Florida Keys backcountry fishing report July 2014

Posted on 7/26/2014
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Hello everyone! It's a great time of the year to be in the Everglades National Park fishing.The boat traffic is at it's slowest and so is the fishing pressure. Look for great Red fishing action while stalking one of the many Island shorelines, grass flats or mainland shoreline. The good thing is that many of this areas can be reached carefully with a shallow drafted Bay boat and a trolling motor thanks to the higher water levels and light winds. Just make sure you know your boats depth limits and be careful not to damage the bottom getting in and out of your destination. Snook, Redfish,Tarpon, Sharks and big Jacks are probably going to show up while on the hunt. Depending on the type of bottom you are fishing a wide variety of artificial baits like scented soft plastics, spoons, top water and many more can be very productive when fished correctly. 
The last of the falling tide has been  very productive in the Flamingo area if you are fishing the runoffs and deeper channels for a mixed bag of Snook, Redfish, Trout and Tarpon. As the water rises look for the fish to go up on the flats. Big Sharks and resident Tarpon are being caught on a regular basis while fishing fresh dead baits on the deeper channels. Look for the typical summer bite to continue while fishing the Cape Sable area. Snook and Redfish can be found along the mainland shoreline, creeks and runoffs from Flamingo to East Cape canal and north. Chunk bait like Pinfish, Mullet or Ladyfish will get you in the action as well as Berkley New Penny Gulp Shrimp but a live well full of live Pinfish or pilchards will be deadly. 
The Snapper bite has been great while fishing the grassy bottom from Sandy Key all the way to Sprigger Bank around the park boundaries. We have been bouncing white 1/2 oz Pompano jigs on the bottom while drifting for a mixed bag of big Trout, Snappers, Ladyfish, Bluefish and many more. 
The wrecks in gulf waters are providing great action with big Sharks, Snappers, Goliath Groupers, Permit and a few Cobia. 
Live pilchards and Mullet have been getting some  Tarpon bites on the daytime hours. Live crabs drifted at night through a bridge channel are still the way to go for guaranteed hook ups. Try looking for Bonefish on the early or late parts of the day when the water temperature will be the coolest on both Ocean and bayside flats. Captain Randy Stallings reports getting his clients multiple shots at tailing and mudding fish in while fishing the local Islamorada flats.  Permit continue to be seen cruising the deeper edges of flats and banks both Oceanside and bayside. A small size live crab casted on their path will not be refused. Lots of great things going on right now in the Florida Keys backcountry so get out on the water for some great fishing!

Captain Juan Garcia