Rickenbacker 2009 -10-11-12-13-14-15 Fishing Reports Only

[Cannible]

I've heard, that there are a few bonefish hiding around there. But there is a ton of trout. Find some ledges on the grass flats sea trout are just like bass. A word of warning, I've heard of the aquarium discarding left over bait in the bay and the bull sharks clean up.

[johnzabeasts]

Thanks guys I appreciate it. Now I can't wait to get out of here and wet some lines! I've only caught a hand full of trout before so it should be fun. And I've heard about those bull sharks, I'm gonna be very careful about that, hate to run into one of those!

[johnzabeasts]

So I guess I was wrong. I thought I packed my fly rod but since I was being rushed this morning I left it in the garage. However I did have my stripping basket and my fly box full of baitfish and shrimp imitations but no good without a rod. Luckily I did also bring a spinning outfit with some lures, I guess that would have to do. So after Miami seaquarium I quickly go to work casting into every promising spot that I came across and 10 minutes in something startles me but in a good way, a loud crashing noise in the general vicinity of my lure. The noise quickly wakes me from my day dreaming mind and I think to myself game on, this is it. Now I'm paying attention but only to find that he missed the hook, I keep working the lure back to my feet and then..... Squat, nada, nothing, zilch. Bummer. I toss it back in the spot and on the first twitch I see a huge boil behind the lure.. "Ok here goes nothing" another twitch twitch pause and two more boils... Twitch twitch pause... A huge wake behind the lure and as the wake opens up towards me I see what dreams are made of: the mouth of a BEAST snook wide open and going straight for my lure, he closes his mouth and I feel a huge thump on the end of the rod and I set the hook. Fish on. Unfortunately this was short lived, he pulls some drag and then he's gone. Darn it, I reel back my line and I can still feel my lure, what in the world happened? I check out the aftermath only to find my hook hook bent straight. Well the snook did what snooks do best and that's come off the end of your line anyway possible. I replaced my chafed up leader and continue my trek. I end up with 2 more solid hit and misses. In the last 10 minutes before it was time to go I finally get a solid hook set on the 4th hit of the day, I bring it and I see a beautiful linesider waiting for me. Hooked right in the corner of the mouth, what a sight to see for someone who's sun burn from the previous day is getting sun burned. Made the trip for me, what it lacked in size it made up for in beauty, such a clean fish. Ok maybe I'm just telling myself that because I'm still heart broken from the big girl that pulled the hook. All in all between Miami seaquarium and the one that got away and the nice underslot snook, it was a nice day in Miami.

[Poseidon10/31]

Sucks you lost that snook. What kinda lure were you using that the hook straightened? Cause if I own one I wanna change out the hooks...

[johnzabeasts]

It was an unfair lure mullet. But the hooks were rusted from a lot of use and should of been replaced a while ago. The thing with those lures is that the hooks that they use seem really inconsistent to me from one lure to another. For instance, I've owned a bunch of rip n slashes and on some the hooks would bend in my hands in others they would be rock solid pulling fish away from structure on a locked down drag. But after today's incident I don't want to take any chances so I'll probably be replacing the hooks on all my lures. Do you have any hook suggestions that have never failed you?

[Poseidon10/31]

It was an unfair lure mullet. But the hooks were rusted from a lot of use and should of been replaced a while ago. The thing with those lures is that the hooks that they use seem really inconsistent to me from one lure to another. For instance, I've owned a bunch of rip n slashes and on some the hooks would bend in my hands in others they would be rock solid pulling fish away from structure on a locked down drag. But after today's incident I don't want to take any chances so I'll probably be replacing the hooks on all my lures. Do you have any hook suggestions that have never failed you?

Gamakatsu has never failed. Eagle claws used to snap on me so I stopped using them, also had a couple Mustads straighten out. Never had one issue with Gamakatsu.

[Eddie305]

Does anyone ever fish the beach by the seaquarium? Me and the family are in the seaquarium right now and I brought my fly rod so I'll probably check it out anyways and report back later. Looks nice clear and shallow so if anything is around I should be able to see it. Just curious if anyone has any experience with sight fishing the area. Not exactly my neck of the woods so when I do report later I don't even know if I'll be putting it in the right place. We did stop to use the restrooms a little further up the road before the bridge on what appeared to be a flat and I saw schools of mullet occasionally getting spooked pretty badly by predator fish made a couple cast but then it was time to go.

Ive caught alot of jacks there and ive seen alot of fish there but your not really able to cast far enough to get anything good, theres alot of cudas and some ladyfish at times, they need to open up bear cut already rickenbacker sucks unless theres tarpon feeding, or bluefish running.

[Dalton Fury]

Gave the Rick another shot last night and what a disappointment. Water looked great, but not much bait around. Tons of googans handfishing and crossing lines. Was appalled at the poaching going on, no wonder there's no keepers swimming around. The idiot to my right had a bucket full of 4-6 in grovers and muttons. The yahoos to my left fed every undersized snapper to the birds. Not to mention the people jumping off the bridge and spooking every fish within casting distance. Pretty repulsive sight last night, shame this is the only fishing hole close enough for after work action...

[Dalton Fury]

Sounds like a better option, thanks. Sorry for venting, just some leftover frustration from getting skunked LOL but I fish real light with a 7' medium heavy rod and 10# braid. Any suggestions on lures? Was thinking mirror lure/X rap/jig

[Eddie305]

Your best bet if you want to get away from there and go fishing is walk the beach. Use a very lite setup

This is the best way to fish rick, walk the beach and watch the water, I was out there saturday night ( Last saturday ) and there was a ton of fish crashing the surface but not close enough to cast to, ALSO i was standing on the bottom of the bridge where the kids jump in at, But i have seen ALOT of fishing crashing the surface while i walked the beach with my fiance, She didnt let me take the rod so yea....

[ricky9]

Any reports of macks or blues being caught in the bay yet?

[Miami_Chris]

Tried a couple weeks back after work tossing jigs to wait out traffic. Cut off twice, and some small jacks. I should be out again soon, those macks will make good bottom baits.

[Moose]

the macs have been in the bay for a few weeks now...but not very big ones 18" was the biggest i've caught so far...its a bit early for their time, but they are there at the right tide/wind direction blah blah blah

[ricky9]

thanks guys, ill head out this week and report on the rick or either bill baggs.

[snapperfanatic18]

went out to the rick on sunday morning and caught 8 macks (all released due to size) ...they were around 12-15", so i let them live .....catch of the day for me was filling a bucket of ballyhoos (planning a trip to the keys in the near future) in just two cast with my 12' net....there were massive schools of hoos around for much of the day! first time ive been out in a looooooooooooooong while! LOLOL...tight lines

[swordfish]

That should give you choice bait for the keys... Make them plugs and you shalt not be disappointed! They love Hoo Plugs!

-swordfish

[snapperfanatic18]

they sure will!!!

[snapperfanatic18]

there were a couple of ppl that did, but no takers.....those freelined hoos are best right after a strong cold front.... ive been out there at the rick casting for macks and have seen kings skyrocket out there!that would be my best bet...and during a near full incoming....i was too lazy to freeline one out..not to mention, there were tons of ppl and the east wind woulda made it difficult to do so...

[Adriankd35]

there were a couple of ppl that did, but no takers.....those freelined hoos are best right after a strong cold front.... ive been out there at the rick casting for macks and have seen kings skyrocket out there!that would be my best bet...and during a near full incoming....i was too lazy to freeline one out..not to mention, there were tons of ppl and the east wind woulda made it difficult to do so...

What part of the bridge did you see the kings?

[Moose]

most of the kings there are snakes....so be careful if you are fishing for macks as they are always mixed in (no one there seems to care though)

on another note, my buddies went fishing for macks in the morning with mild success...crazy part, they saw a HUGE hammerhead shark patrolling the bridge all morning...i'll post the picture when i get home...but holy chit!! A 10+ hammer in the bay?!

[swordfish]

Yeah alex, that is not at all out of the ordinary! They are around lol!

-swordfish

[gruntking]

most of the kings there are snakes....so be careful if you are fishing for macks as they are always mixed in (no one there seems to care though)

on another note, my buddies went fishing for macks in the morning with mild success...crazy part, they saw a HUGE hammerhead shark patrolling the bridge all morning...i'll post the picture when i get home...but holy chit!! A 10+ hammer in the bay?!

i beleave that i got one there a lil over a year ago close to 14 truely a monster
you cant really tell from the pic but damn
i'll be outthere this weekend

[Moose]

here's the picture my bud sent from his iphone

[Poseidon10/31]

Talked to some guys fishing the beach by the seaquarium for sharks. They showed me pics of a 12' something hammer they landed the day before. I've personally seen 10' bulls and heard seaquarium staff say they've seen big hammers attack big sharks during the feeding time out back. Any place that dumps over 15 gallons of herring in the water on a daily basis is bound to attract some guests.

[swordfish]

Oh yeah, they know that place is a feeding station, next to a BEACH, however it is BAD BAD NAUGHTY for us to fish at a beach...

-swordfish

[snapperfanatic18]

agonzalez, that is true, but these were, if i had to guess anywhere between 5-8 pounders! trust me, ive been fishing the rick for over 15 yrs....seen alot of stuff in my time fishing there....but its not out of the question....right place, right time and you never know what'll come across your baits! LOL

[Moose]

agonzalez, that is true, but these were, if i had to guess anywhere between 5-8 pounders! trust me, ive been fishing the rick for over 15 yrs....seen alot of stuff in my time fishing there....but its not out of the question....right place, right time and you never know what'll come across your baits! LOL

I believe you man all they way, i just didnt want to get the kids hopes up, that and wanted to make him aware that the snakes are mixed in (hell some days its only snakes).


i usually never live bait there.. guess now i have a reason to. I havent gone very often since the macks havent been too big, but last week there were thick as hell and we were able to manage about half a dozen that were 20"+. Once we get a real front that should all change and the bay will be a very fun place for light tackle fishing