By Capt. Neal Stark
Water levels in local/urban canals and lakes are still high, but fishing in our urban canals has been excellent. There has been a vast amount of fish bedding. If you walk down the bank and cast along the bank line you can catch decent fish. Using small senkos and ZOOM Super Fluke are key techniques to catching these fish. The formula for figuring what color to use is simple – If the water is dirty or murky go with a darker color; black and junebug work well. If the water is more clear go with lighter colored bait; watermelon, or watermelon red work well. You also will want to find moving water. Drainage pipes, pump stations, normal current, and basic wash outs are all things to look for when trying to target these fish. A good bait to find where the fish are that I recommend is the Livingston Lures Pro Ripper. These baits have BMS technology, which gives off the sound of a wounded bait fish when it hits the water. Peacock bass are also making a strong comeback in Broward County.
Fishing on Lake Okeechobee has been excellent. Live wild shiners, and swim baits on the outside edges of the cat tails or grass, have been producing fish in the 2-8 pound range. With a occasional 10 pound bass.
Saw grass Recreational Park has been consistent for numbers and size. Fishing the same baits as mentioned before. Reports are coming in of 20 plus days out on the canals. The flats at Everglades Holiday Park are producing some of the best bags of the year, thus far. The Gambler Big-EZ, EZ swimmer, and New Burner Worm are the keys right now.
Tight lines!
Capt. Neal Stark
(954)822-1481
American Everglades Guide, Inc.
www.AmericanEvergladesGuide.com aeguideinc@gmail.com
www.FishingWithAmericasFinest.org fwaforg@gmail.com