This time of year can be an excellent time of the year to fly fish for a whole host of reasons. From countless freshwater opportunities such as canals, ponds, and lakes, to the immense saltwater environments that surround the state like the mangrove estuaries, shallow flats and beyond-you are bound to find an outstanding diversity of fish species that call Florida waters home and make your fly-fishing possibilities truly endless.
A few tips to keep in mind when fly fishing during this time of the year that can greatly change your experience are: Tip # 1—the heavy heat combined with very high humidity in the middle of the day are very intense and can act like a blanket, so fishing during lower light or even into the night can help keep you more comfortable and potentially get you more bites, especially when targeting snook and tarpon. Tip #2—before you plan your fishing adventure, take a quick look at the radar because the afternoon thunderstorms can be very dangerous if you are near the water due to their very strong winds, high volumes of water dropped in a short amount of time, and the unbelievable amount of potentially deadly lighting that these storms can generate.
Keeping these couple things in mind when making your fly fishing plans can greatly improve your safety and experience catching fish. Knowing how to go about targeting the specific species you are wanting to catch, what areas to target, and how to fish them effectively is the key to success in Florida.
Snook and tarpon, large jack crevalle, redfish, sharks and more are very abundant during this month because the water temps are still high and these predators are continuing to take advantage of the bait volume in peak with the mullet migration in full effect. When targeting these species during this time of year, it’s great to focus on fishing in the early morning, late evening, or even in the middle of night. At these times, snook, tarpon, and most of the large game fish that call Florida home can be found on the beaches to the backcountry, in mangroves to seawalls, docks, bridges, inlets, and in areas where moving water or current create an ambush point. These predators will sit and ambush these mullet as they are migrating south. Don't be afraid to throw your fly tight to a structure and be prepared for a very aggressive eat when these fish decide to commit. Baitfish patterns like the Crooked Looker and the Death Row Mullet are natural choices, particularly when there is visible bait around. The Death Row Mullet is a larger profile that can stand out and draw some big bites. Having some flies that stay on top like the SDGB Popper are great options to have in the box, as well.
If you can only get out for a little while or when the wind picks up and the conditions have deteriorated to a point where the saltwater environment is no longer optimal, South Florida's freshwater fisheries offer an excellent alternative.
Some of the best South Florida fly fishing can happen in places that don't look like traditional fishing destinations. The urban canals that run throughout the region can hold so many different kinds of fish such as large mouth bass, peacock bass, panfish, oscar, tilapia, chiclids, bullseye snakeheads, gar, snook, tarpon, and a variety of other species. Some of the narrowest ditches can have large fish lurking in the shadows near bridges, culverts, vegetation, trees, points, and shaded banks, which all provide excellent cover for the fish to congregate.
Large mouth bass and peacock bass are some of South Florida’s most exciting freshwater fish to target with a fly rod because they are very aggressive and are capable of making a top water fly disappear in spectacular fashion. Early morning and late evening are great times to experiment with topwater flies like the Hop-to-it Frog and the Foxy Gurgler, then switch to a subsurface profile like the EP Baitfish, or the WBC Spider as the sun gets higher.
One of the advantages of fly fishing these waters is the ability to cover distance via walking the banks and having a few different fly patterns in your box for a variety of depths and presentations to target the many different kinds of fish you will come across. Most of these fresh water species are aggressive and will take a fly.
So whether you are targeting the freshwater ditches of south Florida or any of the saltwater gamefish that call this place home, remember that there are endless fly-fishing opportunities all throughout the great state.
