Fishing Report

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February fishing Forecast for Coastal Angler Magazine.

Coastal Angler Magazine

I hope everyone has had a chance to thaw out. This January felt a little like the arctic. Record cold temps left fish in canals floating belly up. It is funny that the Looe Key Tiki bar will be packed during a hurricane but when the temps drop to mid 40s it is like a ghost town. Just goes to show that we are one spoiled group of people.
Look for February to provide some excellent near shore fishing. Cooler water temperatures bring bait and predators to the near shore waters of the keys. Often, due to north winds, it is possible to venture a few miles offshore without encountering rough seas.
Sailfish are on the minds of most offshore fishermen. The Sailfish are starting to move a little further offshore. They can still be found chasing bait on the reef but most will be in the 60-200 ft depths. Drift live bait under a kite for visual strikes. They can also be picked up while trolling ballyhoo offshore. By catch of tuna and dolphin keep things interesting and puts fish on the table. If you are finding good numbers of tuna then try putting a feather way back down the center. I have had excellent luck with the Williamson diamond jet feather.
Reef fishing will be a good bet with lots of variety in your chum slick. Look for yellowtail to keep you busy between other species. Kingfish will fall victim to a live blue runner or whole ballyhoo. Add two extra hooks to a jig and pin on a whole ballyhoo. This rod can be set in the rod holder while the rocking of the boat jigs for you. Another option is to rig a whole ballyhoo with wire and a stinger hook then float it back in the slick.
Big blue runners can be a nightmare to fish so try suspending them under a kite or balloon. Even though grouper season is closed I continue to fish a live bait on the bottom. Big mangrove snapper and the occasional mutton will stop by.
Wreck fishing will provide steady action with sore arms to follow. Mix up your offerings with live bait and vertical jigs. I will work my jigs to the boat during cooler months where as during the summer I focus on the bottom 1/3 of the water column. Tuna will fall victim to vertical jigs worked through the water column.
Gulf wrecks are heating up as water temperatures cool off. Expect to find lots of action with cobia, kingfish, big snapper and grouper, including freight train goliaths. Bring plenty of live bait in case the jacks and bluefish are around. A fly rod can also be a lot of fun with 9 and 11wt rods being useful.
Flats fishing can be a tough option during major cold fronts. Look for warm up days to provide some very good permit fishing. February is often a top month for big permit on the flats. When water temps are down focus on big barracudas, sharks and jacks. Good luck and good fishing.

Jan 23 fishing report

Weather and fishing patterns have been changing at the blink of an eye. It can be hard to nail down a plan when things change this rapidly. Plan on loading up with live bait and rig for a variety of situations.
The key to fishing this time of year is having tackle set up for everything that could swim past. This week has been no exception. There have been sailfish, tuna, kings, dolphin and wahoo within a cast from the reef. Start you day by filling the well with lively pilchards and you all but insure success.
Reef fishing has been very good with some nice yellowtails showing up. The fishing has been better shallow. The best numbers of fish showed up in the 20-50 ft depths. Out deeper and you held a better chance at tuna and kings but the tails were not as aggressive.
The patch reefs have been fishing very good. Plenty of live shrimp are a must for nearshore fishing. The mangrove snapper have been big and hungry. One shame this past week is the number of legal sized grouper that have gone back.
Gulf fishing has been good with some nice cobia moving in. Big cobia have been showing up west of Key West and have been working there way towards us. The gulf water temps in our area have been cool keeping the fish out further. As water temps warm plan on big numbers of cobia to slide through our nearshore spots.
Flats fishing is making a slow return to normal. Capt Darren and I found some big permit wandering around the usual warm up spots. Look for big cudas and sharks to be prime targets until the permit come back to normal. Last February was fantastic permit fishing, lets hope it is the same this year. Good luck and good fishing.

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