Working the Country
We stopped at several mangrove islands on the way to Islamorada, poking and probing the
edge of the mud flats with skiff, particularly paying attention to the white potholes, as large as
they are, dotting the lush green carpet just beneath the water surface. It seems that the ‘muds’
near the flats are great indicators of the presence of fish in that particular area. Feeding fish
inadvertently stir the mud underneath creating the tell-tale sign of mud clouds which should be
perfectly visible from above the water surface. And the captain was right. After the third cast I
was already able to reel in my first catch of the day, a nice-looking and pretty neat redfish.
For baits we used live shrimps attached to bonefish skimmer jigs although other baits such as
pilchards, Gulp!, Bass Assassins, and Twisty Tails, just to name a few can also work quite well.
The trick is to use only bait that you are really comfortable working with. It just makes no sense
if you are going to use live shrimp if you simply cannot find yourself to skillfully place it on your
tip.
Looking for the perfect spot to fish is something that is less of a science than it is an
opportunity, particularly depending on the tide. Nonetheless, the best areas to fish will be
those on shorelines and the grassy flats where potholes dot the greenery. Capt Klein told me
that there are plenty of species in potholes, more like a predator waiting for its prey of bait –
whether live of not – swimming by. In these potholes, snooks, redfish, jacks, and trouts have
been known to frequent.
Expansive Choices
The vast expanse of shallow fishing waters of the Glades can definitely offer you many options
with which to choose from. The key thing to remember in fishing in flat terrains is to look for
potholes in green flats and be always on the lookout for the telltale signs of feeding fish or even
a moving fish as can be discerned from its mud trails, more like a contrail of a jet liner up in the
blue skies.
Whether you will be going off to Madeira Bay or towards Flamingo or even within Frank Key or
Murray Key, the choices are simply limitless. Casting should be spot-on, however. You need to
accurately place your bait right in the fishes’ noses as most of them will be swimming tightly as
a school towards the shoreline in many instances. The best time to fish? Towards the bottom of
the tidal fall and the first two hours of the tidal rise is what Capt Klein says as the best time to
really work these green flats.
Keep on Pushing
Snake Bight is another productive area with which to keep on pushing with your shallow water
fishing skills. The best part to fish on the Snake is along its western edge that heads north
towards the mainland. When the tide is just falling, numerous sloughs will provide the perfect
watery drain into the channel for your bait.
However, you should know that the Snake can get pretty crowded especially during weekends
and holidays. If you really want to dive into the action without the distraction of other fishers in
the area, then head towards the east well into the heart of Snake Bight. This is the greatest spot
for snook and redfish. However, you need to watch out for the tide because if it does get too
low, you might as well get stuck in there for a while.
A Cornucopia of Marine Life
The Florida Bay is definitely home to a diverse collection of marine life that makes it all the
more challenging to fish in its waters. You may be eyeing a redfish at the end of your line but
instead will be reeling in a spirited snook. Aside from these two fish species, trout also are a-
plenty deep in the park. The outliers towards the south and west are excellent for world-class
fishing for tarpons, permits, and bonefish. On a side note, these prime species cannot be seen
anywhere else in the continental US. And for the reason alone, it is safe to believe that Florida
Bay is undoubtedly the best in-shore hotspot in the sunny state of Florida.
The Must-Haves for an Islamorada Backcountry Tackle Box
Choose a light spinning rod that is suitable for an eight to 12 pound test braid or
monofilament.
Choose a spinning reel in the size range of 3,500 to 4,500. Look for a reel with a smooth
drag and fully capable of holding about 200 yards of eight or 12 pound monofilament or
its equivalent in braid.
For the leader, choose a fluorocarbon or a nylon monofilament leader with a
specification of 20 to 40 pound test. Fluorocarbon monofilaments are perfect for clear
waters but when it does get murky and muddy, the nylon monofilaments works best.
For lures or bait, you can choose commercially available lures like shrimp, Bass
assassins, Gulp! Lures, D.O.A. Shrimp, and Mister Twister Slug lures tipped onto skimmer
jugs. For the more natural look of bait, live shrimp craftily attached to a popping cork
can reel in the perfect catch anytime. You can also use live pilchards instead of live
shrimps.
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