Keys To The Keys
lowrance
lowrance.com
written by james knicely
Whether you are after baby Tarpon near the shore, or you’re setting out after some Snook and Redfish on an adventure into the Everglades, there is a wide variety of fishing to be had in the Florida Keys. In this episode, Tom and Rich share their insight and knowledge into the Keys after a successful day.
@ SE Multimedia 2019
Casting Is Everything
After heading out in the morning, Tom and Rich caught sight of some baby tarpon rolling on the surface, so they made their way over to take a shot at bringing in one of their favorite fish. This time they were using chartreuse and white minnow lures, and they were getting quite a few hits. However, as Tom explains, the most important step for hooking these baby tarpon is getting your cast right.
“Get to where they discover it, rather than you just showing it to them.”
@ SE Multimedia 2019
“The incredible feeling of exploration and excitement.”
These younger tarpon were especially active on the surface, which indicated that they were feeding heavily. With such aggressive behavior, Tom and Rich were able to see right where the fish were. Seeing exactly where a fish gives you an advantage as a fisherman, compared with most other types of fishing, but it all comes down to having the right cast if you want to capitalize on this advantage. If you can land your cast nearby or just beyond where you spotted the fish (tarpon in this case), and then naturally bring the lure by the tarpon’s vicinity, then you are in business. Dropping it too close, however, will appear unnatural to the fish, and if you stray too far, your lure will never be seen in the first place. You can watch the episode for some good examples to get this technique just right.
Know (or Navigate) Your Way Around the Everglades
Once the day warmed up, and the tarpon moved back off the surface, Tom and Rich were ready to move on to a new challenge and new quarry. The only problem was, they were headed to the edge of the Everglades. Many times, if you are fishing a new area, you do not have familiarity with the landscape to know what your options are for good locations. In Tom and Rich’s case, they are extremely knowledgeable and experienced, but the landscape there is difficult to read, and the water is murky, with low visibility. It is impossible to maintain a consistent mental map of the area; this makes it difficult to scout good spots for fishing.
“Talk about totally changing the game. You know I’ve fished this island so many times and I only fish it up under the bushes.”
So, to help them navigate the Everglades and locate fishing holes with precision and speed, Tom and Rich used the 16 inch Lowrance HDS electronics package, paired with photographic aerial maps. This enabled them to get a clear, birds-eye-view of the waterways, showing them navigation channels, and allowing them to locate their boat exactly into the key spots they would have otherwise missed.
@ SE Multimedia 2019
Always Consider Fish Behavior & Current Conditions
However, fancy electronics like the Lowrance system are tools that are best used as complements to experience and knowledge. Tom and Rich always stay aware of how changing conditions will impact the behavior of the fish. When they first arrived in the everglades, they had some minimal success but the tide was so low, they were having some difficulty finding the fish. Since they knew the tide was just starting to come in, they were able to use this to their advantage by pairing the aerial insight from the Lowrance system to spot out locations on the edge of the everglades with extra depth. They know that the fish will gravitate to these locations when the tide is still low, as it begins to rise.
“You can see that...obviously this is where they’re going to be.”
As the tide came in, the fish naturally swam to the deeper alcoves shown on the Lowrance system. Before long Tom and Rich began reeling in the fish, “and the photos were a big part of that.” While it was a new methodology for Tom and Rich, the science and behavior of the fish was consistent with their past experience. They paired that knowledge with the newfound ability to see into the water depth and locate their boat directly alongside, those key underwater features. By the end of the day, they had a full backcountry slam of Tarpon, Snook, and Redfish. You may not have a 16 inch Lowrance HDS electronics system (although highly we recommend it), but if you consider the behavior of the fish you are after and use the tools at your disposal accordingly, then you will put yourself in the best possible position to see a successful day out on the Keys.
Watch Episode 6 below, to learn more about how Tom and Rich approach using new tools and tactics in familiar territory.
