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WFFG Florida Keys Radio:
Fish Monster Fishing Report
Things are back to normal after the weather. By things I am talking about the fishing. The summertime routine is here and the fishing is about as predictable as fishing gets. Light winds are the norm, with the occasional windy day from time to time. From flats to reef to 1000+ ft of water it is time to get out there.
Flats fishing is picking back up after the storm. The flats are often the hardest hit by bad weather. These sensitive fish take a little time before they get “happy” again. I took a play day today and we dodged rain squalls and gray skies which kept visibility low. The day before I had reports from other flats guys that the bonefish were on their way back to pre storm numbers. I like shrimp tipped jigs on windy days with shrimp on a bare hook for light wind days. Add a split shot just above your hook if there is just a slight wind. Bonefish are very sensitive to shrimp falling from the heavens so keep your cast low. The baby tarpon have been swarming the flats and willing to eat flies and artificial baits. I prefer to fish with fly and artificial when possible and with these acrobatic fish it might just be better than live bait. Capt. Bob of Double Haul Charters reported seeing good numbers of permit. If you can manage there is a real possibility for the elusive grand slam.
Reef fishing is a good option and saves a little on gas. Yellowtail snapper fishing has been very good and gets better as you get closer to dark. Lots of chum will bring the tails up close to the boat. The bigger fish will be further back in the chum slick so keep your baits moving with the current and if you have a favorite sand ball recipe then put it to use. There was a nice grouper bite this past week with fish moving around in fairly shallow water. Live pinfish, grunts and yellowtails are all great baits. If you are serious about putting a few grouper in the box then try drifting with live bait and jigs. Try and figure out your drift before setting up above likely bottom.
Offshore fishing has been good this past week and should continue. There have been good numbers of dolphin from 300ft to as far out as you want to go. Look for weed lines, rips, birds and floating debris to all hold fish. Schoolies are the typical target during mid summer but there have been some nice fish caught this past week. If seas are flat calm try covering some territory with lures. When you find fishy water switch to rigged ballyhoo in order to fish the area more thoroughly. There have been a few wahoo out there so keep a bait down deep. If you run across floating debris try a vertical jig with a trace of wire. Wahoo love flashy metal moving fast through the water column.
This time of year is a great time to try your luck with the broadbill swordfish. Daytime and nighttime fishing result in excellent odds of landing one of these tough fish. For daytime fish it is best to do a little research and find likely bottom structure. Think of it like bottom fishing for grouper and muttons. Night time fishing has lost interest with the effectiveness of the daytime fishing but don’t discount this method. There are plenty of fish caught at night and there is not much that beats seeing one swim into the lights. It looks like there are a few storms brewing out there; let’s hope they all avoid us. Good luck and good fishing.
Image: Norman with a jumbo mutton snapper
Image: Capt. Andrew and Philip with a 50lb wahoo
If you ever wondered what the Keys were like in Hemmingway’s days then come down in the fall. There are times when you could take a nap in the middle of US 1. What does this mean for visitors and locals; you have lots of fish all to yourself. Forget fighting for a prime spot on the flat and no boats anchoring in the middle of your chum slick. You can also find some big discounts with hotels. Yes it is hot in the fall but that is what a cold drink and a dip in the water is for.
There are two fish that pop into my mind when I think of fishing this time of year. Swordfish and bonefish junky’s should plan to be here. For those of you after fish with bills plan on trying your luck in the daytime. Daytime sword fishing has become one of the hottest things in South Florida, and with good reason. Don’t let this discourage you from fishing at night. The swords like to bite in late afternoon near the bottom and work their way to the surface after sunset. If you plan to leave in late afternoon you will hit the prime daytime bite and get to do some night fishing. This plan also has you in at a reasonable hour giving you enough sleep to spend the following day on the water.
Just about everyone who has fished for swordfish has a favorite rig. The best advice I can give anyone is to make your first trip with someone who has caught a few. Two of the most important things I can offer is to use a lot of swivels and lots of light. For a starting point head towards the East Crack, located on the wall between Key West and Big Pine, and fire up the sonar. Work your way around in 1200-2000 ft of water looking for big ledges and bait. If you can zoom in on the bottom it should look like a cloud of yellowtails hanging on the deep edge of the reef. If you are in the zone there is no need to fish more than one bait, two just causes more problems. Keep your bait close to the bottom to stay in the strike zone. As the sun sets move into a typical nighttime spread for drifting.
Offshore fishing is ok this time of year with some dolphin making trolling worth while. You can also expect to find a few skipjack tuna working the 650-800ft depths. There are often a few blackfin tuna mixed in with the skipjacks. My favorite way to target these fish is with vertical jigs. The 55g butterfly jig in the mackerel color matches most of there food. These jigs can be thrown a mile allowing you to target fish without spooking them with the boat. Try and pick the direction the fish are moving and work your way in front of them. Throw the jig across the path of the fish and work it back through the school. Expect drag melting hits.
Reef fishing produces some of the biggest yellowtails of the year. Use plenty of chum and light leaders to get the biggest fish to bite. If barracudas are causing a problem I like to send a yellowtail back on wire for a little excitement. These tooth monsters put smiles on faces and then you can get back to the snapper. Mangrove snapper will continue to round out you snapper dinner. Small pinfish sent to the bottom with light leader should not last long.
For those of you whose heart rate jumps at the sight at tailing bonefish; this is your time of year. Bonefishing takes off in the fall with some of the biggest fish and largest schools of the year. Last year was absolutely epic with Bahamas sized schools of bonefish but with a 6-8lb average weight. Look for tailing fish on gulf and ocean side flats early in the morning and in late afternoon. Fish can be found throughout the day but frequent afternoon showers drop water temperatures making for some of the best fishing. Fishing gets better and better right up until the first cold fronts of November.
Winds are generally light this time of year making for easy casting. If you do spook the fish don’t worry there is likely another school nearby. 7-9 wt fly rods with 9-11ft 12lb tapered leaders are a perfect match for Lower Keys bones. Shrimp patterns that match bottom color get the job done. Try and pick a fly that lands softly to avoid spooking the fish. Live shrimp on a 7 to 7 1/2 ft 10lb spinning rod is the most effective way to catch these drag screamers. Until next time good luck and good fishing.
Image: permit caught on a live shrimp near the Content Keys
Summer is here and the fishing can get as hot as the tropic sun. As we move into these months early and late can be the key to success. Night fishing also takes off with mid day relegated to relaxing in the shade, perhaps with a rum drink and a cigar. For those of you that have seen the postcards of the keys with flat calm water this is when those pictures were taken. If you have come down during Feb-April and been blown away by high winds then it is time to try some summer fishing. Protect yourself from the sun and it is not as hot as you think, except when fighting a big fish.
Yellowtail snapper are king on the reef with 90-120 ft of water being a good place to look. Get out early before it gets too hot and put a few in the box before going offshore. Plan on going through at least one block of chum every hour you spend on the reef. Sand balling helps when the water clarity makes the yellowtail less finicky. I like to mix one block of chum with equal volume of sand and one cup of menhaden oil. Leftover majua and shrimp make great additions. Some yellowtail fishermen swear by oats mixed in, make your own call. Bonito strips with a small jig head is my top choice with ballyhoo strips coming in a close second. Depending on the current the fish will vary in distance from the boat. Keep trying different methods until you find what they like best. Sometimes you have to toss your bait way back on a bare hook to get it started and at other times you have to add a little extra weight.
This is the top time of year to night fish the reef here in the keys. Look for large mangrove snapper to move out to the reef edge. Small live pinfish on 30-40lb fluorocarbon leaders will net you mangroves up to 5+ pounds. Flat line a few baits and monster tails will round out your catch. Some of the year’s biggest yellowtail snapper are caught night fishing during these months.
Schoolie Dolphin are everywhere offshore this time of year. Finding big schools and tossing flies is one of my favorite offshore activities. Try going as light as a 5 wt rod to give some sport to these acrobatic fish. Keep an 11wt close at hand just in case a slammer comes up to check out the action. I like carrying a block of majua and tossing a handful out from time to time to keep schools next to the boat.
It can get a little crowded around weed lines this time of year. Give each other some room and don’t discount the water 100yards or more from the weed lines. Most of the biggest fish will not be right along the line. Look for Frigate birds and rips to be holding the bigger fish while the schools will be tight to the large grass patches and floating debris. Keep at least one large bait in the spread just in case something with a bill comes in to take a look. I never troll without at least one marlin lure or horse ballyhoo in the spread.
This is the top time of year to night fish the reef here in the keys. Look for large mangrove snapper to move out to the reef edge. Small live pinfish on 30-40lb fluorocarbon leaders will net you mangroves up to 5+ pounds. Flat line a few baits and monster tails will round out your catch. Some of the year’s biggest yellowtail snapper are caught night fishing during these months.
This is also the start of swordfish season here in the Lower Keys. These gladiators are available year round but summer and fall’s light winds allow more opportunities to get out and test your skill. Daytime swording is the hot new thing in South Florida but do not discount the nighttime bite. Plan your trips around late afternoon and early evening to find the fish when they are most active. I like getting in a few hours of daytime fishing and then a few hours at night. This way you are back in with enough time to get a good nights sleep. Check the 2000ft depths south of the Middle and East Crack during the daytime and move into 1000-1400 ft at night.
Permit are on the flats and willing to tolerate the warm temps. Look for bonefish early in the morning and then move to the permit pursuit. The tarpon have moved out for the most part leaving behind some resident fish as well as nice schools of juveniles. Fly casting is made easier due to light winds but the fish can get ultra spooky. Long light leaders and delicate casting is a must. If you are tossing live bait keep your cast low to the water with a side arm cast. Try and get in the habit of casting to a point above the water then stopping your bait so it falls gently to the surface. Believe it or not but fish find crustations falling from the heavens a bit unnatural. Until next time, good luck and good fishing.
Image: bonefish release
Last Cast Charters
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