They were so plentiful, in fact that I broke out my fly rod. It was a nine weight, and it was really heavy for these fish. I was originally going to look for some feeding redfish way up on the flats, so this was the only fly rod I brought. But, the small Deceiver fly was deadly on these fish, and I managed to catch as many as I wanted, even though I was way over powered. I wished then that I had put the four or five weight in the boat as well.
Other boaters I ran into back at the ramp had only a so-so day. “Too many boats”, was a phrase I heard over and over. But my day had turned out to be fairly good – not what I had planned, but acceptable as fishing days go.
I was able to put three more small creeks on my chart, creeks that I can go to when the boat traffic has done me in. And it appears I will have company in those creeks. It appears the fish will be headed there as well to get away from the crowds!
Back when I used to fish out of Miami on a weekend day, Biscayne Bay looked like – and still does – a boater’s parade. Everywhere you turn there were boats. Actually the only time I really fished Biscayne Bay was in the winter when the Spanish mackerel were running inside of Stiltsville.
But I learned over time, that if I could get into some places where others either could not or would not venture, I could usually find some fish. The grass beds off of Mercy Hospital, protected by a flat, usually held some trout. The mangroves along the shore could be counted on for a snook or two and I actually found some holes that held mangrove snapper. So, right in sight of the Miami skyline, right under the noses of a lot of boaters, I was able to catch fish. All I had to do was get away from the crowds.
Take this experience with you next time you fish a crowded area. It’s a method that will work anywhere. When other boaters on the water crowd you out, they crowd the fish out as well. Head away from the crowds and you will find some fish!
