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Foul Weather Flamingo |
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| Written by Capt. Ariel Cabrera | |
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Halfway into the 38 mile drive leading from the entrance of the Everglades National Park to the Flamingo Lodge & Marina, you look over your shoulder as the sun begins to peek over the horizon and think to yourself, a great day is ahead. A quick overview of your game plan and you’re ready for an action packed day of inshore fishing in the beautiful back country waters of world famous Flamingo. As you pull into the marina, you notice the wind is unexpectedly blowing due west at 20+ knots and the sun is now hiding behind a thick layer of clouds. You curse the weatherman for the umpteenth time as you realize the bay has taken on the unmistakable color of milk. A few four letter words later and you begin thinking of a new plan of action but quickly come to the realization that you have no solid back up spots. While this same scenario occurs week in and week out, most anglers only need to re-adjust their game plan and cater to the foul weather conditions, rather than calling it a day before the day has even started.As we are overtaken by the fall months, the unpredictable weather patterns cause quite a bit of commotion throughout the shallow waters of Flamingo and Florida Bay. The resulting effect can make fishing especially challenging for most anglers. The Bay as a whole, locally known as ‘out front’, consists of expansive shallow grass and mud flats, channels, creeks, and mangrove islands which all provide ideal habitat for Flamingo’s many species of inshore game fish. Because the area is in-fact so shallow, any wind strong enough to influence the tidal flow will inevitably stir the bottom and produce extremely murky water. However, a strong wind doesn’t necessarily shut the bite down; it just makes it much more difficult to visually spot fish on the flats. As a matter of fact, the most productive days spent in Flamingo are usually the windy ones! This is because the wind produces new ambush spots and ambushing is what inshore fish do best. No other weather pattern will concentrate fish in a particular area better than a strong blow. Edges of flats, channel drop-offs, and island points are ideal locations that cannot be overlooked when the wind comes alive. Even spots that were never influenced by the tide or are always stagnant can become staging areas for predators.  Since you and your fishing partner have decided to stick with your original plan of fishing Flamingo, whip out your navigational chart and plot the outing carefully, always keeping the stiff breeze in mind. Tide and wind are the two most important elements in the backcountry and you want to establish your float plan around them. Consider this; you already know you can fish Snake Bight and similar areas for the first two hours of the outgoing tide but if the wind is pushing the tide out, then your “fishable” time is significantly decreased as the flat will empty much faster. Oceanside, many of the creeks are rendered impassable once it’s dead low tide. Think of how much sooner this will happen if the wind is pulling the water out of these areas. Take into consideration that being high and dry or stuck in a creek is a miserable experience and you should always exercise extreme caution when the weather isn’t cooperative. Once out front, Snake Bight is a short run to the east and virtually every inshore species inhabits this area. Many experienced anglers fish the adjacent channels year round as water rushes off the flat. These same flats partially expose at low tide and make sight fishing extremely challenging on windy, overcast days. It is, however, still a possibility as redfish and snook will prowl the edges in search of prey. Look for stingrays or mullet mudding in the deeper water and use lures that vibrate or cause a significant amount of noise such as spoons and top water plugs. A DOA Terror Eyez or Exude soft jerk bait fished off a popping cork will also draw their fair share of strikes. Remember, these fish will have a harder time seeing the bait in the murky water so noise and commotion will be the primary attractants! Sweeten your spoons or jigs with a piece of shrimp to draw interest from further away. If the silver king is your targeted species and they are not rolling on the surface, try a piece of cut bait such as a ladyfish plug on the bottom of a deeper channel. If the water appears particularly dirty, move on and work different locations until you see bait or feeding activity. Areas such as the Palm, Frank, and Murray Keys offer protection from strong winds and on certain days are havens for game fish. This is an excellent area to take a shot at a tarpon with your fly rod, especially if the island has a significant drop-off. Couple a high tide with an ultra-shallow draft skiff and one can also access many of the mangrove islands that litter Florida Bay all the way from Flamingo down to Islamorada. If the proper routes are chosen, you can avoid the uncomfortable ride through the larger open bays during breezy conditions. Protection from the elements is always available behind these islands and the water is usually gin-clear; making fly and sight fishing a solid possibility. Just make sure you know where you’re at and know the bearings to return safely. Learn a few islands and shorelines at a time and you’ll find yourself playing plenty of fish even in the rough stuff. Many Flamingo anglers refer to a westward wind as the kiss of death when running towards East Cape. The wind has over 900 miles to generate momentum and can create particularly nasty conditions. Luckily, there are still quite a few options when trying to avoid this kidney altering ride. Tucking inside the East Cape Canal is always a good idea. All of the creek mouths and finger channels provide shelter for bait and the famous “rockpile” is a great backup spot; which can even make a solid argument for the status of hot spot. Try casting jigs, rattling lures or your favorite live bait towards these smaller channels. If unsuccessful, continue and fish the tidal lakes that feed from the canal. Lake Ingraham is another option and also offers an incredible fishery in itself; however it’s not the place for everyone, especially during an ebbing tide. Keep in mind that Lake Ingraham fills and empties from both ends. Always keep an eye on the tides direction as moving water can dictate where you want to start fishing and when its time to pack it up and leave. I would recommend leaving as soon as the tide begins to ebb. If you are brave enough to visit the Lake at dead low tide you can pinpoint all the finger channels that branch off from the marked route. These channels are a highway of sorts for fish entering and exiting the area. Also, notice how much bait concentrates in the mouth of these fingers at low tide. This same bait will be exploring the flats once the tide rises for the same reason as your intended quarry, food! One word of caution, avoid stopping in the marked route on weekends as many boats will not be able to come offplane due to the shallow water. Launching in the backcountry side of Flamingo, known as ‘outback’, provides even more fishing opportunities. My favorite spots to start searching are Hell’s Bay and Lane Bay. Both are a short run from the ramp and can be comfortably reached, even in the worst weather conditions. They also happen to be great places to fish during cold, windy days. Plenty of snags, overhanging branches and shorelines promise a memorable day. Simply pick a spot and start casting with your favorite plug or jig.  If there is a dramatic drop in air temperature, try the shallow mud bays by poling and casting assassins, spoons and skimmer jigs toward disturbances or bait concentrations. When poling, make sure to get a solid feel for the bottom as this is important if you’re targeting redfish and snook. Large jack crevalles also roam freely in these areas and offer anglers some serious rod-bending action. Neither of the bays are well marked, therefore, a navigational chart, compass and GPS are of the utmost importance to both novice and experienced boaters. Just outside Hell’s and Lane Bay lies the more substantial Whitewater Bay. Producing incredible tarpon stories year after year, Whitewater Bay is a vast expanse of open water with terrain similar to that of the numerous smaller bays. Littered with islands (both large and small), coves and sheltered shorelines, Whitewater involves plenty of casting. Expect to find trout in open areas that hold current between islands. Large tarpon in excess of a hundred pounds also travel this bay and many double-digit snook are caught here each year. Casting plugs, spoons and jigs while silently stalking with your trolling motor allows you to cover the most area and assists greatly in pinpointing concentrations of activity. Whitewater Bay takes a bit of practice to learn but once mastered, can produce consistent action. A final option when trying to beat the breeze is to veer northwest when exiting Tarpon Creek and work your way into the Joe River system. As it winds north, you will find no navigational aids in the river. The easiest way to remain on course is to keep the main shoreline to your left at all times. If you do happen to run off course, there is plenty of water in the surrounding bays to navigate your way back on track. Not only does Joe River offer shelter from inclement weather, it also provides excellent fishing opportunities in its many bays, creeks and channels. The northern end of the river system will place you in the vicinity of Oyster and Mud Bay. Goliath grouper love the hard bottom of Oyster Bay as it becomes a gathering point for all types of bait during the incoming tide. Trolling large plugs down-current along the shorelines and across hard bottom areas will produce snook, most species of grouper and even an occasional tarpon or two. Redfish also frequently school-up in the many shoals littering Oyster Bay, especially those with surrounding oyster beds. Mud Bay is also a consistent hotspot, offering steady tarpon action throughout the spring, summer and fall. Venturing into the Little Shark and Shark River systems can produce incredible memories for those willing to dedicate the time necessary to explore the shorelines and many barrier islands. Live or cut bait fishing will produce excellent catches of goliath grouper, shark, snook, snapper and even an occasional keeper gag. Pay close attention to the wind, as it creates feeding stations on the windward and leeward side of the shorelines and islands. Many times the windward sides of these areas are avoided because anchoring against the wind or tide can be a somewhat frustrating experience. Usually though, the frustration is short lived as the windward side tends to be the most productive. A final factor to consider when foul weather fishing Flamingo is where and how to catch bait under these adverse conditions. For starters, use jigs to catch ladyfish as they make excellent cut bait offerings for a number of species. Ladyfish plugs have long been a guide favorite on the west coast of Florida producing solid redfish and snook catches. Mullet progressively become more available during the fall and can be caught using a cast net right in front of the marina. Outback, you will find mullet along the coasts, creek mouths and in the many bays. These fingersized specimens make great live baits for a variety of species. A small net with a 6 ft. diameter and a quick hand will quickly fill your well with these choice offerings. Another bait-finding technique that’s almost guaranteed to work is to stake-out and toss a couple handfuls of chum in grassy areas. Once the bait is attracted, a well thrown net will take pinfish, mojarras, pilchards and just about any other species available. For those not experienced in throwing cast nets, a sabiki rig or small, single baited hook will fill the well in no time. Palm Lake, Sandy Key Basin and just about all the other grassy channels or flats should consistently produce bait. I have found the same method of staking out and chumming to work well in and around the Shark Rivers and even further north towards Ponce de Leon Bay. Sometimes, unexpected changes in your fishing plans turn out for the best. Perhaps it’s because venturing into new grounds or trying new techniques brings welcomed surprises and ultimately produces better anglers. Let Mother Nature take her course and pick your places carefully. You will most certainly stack the odds in your favor!  About the Author: Captain Ariel Cabrera is a United States Coast Guard licensed and commercially insured Everglades National Park permitted fishing guide. Ariel has invested nearly two decades to consistently exploring the vast and innermost reaches of the Everglades via skiff and canoe. In 1998, Ariel began his career as a professional backcountry guide specializing in fly and light tackle fishing. Before becoming a professional guide he worked as a mate on sport fishing yachts and obtained a P.A.D.I. Divers certificate after years of underwater exploration in the South Florida area. Ariel is professionally associated with Old Florida Fly Reels, St. Croix Fly rods, and D.O.A. Lures. He is a Met (Metropolitan South Florida Fishing Tournament) registered guide and an I.G.F.A certified captain. Additionally, he belongs to the APCA (American Professional Captains Association) and is certified in First Aid and CPR. Presently, he is participating with the Gulf Coast Research Lab (University of Mississippi) tagging research program for tripletail and cobia. Proficient with fly, spin and casting tackle, novice to expert, canoe or skiff, Capt. Ariel is a great guide for all. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Capt. Ariel delivers instruction to those willing to take up the art of fly casting. In addition to working as a photojournalist, Ariel also holds a Master’s degree in Science Education from FSU. Book your fishing adventure today by calling 305-552-9788 or visit www.CaptainAriel.com |
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