Be a Birdwatcher and Put More Fish in the Cooler

When sight fishing over shallow Florida grassy flats, I always concentrate my efforts where I spot the most “players,” and by that I mean other marine life that tells me the flat is “fertile,” or holds the forage that gamefish seek. But it goes beyond the baitfish, crabs and shrimp on the menu—the presence of stingrays and sharks is reason for optimism.

And so are wading birds, the long-legged herons and egrets, and the sharp-eyed osprey, and pelicans.

Spoonbills, egrets and herons are clues of crustaceans, shrimp, small crabs, marine worms and some smaller baitfish. The Roseate spoonbill gets its pink coloration from carotenoid pigments in the crustaceans they eat. And theory has it that the same carotenoids give a red drum’s tail that vivid blue edge.

Whatever the case, the presence of these are clues that redfish, bonefish, spotted seatrout and possibly permit are on hand.

Pelicans on a grassflat eat baitfish such as mullet, pinfish and pilchards. When I find them, I think snook, seatrout and jacks.

Ospreys are perhaps the best fish finder of all. Perhaps you’ve witnessed this super predator swoop to the surface and pick off a big mullet, or even a seatrout or small red drum from shallow water? Ospreys do not waste their time in a fishless area.

Seagulls and terns sitting on the surface of a grassflat means spotted seatrout and red drum primarily, because both these birds and fish gorge on smaller stuff such as juvenile bay anchovies.

I’ve observed roseate spoonbills and herons on Florida Bay mud flats throughout all tide phases, but most busily foraging during falling water. Consequently, I’ve enjoyed great action on tailing redfish and cruising snook at that time, too.

I’ve always assumed it was easiest for them to see bottom at that tide phase, but once the flat was exposed, or nearly so, they stopped. Could it be that the burrowing creatures are less accessible and deeper in the sediment?  Many of the birds take flight and roost in trees of nearby islands.

In backcountry Everglades waters, and many marsh creeks throughout Florida, wading birds perched on the bank signal baitfish of many kinds, but primarily Gambusia minnows (mosquito minnows). The genus Gambusia has more than 40 species, most of which live in freshwater environs, though some can tolerate and even thrive in brackish or salt water.

Canals in southwest Florida that are connected to tidal bay waters host snook, small to medium tarpon, red drum, Florida bass and a number of exotic fish. On high water, the mosquito minnows swim into the refuge of flooded prairies and trickles the fish cannot access. But once the tide falls—sometimes with the aid of strong land breezes— the water carries the minnows into the canals by way of small creeks and tributaries. And that’s when gamefish go on the feed.

It is easy to spot the carnage that ensues. And sometimes it is easy to hook the fish if you present a small minnow fly or small lure that mimics the baits. But on high water, when the fish are not popping at the surface, the only way to predict where the baitfish will come off the shallows is to see birds, mainly herons, egrets, kingfishers and other indigenous predators positioned at the small runouts. Roadside canals of the Tamiami Trail, U.S. 29 and the “Marco Island road” from U.S. 41 to the Island have numerous run-outs in the sawgrass and mangrove shoreline cover.

Pelicans in the surf signal anything from mullet to glass minnows (red anchovies). If diving headfirst, figure they are bombing finger mullet. Think snook, Spanish macks, jacks, ladyfish and tarpon. Normally these species will blast the same baits at the surface. Sitting pelicans can mean the action already happened, or it’s about to. And if you see pelicans that appear annoyed, and raise and lower their wings, or momentarily pop off the surface and sit back down, they are likely feeling feeding fish strike their legs. That’s a great sign.

Frigate birds (aka Man O’ War) are the best beacon offshore, because they tend to hover over and follow mahi-mahi and billfish. But anglers report them over traveling tarpon schools as well, particularly just off beaches. I personally was led to more than one pod of cobia in Florida Bay by spotting frigate birds that just so happen to roost on mangrove islands nearby.

Keep Your Distance

Think about how your approach these feathered fish-finders on the water. There are times when rushing in on a bait school is foolhardy. The gamefish under the birds have a sort of cooperative thing going on, and when a threat is felt, such as a boat under power rushing in, or wading anglers sloppily and noisily closing in, the bite can stop. Wading birds will not stand there as a skiff gets too close. When they take flight, believe that a fish that was feeding in that spot will take notice and move away. Cast from as long a distance as you can to prevent this.

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