Late fall will bring us a strong cold front or two and this will begin to jump start the fishing from Biscayne Bay all the way to the Everglades. As the water cools off from the summer's heat, the bait runs start in late September and all of the Flamingo species revitalize as well as Biscayne Bay's bonefish population. At 80 to 82 degrees, the fish are feeding during the cooler times of the day. Not until the water temperatures reach from 76 to 78 degrees will we see the fish relax and feed all day long. This is the time we see the largest numbers of the BIG fish on our flats like the ones pictured.

Flamingo's gulf edges are full of Mac's, cobia, tripletail and snapper, and the flats around the inside are teaming with large trout, redfish and snook. December will bring the backcountry of the Everglades to life. Whitewater Bay will soon be seeing the winter tarpon run and fishing the creek mouths on the northeastern shores is already producing redfish and snook, as well as a great snapper bite. The Rapala X-Raps and Twitchin-Rap baits are responsible for many snook and snapper we've caught in the backcountry, along with throwing a High-Roller Rip-Roller on the surface.

There have been lots of fish on the outside wrecks off Flamingo as well. But, making the trip out 10 to 15 miles, or even more, from the Shark River or Sandy Key has been a gamble. The choice must be made on the right day to make the trip, or the ride back can be very uncomfortable, even in a 20-plus foot hull--but the trip is worth it. Large snapper, grouper, black drum, tripletail, cobia and a host of other species await you. Just use your best judgment and of course, the weather reports, and you will have plenty of work to do at the cleaning table upon your return.

The "Bear Bones" fly has done it again. This is my own pattern tied in polar bear fur and it has been responsible for a nine bonefish day--on fly. This polar bear fur is really working, not only the bones, but with the redfish and snook as well. I have tied a few whistlers and deceivers using the polar and Flamingo just isn't the same. I can't tell you where to get the fur from because it is illegal to sell commercially, but it can be sold as a tourist trinket by the Alaskan people, which is where I found it on my last trip to Kodiak Island. Orvis has something very similar to the polar bear fur in their Sparkle Fur.

The permit are still around with the majority of them on the smaller side and in definite schooling patterns. Look for them around the western banks of Biscayne Bay due to the warmer water temperatures that are found there. The darker grass flats will hold the heat from the sun longer, which in turn will hold and keep the water temps higher. Watch your surface water temperatures very closely during these winter months. If you can find a flat that has a 2- to 3-degree temperature rise, you will find bonefish and permit on it for sure. Until next time, I'll see you "On the Flats."

NEW BIO

Captain Dave Sutton is sponsored by Evinrude, Sea-Power, Costa Del Mar Eyewear, Odyssey Batteries, SOL Sunscreen, Calusa Nets, Hydro-Glow Fishing Lights, Spike-it, Frogg-Toggs, High Rollers, Lipper Tool, Pro-Fish, Humminbird Electronics, LOOP Fly Reels, Fetha Styx Fly Rods and is the Florida Ambassador to Lewmar Ltd.  He fishes Biscayne Bay, The Upper Keys and the Everglades National Park. Captain Dave fishes a Maverick Mirage HPX-V, and Terrapin Skiff. He is on the Quantum Pro-Team and on the Pro-Staff of Power-Pole, Stiffy Push Poles and many others.  The skipper would like to hear your fishing stories and reports for his website and print, or to book a trip, call him at 786-564-6347 or e-mail him at djsutton@bellsouth.net.

His website: www.OnTheFlatsCharters.com