FRESHWATER

from Coastal Angler Magazine | May 2023 | Miami Edition

KAYAKER LANDS 102-POUND PADDLEFISH

by Captain Mike Tojdowski

Spring is upon us and so is the amazing shing that South Florida has to o er. All freshwater target species are very active during the month of May. Following the largemouth bass spawn, they will begin to start feeding heavily again, and will be much more active. Ultra-aggressive peacock bass, which will be escorting their fry, make an easy target. Both tarpon and snook can be targeted with much more success with the spring showers which will move more water through the system, and therefore cause sh feeding in the currents to be even more active.

Water levels in the Everglades and urban waterways will be at their peak levels allowing anglers and sh alike to access areas otherwise unreachable during the dryer months. Flowing water throughout the system will be like a needed cleansing. Plus, the higher rate of ow will move bait sh all the way from Lake Okeechobee through the network of lakes and canals to the ocean levy limits. is will give you an opportunity to cast net your own bait or at least see what local baits are around so you can match the hatch with arti cial. is is the best time of year to target huge largemouth bass in the Everglades with big baits.

I nd some of the best arti cials to target largemouth bass are spinner baits with purple & watermelon color skirts or Senko worms, 5-6 inches in length in pearl white, cinnamon, and lemon yellow paired, with a bullet weight and swivel setup. In addition, large live baits over 6 inches work like magic in the Everglades for monster largemouth this month.

Peacock bass still love their shiners and poppers this time of year. You can get them to go airborne while striking your baits if you work them correctly.

Tarpon and snook will strike live mullet and pin sh on or around the bridges and Flare hawk jigs a er dark in moving water towards the pilings.

May’s expected rain showers will have the freshwater sh in our city red up with owing water and deeper pockets bringing the sh closer to shore allowing anglers to target them more easily from land and allowing boats to access many more areas in the Everglades otherwise untouchable during the dryer months.