The summer heat keeps on rolling, and slick conditions have made for some beautiful flats fishing.
Early risers on my skiff have been chasing tailing bonefish, and we’ve spent the rest of the day chasing tarpon and permit. During the lobster mini-season, we took sanctuary in the Everglades, fishing for snook and tarpon.
It seems the oceanside fishing has recovered quickly from the swarm of bug hunters. Over the years, I’ve noticed a major disappearance of fish locally after the mini-season, but that’s not the story this year at all. Locally, bonefish have been the best target, and there seem to be enough around that they don’t mind the post-season pressure.
The grass hasn’t left, and neither have the tarpon. It’s been great to see so many fish stick around oceanside this summer working the shrimp hatches in the sargassum grass. They’ve been shy on the topwater bite, but more than happy to eat a shrimp or baitfish fly pattern during the hatch.
FISH TIP
Bonefish travel in small schools prowling grass beds and sand flats for shrimp, crabs and other invertebrates. The average size is 3 to 5 pounds, but fish weighing more than 10 pounds can be found in Florida.
FISH FACT
Per Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state record for bonefish is 16.19 pounds. It was caught off Islamorada on March, 19 2007 by Richard Schroeder.
