The FishermanTraveling

by Capt. Bouncer Smith

Ihave been having some very good days shing around Florida the last couple weeks. I stopped in Malabar and bass shed with Mike Arnoldy for a couple of days. I had my best catches ever on rubber worms. I stayed at the Arnoldy’s sh camp for a couple of nights. What a great place to stay. haulinbassguide.com

From there I moved down to Miami to do some shing with old clients and Captain Abie Raymond. Abie was catching good numbers of ounder and I hoped to see the action. We caught lots of porgies and grunts and nally caught a couple vermilion snappers and a ounder. It was just our luck that the current, which inspired the ounder to bite, had quit. at’s shing. So, we moved out deeper and caught a real nice king sh and a couple mutton snappers. @ abie_raymond on Instagram

I shed with Captain Dennis Forgione out of Haulover on his boat Freespool. We caught a couple king sh and a lesser amberjack on a very short half day.

I got out shing with my buddies Tom and Jimmy. Tom caught a big american red snapper on a slow pitch jig as well as an almaco jack. Jimmy proved his worth with a big king sh and a mutton snapper.

A couple of days later I was back with Abie, but we went bay shing in light of the 20-25 knot winds that were blowing. We had a great day with Van and George with real nice gray snappers and plenty of snook.

A er a couple days o I rejoined Tom and Jimmy. It was a tough day with a big porgy and a big almaco jack.

Today I ask Abie Raymond to guide Buddy and his new bride Laura to her rst sail sh. Abie came through with a sail sh and 2 nice king sh on a half day.

So, Let’s look at April. First o remember that a boat shing from 5 to 9 PM will usually catch more sh in April and May than a boat shing from 8AM to 5 PM. e sail sh, tuna and king sh will really turn on in the late a ernoon. You can anchor over a wreck from 100-150 feet or dri from 90 to 200 feet. Chum with live or dead pilchards, sh a kite and use 30-40 pound uorocarbon leaders.

Snook and cubera are searching for your pin sh in the inlets. Change to fresh baits frequently so they have the energy to swim to the bottom where the snook and cubera await them.

It is prime tarpon season. If your bait shop gets good sized shrimp, that’s great. But, if there are no shrimp, then sh live crabs for the tarpon. Remember neither of these baits swim upside, so you’ll have to oat them back with the tide and wind them up and do it again.

By the way, don’t be surprised if a nice permit grabs that live crab. It’s a good idea to carry a couple crabs everywhere you go through April and May as permit may show up on wrecks or weed lines anywhere.

If we get lucky there will be some king sh around in April. Live bait from 40 to 180 feet may score. Number 4 wire and a stinger hook near the tail of your bait may help with the hookups. King sh are always easiest to catch when you sh a very loose drag.

Trout have made a nice comeback around Miami. A rubber lure, like a Vudu shrimp or a DOA TerrorEyz under a oat is an easy way to catch trout and watch kids laugh.

Finally, April and May are great months for sail sh. Look for them to be anywhere from 60 feet out to 250. ese sh want to get south to spawn, so, if you have a strong northbound current the sails may move into some pretty dirty water to get out of the current.

I sure hope I see you out there.

Capt Bouncer Smith 305-439-2475

captbouncer@bellsouth.net