Florida Keys backcountry fishing report January 25 2014

Posted on 1/25/2014
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Hello everyone! Great winter fishing going on right now in the Florida Keys backcountry. The recent cold fronts have cooled down our waters kicking in gear the winter fishery. The weekend weather is forecasted to be beautiful with chilly temperatures. Concentrate your fishing on the deeper shorelines, moats and channels through out the park. Fish the deeper channels, runoffs and moats in the Flamingo area for a mixed bag of Blackdrum, Sheepshead, Redfish, Trout and Snook. A Shrimp siting on the bottom will be your best bait. Be patient and know that most of the bites are going to be very soft, just give them some time to eat it before you  reel! Look for the sight fishing conditions to be best on the warmer parts of the day as the water temperatures warm up. Work the deeper mainland shorelines west of Flamingo towards the Cape Sable area casting Shrimp under the overhangs and deeper pockets on the rising tide. Same goes to the East Cape canal and Lake Ingram area. Work the creek mouth, runoffs and channels with Shrimp on the bottom. It's a great time of the year to be in that area. 
Great reports came through last week from Gulf waters. Anglers that ventured out towards the wrecks and ledges encountered a mixed bag of Cobia, Permit, Kingfish and all the other Gulf winter residents. A live well full of Pinfish and Shrimp it's all you need. Fish the baits both on the surface and the bottom. Look for Tripletail to be floating under the crab trap buoys specially west of Sandy Key. Spanish Mackerel and nice Mangrove Snappers can also be found around the park boundaries from Oxfoot bank to Spriger bank. Lots of chum, good current and a shrimp and jig combination tied up to some light wire will get the action. 
Fish for the Bonefish in the middle parts of the day when the water temperatures will be warmer. Look for mudding fish on the deeper edges and cuts of Oceanside flats. Chumming with Shrimp in the same deeper areas can also be productive specially with the lower water temperatures. There has been reports of Permit cruising the deeper edges of Oceanside flats and around some shallow rock piles in the Key Largo and Islamorada area so keep your small crab ready and if you don't have one don't be afraid to cast a nice shrimp at them, you'll be surprised. Bundle up with your winter gear and get out on the water for some great Florida Keys Winter backcountry fishing!

Captain Juan Garcia