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Back Country Fishing
Report
Brought to you by Capt. Matt Bellinger of Bamboo Charters
You can reach Capt. Bellinger at 305/393-0909
September 06, 2007 - Islamorada
Flats Report
September is
here and so begins our three month snook season. First reports
point towards another great snook catch is to be had out there.
More and more guides are reporting great catches of bonefish
very close to downtown Islamorada, big fish and good numbers of
bones are being found tailing and mudding up a storm. Out in
the waters of the Everglades National Park reds and snook are
being found up in the real skinny water and eating plastics like
big dogs.
The first
reports coming in about the start of snook season have been
good. Some are reporting great catches of these great fighting
fish just inside of the new minimum length of 28 inches and
plenty of fish right inside of the 28 to 33 inch slot limit.
This time of the year you will find plenty of small sub 24 inch
fish out there. These fish will be found in huge gatherings and
will take most any offerings that pass their way. The bigger
slot fish are not that much more picky in their eating habits.
You just might not find these fish stacked like cord wood, but
you will find go numbers of them. The bigger fish seem to be
found up in the skinny stuff right now and usually in close to
mullet schools. As the tide drops, guides move off the flat and
work the edges. Mullet look a likes such as Zara Spooks and 5
to 6 inch jerk baits let you cover some ground and are easy to
work for most any fisherman.
Reds really
come to the dinner table from here til late November ( only
taking the REDBONE weekend off some times) you will find puppy
drum, sub 18 inch fish, on up to some real toads, well over the
27 inch maximum length. Capt. Kerry Wingo and Chris Jones told
me of some true bigguns that they have been targeting as of
late. They are eating live baits, shrimp and soft plastic baits
as well. Capt. Larry Syndor actually complained of too many
reds on a late afternoon trip last week! Larry was looking to
score a few snook to finish out a backcountry slam or two for
some clients and the red bite was just plain way too hot to give
a snook a chance at a bait. Damn bad luck Larry!
Capt. Chuck
Shafshaw and Mike Cosma reported to me for my radio reports that
they have been keying on a great bonefish bite lately. We see
bones all year long here but at times they can be tight lipped
on our offerings. The fact that we are talking bones here is
the reason that I can tell you only this. . . some fish are
being found on the bay side flats and some on the ocean side
flats and the tide was . . . well that’s just too much info. As
a matter of fact the bandanna brigade will tar and feather me if
I type any more info on the ghost of the flats.
Check out my
live radio reports on SUN 103.1 fm daily at 8:10 – noon – 4:40
and take a look at
www.BambooCharters.com
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