Florida Keys backcountry fishing report May 2014

Posted on 5/28/2014

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Hello everyone! What a great holiday weekend we had here in the Florida Keys backcountry! The weather couldn't be any better with calm sunny conditions toped with great times on the water. It looks like the rainy season is upon us and scattered showers will start being more common. Redfish, Snook and Trout are all feeding around the mainland shorelines, Island flats and moats throughout the Everglades National Park. Live baits fished under your favorite bush have beed getting pummeled by big Redfish and Snooks. If you don't have the live bait work the areas bouncing Berkley Gulp baits on a 1/4 oz jig head close to the shorelines. Lots of blind casting with artificial's in the shallower areas will get you hooked up specially on overcast conditions where it might be harder to spot the fish. Mullet muds continue to form throughout the bay and drifting with popping corks and soft plastics through them will get you in to some Trout, Ladyfish and Jacks. Fish the runoffs in Snake bite area for some nice Redfish and Snook. Pinfish, Pilchards, Ladyfish or mullet chunks will get the bite going. Work the tides up on the flats with your shallow drafted boats for the best action. Sharks and the occasional Tarpon can be caught fishing dead baits on the bottom around the deeper channels in the same area. Look for nice Trout and Snappers to be feeding around the grassy areas of First National bank. The Snook bite will continue to be good in the Cape Sable area. Look for the fish to be congregating throughout the mainland shoreline. Live baits like Pinfish, Pilchards and finger mullet will be deadly for some trophy size Snook. Tarpon and Sharks will be cruising off the shorelines. Drifting live Mullet, Pinfish or Ladyfish where you see the fish roll will give you a good chance at hooking up with a Tarpon or a feisty Shark.
Big Trout, Ladyfish and some Snappers can be caught drifting the grassy areas in between banks from Oxfoot to Sprigger. Soft plastics under a popping cork or Bucktail jigs will catch just about anything that swims around the area.
Tarpon fishing has been the talk around town since mostly everybody that puts the time and effort are getting hooked up with the Silver King. The outgoing tides have been the most productive, mullet or Ladyfish dead or alive has been getting lots of attention on the daylight hours. The fly guys continue to report multiple shots at fish both Oceanside and bayside. Drifting a crab thru a bridge channel from dusk till dawn is the sure way for a hook up. The Bonefishing has been on the tuff side with the stormy conditions making it hard to spot the fish. Hopefully the days will be brighter for this weekend. Keep an eye on the radar and plan your trip accordingly. Have fun on the water and keep on fishing!

Captain Juan Garcia