Boca Grande, Fl.
8 July 2006

 

Lots of rain this week.  And very high tides.  It has scattered the fish and coupled with very warm water has pushed many species into the deep, cool grass flats.  Even some tarpon have been cruising the eight foot grasses.  One problem associated with the warm water, low oxygen levels, may be alleviated by the rain.  Let's hope so.

 

Prognostication!  Tarpon fishing will continue to improve for back country anglers all summer.  The basins and open bays that regularly hold fish will be excellent on good weather days and strong moons.  The tarpon will eat dark patterns early and chartreuse patterns later in the day. 

 

Snook fishing has be super this year.  there are more snook around today than I've seen in many years.  This may be cyclical or the result of good conservation.  Either way, we've won.  Because pilchards are the food of choice for snook the best imitations are bait fish style flies like Ron's Estaz Marabou and Lefty's Deceiver.  I like Puglisi patterns very much.

 

Redfish are still scattered along the mangroves and anglers are still talking them with live shrimp.  This gives us fly anglers an opportunity to have some great bull-dog action when other species slow down.  Don't forget, "brown  and down" still takes those rascals.

 

Don't ask me about seatrout.  I haven't caught a decent seatrout all week.  Of course, I don't fish for them much, but I should be able to catch a few.  I know they went deep, to places with good water movement and little discoloration, but I cannot find them consistently.  Sinking lines and Clousers should work.  I get them eventually.

 

Here's a good trip for this time of the year.  Get out early, about 4:00 am, and take some snook under the lights.  About dawn head for the back country tarpon spots and fish until noon or so.  By then the weather will either be very hot or starting to rain.  Time to come home and have a little lunch and maybe a siesta.  Don't give up then.  Go back out after the rains and try for those big snook and tarpon just before dark.

 

Call for more info or a daily up-date at 941 232 2960

 

Fish Hard,

 

Pete

www.floridaflyfishing.com