Capt. Dave Saddler - Biscayne Bay

Bonefish are cruising through in sporatic small pods along the deeper edges and slots of the flats. The best fish this past week was 12lbs and caught on a #2 Kwan with a chartreuse tail. The bright tail makes it easier for the angler and Bonefish to see the fly. Concentrate on the oceanside flats north of Elliot Key. The shallow flats are better fished later in the day when they warm up to their peak temperture. Permit and schools of Bar Jacks are also moving though the oceanside flats. Look for the night Tarpon fishing in Miami to pick up as more cold fronts push the shrimp runs through. This fishing is best done with clear intermediate lines like Cortland's Little Tunny or SA's clear Tarpon. The fish will spook less and be more receptive to flies.

Capt. John Meskauskas - Stuart

This report is taken from Capt. John's web page at www.stuartflyfishing.com

"December 4, 2004
Let me start by saying I am coming off of one of the best weeks of redfishing I have had in a long time. I think the hurricanes blew in some redfish. The flats have been loaded with snook, redfish and trout. We had 4 Indian River slams this week. My friend Capt. Scott Cormier the new owner of Southern Angler caught a 42 inch red this week on what else but a DOA shrimp. That is an impressive fish anywhere, but especially in Stuart! The bad news is, it is inevitable that the flats will slow soon once winter kicks in and the focus around Stuart will turn to pompano, spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish. If one still wants to target redfish it is still a very good bite on the shallow flats north of Fort Pierce. I have a shallow draft boat on order and it should be in next week, just in time to sight fish reds in very shallow water (6 to 8 inches). I fished in Mosquito Lagoon today with my good friend Capt. Paul Bergeron and we had a wonderful day casting to tailing reds with the flyrod. We caught 6 fish all on the Borski Bonefish Slider. There is nothing I love more then casting a fly to tailing reds. I really had a chance today to sit back and enjoy the Indian River Lagoon, I am extremely lucky to have such a great office. My wife is due any day now with our 2nd son so I will keep all of you posted on our new arrival."

Capt. Scott Hamilton - Palm Beach

The winter cycle of fishing has started and there's no lack of choices to target. Dolphin are being caught on the color changes and weed lines in 300-600ft of water. Try to keep the school close to the boat by chumming or leaving a hooked fish in the water. Don't be afraid to throw light rods (6-7wt) at the little schoolies. This can be incredible fun! If your looking for that big slob, sink a fast density compensated line (SA's fast Striper) on a 10-11 weight with big 3/0 Eat Me Flies in Chartreuse/White or Blue/Pink/White. Count it down to the desired depth and give the rod jigging motions by quickly pulling back on it, followed by slowly swinging the tip back to the water. Every few jigs, reel in a little line to fish a different section of the water column. Tripletail are suspended in the same weedlines as the Dolphin. Closer in along the beaches are Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish and medium-sized Jacks. The bigger Jacks will trickle in, but the main part of their run will happen after the New Year. This past week on a guided trip, Scott got into 8-10 Sailfish busting baitballs in 20ft of water! He got one to follow and slash at a big Eat Me Fly in white topped with a little blue. The Sail followed the fly to the boat before getting spooked off. Tarpon averaging 30lbs are on the inside of the inlet laid up on the bottom in 20ft of water. Blind casting and dredging will work, but also make shots at fish when they roll on the surface.