As the cold fronts continue with the winds coming from all directions, even sometimes in the same day, I find myself waiting for the right times to take my anglers out to fish. Of course, some are here on vacation and are restricted as to when they can go, but my local anglers are on stand-by for some of the best fishing they have ever seen. Watch the weather patterns develop, and you will see a cold front diminish to a two- or three-day warming trend until the next front approaches. These are the golden days for the flats fisherman. The warming days just before a new cold front moves in will be the most active days for the fish. As the barometer drops the bite will be on, all you have to do is be there.

I have had the chance to fish out in the backcountry during this type of scenario and some of the days we have been having are astounding. How about 28 redfish and 18 snook? All but 10 fish were sighted and cast to, with the result being a fish to the boat. Over and over that day we were amazed to see the flaring of a redfish’s gills and snook pounding surface baits as they inhaled our baits. We fished the northern creek mouths and points and never once went more than 15 minutes without seeing fish. But, beware of the shallow water in these areas; my Maverick Mirage HPX-V was dragging butt for most of the day in six inches of water with myself and one angler aboard.

There have been lots of fish on the outside wrecks as well. Making the trip out ten to fifteen miles 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 twenty-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.

Gear Check

I have just started using the Odyssey Batteries on both my Maverick and the Bluewater 25 and what a relief. No longer am I worrying about the bait wells, Hummingbird GPS and the VHF Radio being on all day and hoping the E-Tec’s will start. No longer am I uneasy about drifting for hours for swordfish with deck lights and the Hydro glow Fish Light on along with everything else. Fishing on wrecks and being at anchor for three or four hours without starting the engine used to worry me, but not any longer. Check out the very best battery on the market at: www.odysseybatteries.com

---

Captain Dave Sutton is sponsored by Evinrude, Bluewater Boats, Sea-Power, Costa Eyewear, Power-Pro lines, Odyssey Batteries, SOL Sunscreen, Calusa Nets, Hydro-Glow Fishing Lights, Rapala, Frogg-Toggs, High Rollers, Lipper Tool, Pro-Fish, Hummingbird 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 a new 2009 Bluewater. 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 inclusion on his website and print, or to book a trip, call him at 305-248-6126 or e-mail him at djsutton@bellsouth.net.
On the web …  www.ontheflatschearters.com