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Front Runner Charters
Capt. Rob Mims
305.304.4410 Phone
Florida Keys
Dolphin Marina
28530 Overseas Hwy.
Little Torch Key, FL 33042
Everglades
Naples Marina
475 North Road
Naples Florida 34104
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The flats on the gulf-side and ocean-side flats and channels had all been producing good numbers of Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit due to the abnormally warm water temps we have been enjoying this winter. Last week’s cold front put a temporary halt to that but the good weather has returned, and so have the fish. My anglers have had lots of success putting both large and baby tarpon in the air and on the memory card. While getting them to eat fly’s has been difficult, they are sucking down quarter sized blue-crabs like they’re going out of style. Bone-fish has also been extremely good on the gulf-side flats and should continue that way between the cold fronts. Redfish have even made appearances at my bonefish flats around the potholes. The trout, pompano, and cobia will be the fish of the next few weeks and anglers are already finding large numbers of these fish in the Spanish banks area and 4 ft channel muddings. If you know where and when to look you should have no problem hooking lots of good grub.
Last week’s cold front was a severe one. The water temperature dropped close to 20 degrees in two days. The good weather has returned, but the fishing has changed. Trout is the obvious target this month. The waters are warming and clearing and trout have been out of season for a couple of months. There will be schools of fish all over the outside grass flats. The Cape Romano Shoals will be good. The grass beds around Round Key will hold fish as will the huge grass areas on either side of Pavilion Key. Actually, any place there is grass in about four feet of water, there will be trout. Soft plastic tail jigs and buck-tails have been working well. Shrimp under a corks work even better.
We’ve been just drifting the flats until we find fish, and then anchor and enjoy the spoils. Birds or surface action are also good indications of fish. Trout will not be the only fish caught. Spanish mackerel are everywhere, there are still some bluefish around, and there are pompano in the same areas as the trout, but you typically have to use smaller jigs and slow them down. A shrimp tip will certainly help to catch the pompano.
Fair reports on the backbay action with snook, reds, trout and sheepies recovering fairly well from the effects of chilly water. The best action was in the deeper canals, channels and creeks. Shrimp fished tight to the bottom and plenty of chum have turned on the bite.
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