Saltwater / Freshwater - south florida report, 2 March

lemaymiami

Fished out of Flamingo Monday and found a few big tarpon still up inside Whitewater in very poor tidal conditions (quarter moon - no low tide all day long..).  We were able to get bites from them on both live bait and lures - but never stayed connected - until a six foot bull shark took a bead on a poor live ladyfish - and it was off to the races.. Although it was certainly a very slow day, my angler did hook up a nice baby goliath grouper (14lbs on the boga grip before being carefully released) on a bait meant for a redfish.... out near the coast in less than two feet of water... Goliaths are everywhere in the backcountry these days... Here's a pic...

Yesterday we made a half day's foray into a nearby freshwater canal system - looking for peacock bass with lures and flies.  Most of my best peacock places got wiped out back in December by a killing cold (this is up in Broward county a good bit west of Ft. Lauderdale...).  We did find some small peacocks willing to eat our flies -  and I did get my very first jaguar guapote.... all of our fish, including a largemouth bass here or there - were on the small side... Definitely a break from my usual backcountry running... We did note that our best bites came on the fly rod, though... The search for some decent sized peas will continue whenever I have the opportunity.  In the meantime it has been fun going into areas I've long ignored in favor of the salt...

At the end of this week we'll be hitting the night scene in Biscayne Bay where the conditions should be perfect for small (20 to 40lb) tarpon on fly in sight-fishing conditions... Nothing like our area for variety day in and day out...

"Be a hero... take a kid fishing"

BooBoo

Fun report to read. Thanks for posting it!