As I write this report, the Keys are finally embracing the first cold snap of the year. Blue bird skies, breezy conditions, and cool temperatures mean change is upon us. (No political pun intended.) Until now, the water temps have remained steady in the high 70's and low 80's. With the cooler weather we should see the mercury drop a bit on the flats, which means the fish may wait to scour for food until the mid-day sun.
This transition was preceded by some warm water, good tides and active fish. Perhaps fattening up before the water cooled. I fished with a group from Tarrier Steel earlier this month when we enjoyed some breezy but warm days. In that time, we caught just about everything the Florida Bay had to offer. The list includes tarpon, redfish, snook, permit, bonefish, goliath grouper, flounder, bluefish and an assortment of jacks, ladyfish, catfish, mangrove snapper and sea trout.
The International Women's Fishing Association (IWFA) held their annual 3 day light tackle tournament in October and I had the pleasure of fishing with 6 different lady-anglers in the draw-style tournament. While using tackle with only 6- or 8-pound Ande monofilament line, there were some very impressive scores put up on the board. All of the anglers I fished with used only the 6-pound line and, remarkably, caught snook, redfish, tarpon, seatrout, jacks and ladyfish. Denise Freihofer from Stuart, FL fished with me on the last day of the tournament and we decided to look for big points by catching small tarpon. There was no minimum length requirement, so a small tarpon counts the same as a big one. By day's end, Denise caught 5 tarpon and one snook. Along with the two previous tarpon she caught on day one was enough to garner the 'Most Releases-Tarpon' award. While her fishing partner with me on day 3, Sharon Aldridge, from North Carolina, was awarded by catching her first and second tarpon ever. All on 6-pound line! Try it sometime and see how skilled you really are.
Looking into November and more cold fronts must mean the annual Redbone tournament is just around the corner and kicks off on November 5th. I'll be fishing the preceding Superfly event as well as the Redbone tournament in pursuit of bonefish and redfish. Previous years have taught me that it's important to make every shot count and to concentrate at all times. Frequently in tournaments like these when the water is cold and the wind is blowing, one bonefish and one redfish might keep you in the running. Creeks and channels that are fed by warm water from the grass flats will hold good numbers of reds, snook and tarpon. Bonefish will hold near the deeper edges or up on the crown of the flats on late morning incoming tides. If you have any visibility, this is the time to be searching for the grey ghost, or bonefish, for those precious points. It's always an adventure and always fun fishing an event like the Redbone.
Check back soon as I'll have the update on the tournaments. Until then tight lines, and just keep reeling.
Capt. Steve Friedman
www.afishingguide.com
