south florida canal fishing

[Loudy]

Today i was fishing a small pond on the tamiami trail in miami florida. It was cold weather so i had no clue what to use tackle wise. I saw the fish jumping in the water everywhere. I was there two hours and saw hundreds of fish jump so i knew they were there. I tried shads, worms, swishers, poppers, jigs, and spinners. but nothing bit. I would like some help on what to use. This canal contains largemouth, panfish, peocock, and what appeared to be a channel catfish today. Any help would be appreciated.

[warmer]

describe the "jump" that you saw... \

im guessing that if you threw everything at them and they didnt eat, they werent bass... after all - they have a brain the size of a pea, and when they are feeding their brain capacity doesnt even rival a 13 yr olds when a pretty girl walks by.

there are several fish species that make noise on the surface that are not going to eat anything you throw... when i first saw gizzard shad, i spent 2 hrs trying to make them eat... also pleco (sailfin/suckermouth catfish) roll up on the surface...

[fishingmachine]

I do a lot of canal fishing, and this time of year its a little tough to connect with bass. Sounds like you threw everything you had at em with little or no success. Sometimes its like that. You will see surface breaking fish when walking the canals eveywhere, but it does not mean what you see are bass?

Iam now using a senko green in color and working it very very slowly next to the bank, this seems to produce at times when nothing else will. Many times they hit on the fall, be sure to let them eat it a little longer, before setting the hook. Or you will pull it right out of their mounths.

I fish in West Palm next to the turnpike but fish in Miami as well. I caught a good fishing this morning. Be kind folks, this picture was taken with a cell phone, but the size of his head should give a clue, as to the poundage. Hope this picture attaches.

Good luck.

[Loudy]

what tackle and lures do you reccomend for me to try? Also if it is other species would i be able to catch them?

[South FLA]

  Quote

I saw the fish jumping in the water everywhere. I was there two hours and saw hundreds of fish jump so i knew they were there. I tried shads, worms, swishers, poppers, jigs, and spinners. but nothing bit. I would like some help on what to use. .

S. Florida Canals, especially the Tamiaimi, are chalk full of.......DRUM ROLL PLEASE...Mullet. Yes, mullet and they are quite the jumpers.  Only way I have ever caught them is using a cast net, which I don't recommend especially in S. Florida canals unless you want to be repairing it, due to sharp coral rocks.  

Multiple jumps in a short period of time are typical of mullet and they usually are headed in one direction.  Here is an interesting article on why mullet jump.  

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/faq/mullet.htm

[Loudy]

thanks for your input but these here werent mullet. I did see some mullet that day but these fish did not look the same. I believe the mullet are silver & black. The fish i saw when they were in the air had a pale faded yellow color belly. These fish did not repeat there jumps numerous times in a row either. Im starting to agree with the catfish theory because i was thinking that myself also.

thank you all for your help and any more information would be greatly appreciated.