November is a transition month here in Everglades National Park. Basically, the summer rainy season has ended so we will begin to see less fresh water moving south into Florida Bay. This means that the fish are going to begin making there annual move back into the deeper waters of the bay and take up position near outflows in order to ambush the bait making the same trek. With the cooler conditions it is a perfect time to think outside the box and do some exploratory fishing back in the many NO-MOTOR ZONES of Everglades National Park.
I have wanted to do this article since I began writing for Fishmonster back in December of last year. When I go fishing for myself nothing gets me more excited than fishing new waters in new ways. Ever since I was in the Boy Scouts I have loved fishing from canoes in very hard to access areas, out of reach of most anglers in pristine backwaters few venture into. Over the years I have built up a select group of clients that share my passion for fishing the no-motor zones of the park where the fish have had very little pressure and will eat almost anything. Sometimes taking the canoe on my flats boat and driving many miles only to get into the canoe and paddle several more miles to fish. It’s what I refer to as EXTREME FISHING!
Now this kind of fishing is not for everyone. Over the years I have had episodes with heat exhaustion, dehydration, muscle cramps, the most intense bugs you could ever imagine, very close encounters with crocodiles and alligators and even gotten turned around a couple of times but not lost! Fishing from a canoe is not easy and requires a certain level of physical fitness and a complete knowledge of your own capabilities. All this in the quest to know what lies around the next corner because that is where the bigger fish have to be. I have had fishing buddies refuse to ever fish with me again and even had a girlfriend break up with me because she thought this was the worst idea for a date ever.
I first began fishing a little known area called Bear Lake just north of Flamingo where motors are not allowed. This means no trolling motors, just a paddle and your muscles to propel you through the wilderness. After a little over a mile and a half down a narrow ditch surrounded by mangroves and air plants you arrive at the lake and start fishing for tarpon, snook, redfish, black drum and even a few sea trout. The southern shoreline of the lake is covered in fallen dead mangrove trees that are a fisherman’s dream when it comes to structure and the water is a dark red/brown almost black. However, all the trees are covered in barnacles that cut through leader faster than a knife and will hang up any lure with an exposed hook. After many trials with different rigs I fell in love with Johnson gold/silver weedless spoons and 50-60lb leaders. Now I could fish effectively without having to stop every 2 casts to pull a hook out of a snag. I used to bring live shrimp with me but soon realized that I could cover more water fishing artificial lures and would not have to listen to the noisy aerator all day long.
If you decide to go here are a few tips that will give you a leg up – things I had to learn the hard way. When fishing this way it is always better to expect the worst and hope for the best. Satellite maps are a must for anyone fishing these remote areas. A hand-held GPS is also advisable but it is important not to be dependent on it solely – you can never go wrong with a good compass. Always make sure your partner has the physical ability to get you back in case of an unforeseen problem and knows the way. Either a sponge or small pump will help you remove water when it rains or from the water dripping from your paddle accumulating in the canoe and it is helpful to have a functioning dry bag for your gear. Be prepared for the worst biting insects you have ever encountered. When in a canoe you are going nowhere fast so be prepared to deal with them.
There are hundreds of miles of waters in no-motor zones waiting to be explored and fished – some of my best days fishing have taken place in these areas. One year I had two clients catch 76 snook in one day fishing, by far the best snook fishing I have ever experienced.
Those of you who know me are aware that, to me, fishing is more than just a game, it’s a way of life. So fish hard and fish often!
Captain Mike Makowski
