Greetings from Captain Buddy,
Spring is almost here! I can always tell by how the fishing seems to very quickly improve. Yesterday, while fishing in 10,000 Island National Wildlife Refuge, I found 3 laid-up tarpon while fishing for snook and redfish. One of these tarpon was in the 50 lb range, while the other two were approximately 100 lbs each. Because I had only my 8 and 9 weight rods with me, I opted to admire them from afar this time. And just a few weeks before this sighting, during an early spring warm spell, I observed a smattering of migratory tarpon on the outside in the gulf shallows as they were making their way back to their warmer weather destinations.
After brushing up on some casting techniques on a recent scouting, I quite suddenly had a large snook on, and then, just as quickly as she was on, she broke me off. As this snook, most likely, had migrated out of the area for the winter, away from the mangrove edges, it was a refreshing ‘welcome back!’ to experience her on the return. I took the next couple hours to fish a few of my favorite banks and mangrove enclaves where, over the past decade, I always seem to find mature snook in the spring and summer. For me, this special area serves as a barometer-of-sorts for the influx of larger fish as water temps begin to rise going into mid-spring. And if the snook that broke me off in 1 second flat is any indicator, I’d say they’re here for the season and beginning to settle into their favorite warm water feeding spots.
Spring in the Everglades National Park and 10,000 Island National Park is one of the most remarkable settings. Whether it’s observing the American Crocodiles, alligators, or numerous species of birds along the oyster beds, nature always provides a memorable and scenic adventure. It never ceases to amaze me that even after fishing the same general areas, year after year, every day out on the water always proves to be a new and exciting experience.
For your next fishing excursion, we can choose to go deep into the park, or we can fish relatively close to civilization. Though some enjoy the longer treks into backcountry, I’ve learned through the years, that some anglers prefer staying a little closer to home for a more leisurely experience. Either way, just before our outing, I’ll let you know where I’ve fished recently, and what success I’ve had, so we can formulate a plan.
For now, all signs are telling me…it’s time to increase my leader and tippet size!
Signing off,
Captain Buddy
