Fishing Report
Click on the hyper-links below to see the full reports
April 1, 2010
Spring is finally arriving in the Florida Keys. Temperatures are getting back to normal, both air and water. There has been a large sailfish migration off of Big Pine and American Shoals area. This is a long run for us so we have not chased this fish story. Of BIG interest has been many sightings by top captains and local aircraft of HUGE bluefin tuna in the 500-1000# range. These too have been below Big Pine. Captains with the right gear have tried to present baits but no hookups have occurred thus far.
The reef bite is improving for larger yellowtail as the waters warm. Numerous muttons have been taken on the inner and middle reef areas indicating that these fish might be preparing for their annual full moon spawning periods. We will see. Spring full moons will occur April 28 and May 27 this year. Only a few mahi (dolphin fish) have been found by middle keys anglers so far. Some tarpon are in the area but not the major migrations yet to come.
April 1, Marathon Hump- Tuna and dolphin. http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forum/keys-fishing-reports/marathon-hump-april-1-jigged-blackfin-tuna-and-dolphin-debris
March 14, 2010
For the last couple of weeks the air has warmed but the water is only slowly coming back to normal. Wind has been our biggest problem with some days running into the 20+ knot conditions and mostly unfishable. The sailfish bite in the Keys has been tough and we have seen only a few dolphin/mahi-mahi so far. But don't despair we have been catching some fish and the seas are warming. Good things are ahead for us. Because of the colder winter the tarpon migration has been delayed. Old timers say that we will have a tremendous tarpon season becuase the will be bunched up in their migration and it will be strong and solid. Let's hope so. Check out several of our recent trips below.
Reef & Wreck March 20: http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forum/keys-fishing-reports/satuday-march-20-marathon-big-muttons-flatlinemangroves-lanes-amberjack
Amberjack, March 14: http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forum/keys-fishing-reports/marathon-march-14-amberjack
Marathon Hump Tuna March 9: http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forum/keys-fishing-reports/march-9-marathon-hump-lots-blackfin-tuna-and-one-wahoo
Reef Bite March 8: http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forum/keys-fishing-reports/marathon-shallow-reef-march-8-muttons-hogfish-mangroves-kingfish
Here is a picture of a monster amberjack taken recently in the upper Keys by another charter guide and client. A true trophy and close to the world record for these guys. Congrats Capt. Easy
February 23, 2010
Fishing here in the middle Florida Keys is beginning to get back to normal. We have been hit with unusually cool water and quite windy conditions. Each passing week usually brings a new cold front marching across the country. It may only reduce the temps a few degrees but we are suffering from long weeks of this weather pattern.
We had three really good shallow reef trips and on the forth visit with my lovely wife the bite did not occur. Live bait, pilchards are available some days and some days not. In the middle of the month I took my first swordfish, a daytime one at that. Enjoy the reports below.
February 1, 2010
Reef fishing continues to be pretty good. Most action has been on the shallow side of the reef and the patches. Yellowtail have been co-operative when there is current and the wind has not been too high. Live shrimp have been the "go to" bait on the reef. Live pilchards are good also if you can get them. Lots of grouper have been on the reef but the 4 month closure is now in effect so we must catch and release which is still a lot of fun. After January's long cold spell we did see some minor fish kills in the Keys with most fish deaths happening in the central part of the state.
Sailfish action continues to be good also. Ballyhoo has been fairly easy to find for your live bait. Bump trolling from 90-130 feet has been the way to go for most boaters. At times the sailfish have been found right up on the shallow part of the reef 30-50' and sight fishing for them has worked with the right crew. Just look for what appears to be a black plastic trashbag in the water. That's a sail! Have your pitch rod ready with a live bait and have your way.
The far offshore areas have not been producing as of late. An occasional wahoo for the trollers in 100-300' and dolphin are hit or miss. When the gulf stream is in close is a better bet.