Fishing Biscayne Bay has been great this past month.
The Bonefish in the early morning have been active but the real story is
the Permit. I have seen more permit this year than ever before. The past
few years we used to chum a bit and maybe if were lucky we would see a pair
and maybe even get a shot at them. This year the fish are larger and in
much better numbers.
On the strong stages of the tides, on the outside of the cuts
between Soldier Key and Sands Key, is a set of key's called the Ragged
Key's. Setting up on a flow to the north or south sides of the major
wash will be your best bet. The fish will be running up-current looking
for a helpless meal being flushed out by the tide ....... Here's where
you come in.
Spinning tackle should start out with a stout rod ... I recommend a
G.Loomis model HSR930S in a GL3 blank. This rod is 7'
9"long, one piece blank, and has a power butt with a light tip. Set, at
least, a Shimano Aero Stradic in this reel seat and spool her up with
the new P-Line in 8 to 10 lbs. test!!!!!! Oh Yea....Hang - on!! This is
my perfect Permit rig. You can feel this rod at Kendall Bait & Tackle on
US1 in Miami. Tell Joe ....... Capt. Dave sent you in for a permit rod.
Fly gear will be a bit more challenging. My first choice
would be a Nautikos FR10810-3 by G. Loomis. This is a 10 wt, 9 foot,
three piece rod with the backbone to throw a good size fly in the windy
conditions you will find on the outside of these cuts. As for reels,
here is where we run into a lot of personal preference. My friends at
G.Loomis are making a fine reel for a great price. So check these out at
Joe's also.
Ok, we have the gear . . . what do we put on the end that
matters? If your limited for time, fishing only one day, start out with live
crabs on spinning gear. The ratio of shots to takes on my boat has been
around 1 in 5. The ratio spreads out a little more when you go with the
fly rod, more like 1 in 15 and sometimes higher. If it's your first
Permit go with the odds. Like Bob Haddock from Guam did with his first
permit, caught on a live crab Wednesday, the 12th of August. This fish
was twenty plus pounds and made a return visitor out of him . . . for
sure. But the challenge of the fly will always be there . . . haunting and
tempting us to stand on that bow for hours and wait for that perfect
shot. Hopefully, I'll be behind you on the tower to witness the event
and revel in the rareness of it as well.
Next report will be on the opening of the Snook season here in
Florida. I've pre-fished the beaches of the Cape's and the cuts of Lake
Ingram with good results. The fish are aggressive in the early morning
hours and again at sundown. We killed the Speckled Trout in the middle
of the day and even saw Trippletail all the way up in Snakebite Channel.
Good signs of a great fall season coming up. See you soon.
As always, Tight lines . . . and quick releases.
Capt. Dave Sutton Sent
email comments to me, Capt. Dave.
Captain Dave Sutton is a US Coast Guard licensed guide,
and an Everglades National Park Guide, fishing Florida Bay,
The Upper Key's and Miami's Biscayne Bay. He can be reached
for any questions on-line at www.saltwater-flyfisherman.com
or by phone: 1-305-248-6126
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