***Since Hurricane Wilma in 2005, the Lodge at Flamingo has been closed. There are plans
being thrown around to rebuild the facilities on stilts, and restore some of the native
environment around the lodge. Lets hope they do. Overnight trips in the summer are great
when you can come in mid-day, and cool down and shower.
]
Monday and Tuesday June 25-26 2001 Flamingo
Weather: Mostly sunny both days, light winds, some rain
Mosquito Level: Bothersome
Early am the first morning was spent fishing the West side of Snake Bight. We caught five
nice redfish tailing in 6-8 inches of water. Steve caught his three on a gold spoon while I
caught two on DOA crab. These redfish were all around 24-28 inches. Tide was outgoing
and we were seeing so many fish we almost got stuck on the flat at low tide. I paddled while
Steve pushed and we barely made it to a three foot wide finger channel that ran 100 or so
yards into the flat. Otherwise we would have spent at least the next 6 hours if not more high
and dry. Around 2pm a storm began to develop and we headed for the marina to get a room
at the Flamingo Lodge. We crashed for a few hours and enjoyed some air conditioning while
the storm went through.
Around 5:30 pm we headed out to Murray Key. We poled along the mangroves casting
topwaters for anything willing to bite. We soon poled up to some very nervous water and
Steve threw his plug into the middle of it. It didn't take long, maybe three or four jerks and the
water exploded as a nice 75+ pound tarpon whaled his bait. The battle was on, 4 or 5 jumps
and long screaming runs forced me to crank up the outboard and give chase. Steve only had
6 lb. test on the reel, I was amazed he was still hooked up. Another 2 jumps 30 minutes into
the battle kept us cheering, and when the tarpon rolled boatside I reached down and grabbed
the leader. Unfortunately the fish popped off, but grabbing him with 2 trebble hooks in its
mouth was not my idea of fun so it was for the best. It was a great, unexpected catch on 6lb
test.
We motored back to where Steve hooked the fish and almost immediately I had another
medium sized tarpon slam my topwater, but missed it. That was definately the hardest
topwater hit I have ever had. A few minutes later another tarpon does the same thing. Steve
threw a few cast from the platform and hooked up with a hard fighting jack. A very good
evening to round out the day.
The next morning we were awakened by thunder shaking the lodge room. So I reset the alarm
and passed back out until around 6:30 am. We loaded the boat and headed west. By 11 am
we only had one snook bite. So with the advancement of a few clouds we headed back to the
marina to reload the boat on the backcountry side of Flamingo. We decided to fish Coot Bay,
something we have never done until now. Surprised by how clear the water was, we began to
sight fish all over the place. Third cast produced a small snook taken out from under a
mangrove root. We cast topwaters to 4 more snook against the trees. A DOA shrimp found a
small redfish around a small island, along with a few snapper and baby tarpon and sharks.
The action was quick and stayed that way until lightning drove us out. We are not sure how
often the water is this clear, but as long as it is the fish are there for the catching. Especially
for those limited in how far they can travel. See you next time......
S.R.B 6/26/01
being thrown around to rebuild the facilities on stilts, and restore some of the native
environment around the lodge. Lets hope they do. Overnight trips in the summer are great
when you can come in mid-day, and cool down and shower.
]
Monday and Tuesday June 25-26 2001 Flamingo
Weather: Mostly sunny both days, light winds, some rain
Mosquito Level: Bothersome
Early am the first morning was spent fishing the West side of Snake Bight. We caught five
nice redfish tailing in 6-8 inches of water. Steve caught his three on a gold spoon while I
caught two on DOA crab. These redfish were all around 24-28 inches. Tide was outgoing
and we were seeing so many fish we almost got stuck on the flat at low tide. I paddled while
Steve pushed and we barely made it to a three foot wide finger channel that ran 100 or so
yards into the flat. Otherwise we would have spent at least the next 6 hours if not more high
and dry. Around 2pm a storm began to develop and we headed for the marina to get a room
at the Flamingo Lodge. We crashed for a few hours and enjoyed some air conditioning while
the storm went through.
Around 5:30 pm we headed out to Murray Key. We poled along the mangroves casting
topwaters for anything willing to bite. We soon poled up to some very nervous water and
Steve threw his plug into the middle of it. It didn't take long, maybe three or four jerks and the
water exploded as a nice 75+ pound tarpon whaled his bait. The battle was on, 4 or 5 jumps
and long screaming runs forced me to crank up the outboard and give chase. Steve only had
6 lb. test on the reel, I was amazed he was still hooked up. Another 2 jumps 30 minutes into
the battle kept us cheering, and when the tarpon rolled boatside I reached down and grabbed
the leader. Unfortunately the fish popped off, but grabbing him with 2 trebble hooks in its
mouth was not my idea of fun so it was for the best. It was a great, unexpected catch on 6lb
test.
We motored back to where Steve hooked the fish and almost immediately I had another
medium sized tarpon slam my topwater, but missed it. That was definately the hardest
topwater hit I have ever had. A few minutes later another tarpon does the same thing. Steve
threw a few cast from the platform and hooked up with a hard fighting jack. A very good
evening to round out the day.
The next morning we were awakened by thunder shaking the lodge room. So I reset the alarm
and passed back out until around 6:30 am. We loaded the boat and headed west. By 11 am
we only had one snook bite. So with the advancement of a few clouds we headed back to the
marina to reload the boat on the backcountry side of Flamingo. We decided to fish Coot Bay,
something we have never done until now. Surprised by how clear the water was, we began to
sight fish all over the place. Third cast produced a small snook taken out from under a
mangrove root. We cast topwaters to 4 more snook against the trees. A DOA shrimp found a
small redfish around a small island, along with a few snapper and baby tarpon and sharks.
The action was quick and stayed that way until lightning drove us out. We are not sure how
often the water is this clear, but as long as it is the fish are there for the catching. Especially
for those limited in how far they can travel. See you next time......
S.R.B 6/26/01
| Flamingo Lodge 6/25/2001 |
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