Lower Keys Fishing Report

Brought to you By

Captain Andrew Tipler

The Lower Keys Fishing Report is brought to you by Capt. Andrew Tipler. Lastcastcharters.net To fish with Captain Andrew you can call him at 305-744-9796 or you can reach him via email at scarpa1@bellsouth.net

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Lower Keys Fishing Report Update: March 18, 2009

        The winds came down a bit this week but it was not calm by any standards.  I did get a chance to do a little bit of everything this past week.  We found a few things that worked and a few that did not.  Just about everything started off strong but got slower throughout the week.  Look for everything to pick up again as we get away from the full moon.

         Offshore fishing resulted in a few dolphin this week.  I would expect to see more showing up over the next week.  Blackfin made a showing but the numbers were not enough to make targeting them a good plan.  If you had enough pilchards in the live well then it was possible to chum a few up.  The big winner of the week was jumbo wahoo.  There were quite a few big fish boated by a few anglers.  If you come across a live bonito then try bump tolling it outside the reef, there still could be a few around.  Capt. Charley on the Squid Roe saw sailfish on the reef on Sunday and got a bait in front of one only to have a big cuda beat the sailfish to the punch.

        Activity on the reef was very good early in the week.  We had big schools of yellowtail pop up in the chum slick.  The tails were more than willing to gobble up bonito chunks floated back in the slick.  There was enough of a bottom bite to warrant keeping a close eye on your bottom rods.  Live pinfish, yellowtails and whole squid all got eaten.  If you covered the mid water column it was possible to pull on a few kingfish.  By the end of the week the clear water had pushed its way up on the reef slowing things down.  It was still possible to put some fish in the box but it required dropping down to 12lb fluorocarbon and very small hooks.  If we get a little dirty water on the reef I would expect the reef bite to take off.

         Gulf fishing was hit or miss.  We found good numbers of cobia on Monday but reports were poor by the end of the week.  These fish jump around from one wreck to another so often they are only up for a short period of time.  I like to keep one live bait on the bottom and one on the surface for any passing fish.  I also keep on hand a buck tail or other lure that you can throw a long way.  It is common to se the cobia pop up a good distance off the wreck and circle it.  If you can reach them and hook up other fish will often follow the hooked fish to the boat. 

        Flats fishing was very good if you were able to cast in the wind.  The plus to a little wind is that it makes the fish less skittish.  Having a little surface chop allows you to get the boat and your baits a little closer to the fish.  Tarpon made a good showing on ocean side flats and the numbers will continue to increase over the next few months.  Permit were just about everywhere last week, we stumbled across fish in areas where I have never seen them before.  As always live crabs will get you numbers.  On the low tide there were fish on just about every coral head out back.  These fish will be around on the flats for the next few weeks before moving into the gulf to spawn.  With all the boats out on the water right now I have run across a lack of etiquette.  I had a few waverunners burn the flat I had spent time working.  If you see a boat fishing a flat give them plenty of room.  While working the edge of a flat I had two boats blast past me and anchor up only a few hundred feet in front of me.  There is plenty of room out there, give everyone some space and we will all catch a few.  Good luck and good fishing.

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Lower Keys Fishing Report Update: March 11, 2009

It looks like the winds are finally coming down.  We have very few days with winds below 20.  There are still options when the wind is up but it limits your choices substantially.  Now that the winds are dropping and temperatures are warming we should be in for a good week of fishing.

Flats fishing is picking up due to warming water temperatures and good tides.  Nice numbers of permit were moving onto the flats on Sunday.  Look for permit fishing to remain strong through the week.  Live crabs on 12lb spinning outfits rigged with 10-20lb fluorocarbon leader is the go to rig with fly being the method of choice for those looking for the ultimate challenge.  Don’t plan on boating a bunch of fish on fly, 1 fish makes for a great day.  There were also lots of big cudas on the flats this past week.  They were a little slow to follow the tube lure but with some coaxing we got them to eat.  Jointed Sebile lures are also fantastic at getting barracudas to eat.  Sharks and jacks rounded out the flats fishing.  Look for tarpon to show up more and more over the coming weeks. 

Reef fishing was very good last week if you could stomach the seas.  If you could find good current, not running up the anchor line, then a box full of flag yellowtails was only moments away.  We had some action on the bottom but not what I was expecting.  Live yellowtail and whole squid got most of the action.  Hopefully the full moon will not hamper the reef fishing.  As the water clears a little the fish should remain on the feed despite the moon. 

I spent a good bit of time fishing the patch reefs this last week.  This time of year the patches can give great action without venturing too far out into rough seas.  There is even a chance for some fairly large grouper to come up.  Giant schools of ballyhoo were all over the place and had the predators up and feeding.  We were throwing artificials to hungry Spanish mackerel only to be interrupted by big jacks.  This is fun fishing and when the action is hot you can even get them on fly.  Pick any baitfish pattern and rig with a trace of wire.  Get the fly back into the chum slick whatever way possible.  I often have my anglers make a cast and then let out more slack.  Once the fly is a good ways out strip as fast as you can and hang on, cero have as good a strike as you could ask for.

Wreck fishing produced some very nice fish early last week but tapered off by the weekend.  We had big amberjacks keeping us busy between grouper bites. On Saturday we had a tough time even getting a strike.   Good luck and good fishing.

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Lower Keys Fishing Report Update: March 04, 2009

       Sunday’s fishing was better than the weather.  The morning started out fairly nice but conditions deteriorated rapidly as the front came through.  My sympathy to anyone else who did not make it in before the front hit.  Of course this had to be the day that I forgot the foul weather gear.

        Offshore fishing was good this week with quite a few dolphin hitting the dock.  Most fish were found in close to the reef preventing a long run.  It is nice when the fish are in close saving you a little gas money.  Birds were marking fish in the 100-200ft depts.  160-180 seemed to be the magic numbers.  There will often be one depth that holds the majority of the fish, keep an eye on the sonar every time you get a bite and it will help to put pieces of the puzzle together.  Sometimes there are no signs like color changes, weed lines or temperature breaks.  The good thing is that with the fish close to the reef you can put lines in as you are coming across the edge.  Look for this to continue through the next week.  There have been a few nice blackfin tuna around so keep a feather way back on the center.

         We had great luck with the yellowtails this week.  On Sunday the bite got better and better as the weather got worse; flat lining bonito chunks was by far the way to go.  We were getting bit on the bonito chunks two to one over ballyhoo.  I like to carry squid, bonito, ballyhoo and even shrimp and keep switching up until I find what their preference is for the day.  The dirty water kept the tails from being very leader shy allowing us to use 6ft 30lb fluorocarbon.   We had a few fish come off the bottom this week but not red hot.  The highlight of the bottom was the BIG goliath that came up.

           Patch reef fishing was a great bet this past week.  This time of year offers great action very close to shore.  I spent a ½ day on a patch early in the week and we had steady action along with some quality fish.  Small live pinfish and big shrimp yielded some very nice mangroves and loads of throw-back grouper.  The big jacks have been roaming around in Hawk’s Channel and love to crush a top water plug.  For something a little bit different, try dragging diving plugs around the patches; just be sure to lock down the drag.  Some very nice grouper fall victim to lipped plugs.  When you get bit, be sure keep the boat moving until you have drug the fish away from the hole.

          Saturday was my only day on the flats and I have to say it was a little slow.  We caught one very nice permit and I have to give my angler credit, he made the best casts on the few shots he had.  I talked to Capt. Bob of Double Haul charters who was fishing west of me and he reported finding some decent numbers of fish.  Capt. Bob also gave reports of lots of big cudas all over the backcountry.  Capt. Scott and Capt. Tom both mentioned finding big schools of ladyfish north of Big Pine.  The big tarpon have started  showing up little by little.  Find them on warm days cruising ocean side flats and tucked into warmed up areas.  The permit fishing, as well as the tarpon fishing, should get better and better over the coming weeks.  Let’s hope the cold front does not hurt the flats too bad.  Good luck and good fishing.  Till next week, Capt. Andrew Tipler.

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Lower Keys Fishing Report Update: February 18, 2009

       What a great week we just had here in the Lower Keys.  The weather had been less than favorable for a few weeks and it finally broke.  This week brought great boating and fishing.  If you did not get out on the water then you missed out.

        Flats fishing took off during the warm weather.  Big tarpon have started to move into the area.  Look for the big tarpon to be working Oceanside flats and willing to eat a well presented fly.  Out back produced shots at good numbers of big permit.  Live crabs will get the job done but for the ultimate challenge break out the fly rod.  Bonefish rounded out your possibility for a grand slam.  The last few weeks made for tough flats fishing but this week more than made up for it.  We have a little bit of a front moving back in but I doubt that it will do much to harm the fishing.

        Reef fishing was good this week with dirty water making the fish less wary than they have been.  A mixed bag catch was the name of the game.  The grouper bite was good with live pinfish, grunts and yellowtails all getting good attention.  Kingfish have not been red hot this year but there were a few around this past week.  We had a few big kings nail live blue runners while on the reef.  Snapper rounded out the reef bite and put some tasty fish in the box.  Yellowtails were quick to pop up in the chum slick.  If you were lucky then you might have come across a mutton or two, there were a few around.

        Offshore was very good over the past week.  There were a lot of dolphin roaming the reef line early in the week.  It was still a little rough but the fishing definitely made it worth getting out.  As the week progressed the fish scattered a little bit.  Sailfish were few and far between.  Typically this time of year brings good sail fishing but this year has been a little hit or miss.  We have had a few days of good sail fishing and then a slow week.  Capt. Charley of the Squid Roe had a great day on Sunday with a bunch of dolphin up to 28lbs while headed out to do some sword fishing.  He pulled most of his fish out from under debris in 750 but reported getting scattered bites all the way out.  The Gulf Stream was running in the 300 ft depths making for a good place to start.  I rarely get out much further than the mid 300 ft depths during the winter time, unless sword fishing.  If you do get out in deeper water then look for floaters to make your day.

         I made one trip to the gulf I hopes of a banner day of cobia fishing unfortunately this was not the case.  We did find good action with fun fish but no cobia.  There were plenty of grouper, snapper, jacks, mackerel, goliaths and sharks to keep us busy.  I had reports of another boat that made a long run out to the towers in hopes of cobia.  They gave me similar reports of fun fish with an absence of cobia.  Good luck and good fishing.

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 Lower Keys Fishing Report Update: February 11, 2009

       In fairness to the readers I have to start things off by saying my report this week will be a bit limited.  I had a couple of days out on the water but for the most part I was not able to get out.  There were days that were doable but sometimes it is best to stay home and get a few chores done.  The weather threw us for another loop this week and a full moon did not help the weekends fishing.

        Offshore brought reports of a few dolphin and an occasional sailfish but the action was pretty slow.  Generally a passing front brings excellent sail fishing but this week was not the case.  There were ballyhoo up on the reef with a few showers of bait here and there but not a whole lot came out to play.  Let’s hope that as we get away from the full moon the offshore bite will take off.  Plan on a mixed bag of dolphin and tuna with the occasional sailfish thrown in.

        Reef fishing was ok if you could stomach the seas.  There was a reasonable yellowtail bite.  Grouper fishing was by far the best option, although hanging on to the boat was often more difficult than hooking a fish.  The patch reefs offered a little more protection but smaller fish.

        One thing I rarely touch on is the excellent bridge fishing we have here in the lower keys.  There are plenty of nice sized mangrove snapper to be found around the deeper channels and bridges, but if you are like me getting out on the water to bend a rod beats anything offered on land.  Live pinfish and shrimp will keep you busy.  Plan on using light tackle to add to the sport of catching fairly small fish.

        Flats fishing was pretty much a bust this week.  It will likely be a few days before the flats conditions improve.  It looks like the weather is warming up so let’s keep our fingers crossed that the winds subside.  Like many of you I am absolutely stir crazy sitting on land so let’s get out and do some fishing, to hell with the weather.  Good luck and good fishing.

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  Lower Keys Fishing Report Update: February 04, 2009

       Cold front after cold front has been keeping Keys’ anglers on their toes.  The patterns change with each passing front, making it hard to pick a game plan more than a few days ahead.  The offshore fishing remains strong throughout the fronts but the flats take a hit.  Flats species just can’t handle the sudden drop in temperatures and things had just started picking back up.

       I do not touch on gulf fishing often enough.  It is a little tougher to get out to gulf waters in our area.  Key West makes it a little easier for the bigger boats to make it out back.  There are only a few channels where deep draft and taller boats can make it through.  If you have not been out back before then it is about time to break out a chart and find a path to some of the most productive waters around. 

       The cobia have been showing up in good numbers this past week.  Capt. Charley of Squid Roe made two gulf trips this past week.  Cobia are strong fighters and great on the table -  just make sure you bring enough pinfish.  They often follow each other to the boat so keep an extra rod or two at the ready.  A lot of the fish were throwbacks but there were plenty of big fish out there to warrant the long run.  Lower fuel prices are another reason to make the trip.  Keep an eye on the weather and pick your days, the gulf can be deceptively rough making long runs unpleasant. 

        Offshore fishing was fair this week.  There were a few sailfish around chasing live bait along the reef line.  If all the variables come together, this coming week could produce good numbers of sailfish.  A passing cold front usually makes for good sail fishing particularly if there is a strong current just outside the reef.  It looks like both these things might come together for the upcoming week.  There have also been a few tuna out there making for tasty by-catch. 

        The reef was fishing very well this past week.  There were good numbers of yellowtail snapper hanging out in most boats chum slicks.  Flat lining cut bait produced a limit for lots of anglers.  The yellowtail fishing should remain strong through the front particularly if the water on the reef clouds up a little bit.  Mutton snapper were also on the hunt this week.  I like live small pinfish and pilchards floated back in the slick with just enough weight to get it down as it drifts back.  Use long leaders to fool these wary fish.   Large live baits on the bottom produced some big grouper.  As I always say rig heavy and be ready to work the fish in a hurry.  The first few seconds of a grouper fight are the most crucial, keep them out of the structure. 

         Flats fishing will be tough with the cold and cloudy water.  If you end up out back look for the jacks, sharks, cudas and perhaps a few sea trout to be the primary target.  I rarely fish trout here in the lower keys but some anglers produce good numbers; this week should be a good week for trout.  Look for the jacks to be along most channels, blind cast jigs or plugs across the channels and along the edges for steady action.  Size your tackle to the fish you are catching and you are in for a fun day.  Good luck and good fishing.

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       The weather threw everyone for a loop this past week.  The major drop in temperature, accompanied by strong North/ North East winds helped some areas of the fishery while hurting others.  There was a lot going on offshore while the flats ended up devoid of life.  With the weather warming back up it will not be long before the flats rebound to pre-front conditions.

        On the way offshore we found lots of action.  There have been GIANT schools of Jacks roaming Hawk channel.  These are not small jacks but big bruisers willing to give you a work out.  They are a lot of fun but not good for much else, unless you are keeping one for shark chum.  The jacks are chasing schools of ballyhoo and moving fast, try and get ahead of them before throwing into the school.  Buck tail jigs will get the job done but for a challenge try throwing a fly. 

        Offshore produced decent numbers of sailfish over the past week.  We found pilchards and put them to use drifting from the reef line out.  The kings and cero mackerel kept us busy tying on new hooks but once we got out further the targeted species showed up.  The sailfish were a little scattered, moving through the green water.  Saturday brought cleaner water into the reef but did not improve the fishing as much as I expected.  A few boats came across a sail while trolling but the weekend proved to be a little slow.  If we had good current it would have really fired things up.  There were good numbers of blackfin caught on Saturday, after the water cleared up.  Boats trolling ballyhoo or tuna feathers did well in the 150 to 300 ft depths.  A few dolphin were caught but nothing worth mentioning.  Look for the tuna fishing to remain strong through the next week. 

        Reef fishing was good with yellowtails being moderately cooperative.  The fish were not that big but the numbers were there.  Chum heavily and flat line bonito strips or ballyhoo plugs back to the fish.  They were not overly eager to pop up in the slick so focus on the bottom rods through your first block of chum.  Grouper fishing was very good this past week and a live pinfish did not last long.  Rig heavy and work fast to keep them from getting back to their home.  There was a by catch of various jacks coming from the grouper rods.  I did not find any but heard reports of a few cobia coming off the reef.  The cobia numbers should increase through the coming months.

        Flats fishing took a nose dive after the cold front came through.  Water temps dropped to the low 60’s making it unpleasant for most flats species.  There were some sharks around but even they were slow to eat.  We found a few redfish and a couple of snook but the numbers were hardly worth targeting.  The barracuda were around in good numbers but it took some convincing to get them to eat.  They were not even willing to give chase to a cuda tube.  Throwing plugs was the way to go and you had to work hard to convince them to eat.  Put the plug in front of the cuda and give it a few twitches, to get his attention, then gradually increase the action until he tracks the plug, only then do you bump up the speed of the retrieve.  As water temps continue to climb the permit will move back onto the flats followed by the bonefish.  Good luck and good fishing.

  

Sunday brought light winds and warm weather, not bad for January.  A bright full moon left me wishing I had gone sword fishing.  This moon slowed down the fishing a little bit but there was still plenty going on.

Reef fishing gave us good action on Saturday.  Earlier this week we had a few slow days but as the current picked up so did the fishing.  The grouper bite was on this weekend with pinfish and whole squid both working well.  We managed a few muttons as well.  The muttons were hitting baits flat lined in 35-40ft of water.  Yellowtails were running on the large side this week.  They were a little tough to get but all the fish were quality.  We found some big tails on the edge of the reef in 70ft and pulled some off the hump.  Bonito and ballyhoo strips worked well but we had to drop down to 12lb fluorocarbon in order to get them to feed.  We found a couple of kingfish willing to eat live blue runners.            

Wreck fishing picked up through the weekend.  There were big amberjacks moving into the area.  Aj’s are a lot of fun to pull on but not great eating and can get in the way of fishing muttons and grouper.  Keep your baits tight to the structure to find the grouper.  Muttons will often hang out on the sand around the wreck.  Lock down your drags and hang on, big fish will do there best to head straight back into the structure.  You will either catch them or loose them in the first few seconds of the fight. 

Offshore was pretty slow this week.  There were a few boats that stumbled across a sailfish or a few dolphin.  Most boats did not find much and spent a lot of time trolling barren water.  If you got in close to the reef there were some mackerel and bonito.  If you get into the bonito it’s a good idea to box one or two for yellowtail bait.  Bonito strips are very useful and versatile baits.  The cero mackerel were running pretty thick and were on the chunky side.  If you get them in good numbers it is a blast to fish light spinning rods.  A few kingfish were also working the reef line. 

The flats warmed up over the end of the week making for some pretty good fishing.  Bonefish were around in good numbers and I heard reports of some big schools.  Permit were out in good numbers and spread out all over the place.  There were some large fish found floating around the coral heads.  Live crabs are the go-to bait for permit and often the only thing “floaters” will eat.  It looks like we could get a cold front coming through this week which might slow things down.  If the water temps stay up the permit fishing will remain strong.  Tarpon fishing was good this week rounding out the possibility of the coveted grand slam.  Baby and mid sized tarpon are the most consistent this time of year.  You can sometimes find a laid up adult but it is rare to find big resident fish in this area.  Look for the baby tarpon and toss live shrimp on supper sharp hooks.  I like a 12lb spinning outfit loaded with braid and 30lb leader.  For those who prefer fly rods toss shrimp or small baitfish patterns.  Good luck and good fishing

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