches from the snag , I was right on target on the first throw .. a few twiches and fish on ... Once the fish hit the surface could see it was a red .. ,after a few runs got him in the boat,, My First .. I have to Thank Bob Le May for a great day on the water ... 4 jacks , 3 snook , 1 red , 1 unknown

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Sweet report Willy. Everglades city/Chokoluskee is my alltime favorite place to cast a plug. Great to go there w/ a local too. There are lots of hidden little lakes and creeks, Indian Mounds, and plenty of fish. Last time I was down there we released 30+ snook, a couple reds,jacks, snappers, ladyfish, tarpon and goliaths All the fish fell for a crystal minnow yozuri, except for the goliaths and tarpon. We got them fishing fresh lady heads on da bottom. The guy I fish with down there regailed me with stories of the wild times in the seventies, and how dope smugglin had helped him stumble across a bunch of really hidden off the beaten path honey holes.ZGlad to hear you got the opportunity to get down there. It truly is a sweet slice of old Florida, with a colorful history, and a bunch of equally colorful local Crackers.

[miamiangler1]

I definatly like it there .. just not boat friendly for someone that does not know the area ... no markers like Flamingo

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Originally Posted by miamiangler1

I definatly like it there .. just not boat friendly for someone that does not know the area ... no markers like Flamingo

Thats why I mentioned going w/ a local. My buddy flies around there in an overpowred skiff. Thats the beauty of that area you really have to know it. Coolest part of it is that you can always run up or down stream to find a place where the water is moving. Heading down next week to assault the snook and goliaths. Where we go you can go days without seeing another boat

[miamiangler1]

That`s why I like it in Flamingo ... just waiting for cooler weather .. just a long drive to get there !

[TTesterman]

try medicated noxzema cream the no seeums / ALL-Teeth will stay away from you pretty good and you can rub it in your hair and around your ears without thinking it's melting your glasses to your head like deet....( I learned that long ago! from a old guide out of there..) we used to put in at barron river . that place shure has changed. the fishing there is great though and a lady fish on a circle hook tied to the cleat works great.... fish on a rope kinda thing.. . have you ever noticed jewfish have a slime that seems nothing but clorox cleaner will take off?

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Originally Posted by TTesterman

try medicated noxzema cream the no seeums / ALL-Teeth will stay away from you pretty good and you can rub it in your hair and around your ears without thinking it's melting your glasses to your head like deet....( I learned that long ago! from a old guide out of there..) we used to put in at barron river . that place shure has changed. the fishing there is great though and a lady fish on a circle hook tied to the cleat works great.... fish on a rope kinda thing.. . have you ever noticed jewfish have a slime that seems nothing but clorox cleaner will take off?

Yup, thats a fact about that jewfish slime and about cleat fishing.
I had to throw this shirt awaynice goliath 004.JPG