The backcountry fishing bite has been rising along with the water temperatures. We’re seeing more bonefish and permit making their way back to the flats tailing locally, while snook and redfish in Flamingo, the southernmost headquarters of Everglades National Park, are still eager to chase a fly. The big news is the giant fish is showing up in town, the silver king, tarpon.
We had a beautiful start to March with some low wind days, giving way to some amazing tarpon fishing. Fishing locally, we had several fly eats from large tarpon, and getting a leader touch on one fish around 5 feet in length. A strong strip set on fly sends these fish airborne with a fury. They’re jumping and punching holes in Florida Bay while screaming drag on your reel, and making dreams come true for anglers and guides.
Chasing tailing permit and bonefish has only improved the last week. Bonefish seem to have a little extra zing to their fight; we’re even seeing 3- to 4-pound fish taking fly anglers to their backing. Some of the happiest fish I’ve seen enjoying the sun have been the permit. One fish was boated on fly last week. Another was hooked, but lost by the challenges of the 12-pound test line. With the wind growing stronger daily as it tends to do in March, I’ll be looking back to these early slick out days.
FISH FACT
Permit are common to be 40 pounds, and can reach up to 50 pounds.
FISH TIP
Anglers cast live crabs to schools of permit hoping to catch one of these line-stripping fish, which also take shrimp, clams and occasionally small fish.
