Jeremy and I showed up to the Florida Everglades and before we knew it we were bombing through the winding channels of the backcountry with Capt. Kevin Merritt of Everglades Angler. After motoring through this tropical wilderness of tangled trees we made a fast hard turn then Kevin killed the engine and we drifted into an amazing looking cove. Jeremy had the bow shot, and was working the mangrove edges hard and trying to put each cast tight under cover.He was using one of Kevin’s go-to flies, the mangrove mouse pattern. The fly touched down in tight cover. Before he even made a strip the fish whacked the mouse and took a nice run, then doubled back trying to get back to his home in the mangrove roots. Jeremy cranked down him and was able to turn his head in the right direction. We thought it was a nice Snook, but when the fish showed himself it was infact a Redfish. I have come to realize that fly fishing in the Everglades is a round the clock mission. As the sun was setting and we were looking for a place to eat we got a call from Mark Ward, the owner of Everglades Angler.He said, “Hey, do you guys want to take my flats boat out tonight to fish the light for Snook?” Jeremy and I looked at each other and said, “Dinner can wait.” So once again we were on a flats boat and I was on the bow. It was a perfect night with now wind and the tide was god. We searched Naples Bay and found the perfect Snook light. As we drifted into I was amazed by the amount of Snook and Jacks darting in and out of the light. I stripped off the line onto the deck of the boat. Made one good cast at the bullseye and the micro EP fly dropped right where in needed to be. A strip and look another strip and a follow and one more strip and I was hooked up to my first ever Snook. I was surprised by the power of the Snook as the fish pulled a fair amount of line off my reel. Having a killer time in Florida and still plenty more fly fishing to be done. Can’t wait to see what the next fish might be.
Sounds really fun.
Up here in Denmark we’re still waiting for the spring to come and the wind to slow down..
I really like that lights fishing for Snook.
During my last visit to Naples (which is btw to long ago) we did the same when we got rained out of the mangrove creeks at sunset.
The night session along the shores of Port Royal was worth it.
It is still amazing to see Snooks and Jacks lined up under a well lighted dock.
Hope you catch some more fish so you have enough inspiration for more reports.
Obviously I should have gone to the glades first and saw Kevin. Congrats on the fish Dude, I am not surprised you found some.
Nice looking red. I was doewn there the first week in Feb, but were fishing further south in Flamingo Bay and the reds were more silver-like. We got into snook, trout, red snapper, reds, jewfish, catfish, black drum… and then the bull sharks showed up. Have a great time down there. Looking forward to some video
Way to go guys. Seems like fishing’s pretty good down there. I am waiting to see some pictures of Tarpon (is that how it is spelled?) and some video, too.
-Emilia
I had a great time fishing with you and jeremy and although the bite wasn’t ‘on’ for us on the Trail, it was cool to be sharing patterns and knots in the heart of the Everglades and watching you cast over rolling 40 pounders.
I’m already looking forward to learning more about the WB and spending more time up that way this season hopefully fishing—maybe guiding with you. You are a superb caster. Thanks for a fine day.
Hey Guys.
I generally go to the gulf coast this time of year for a week or so ( although I don’t get to go this year!) I also used Everglades Anglers and had an amazing experience at the northern entrance to the 10,000 islands with Capt. Ken Chambers last year. Got my first Redfish off a mussle shoal and missed a couple along the mangroves! Awesome! Tough, trying to hit the roots without getting hung up in the branches above! I also went out with a guide from Mangrove Outfitters in the Naples area and he hooked me up too. Thanks for the vicarious thrills!
Finally managed to login!!!
Reds & Snooks!!! Nice report! Mousam is hot right now!!! 🙂
Wow! Don’t you two ever work????
Very Jealous….
Thanks for sharing.
I have wondered about that working thing also. And on top of it all, they could manage to catch fish in a toilet if they had to.
Life just ain’t fair!