Easter in the 'Glades

No time off and no time to celebrate Easter in the traditional way, going to church, but I was giving thanks for all the blessings in my life while fishing with two great guys in the Everglades today.  I had Adam and his friend Larry for a full day in the Everglades.  The forecast was calling for light winds and when I pulled out of the marina I knew it would be a tough day with the water looking like chocolate milk from the high wind of the following days and super strong tides.  Anyway, I took them to a small island I have had good success at for snook and redfish but watch the tides because it gets very shallow very quick and I'd like to go home today.  Once there the tide was already half way out allowing me to only fish a third of the island but here the guys quickly got a few snook bites and each scored a snook in rapid succession.  To make a long day shorter on this report, it was terrible the rest of the day thanks to the extremely dirty water but we did find some tarpon towards the end of the now half day trip.  The problem is that the tarpon were focused on eating tiny inch long shrimp flowing out of a creek and the shrimp and lures we had were nothing like they were eating.  Urgh!  We went home.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

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Catching dinner April 16, 2022

Stefan and Mark were aboard again today as the guys are getting into the habit of fishing with me every few months.  The stated goal was to catch fish and hopefully dinner.  As is typical in April, it was windy but we crossed the bay to a channel that I like to fish and set up.  However, with the full moon there was so much current it was hard for the trolling motor to stay put so I moved just outside the main current flow and had the guys fan cast to locate the fish.  Turns out the fish had the same idea and they were holding just outside the current as well.  Here the guys caught all the snapper dinners they wanted and then we moved about 100' looking for yellow jacks.  This is where Stefan hooked and fought one about 20lbs before a 200lb lemon shark ran it down and ate it right in front of us before we could react.  We wrapped up the trip shark fishing where the guys went 2 for three in about an hour sight casting to the sharks.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

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Billy shined and Kelly hung out April 15, 2022

It isn't often that a father/son go fishing and dad doesn't fish so his son can catch all the fish and that is Kelly for you.  This is the second or third time we fish and they are always great to be with.  Since Billy was the one fishing I took him for snook tossing lures and he got a bite or two but no hook ups so it was time to move on.  I took him to the same spot I've been working during the mullet run and it was awesome watching him keep busy fighting a bunch of different species including big ladyfish.  As that fishing slowed I took him to a wreck where he was catching mangrove snapper on lures on almost every cast.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

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Long time since the long rod April 14, 2022

Eugene hadn't used his fly rod for ten years he told me and with the windy conditions it would be tough to do some of the really hard stuff like bonefish on fly.  So, we fished the shoreline for snook but they were MIA.  Next I took him to an area that has been producing during the spring mullet run and there we stayed for quite a while as Eugene began to have fun catching lady fish, bluefish and a pompano on fly.  the trip was wrapped up fishing a wreck in the middle of the bay where he caught grouper, blue runners, snapper and porgy on fly.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

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First time and the box is checked April 13, 2022

Dave, Dave, Dave, you need to find something else to do.  Dave is from N.C. and was passing through South Florida on his way out of the Keys when he booked a bonefish trip for today.  He told me he never bonefished before and all his fishing was in fresh water.  It wasn't easy with a steady 20 MPH wind out of the east but we worked and found it to be pretty slow.  Hmmm, I don't like this but not long after Dave gets a bite and it was a swing and miss through no fault of his.  Finally he hooks up and the rod gets a deep bend as the drag screams and screams and screams.  Wow, I could tell he had a nice fish on and several long runs later the nice 10lb bonefish comes to the side of the boat for some pictures and a healthy release.  Well, that's over and done with.  Now Dave can focus on the rest of his vacation trip and look for a new species to conquer.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

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What a birthday gift! April 11, 2022

Brandon lives in Florida and it was his birthday today.  His goal was to catch a bonefish.  See, he has been to the Florida Keys a bunch trying to catch bonefish, striking out each time.  However, he did get a monster permit on one of those trips.  Anyway, the day was beautiful but the wind was doing April wind stuff, blowing 20 MPH.  I took him to a reliable bonefish flat and worked the flat being careful to deal with the wind and tide correctly to provide him with the best chance.  Well, it happened!  He hooked up and got a nice bonefish.  Yes!  Brandon and I both needed a day like today.  A bit later he hooked a second fish and this one was about 10 pounds but came off during one of the really fast and long runs.  We both wish he would have landed that second fish but hey, it's bonefishing and the mission was accomplished.  YES! 

 

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

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We were told no April 10, 2022

Travis and Jane were back on board today with some tough conditions once again.  What happened to the perfect weather from yesterday?  Where did it go?  Why did you leave me?  For today's trip we decided to do a half day instead of the original; 8 hours and off to look for tarpon we went.  I found them but just a single school of fast moving tarpon.  I would set up on them, Travis would throw flies while Jane used bait and time and again we were told "NO!" by the tarpon.  I moved on to a bridge where I found a bunch and they also refused everything we threw at them.  I'm not taking this personally though, they are tarpon after all.  I wrapped up the trip fishing a grouper hole, literally a hole, where they caught red groupers, lane snappers, mutton snappers and had plenty of shots at rolling tarpon that popped up for a while as if laughing at us.  Man I need a good day soon! 

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

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Crazy scheduling today April 9, 2022

What a confusing ordeal the last 24 hours.  I was booked for two trips today and they I had regular client David wanting to fish and another repeat client in town at the last minute and he wanted to fish.  I checked with my morning client and he was MIA, not cool, then I had to say no to my repeat since my afternoon client had confirmed the night before but I say yes to David for the morning.  You guys till following?  'Cause I'm already lost.  Then, my afternoon client cancels at the last minute and my repeat now couldn't fish.  Geeze!  Anyway,it's Saturday morning and David and Alain jump aboard and it was slick calm.  We head off to a finger channel and it was OK but it was generally slow.  Then we head off to do their favorite thing, shark fish.  We ended up hooking 6 and losing 3 while the other three spit the bait, a clear sign they were acting strange but they were definitely eating today.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

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Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Making lemonade out of lemons April 8, 2022

Jane and Travis are the nicest people you can find and they are from Michigan.  Travis is a guide back home and they were on vacation and of course wanted to fish.  Today was the first of two days of fishing with me and the conditions today were tough.  The wind kept howling about 20 MPH and more and the visibility wasn't great so we threw flies for snook and bonefish but nothing on fly although Jane was throwing soft plastics and she had a couple of good pops from snook but they missed the hook.  I ran way south to try new scenery and chummed for bonefish only producing a bonnet head shark.  Ok, time running out.  I got a mojara we had caught and used it for shark bait and they both sightcasted nice lemon sharks on light medium rods.  That was a cool way to wrap up the day and make something out of nothing.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

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Laughing all the way!!! April 7, 2022

Man I love fishing with life long friends Luis and Francisco from the Dominican Republic.  These guys are the funniest human beings you will find and then add fishing and it's non stop laughs.  I laughed so hard today I was crying!  They also brought Alvaro, Francisco's 10 year old son who was a pleasure to fish with.  I was once again very windy so we kept to the shoreline and had a blast bending rods and watching Alvaro stay on fish.  The first fish of the day was a big 20lb barracuda that ate Francisco's lure but after a long fight he lost it next to the boat.  Man, the ripping was fast and furious from Luis from that moment on.  The guys caught tons of ladyfish, jacks and a few bluefish to add to the list.  Oh, and the big barracuda Francisco lost.  LOL

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

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Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Fishing and a boat tour April, 5, 2022

Two trips at the same time?  Yes, yes indeed.  Rachel was on boat to fish while Susan was on board to enjoy a boat ride.  Very cool!  Rachel can throw a fly and well Susan did a great job of cheering her on, watching everything play out and offer some gentle critique at times.  So funny!  It was pretty windy out of the north but we found some cover were Rachel was able to hook a bonefish on fly but it rushed the boat and it came off.  The good thing is that she watched the whole thing unfold.  After that we threw some flies for snook but scored when we switched to spinning gear and soft plastics catching snook and a nice barracuda.  I wrapped it up fishing mullet muds but they were void of predators plus it was rather rough due to the hard wind.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

The Mullet Muds April 3, 2021

Well, today I had Andrew and his son Chase and we were on the hunt for anything that would bend the rod.  The snook weren't cooperating and a few other spots weren't great so I headed out on the hunt for mullet muds.  Well, I found them and although they weren't on fire like they have been and should be, there were fish in them.  Chase put on a clinic catching bluefish, jacks, runners and a big jack on lures while his dad lagged behind.  It was the funniest thing as they would swap rods and Chase would still be on fire.  They kid is fishy! 

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Not a bad consolation prize April 2, 2022

The snook is Florida's most popular saltwater gamefish and catching snook is always fun and a big deal.  Well, today I had local angler Neil and his wife Jill on board for some bonefishing.  Conditions were just about perfect and will all the flats boats launching early in the morning I was in a panic to get to the perfect spot under these conditions.  To my amazement there was no one poling the perfect spot, ha!  I got on the pole and Neil and Jill proceeded to have about a dozen shots at bonefish, mostly big fish including some giant tailers in 12" on water.  Well, in spite of our best efforts and some good casts that should have yielded some bones, the conditions changed and the fishing slowed.  But, with it being the north bound mullet migration I knew there were other options and they began in still very shallow water as pelicans dove onto panicked schools of mullet from above and snook ambushed from below.  I rigged them up with some artificial lures and worked a stretch that typically produces.  Well, it didn't disappoint and Neil got his first snook of the morning.  Jill landed three barracudas and Neil got another snook before we moved off.  On the way to a bonefish flat I found a mullet mud and had them cast lures and Neil tied in to a really nice jack, bluefish and a couple of blue runners.  We wrapped it up bonefish but only saw a couple.  It was a gorgeous day and this 6 hour trip felt like a three hour trip thanks to this great and fun couple.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Crazy guys! April 1, 2022

KIt never fails, I always work on April Fool's Day and I always seem to do well.  When I had looked at the tide the night before I was all excited and then 5am came around.  I got up, grab my phone and there was a text "the three boat trip start is pushed back from 7am to 9:30am."  What?  All my April Fool's hopes and dreams dashed!  Oh well, back to sleep and then at the rampo by 9:30am.  The two guys I had on board were great, Scott and Will.  It was 6 guys that wanted to fish, drink beer and stay close together.  While the other boats ran south I ran to a tarpon spot and quickly hooked a nice 80lb tarpon that came off on the first jump.  Dang it!  Then as the activity slowed I moved over to the now grouper hole and the guys caught some small groupers and lane snappers before we got the call, "come over here so we can hang out".  Well the trip ended at a sand bar so the guys could enjoy the 80 degree water temps and called it a day.  Very cool trip and it seemed I was more into catching fish than the crew.  LOL

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Father and Son March 30, 2022

I had Pat and Pat today who don't usually fish much but wanted to hang out and spend some father/son time.  I took them to a tarpon spot where they were hanging out but just hanging out, we didn't get any bites in the short time we fished them and then changed it up.  We went to a "tarpon hole" where they usually stack up and they were MIA for a bit but in the meantime I marked a bunch of fish on the Raymarine and just had the guys drop a shrimp on jig and within seconds they were getting bites with three or four red grouper in the boat before we could blink.  The fishing then changed to tarpon rolling so I drifted and set two baits back hoping for a bite.  In the meantime they kept jigging the bottom and catching a few more species but the trigger fish invaded and we had to leave as they were devouring out shrimp without hooking up.  We wrapped it up at a bridge where we missed a bite by something, I don't know what before we called it a day.  

  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing