Fishing Report

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Fishing reports are updated weekly so make sure to check back in for the current fishing report. Report and fishing forcast can also be found in the Weekly Fisherman magazine and Florida Sport Fishing Magazine.

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Monday June 30 2008 fishing report from the Weekly Fisherman.

The Weekly Fisherman

Winds were up this past week and it made for happy fish. The seas were a little lumpy but there were plenty of places to hide from the wind and have a good day. Our little part of the word offers fantastic fishing possibilities no matter the winds. There are good choices no matter the direction and intensity of the wind.
We spent two days in the gulf hiding from strong SE winds. We found big sharks more than eager to eat our bonito sides. Shark fishing is a blast when you use the appropriate tackle. I like to keep a few spinning outfits loaded with braid. I keep one thirty pound outfit with a short leader and a small piece of bait at the ready for smaller sharks. A rod loaded with 50lb will allow you to cast at larger specimens. I then keep one heavy conventional rod with 65-80lb braid with a large chunk of bait suspended below a balloon. This bait is floated back in the chum slick for any sharks we don’t see. I am a big fan of the Shimano Trevala series jigging rods for shark fishing. These outfits are compact yet powerful.
The near shore gulf wrecks are still holding a few cobias. Most of these fish are below legal size but still a lot of fun to catch. These fish pounced on small jigs with a live pinfish. Hooked fish are likely to have friends following them so try tossing a fly to increase the fun factor. The bottom rods stayed busy with goliath grouper. These fish are about as tough as any fish gets. When it comes to tackle go big or go home. Locked down drags are a must to prevent these fish from making it back home. Over rig everything; large hooks, heavy leader with crimps and strong swivels will increase your odds.
Reef fishing was active despite the roaring current. The current was strong enough to swing the boat into the wind. There were some nice yellowtails out there if you had enough chum. It takes a little time to get the fish up to the boat when the current is fast flowing. Try using a little weight such as the Hank Brown or Calcutta jig heads to help get your bait down to the fish. The bottom bite was also good with a few nice grouper. It took nearly a pound of weight to get the bait down. It looks like this next week will be a good time to drift and jig the reef. If the winds come down plan a night trip to the reef for some big yellowtails and mangrove snapper. These guys love biting at night and it is a great way to avoid the midday heat.
Dolphin are pushing through in good numbers now that the Gulf Stream is back in. These fish have been in close saving a little gas money. Most of the fish are on the smaller side but plenty of keepers and a few quality fish. I like to troll ballyhoo along good looking water while keeping a few pitch baits on hand. A bag full of frozen majua will keep the school interested long enough to see if there is a big bull in the area. 8-12 lb spinning outfits or light fly rods keeps things interesting when playing with schoolies. Be sure to have at least one heavy rod on hand for a big fish. Whole flying fish and live pinfish are my go to bait for big dolphin. Keep a small tuna feather on your shot gun in case there are any big blackfin in the vicinity. Good luck and good fishing.

May and June fishing forcast for Florida Sport Fishing Magazine.

Florida Sportfishing Magazine

Offshore anglers have three things on their minds; dolphin, mahi mahi, and dorado. Well I guess that is just one thing but no matter what name this fish goes by it has been thrilling anglers the word over since the first fishing boat ventured offshore. As fish go it is easy to see why this ranks as one of the top fish in most anglers minds. They are plentiful, they run fast, jump high and taste great on the table. The dolphin fish is one of the fastest growing fish in the ocean which gives it a healthy appetite and a good habit of pouncing on just about any offering. This is not to say that they are always easy to catch for it is a big ocean to find fish in.
Dolphin fishing is great sport for beginner and expert alike. Look for the three signs and you will usually come home with smiles. Birds, debris and rips constitute fish attracting locations. For the most part all are recognizable but deciphering the subtle signs means the difference between bent rods and hours of hunting.
Birds are easy to spot and can be seen from a long distance. The frigate bird is not able to dive into the water so he follows bait or predatory fish until he has the opportunity to eat. If he is high and moving fast he is just scouting the area looking for something but if he is holding in one area then there are fish nearby. Big dolphin are often hundreds of yards away from the bird so don’t give up after a pass or two. As long as he stays in one area then there is likely fish near by. I won’t give up on a spot until the frigate bird does; after all he has a much better view of the situation than you. Lots of small birds usually means lots of small fish. When you get a school up to the boat keep working them and a big guy might come by. If you sit and wait on that one fish without continually catching schoolies and chumming then they will quickly loose interest in the boat. I like to carry a bag of glass minnows to keep them feeding. If you are equipped with radar, with a little practice, it can usually be tuned to spot birds. Just remember your hooks are behind the boat so avoid running through the school.
Debris is another one that can be hard to find but easy to recognize. Some days you drive for miles through a barren ocean and other days you run in to everything including the kitchen sink. Look for how much bait is under the grass and debris to determine how long to work it. The more bait there is the longer I stay, big dolphin often hang around without coming right in to feed. Some of the biggest dolphin in the lower keys are trolled up a few hundred feet away from the structure. I like to make a pass and if things look promising, but no fish show, toss a few pieces of cut bait and squirt some menhaden oil. You can then work a pattern before coming back to the debris.
Rips can sometimes be tough to spot and the only thing that tips you off is a small temperature variance. Due to the similar fishing method as weed lines I will group the two together. Any time I find two different color waters colliding with swirling eddies and scattered grass I give it a little while. Try having one bait down a little ways and work back and forth down the rip. Keep one bait down a bit for those fish working a little deeper. When trolling both a weed line and rip troll in an open s shaped pattern so as to cover more territory. Don’t make your tolling spread any more elaborate than easily managed. Having 12 baits out will raise a lot of fish but if you can’t clear and work your lines will result in more fish lost then caught.
Bottom fishing remains a good option throughout the year in the Lower Keys with May and June being no exception. Winds are down a little from early spring making it possible to take smaller boats out West of Key West. This fertile fishing ground is one of the best in the world. If you have not made a trip then it is time to make plans. I am not a fan of shrimp boats but if you happen to see fish busting then pick up a blackfin or two on your way past. Look for structure in any depth to be holding fish. Carry plenty of jigs and bait because you will go through it quickly.
No fishing oriented conversation takes place this time of year without tarpon coming up. Battling one of these monsters has to be on your list fishing “things to do” list. Look for fish to be cruising ocean side all through the lower keys and into Key West harbor. Toss fly, crab, pinfish and all manor of artificial until your arm is ready to fall off. Be stealthy and lead the fish. A school of 100+ pound tarpon daisy chaining in front of the boat will make anyone week in the knees.
For those not wanting to sight fish tarpon try floating back a few crabs at Bahia Honda bridge and hang on, it is “combat fishing” at its finest. When setting up at any bridge try not to run down current of other boats. A break away anchor with a float will allow you to cut loose and follow your fish. Always go around and back to your spot. If in for a challenge try this at night when all you can see is faint flashes as your fish leaves the water. Boat handling skills are a must for pilings don’t give way.

July and August fishing forcast for Florida Sport Fishing Magazine.

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.

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