Everglades Adventure

[Zcoker]

Epic day out in the glades bass fishing...over 35 fish caught off the banks....no boat, no canoe or yak, just two feet and a fishing rod and a couple topwater lures lol 

 

This is actually my 3rd outing bass fishing in over 25 years! Yep, no joking....been tied up catching and tagging monster sharks off the local beaches on the SE coast of Florida.....I tag sharks for NOAA’s Apex Predator Program catch and release only. 

 

Took a break from some recent epic topwater shark fishing and hit the glades with some good (I think) results on top....plus a little R&R....those crazy sharks can do a number on ya! lol 

 

So it’s kinda a back and forth thing for me  right now, which I’m really enjoying! 

 

 

 

 

[ArthurLK11]

Awesome day! How long were you out for?

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Zcoker]

59 minutes ago, ArthurLK11 said:

Awesome day! How long were you out for?

 

Sunrise to about mid day 

[GaryH]

Welcome aboard and wow great pics.

[Bankbeater]

Good catching! Those pics are amazing.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Nice catches. Something special about the glades. . . 

[Fishlegs]

Nice! Did you say topwater shark fishing? I'd like to hear more about that. That sounds awesome!

[NorcalBassin]

Wow, what a day!

[Zcoker]

On 12/11/2020 at 4:50 PM, Fishlegs said:

Nice! Did you say topwater shark fishing? I'd like to hear more about that. That sounds awesome!

 

Yeah man it’s as good as it gets—sharks on top water—nothing better. They hit like lightening, hit the air like rockets, and then pull 300-400 yards on a maddening insane run. Have to use relatively light gear to cast for them. So it’s a total rush, believe me!

 

Here’s an example. Catch a lot of them on top. 

 

 

[Fishlegs]

Thanks for sharing @Zcoker! I would never have guessed you were fishing for sharks from the shore. I bet the release process is a little trickier with a shark than it is with a bass. Lol

[Zcoker]

Releasing sharks comes natural because i’ve been doing it for years. It’s certainly a lot harder than even the largest bass lol At night can get a bit tricky with the big girls...gotta swim them out arm in arm lol 

 

 

[Zcoker]

Confidence is the best fishing lure of all....only it doesn’t have a good hook-set lol

 

The day started off with a few fish but then flat out died. So I was thinking about that  confidence statement, applying it to my fishing in such a way that I just “knew” that I’d get that monster fish sooner or later. Believe it or not, confidence IS the best fishing lure of all. 

 

Well, it happened about mid-day, sun wide open, wind dead calm, water flat as a pancake... probably not the most ideal conditions. I was tossing a chatter bait. About the third cast on the retrieve right by shore I see the lure coming in and right behind it is a fish at least 9 pounds. I slow the lure; the fish moves in right near my feet. I start a side pull; fish tracks and then nips the lure. I swing hard and it felt solid....but only for a moment...d**n! 

 

After that it stated raging with heat, so I called it and was heading back. On the way back, I saw a nice looking clump of grass all by its lonesome and thought “what the heck”. So I pulled over and made a cast just to the right of the clump with the same chatter bait...nothing. Then I tossed to the left of the clump. Suddenly, the water boiled! And I mean BOILED like nothing I’ve ever seen with a bass. The lift of water was so pronounced and bulged in such a way that I thought an alligator had just taken my $20 Jackhhammer...but I set the hook anyway.

 

And the fight began. I knew in seconds that it was a fish of a life time because the whole area went off like an atomic bomb.....grass went flat, water exploded, and the whole day burst wide open...drag was being pulled on the almost locked reel. I fought thisp fish maybe a good 2-3 minutes before it finally started to calm. I gained and had it near-shore, long enough to get a good look in total disbelief...

 

And then that hook of confidence let go, and the fish swam off easily. 

 

That’s my story on a fish that looked to have been an easy mid-teens! Yes, a 14-15 pounder! A fish of a life time, indeed. 

 

 

[scaleface]

Holy Cow ! 

 

I would like to fish the Everglades . I have never hired a guide but may for an 8 hour trip there .

[Zcoker]

You don’t necessarily need a guide. There’s many access points across the state to choose from and then explore. Heck, i’ve done better bank fishing than on the water lately. Besides, most on the water aim for the bank anyway lol. Just have to be careful and calculated in the glades....common sense, really. I’m enjoying it big time. So exciting exploring and seeing all the wildlife....not to mention catching fish! 

[fishinfiend]

Well done, bud!

[Miabucman]

Awesome.  Brings back memories from my college days.  When offshore was too rough, my bud and I would hit the Glades with his jon boat and the fishing was always epic!  We had a special place that we called "Spider Alley" due to the need to knock down a multitude of webs as we worked out way back to our fishing spots.  I always enjoyed the scenery and other wildlife while I got to chill with my bud.  I am a little jealous but awesome job!

[geo g]

Great job!