Florida Keys backcountry fishing report October 2014

Posted on 11/05/2014
| | More
Hello everyone! The bite in the Florida Keys backcountry was really good this past week and will continue to be so. We mostly fished out in the south and western parts of the Everglades National Park. The Spanish Mackerel are showing up in full force with some really nice fish up to eight pounds. With the Mackerel big schools of Bluefish and jacks made out for some action packed fishing. Find the dark green water in the areas from Sprigger bank to Oxfoot bank, good current is the key. Anchor up and deploy a chum bag, as for tackle I like to go lite. Rig a 3/8  or 1/2 oz jig with a couple of inches of number 3 wire, brake the tail of a Shrimp and slide the hook through the hole so the tip comes out of the shell. Cast on the chum slick and slowly retrieve it back in an up and down motion, you will know when the Mack's show up, the drags will start screaming. If you are looking for a fight brake the tail off a Blueruner and throw it behind the boat on a 8/0 circle hook with some wire and a heavier rod. You never know what will pick it up a big Tiger Shark, Cobia, Kingfish and any other Shark in the area will make its way to the ring. Out on the wrecks in the Gulf look for the Cobia bite to get better as the cold fronts keep pushing south. Some really nice Snappers and the regular residents are also holding up good in the grassy areas and near the structure. The Redfish, Trout and Snook bite is going on strong in the park with great catches reported both shallow and in the deeper channels and creeks. Fish the runoffs on Snake bite on the last half of the outgoing tide for a descent bite of Snook and Redfish with some Trout and Snappers around the deeper edges as well. This time of the year can be very productive for fishing the mainland shoreline from flamingo to the Cape and up the coast. Casting shrimp, Pinfish or pilchards around the broken trees and deeper edges will get you on a great Redfish and Snook bite. 
The Bonefish hunters report good numbers of fish pushing and mudding in the Oceanside flats. The low incoming tide Has been best. Captain Andy Putetti reports great Permit fishing around the deeper edges of Oceanside flats, congratulations to his 8 year old son AJ that sight fished and landed an 18lb Permit while spending some quality time on the water with dad. There are some resident Tarpon around the local bridges, Creeks and adjacent shorelines. Once you locate the fish get them fired up with live pilchards. The bait has been easy to find, look for the birds diving on them early in the morning throughout the Oceanside shorelines. Most likely your favorite bait spot will be full of them. Enjoy the weekend and all the great fishing opportunities going on in the Florida Keys backcountry. 

Captain Juan Garcia