Season is a Changin'

In the keys this time of year the weather is constantly on the change. This past Monday morning we woke to East-North-East winds gusting to 30 knots. Just about all the guides cancelled their fishing trips for the day. My guests however wanted to give it a go. Fine by me as there is always a lee somewhere to fish out of the wind. Its the getting there and getting back that gets you bounced around and whipped with spray though.

I had Cliff Fox and Freddy DuPreeze on this very windy day. In the past I have fished similar days and if we could find the right size live bait I knew just where we needed to go to keep the rods bending. We did find the bait and off we went on an hour run to a small protected creek up in the Everglades. I hadn't fished this particular creek in a couple of years since the big freeze that had decimated the Snook population. But as I had been finding plenty juvenile snook lately it was the right weather condition to give it a try.

We arrived and tied up to an overhanging mangrove branch and threw out a few "freebies" while I rigged up our Bonefish Trek Travel rods and Diablo 350 spinning reels. I knew immediately we were in for a treat. Fish were exploding on the bait. Cliff and Freddy spent the next 3 hours catching Snook to 8lbs, many Seatrout, Redfish and Jack Crevalle to 10 lbs in this small creek. The wind was blowing the water out and the bite was on. Plenty of Mangrove Snapper were in the mix also. Its great to see the Snook population making a comeback.

Cliff Fox fishes a small protected creek deep in the Everglades

its blowing 25 mph on the other side of this island in the backcountry

It's great to see the Snook making a strong comeback

Freddy pulled this Snook out from under the roots

bobber fishing is so much fun

you had to get your bait tight to the bushes to get a Snook bite

Crevalle Jacks were great fighters on the Bonefish Trek travel rod

Freddy had a big battle using an ultralight Fox Rage rod

Freddy with a Seatrout

I caught a Redfish with no spots

Day 2 the wind was down to 15 out of the south east and Cathy Fox joined us today along with Cliff and Freddy. I went back to where I'd had the small Tarpon a few days back but they had moved on. No current and just a few snappers. So we moved out to the open bay and fished some of the "bomb craters". Nice mix for the light tackle. Grouper and Snapper to 4 lbs. Spanish Mackerel and Ladyfish were biting as well. The action was on the slow side with there not being water current. I remembered a spot close to 9-mile bank that usually held some fish and went there in the afternoon.

note the wire trace albrighted onto the mono trace.
Spanish Macks are toothy critters

we kept a few of the big Macks for the smoker

great action

we kept a few of the big Macks for the smoker

 Here we had a nice current flowing with the wind. The bite was on. Big Spanish Mackerel to 6lbs. Bluefish, Crevalle Jack and big Mangrove Snapper were biting. Cliff , Cathy and Freddy had a great time. Its great to keep 3 rods bending on every cast. The Bonefish Trek travel rods and Diablo 350 spinnings reels had a real workout.

Cathy caught a couple of Barracudas

that same freeze 3 years ago hurt the goliath groupers
but they are making a comeback.
Cathy caught this one on a Bonefish Trek

So during the night around 2am it started thundering and lightening. Big strong cold front pushing through. Around 9am the rain finally quit and we headed out. Just after filling the livewell with castnetted pilchards one last rain squall caught us by surprise. It was basically a white-out. Being close to home we did a quick change into some dry clothes and headed back out.

The wind picked up out of the west north west and the temp was dropping. By days end it was blowing 20+ from the north.  We caught a few Snook around the islands then headed into Flamingo. We fished in the lee of the mainland and got into a hot bite of 4 to 8lb Crevalle Jacks. It was wild action til we had enough and made a nice downwind ride home back to Islamorada and Bud n Marys Marina.

Cathy and Cliff finished out the day catching
Crevalle Jacks on the light tackle

Cliff really likes fishing Rage Ultralight rods

There is always a lee here in the keys to find some action when the wind is blowing.

This morning as I write this it is Thanksgiving day here and we have so much to be thankful for. As I write it is 57 degrees out and chilly. But it will warm up tomorrow. Last week we fished 3 days and the wind was down and we were able to fish the outer reefs so there you go.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Productive Diablo

Sunday December 1 was productive not only fishing wise. Local rod builder, Rick Berry, of Key Largo Rods and the Roger Camacho, the South eastern U.S. Fox Sport Fishing tackle representative joined me for the day. They caught fish and we talked fishing tackle. I wanted to show Rick and Roger the Diablo spinning reels I have used now for 3 years with basic, very basic maintenance and how very tough they are.

We used the Fox Sport Fishing line of Diablo 350 and 550 spinning reels on the patch reefs offshore of Islamorada. Rick was very impressed and is hoping to become THE south east Florida dealer for Fox Sport Fishing tackle. Smooth drags, bullet proof reels.  We caught several large Red Groupers and Mutton Snappers and lots of Yellow-tail and Mangrove Snapper. Roger even got a Mahi. Rick caught a 12lb mutton snapper on the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo while drifting a cigar minnow bait in 100 feet of water!

Here are a couple pictures from the day.

Captain Skip Nielsen

first fish of the day, Dolphin for Roger Camacho

lots of small mutton snapper were released

Rick Berry caught this beautiful Mutton Snapper on
a Diablo 550 spinning reel

Rick Berry is a rod builder here in the keys and wants to use the
Fox Sport Fishing Diablo spinning reels for his combo series

Roger Camacho with a tough fighting Red Grouper
caught with the Diablo 550 spinning reel

Roger caught 2 keeper Red Grouper and released another 8

using the Permit trek Diablo 550 combo Rick caught a fat Red Grouper

Nice Action In The Backcountry

Lesli and Ray Rogers spent 3 days fishing with me this past week. On day 1 we did not go far as it looked as if it could start raining at any time. We had no problem loading the live well with fish candy, Live Pilchards. Using FOX Sport Fishing Bonefish Trek travel rod fitted with a Diablo 350 spinning reel we caught plenty of nice sized Mangrove Snapper. Then the rain started and turning into a downpour and the wind came up. Getting chilled we moved to the leeside of the island we were fishing to warm up. Right away we saw Tarpon rolling. That warmed us up right away. Lesli and Ray had a ball the next hour releasing 4 Tarpon and jumping another 10. These small Tarpon were from 3 lbs to 15lbs and great jumpers. But then it started pouring again and we headed home on a half day.

Backcountry baby Tarpon

FOX Rage ultralight rod was perfect for
small Tarpon around the islands

The next 2 days were spent in different areas of the backcountry.The weather was warm and sunny. In one spot we were catching a variety of Spanish Mackerel and Ladyfish. I rigged up a Fox 9 weight flyrod with a flashy fly that I tie for the macks.

Bonefish Trek travel rod and a Diablo 350 spinning reel
were perfect for Spanish Mackerel

Great catch! Gag Grouper caught
by Lesli on a Fox 9 Weight fly rod

Mangrove Snapper were on the menu

Lesli and Ray caught Snapper, Ladyfish and Spanish Mackerel on fly which was great fun but Lesli hooked up with a fish that got well into the backing on its first run. After a 15 minute fight she landed a 27 inch Gag Grouper on the flyrod. Heck of a catch and a complete surprise. We were fishing in 7 feet of water over grass bottom. Later on we fished a creek near the mainland and got into more baby Tarpon and Snook.

Day 3 we fished near Flamingo around island "moats" and had more Snook action as well as a few big Redfish. As the tide dropped we moved onto the flats and caught Crevalle Jacks and Seatrout and jumped off a 40lb Tarpon. The water has been unseasonably warm so Tarpon are still in the feeding mode.

what we call a "gator Seatrout"

Lesli Rogers with a  nice Snook

Lesli with yet another Snook

Ray Rogers with a fine Snook on the
Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

Ray scored a big Redfish

Bonefish Trek rod is strong, sensitive and pack down to 4 pieces making them easy to travel with.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Triple Header Of Sailfish On Light Tackle

The last 4 days have been spectacular!

Sunday the winds were up but we had lots of action on the patch reefs. Randy Soth and Peter Aiello used Bonefish Trek Spin rod and a Diablo 350 spinning reel to catch a boxful of great eating fish.

Randy Soth with a stunning Mutton Snapper

casting jig-heads and shrimp into the mangroves
 produced a limit of big mangrove snappers

great catch of prime eating fish and great light tackle sport

Peter Aiello with a brace of Red Grouper

On Monday the wind let up so Cyd and I took my 18 foot skiff to the edge of the reef looking for sailfish. I had just let out the second live bait and Cyd exclaims "look at the sailfish". There were 2 of them swimming  alongside the boat, I realized one had already taken Cyd's bait. I casted up ahead and hooked up as well. 10 minutes of wild tailwalking and we released a double header. Both fish were caught on Fox Sport Fishing Permit Trek 4 piece rods fitted with Diablo 550 spin reels.

Cyd Nielsen earns a release

nice pecs!

Tuesday and Wednesday I fished with Cathy and Cliff Fox and their very good friend Freddy DuPreez. 5 minutes into the day Cathy hooked up a huge Sailfish. After a  30 minute battle Cathy had her fish. Nice! A little later on we caught 3 nice Mahi-Mahi. Dinner plans were made.

Cathy Fox starts the day with a big Sailfish

Cathy's Sail put on a show

a beautiful Sailfish release for Cathy Fox

Cliff with a Strawberry Grouper

here we have a Black Grouper

Yesterday we had very good luck and great fishing as well. Calm seas and plentiful bait. We made a run down to Tennessee Reef and set out the baits. Cliff hooked a nice Bonito and while fighting that Freddy and Cathy hooked up as well. I thought at first it was more Bonito's but I changed my mind when 2 Sailfish exploded and started tailwalking all around the boat. Well I tossed out another bait and next thing you know Cliff is on to a Sailfish as well. It was mayhem but the fish cooperated and my anglers are pros. We got some good video that we hope to share at some point. What really made this triple header of Sails special is that we were out in Cliff's own boat Foxy Lady. And that were using light tackle. Permit Trek 4 piece rods fitted with Diablo 550 spinning reels. Big fun was had.

on day 2 at 9am we hooked a triple header of Sailfish.

all 3 Sailfish were brought to the boat and released
all were caught using the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combos

Cliff Fox using the Permit Trek Dialbo 550 combo on his Sailfish

catching a Triple Header of Sailfish on light tackle
 on a bay boat is very Special

After the action slowed we fished reef patches and caught all sorts of scallywags.

colourful Porkfish

Freddy couldn't resist a tickling session

more strange species. Freddy Dupreez with a Spiny Puffer

Red Grouper

Having a blast in the Florida Keys.
Captain Skip Nielsen