Three Days with Mike March 26, 2021

 Mike is from Maryland and fly fishes with me for three days several times a year.  We always have a good time and mix it up on fly.  The first day we had very unusual conditions for March, a super calm windless morning.  We took the opportunity and fished for bonefish out of Homestead and it was awesome!  The problem is we missed a few eats on fly but we changed it up and ended the day fishing a mullet mud where Mike had a blast catching bluefish, jacks, and more as well as having a black tip shark eat his bluefish next to the boat.  The second day was like the first except the bonefishing was even better and Mike got 8 eats and finally connected on the last one.  What a rush!  Afterwards we fished the mullet muds again and called it a day.  On the last day the wind had picked up so we fished out of Key Biscayne and the fishing was good but the fish were reluctant to eat a fly.  I really wanted Mike to get a snook on fly but the conditions were tough and the wind was coming at a bad angle.  He did ask that I throw a lure to make sure they were there and I hooke duop immediately.  Sorry Mike!  We called it a day early because of the unusually high boat traffic running over most of the fishing spots.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

This was a cool trip March 22, 2021

 Vic wanted to fly fish for bonefish and his buddy Pat was willing to catch anything but there's  a twist.  I had perfect conditions for hot bonefishing out of Homestead but there were no rental cars available for Vic to rent and couldn't come down to Homestead.  So, I ran from Homestead to Key Biscayne, picked them up and ran south a bit to a slick calm shoreline I used to fish for bonefish.  Ha, after all those years the bones were still there.  Vic and Pat had some solid shots but as happens many times in fly fishing for bonefish, it didn't work out.  With the wind now picking up we ran back to Key Biscayne where the party really started.  Switching to spinning gear and fishing structure, these two guys were hilarious as they trash talked and of course I helped them out a bit as well.  In the end, they caught snook, jacks, snapper, mutton snapper and some more stuff I can't recall.  Cool day with great guys! 

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Doubles keep coming March 21, 2021

 And yet another double.  It's been crazy here and I've been crazy busy.  I was looking forward to fish with regular client Alex and he brought his girlfriend Jill along.  The morning began in a creek for snook where Jill lost a nice snook and Alex got a couple of barracudas.  The rest of the trip was slow in spite of me working my tail off to locate fish.  

In the afternoon I fished with Bervan and James.  I wasn't feeling very confident right now but James is 11 years old and we needed to make sure we kept him busy.  One of the wrecks was covered in snapper and James had a blast.  Taking a couple of fish we caught earlier in the day on my morning trip we hit the flats for sharks.  Well, they weren't acting like sharks again with only one coming close to the baits and deciding not to eat.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

This was fun March 20, 2021

Armand and his boys came aboard today to fly fish for bonefish and so we did.  We had perfect calm conditions so I took them to a shoreline that I like.  Working the area we saw some bonefish but there were tons of small tarpon.  Throwing flies at them, we had tons of shots but they were either spooked or just a bit too far away.  The boys were really good about it and patient so it was time for them to have some fun so I took them to a wreck where they caught a ton of snappers.  Oh, they brought me guava pastries, my FAVORITE!!!!

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

One more double March 19, 2021

 Tom jumped aboard again today for his last day with me but out of Key Biscayne this time.  He told me it was bonefish or nothing and they were out there but stayed far from the boat just out of casting distance and with 30 minutes left in the trip it was time to change it up.  Fishing some structures that have been producing for me lately Tom caught a nice yellow jack, some snappers and lost two really nice fish that spit the hook.  I didn't mention anything but I could swear one of those fish was a bonefish.  Ignore this if you are reading this Tom! 

As soon as dropped him off Scott jumped in with Wilson and Gage.  Scott wanted to have the boys catch some fish and they did, fish on every cast just about until they went through my 8 dozen shrimp.  Wow!  During this time the boys caught snook, snapper, jacks and a few fish they lost that put a deep bend in the rod.  Time to go home, I'm tired.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

A tale of two trips March 18, 2021

 Tom booked me for two days and today was the first day.  What a great guy and we had a blast fishing out of Homestead.  I took him to a snook spot where we missed a couple of hits and got a nice barracuda.  We wrapped up the day catching a few other species.  

My afternoon trip was with Luke and Eric and things went down hill quick.  I took them to a snook spot but there was way too much fresh water but we caught a few jacks.  Then I took them to a wreck and it was dead.  Off to the flats for shark fishing where we had 6 footers coming in but not eating.  At this point the wind went from 15 MPH to 20 MPH in just a few minutes.  I made a cast to one of the big sharks and he ate but spit the hook during the long run as Luke enjoy his first saltwater fish.  Then off to barracuda fishing where they were acting strange, following the lures but not eating.  At this point the wind cranked up to 25 MPH and the bay full of water from a big high tide got real nasty so we decided to call it a day early and it took me 45 minutes to get back to the marina when it usually takes me 20 minutes.  Wow, that was tough.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

What an odd day March 17, 2021

 I had another double today starting with Duncan and his dad John who wanted to target bonefish on fly.  I took them to a spot where we drew in some bones and they took shots as the fish moved in.  It started slow but got better with 3-4 shots where the fish should have eaten but refused in spite of several fly changes.  The day ended as John was on the bow and took some shots at a school of bonefish mudding and flashing.  He made a cast that landed towards the back of the school but a fish peeled out of the school and tracked his fly before moving away.  Come on!!!!!

In the afternoon I had Willy and Leonardon who was turning 11 and Leonardo wanted a bonefish.  Well, we had one eat and spit the hook and had a few more move in that never saw the shrimp offered to them.  But, along the way Leonardo was busy catching small sharks and box fish.  

Another Double March 16, 2021

 Another double today with regular client Steve in the morning as we fly fished our way to a tough day with only a small snapper that snuck in and stole the fly.  I looked for tarpon and snook for Steve but they were tough today.  However, we did have a couple of snook take the fly but spit it before Steve could strip strike.  

In the afternoon I had Ethan and his 7 year old boy and we were able to get his little boy some fish that were appropriate for his age and they had a great time.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Tarpon Status March 15, 2021

 I had Michael on board today for a full day of tarpon fishing on fly and spin.  Well, we had great conditions and I was excited.  After spending two hours searching for tarpon all over creation and not finding many we decided to change it up.  Off to bonefishing where Michael saw a few fish but no hook ups.  Then it was a race to ensure there was no skunk on board so we ended the day with a few species like jacks and snappers but not the silver we were both anticipating.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

A Sunday Double Header March 14, 2021

 I had a double today and my first trip was with Jim and Brad for bonefish on fly.  We started off with unusually calm conditions for March and had some shots at bonefish on fly with a couple of them being 10 pounders tailing in front of us.  Oooohh!  Not hooking up and running our of time we hit a wreck where the guys bent some rods on snappers and jacks. 

The afternoon trip was with regular long time client Marco from Italy and his girl friend Marta.  They were great and a ton of fun.  I took them to a wreck, caught bait and hit the flats for sharks where Marco caught two sharks and Marta caught one after we lost a huge lemon shark on our first hook up. 

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

The Shark Duo March 13, 2021

Alain has been fishing with me for years and his nephew David has as well, however this was the first time they both fished together with me.  They love shark fishing so we hit the flats and the guys caught their shark, but with a twist.  We had several bites and lost the first four landing the fifth and last bite.  All the sharks we hooked were spinner sharks and would break off on the jump and spin but we landed the last one, barely!  Turns out the shark we landed was the same one we had hooked three other times as he had my two prior hooks in its mouth.  And, when he jumped the hooked came free but wrapped around his tail.  What are the odds?!

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Making Memories March 12, 2021

 I had Ray and his boy Manny again today as Manny has been getting the itch to go fishing.  The goal was tarpon and we did our tarpon hunting finding some fish in one of their spots but they had thinned out quite a bit.  While tarpon fishing Manny and Ray caught a bunch of snappers and a few jacks.  We changed it up and they caught snook with Manny catching his first snook.  We wrapped it up on a bridge fishing the out going tide where Ray hooked a big 100 plus pound tarpon that broke off.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

His and Hers March 6, 2021

 Charlie and Olivia from Texas represented their state well today as we caught their first snook and lost a big tarpon on my morning trip.  After finding a school of tarpon and setting up on them, Charlie and Olivia were patient and it paid off but we lost the tarpon to some pilings.  With Olivia being the fly fisher in the boat she was able to land a jack and a mackerel on fly.  Cool! 

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Spectacular Day Today! March 5, 2021

 I had Kevin today for a full day.  We had tried to fish a few months ago but I was booked up but today was our day.  Being tarpon season we started tarpon fishing and Kevin hooked four fish and landed two nice tarpon a 120lber and a manageable 60lber.  What a blast watching Kevin hook and fight tarpon! Then we moved off to bonefishing where there were plenty of shots but they were being extra finicky today.  When I was almost about to give up a fish moves in, Kevin makes a good cast and the fish is on!  The day ended with Kevin catching a few mutton snappers including one for dinner.  Wow, what a day!

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Tough Two Trips Today March 3, 2021

 WOW!  After today I just want to go home and hide.  My morning trip was with Meredith, Michael and Elena from N.J. and it started rough with for some reason them showing up at the wrong marina an hour away.  Then the wind kept getting worst but we fished in the lee all trip long.  Bonefishing was at the top of the list but although we saw a good number of fish we didn't hook any.  From there we fished an inlet where they caught some fish including barracudas but not what I was hoping for.  

With the wind getting worst Brett, Cameron and Daniel jumped aboard for my afternoon trip.  Again we bonefished but didn't see any this time although Cameron had fun fighting a big stingray.  Then we moved off to a few more spots in the lee of the nasty wind but the fishing was shut down. 

Time to recover......

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

This was a special one March 2, 2021

 Two trips again today, man it's been cranking!  My morning trip was with Jim and the goal was to show him around the bay areas he can fish on his own in his 32' center console.  It's tarpon season so I located a some fish and we set up on them.  The first bite was a solid hook up on a tarpon about 140lbs that jumped several times right towards us and then screamed off before jumping again and spitting the hook.  Well, that was an adrenaline rush!  The second bite was solid but the hook never set properly.  Then the third and last bite that was subtle and we never saw the rod bend.  Geeze!  Ok, off to other areas like finger channels and jetties that proved to be slow.  I really wanted Jim to get his tarpon! 

My afternoon trip was definitely incredible.  I had regular client Maria and her friend Cory.  Cory recently got over a major health issue and it was an honor to have her aboard to enjoy an afternoon on the water.  Maria is a a fly angler and a good one but I still tried to keep her out of the 20 MPH winds.  When that didn't work I had no choice but to put her in the teeth of the wind.  But, Maria is awesome and didn't flinch continuing to make pin point accurate casts.  My goal was to get Maria a snook on fly but it wouldn't be easy with the wind, dirty water and well, it's snook.  The first three casts I made for Cory on bait got bites and the third one stuck allowing Cory to catch her first snook.  I stopped and let the spot rest for Maria.  I proved tough.  Finally Maria hooked a few hard fighting jacks and the pressure subsided a bit.  Maria then tells me she knows me well and knew I felt a huge relief.  She was right!  As the fish on fly started to get good she sets on a good fish and a nice fight later a snook comes to the side of the boat.  YES!!!  I uttered words I shouldn't and once we got it in the landing net there were many screams, hugs, more screams, high fives and more hugs.  This was awesome!  Mission accomplished!  I can sleep tonight!

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Two awesome trips on Sunday March 1, 2021

 I have to admit, I don't like running two trips on Sundays in Biscayne Bay due to all the boat traffic but I was booked in the morning with Jessica and Kyle when regular local client George called for Sunday and I couldn't say no.  Jessica and Kyle wanted to catch anything so we tried a few spots that were uninspiring.  This is when I decided to look for tarpon as it's the very beginning of tarpon season for us in Miami.  Well, it went well!  I located some schools and we set up on them, deployed the baits and had them work them a certain way.  Ha, the tarpon cooperated and they hooked four big fish!  Jessica hooked the first and after about 20 minutes the tarpon got us around some structure we couldn't avoid and broke us off.  Two more tarpon hooked and lost later, Kyle hooks the fourth one on one of the light rods.  Ouch!  Two hours later and my afternoon clients waiting at the dock they decided they would break off the fish and call it a day.  

Patient George and his two boys Patrick and Evan finally jumped on the skiff and we were off.  I took them to the same spot and the tarpon were still there.  However, they had lock jaw, probably due to all the boat traffic at this point.  Instead of tarpon, big ladyfish moved in and the boys had their hands full with big, jumping ladyfish.  They caught a ton of them and had a blast before we called it a day.  

Whew, I'm tired! 

Capt. Mo Estevez

www.MiamiBonefishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

This is how to wrap up the month! February 28, 2021

It's been an all out blitz at work with tons of charters and lots of catches so it was fitting that I wrap up this month with Andrew, Bart and their friend Andre.  I've fished with these two guys before and the last time we did they thought they were dying when we got caught in a storm.  Today there would be no storms just lots of wind.  The plan?  Hit the creeks and fish for snook.  Neither of them had caught snook before and Andrew broke the ice with a nice fish he caught on a hard plastic.  Bart followed up with a snook on a soft plastic and Andrew added to the total with another one.  Andre caught a few fish but not snook but the list over all could've been longer as the guys missed a few bites and lost a nice snook that shook its head and spit the lure.  

Capt. Mo Estevez 

www.miamiboneFishing.com

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing