Hello again from the Florida Keys. Well, as things start to cool off a degree or two while the days get shorter, our favorite flats species start spending more time up shallow. While the wind starts to get up a bit as we enter October and November, the inconvenience of sometimes breezier conditions than summertime is offset by fish really putting on the feed bag. Fall time fishing here is fantastic and still mostly a secret. This means less people which means less fishing pressure and that means happier fish. This past week found me in the Everglades looking for redfish, snook and tarpon. We had some good days and some so-so days. I'm blaming the so-so days on the moon. If I had to look at my log to see what days were fair to poor, they would all center on a quarter moon. Fish, regardless of the species are simply harder to feed. Something to keep in mind when you book a guided trip. Anyways, we had some pretty good snook fishing, mostly working shorelines. Most of the fish however, were hanging a good distance away from the bushes. Our best fish was 30" but most were just little guys. Unfortunately, a particulary pesky gator decided to hang out by a downed tree that we were working, looking for an easy meal. In certain locations, gators and sharks have learned that fisherman mean food for them. I don't like feeding these guys and will move on after I give the offending beast a good jab with the pushpole. The redfishing was solid the past week. It still amazes me how shallow those fish get. I really believe those fish are trying to evolve to a point when they have lungs! It's ridiculous! While redfishing the past week, had a new experience. Took a day off to fish with my good buddy Dave Sanderson in his boat. We ended way up in some creeks looking for reds. We managed a couple of fish (they were really hard to feed) as well as a couple of snook and as the tide filled decided to bail with so much water. I was in the bow and Dave seated on the platform as we worked our way out with the trolling motor. We had already been fishing all day and were both kind of zoned out. I woke up however, when I heard Dave scream. I immediately turned around, noticed a very startled Dave and then noticed something silvery thumping on the deck. I assumed (as did Dave) that it was a mullet (since we had been seeing a ton) but to our surprise it a was a good sized pompano. Not only did this fish land in the boat but it smacked Daves' legs in the process! After a stunned moment Dave pitched the pompano back in the water only to have it act like he tossed him in a frying pan! I mean this fish went nuts. He went airborne, jumping around like a crack addict on a pogo stick only to smack into the side of the boat, the motor and finally, back into the boat! Can you believe it, he jumped in twice! Well, a still stunned Dave tossed our little buddy back into the drink and after a weak attempt to join us once again, our pompano swam off. Talk about ridiculous! After a good laugh the only thing we could figure was that our pompano had a recent encounter with a shark (we had seen a couple of good sized bulls) in the creek. The funny thing was that we didn't have any sharks near the boat. Don't know if the trolling motor set him off or just the pressure of the boat pushing through. Anyways, it was pretty funny and once again highlighted one of the beautiful things about fishing. Everyday is different and you never know what you're going to come across. Until next time. -Pete
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Capt. Pete Rowney
Fly fishing and Light Tackle Angling with Capt. Pete Rowney on the Flats and Backcountry of Islamorada, Florida Bay and the Florida Keys for Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Redfish and Snook.