Check out our new 22' Pathfinder addition!

 

Capt. Mo Estevez 

786-853-1409

www.MiamiBonefishing.com (16' Flats Boat)

www.MiamiBayFishingCharters.com (22' Bay Boat)

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing @MiamiBayFishingCharters

Tarpon Monday March 21, 2022

Whew, the weekend is over and the bay was so empty today with just a few guides working, what a difference!  Enjoying the calmer ambiance was repeat client Jon and Jack from S.C.  With a stiff breeze coming in from the N.E. I took them to an area that has been holding tarpon and they were there with Jon quickly hooking up after just a few minutes wait.  I was hoping we didn't lose this fish as we have the rest but everything worked out and we got the 120lb tarpon to the boat in a good 20 minutes.  Nice work Jon!  Next we worked an area to get Jack some fish and he did just that with snappers, snook, barracuda and a fe wmore species before the trip was over and we headed back.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Tarpon Sunday March 20, 2022

George didn't get to the wrong ramp this morning so he and his two boys Patrick and Evan jumped onto the skiff and off we went.  George and I have bene trying to tarpon fish for years but the boys were small and got bored quickly but now being 9 and 10 we had some hope.  We got to the tarpon spot and they were rolling everywhere so I sent back a live bait and George began working a soft plastic.  Not long into the trip George has a 100lb tarpon eat his soft plastic right next to the boat and we're on!  After a solid fight the big tarpon decided it was time to call it quits and got into a dock in spite of our best efforts and broke us off.  We reset and not long after hooked another one about 140lbs and fought this fish for a bit until he gave us yet another big jump and spit the hook.  The rest of the trip was trying to keep the boys busy on smaller but more consistent species.  

My afternoon trip was with Mickey his wife Shana and son Evan.  Mickey wanted to make sure Evan stayed busy catching fish and then bonefish of everything went according to plan.  We did just that and along the way Shana got her first permit, a small one but a permit non the elss!  After Evan started to not want to fish anymore we tried a typically good spot for bonefish but there were boats everywhere and a jetski ran right past us and we called it a day.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

It's not always sunny pictures March 15. 2022

The wind continues to howl since Saturday with today a steady 20 MPH gusting higher and I had two trips today.  The morning trip was with John and his son Dillon and we split the fishing between spin and fly fishing.  I located some tarpon and Dillon threw flies at them while John threw live shrimp but today they wouldn't play.  I was limited as to where we could fish because of the wind and almost constant rain but we ended catching a few jacks on fly before heading in.  

After going through what I did in the morning I warned Matt and Grace of the fishing and weather as they stood on the dock and asked them to think it through.  They thought it through and they we in so I idled out of the marina with only slightly better conditions.  I found some tarpon by a bridge and invested some time but no bites all the while taking waves over the bow in the rough water courtesy of a stiff 20 plus MOH east wind.  With the tide about perfect for bonefish I took them bonefishing and Matt caught his first bonefish.  Whew, I'm starting to feel better!  Then Grace says she wants to catch fish to eat so off we went to the spot that barely had any fish in the morning.  OK, it shouldn't come as a surprise at this point that the spot was really good with them landing a bunch of snappers, jacks, blue runners, big mojarras and small mutton snappers.  When it was time to head back Matt had scored his first bonefish, Grace had her fish to eat and the weather had cleared up significantly.  Wow, what a day.  I've been beat up and pounded by the weather all day.  I'm exhausted!  

 

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Oh it started! March 12, 2022

Ha, the forecast was right for once!  Boy that wind, oh my!  Mike and Corey had a half day with me today and when we idled out of the marina the wind wasn't too bad, the water temps were great and we had just about the perfect tide for tarpon and bonefish.  Stop one was the same bridge where I found some tarpon yesterday and the hunt began.  As I scanned the bridge with my Raymarine I could see 2-3 tarpon on every other span but no big numbers like yesterday.  The biggest group we saw was about 6 fish, not enough to keep me there fishing 6 fish plus something in my gut compelled me to go bonefishing instead.  I moved off the bridge, made a run to a bonefish flat and staked off in order to mitigate some of the now 18 MPH winds.  I was happy we were in a bit of a lee and the tide was pouring out so I was feeling like we were where we needed to be.  Thank God I was proven right because just a few minutes in the rod doubles over and Corey quickly tries to react before the rod straightened back up in almost an instant.  Dang it, that was the first bonefish of the morning.  Just a few minutes later the rod doubles over again and this time the fish stayed on leading to Corey's first bonefish a few minutes later.  Yes!  After the release the wind started to increase and the fishing shut down.  The next spot yielded a bunch of snappers for Mike and the last spot was dead except for Mike's nice 5-7lb jack.  By this time the wind was all of 25 plus miles an hour and increasing by the minute.  Whew, we got it done before it got really bad.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

The calm before the storm March 11, 2022

 All hell is supposed to break this weekend starting tomorrow morning with winds in the 30MPH range but the important thing is that it wasn't happening today when John boarded my skiff.  Man John was such a laid back guy and so fun to fish with.  He wanted to target tarpon and bonefish, oh and snook and permit so we targeted the ones that would give us the best shot in our 4 hour trip.  With the outgoing tide I went back to where I had found some tarpon two days ago and they were still there but this time there were a few more.  So, I set up and deployed two baits and not long after John hooked a 50lber that jumped and spit the circle hook.  About 10 minutes later we got hit again but no hook up and then a third time before the action died off.  

I looked around a few more places for tarpon but there were just a few fast moving schools so we targeted bonefish and John went 1 for 1 landing his first bonefish and a solid 10 pounder.  Wow!  We headed in after a few minutes and enjoyed the glory.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

It almost didn't happen January 28, 2022

It's funny how things work out sometimes.  I had two trips scheduled for tomorrow Saturday but Joe, my morning trip, called and asked if we could fish Friday, today, instead.  I guess he saw the weather forecast of temperatures in the 30's and winds upwards of 30 MPH.  So off we went on Friday morning with his friend Vinnie.  The water temps were back at 70 and the morning was extremely foggy to the point we were limited on where we could go so we stayed close to the marina and went bonefishing.  This is where Vinnie when bonefishing for the first time and he got his first bonefish.  Yes!!!!  The rare fog usually burns off in the first hour but not today, it actually got thicker throughout at the morning at times.  During my trip with Joe and Vinnie, Jon calls me asking what time to meet today.  "Huh, I can today but we're scheduled for tomorrow."  Turns out he had his dates mixed up and the trip was supposed to be today.  No problem.  I wrapped up my trip with Joe and Vinnie catching snappers, although small, on every cast.  

As soon as I dropped off Joe and Vinnie, Jon and Stefan jump aboard and we're off with the fog now cleared but the skies overcast.  Jon was on spin and Stefan on fly and we struck out on bonefish but then they told me they would be happy catching anything.  Cool!  I took them to a wreck, set up and watched Jon catch yellow jacks, big blue runners, snappers and a few big mystery fish while the fish ignored Stefan's fly, they don't usually.  Once Stefan picked up a spinning rod it was on as all fish were caught on lures and they took home plenty to eat.  

By the evening and the following day the weather was horrible so the schedule change worked out.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

First trip of the year January 6, 2022

This is really crazy, we're already in 2022 and it feels like we skipped over 2020.  Any way, happy new year everyone!  Business and the fishing was on fire but as soon as the new year hit with the huge spikes in Covid infections and flight cancellations things got quite quick but not for regular client Alex, his dad Bert and their friend Karim.  I was looking for a good day today with Alex and it was good from the first cast.  I took them to a spot where there have been plenty of species within 50' of each other and they warmed up on jacks, small grouper, snappers and look downs.  As the spot started to sputter I took them to the finger channels where we caught the last of the tide and they caught plenty of yellow jack and snapper dinner.  Once the tide stopped and the fishing slowed I took them tarpon fishing but they were MIA so off we went to bonefish.  Dang, it started tough as we missed two solid bites and then lost two hooked fish.  However, towards the end Bert hooks up and caught his first bonefish in decades.  Awesome!  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Double the Magic December 22, 2021

I had two trips today and my morning trip was with repeat client Bob and his wife Anna.  Well, it was windy and cold but we fished some areas that usually work out in those conditions and they did today again.  Using live shrimp Anna hooked a nice tarpon but it broke off after the 5th jump, she probably didn't mind as her wrist was already hurting her.  :)  Not long after Bob got a snook but the fishing was slowing down with tarpon around us but not feeding.  I took them to another spot where they caught a bunch of jacks and another snook and we wrapped it up tarpon fishing the last 30 minutes.  

As soon as I dropped them off Ryan and his family jumped aboard and off we went for my afternoon trip.  Man the fishing took off as the tide turned and the sun warmed us up a bit.  These guys killed it!  They caught 14 species in the same spot for four hours with fish on almost every cast!  Son Knox lost a nice bonefish next to the boat, Ryan caught a permit and a nice grouper while other son Mac wasn't far behind.  When the trip ended they had caught:

Bonefish

Permit

Grouper

Hog fish

Jacks

and more!  

That's winter for you.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Redemption! December 13, 2021

 After a slow week last week that I could hardly stomach I had the weekend off and patiently waited for my Monday trip with Jim in order to see if fishing had improved and find some kind of redemption.  So, Jim jumps in the boat and off we go.  Jim wanted to fly fish but with steady 20 MPH winds that would be difficult so Jim was smart enough to decide to pick up a spinning rod at the beginning of the trip and we targeted bonefish.  Well, it didn't take long for Jim to tie in to a nice bonefish and enjoy the blazing fast runs.  After a release he was at it again and not 10 minutes later he was on again!  Another release and he was ready for something else.  I took him to a tarpon spot that was void of tarpon so off to a snook spot that had no snook but had tarpon, go figure.  He tossed flies at the 3-40lb rolling tarpon but after a period of no bites we wrapped up the trip catching jacks on fly and he had a blast.  It's tough not enjoying jacks on fly.  Whew, I can sleep better tonight! 

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Father and son killed it November 14, 2021

 Greg and Mitch joined me today after having to cancel last year due to Covid.  Finally back in the boat we headed off to look for bait and while they were MIA again we did have some shots at the rare Biscayne Bay redfish and Mitch caught a few jacks on lures while Greg was throwing a fly.  On to spot number two and this one was on fire at the beginning of the outgoing tide.  Here the guys caught nice jacks, snappers and snook on fly and lures.  After killing it with almost nonstop action we hit the flats where we wrapped it up with Mitch catching a nice lemon shark on light tackle.  This was a cool trip with Mitch catching his first snook and his first shark.  Way to go Mitch!

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

This didn't take long November 10, 2021

Mike fishes with me several times a year for three days each time and Mike is a really laid back and cool guy and today we got a hot start.  We began by taking advantage of the calm conditions and looked for bonefish on fly.  Not long after Mike gets a bite but missed it.  Then a few minutes later he sweet talked a bonefish into eating and got his first of the day.  Nice!  From there we moved to to snook which were MIA, on fly anyway, and finished the morning loading the livewell with live pilchards.  The plan was to fish structure and live chum so Mike could get a mutton on fly but the wrecks were slow.  However, the last wreck we fished paid off and as I lived chummed Mike kept tossing the fly and caught snapper, yellow jacks, trigger fish (yes trigger fish on fly!) small amberjack, bluefish and blue runners.  In the process he had a huge barracuda try to eat one of his hooked fish and then a big black tip shark also tried the same thing a while later.  We wrapped it up and headed back.  What a fun day with a great guy!   

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

This didn't start well... November 7, 2021

 Remember my last report about my back?  Turns out I went to the gym after my last trip and while doing weights I pulled my lower back, incline bench press at that!  Now I'm in pain, can hardly walk and I had today's trip on the books.  Todays trips was with Kevin and last time we fished it was this May and he got his first bonefish and his son Noah got a massive barracuda.  Today was different as he was with his friend Ryan and Ryan had never caught bonefish.  Oh, and my back is out, it's 59 degrees and the wind is howling at 20-25 MPH.  I almost had to cancel the trip and Kevin was game so we went for it.  It wasn't easy with few places to hide from the wind and my back killing me with the slightest movement but I worked through it.  Having to fish a bit deeper water as the flats we inaccessible the guys caught snappers but no bonefish.  I made a move and there they were as we went 3-4 on bonefish with Ryan and Kevin both got 9 pounders.  Way to go guys and now it's time for me to heal up.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

It was a dark and stormy... November 6, 2021

I hadn't fished with Ethan in a few years as he's in college now and busy but guess who his cousin is, David from last Sunday!  This means that David was back on board today with Ethan and we had to pick our plan carefully due to the coming cold front and nasty weather.  Well, after going 0-4 on snook I loaded up the live well with live pilchards and off we went to fish some shallow wrecks.  It wasn't long until the boys were hooking up but boy we got rained on for a good while as the winds increased.  The highlight was Ethan hooking and landing a massive mutton snapper on a light bonefish rod but there was steady action on smaller muttons and big mangrove snappers as well.  Nice!  I have to tell you the run back to the marina was no fun but we got back.  However, on the run back I felt a weird something in my lower back.  More on that in my next report! 

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Fall is here! October 5, 2021

Yes, it's fall and if there was any doubt today was all the confirmation we needed.  David and his dad Tim joined me this morning as we started early and enjoyed a nice crisp cool morning.  David caught a couple of barracudas and jacks while snook fishing but no snook.  I went to a spot where bait tends to pile up in the fall and they were there right on schedule.  A few throws of the cast net later the live well was full of pilchards and off we went.  When we got to our first spot and I started to live chum it took about 45 seconds for the explosions to starts and it was game on!  Cast after cast it was mangrove snappers, mutton snappers, yellow jacks, big blue runners exploding on our live chum, devouring our baits and getting the drags nice and hot.  With incredible action for over 2 hours we decided to fish for bonefish but that proved to be slow and after striking out on sharks it was time to head back.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Battling the Glades September 26, 2021

 I had the day off, well until Mike called me.  I've know Mike for over 25 years and every time we fish together I truly enjoy my time with him so you know where this is going.  When Mike asked if I wanted to fish with him the Everglades I said yes and 12 hours later I hopped in his car and off we went.  What a gorgeous day, I'm telling you fall is here early with clear skies, low humidity and morning air temperatures in the mid 70's.  Anyway, we fished hard and poled around, staked off, drifted tossing lures for redfish and snook.  And....it was dead.  I saw a lot of the skiffs fishing the area moving around too so it looked like it was the same across the board.  However, at the tail end of the outgoing tide we went to one of my go to spots and there we were able to pick up a few snook.  It was tough fishing but we had a great time, caught some fish and came down to the wire almost getting skunked.  Oh, Mike tried to blame it on my banana.  Leave my banana alone!  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Guides day off in the Everglades September 21, 2021

 September is supposed to be slow but business continues to be much better than in the past which means I haven't had many days off but I was off today and Jeanny and I fished in Everglades National Park.  She had been asking me to take her for almost a year and finally here we were.  This was were trip so I threw the fly rod for a bit, caught two sea trout and put the rod away.  The fishing wasn't on fire but it was good enough.  I had her throwing lures, which she doesn't like doing, and she missed quite a few bites from redfish and snook.  Growing frustrated she asked for bait and well, reluctantly I obliged.  This is her kind of fishing and she made it count.  At trips ends she had caught snook, redfish and a few catfish, I don't like catfish.  That night we went to a relatives house and had a great redfish dinner! 

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Sike! But we worked through it September 16, 2021

 I want to be like John, at 73 he is fit, strong, active and the man can fish!  The goal was permit and bonefish and the morning couldn't have been more perfect for it.  Starting off in about 4' of water looking for permit there were some schools around and I was able to get John a couple of really good shots at schools of permit waking and tailing towards us.  Then we went shallower looking for bonefish and found a few schools but nothing like what I expected.  With the breeze kicking up we changed locations and targeted more bonefish.  It took about two hours before John got one but I could tell the improving morning fishing had slowed again.  Urgh, so much for that bait and switch!  After fishing a couple of permit spots unsuccessfully it was time to head back in and try to avoid a nasty storm building right above the marina.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

Mark caught what? August 29, 2021

 Michael and Mark booked me for a half day of catching dinner but I have to admit, I was sweating it this trip.  The first three spots we fished usually produce but not today.  At the third spot Mark caught two fun sized barracudas but still no dinner.  Dang!  Once the tide turned I took them to spot number 4 where they finally scored with a bunch of snappers and jacks but the trophy was Mark hooking something that fought different and when he got it next to the boat it was a small permit!  Wow!  I've caught permit at this spot before but it was still a nice surprise.  Sure it wasn't a monster but a permit is a permit is a permit.  Nice work Mark! 

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing

First timer scores early August 19, 2021

 I had a last minute change of plans for Christian and his son Christian.  With the breezy morning I took advantage of the tide and fished for bonefish as Christian wanted, wait which of the two Christians?  Anyway, dad hooked up and landed a nice bonefish.  As the tide continued on it's way out the fishing got slower.  I decided to end the trip by working different flats but they were pretty slow.  I would have loved a few more bonefish but I can tell you Christian was on a high getting his first bonefish and so was I.  

Capt. Mo Estevez

http://www.miamibonefishing.com/

786-853-1409

Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBonefishing