Fly Fishing

Redside

I am going to be in Ft Lauderdale in mid February. I have never caught a Tarpon or snook and would love to do so (would prefer fly fishing but I'm not ruling out spin fishing as well)
Any ideas on a good local guide in the Fort Lauderdale area? Do they have a web page?
Thanks.

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Well if it's tarpon and snook your looking for, I don't know much about how that might pan out for you in February in Lauderdale, you might want to consider heading into the backcountry ... other folks more familiar with that could help you out with the specifics .. i do know this .. if you were willing to go over towards the everglades national park area .. you could fish snook (and possibly find some baby tarpon) with a great guide named kevin mckehoff www.snookin.com ... again, based on my experience in february i always think "probably gonna be windy and a cold front on the open ocean stuff and down in the keys ... so, i better plan on a safer winter bet and have something in the backcountry to fall back on ..." .. but, thats' just me .. and of course, it could be 80 degrees with night time lows in the 70's in which case that changes alot of things and the fish may come up on the flats in the keys etc .... so, when doing your research for a guide .. you might want to look for a COUPLE in different areas because based on wind directions and air/water temperatures .. on spot or area might be significantly better or at least more likely and definately more comfortable than another ... so, feb. in florida is winter .. and the air/water temp is the best "guide" you can follow (in my opinion) ...

so, my recommendation (for what it's worth) would be .. though your going to be in lauderdale .. don't just look in that vicinity .. are you willing to drive 1-2 hours south or west? if so ... that changes alot of things .. but, at the same time it may or may not be necessary ...

i don't fish too often, north of miami ... so, i can't help you there .. but i am good friends with PETE on this site who does fish that region alot (i think he is from there too) .. and he has been trying to get me to do a spinner shark trip with him for the last couple years ... this might be a good guide to start with .. in terms of "referal" .. meaning, if pete says "he's good" .. he's good in my book ... so, maybe start here .. then find this dudes site .. maybe pete will respond here? (although i think he is south africa right now?) .. good luck. hope something here helped?

http://www.fliesandfins.com/article334.html

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Actually .. i found 2 good things for you ..

1. some "reviews" of scott hamiliton .. ps. looks like snook, tarpon, jacks, albies .. are his "game" too ..

http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=397117

2. scott hamiltons website

http://www.flyfishingextremes.com

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

one more thing .. if "catching" is what your interested in .. i read what one of the dudes said on stripersonine.com "we spent one night fishing docks and bridges" .. in my experience, night time is the right time for snook ... especially in the "snook light" .. basically you show up to any light that is shining in the water and it has snooks/jacks and soemtimes tarpon feeding ... your options on foot are very limited .. due to private docks and all the rich folks locking down access to the water ... so, i usually go out on a friends boat .... again though, if "catching" is what your interested in ... i have experienced that the night game is almost a no-brainer ... so, something you may want to ask scott about???? if it interests you ???

hedrush999 · Posted: Mon 01/28/08 10:43 pm Post subject:

Ft. Lauderdale is a great place to fish out of as you have 1hr driving access from Biscayne Bay, Miami peacock bass sport, and Everglades City. I think your best bet this time of year will be the everglades, where there are a lot of sheltered areas if the weather is not in your favor. I recommend booking this guy ... www.snookin.com

Redside · Posted: Fri 02/22/08 11:08 pm Post subject: Great Guide from Boca

Fished with a great guide last week; Dave Saddler of Turtlegrass Charters. We fished at night near Hillsboro Inlet. He got my 81 year old dad into a nice bonefish and we caught a ton of different fish. Alas no tarpon but I could not have been more impressed with Captain Dave. I look forward to fishing with him again next winter. I now know who to call.