Alligator Alley MM 30,  Broward County Florida, first light - 11:00 AM, mostly cloudy, wind East 15-20, water stained, current south west, Temp 87^, 

 

Went to Alligator Alley at first light with Rick P, from the site.  We went out from the south ramps at MM30, and ran west to the first bridge.  We then moved to the north side and fished the deep holes.  We managed a few fish early and then things slowed considerably.  The fish were nice chunks and bug bellies for their size.  I began with a Zoom Fluke and then a Senko.  Rick began with a Hollow Body Frog.  The top water bite was nonexistent, most bites were deep in the water column and not under the pads along the shore line.  We drifted down the canal for about three miles with the east wind at our back.  This made fishing and casting simple and kept me off the trolling motor and in stealth mode.  

We ended the day with 10 bass caught, a big mud-fish, and a 15 pound rock fish that put up a hell of a fight.  It was a fun day, with a few fish willing to bite, good conversation, and mother nature sparing us from the lightning storms that surrounded the area.  It doesn't get much better then that! 

3 minutes ago, geo g said:

Alligator Alley MM 30,  Broward County Florida, first light - 11:00 AM, mostly cloudy, wind East 15-20, water stained, current south west, Temp 87^, 

 

Went to Alligator Alley at first light with Rick P, from the site.  We went out from the south ramps at MM30, and ran west to the first bridge.  We then moved to the north side and fished the deep holes.  We managed a few fish early and then things slowed considerably.  The fish were nice chunks and bug bellies for their size.  I began with a Zoom Fluke and then a Senko.  Rick began with a Hollow Body Frog.  The top water bite was nonexistent, most bites were deep in the water column and not under the pads along the shore line.  We drifted down the canal for about three miles with the east wind at our back.  This made fishing and casting simple and kept me off the trolling motor and in stealth mode.  

We ended the day with 10 bass caught, a big mud-fish, and a 15 pound rock fish that put up a hell of a fight.  It was a fun day, with a few fish willing to bite, good conversation, and mother nature sparing us from the lightning storms that surrounded the area.  It doesn't get much better then that! 

Mud fish or bowfin?  

The reason I ask, is because I have boated 4 bowfin in the last 2 weeks - and have never caught any here in central florida before.  Has me wondering if they are coming into post-spawn or something that has them so active.  

I'm fishing the Harris Chain in Central Florida - you could have basically described my day on the water last Saturday above, give or take a few details.  

Bowfin, and mudfish are the same fish.  They are plentiful in the Everglades and we catch them almost every trip.  We often catch them over 8 pounds.  They tear up terminal tackle big time.

2 hours ago, geo g said:

Bowfin, and mudfish are the same fish.  They are plentiful in the Everglades and we catch them almost every trip.  We often catch them over 8 pounds.  They tear up terminal tackle big time.

Ok - pardon my ignorance here...I thought mudfish and snakehead were the same...and bow fin was different...

Thanks for the clarification there.  

2 minutes ago, hezeez@gmail.com said:

Ok - pardon my ignorance here...I thought mudfish and snakehead were the same...and bow fin was different...

Thanks for the clarification there.  

They look somewhat similar  The Bowfin is a native fish, the snakehead from south east asia.  They both have a nice set of teeth and are at the top of the food chain in our Florida waters.  .  

George here are the pics from that trip!

 

 

That is my personal best Rock Fish!!!!!!

Thanks for the report guys!! Way to stick some fish, despite the conditions. 

That's a SOLID rock fish right there! Is that your PB?  How was the water level and current?

1 hour ago, Gotfishyfingers? said:

That's a SOLID rock fish right there! Is that your PB?  How was the water level and current?

Water level is high, that day there was current to the south west.  You could find areas at the weirs where the current was funneling quite strong.  The wind was blowing way too hard to effectively fish just one specific area.