Florida Fishing for Snook Bonefish and Tarpon

Charter out of Bud N Mary’s- Flats fishing Summer of 2017

We started the day bright and early at Bud n/’Mary’s in Islamorada Key, Florida. We were out on the water at 6 a.m, and hunting tarpon by 6:30. Our captain, Mark, brought us to our first spot, a cove nuzzled into a mangrove island. As soon as we cut the motor and Mark handed us a well kept and maintained rod and reel rigged with a white D.O.A minnow; Tarpon tails were clearly visible as the illusive fish swam with their tails out of the shallow water. Rods at the ready, and our ears pierced by the soft but sturdy tone of Mark’s voice calling out “12 o'clock” or “3 o'clock”, we would precisely fling our soft plastic baits several meters in front of the tarpon's path. After 1 hour of seeing tarpon roll and seeing the tarpon blatantly ignore our offerings, we moved on to another species: bonefish.

We coasted along the mangrove islands in skinny water that would most likely not pass our knees. Our captain, Mark, first took us to a sandy section of the flats where he said Bonefish were most likely to be caught. He hooked a single shrimp onto a quarter ounce white jig head. Mark then expertly showed us the technique needed to hook into the hard fighting fish: as soon a nibble was felt, set the hook into the fish. As soon as we casted and waited 15 seconds for the shrimp to fall, our drag started screaming.  The bonefish powerfully pulled out our line as if we had snagged a shark by accident. We thought we had hooked into an absolute mondo, but, to our surprise, the silvery bonefish was no more than 11 inches long. After our catching our first bonies, they seemed to scatter away as we did not catch another.

We then took a 45 minute boat ride to Florida Bay to test our luck with Snook and Redfish. Using the similar tactic of a white D.O.A minnow, we casted into a muddy storm of mullet. Mark pointed out to us “northerners” that muddy water was best for fishing as this meant that the mullet were disturbing the sandy substrate, and the delicious mullet were being chased by hungry predators. After fishing for a few minutes we caught snapper and ladyfish. Although these fish weren't what we were fishing for: snook and redfish, the presence of fish was a hopeful sign that our targeted species was nearby.  As we stood at bow of the boat, we casted into the mud- created by the mullet running away from predators- and along the mangroves. Mark told us the weather conditions were not ideal this day and the wind reminded him of the gusts the Florida coast saw in March, but he still persisted that if we were going to catch Snook and Redfish, this would be the place to be. As we pushed along-side the mangroves with the help of Mark’s silent and sturdy push-pole, we reached a small cove. Our boat drifted parallel to the shore, and Mark kept the boat as close to twenty feet from the shore as he could, and we twitched our soft plastic baits under the shadow of the mangroves. Suddenly we hooked into our one and only snook. My reel started peeling line out as he dashed to the safety of the mangroves; I was sure I was going to loose the fish, but I was able to horse this beast out of the cover of the mangrove roots. Patiently, I brought him close enough to the bow of the boat where Mark expertly grabbed the Snook in the mouth much like I would hold a bass. Unfortunately that Snook was the last fish caught on the full day excursion, but the trip was well worth the money: $700 plus tip(for two anglers), and I would gladly go on it again.

The guide’s information is listed; call and tell that Joe Paul informed you: http://budnmarys.com/mark_hlis.html

This beautiful fish was released back to the water

This is a picture of the lure we used during the trip: DOA Jerk-bait https://www.doalures.com/product-p/81-305.htm

Joe & Paul 08/25/17