Islamorada Offshore Fishing Report Update: March 11,2009 

High winds and rough seas dominated the scene again this week, however; the conditions were still fishable throughout much of the week. The sailfish have vanished for now but should reappear very soon. Keep an ear out for them as the month progresses. We have not seen the last of them yet. The main target this week for most offshore ventures was mahi mahi or yellowtail snappers. Both were feed ing well and present in good numbers. The patches and reef edge both have been great for the snapper bite. The dirty water on the patches have been excellent for “keeper” tails with a mix of small grouper, hogfish, porgies and cero mackerel. This makes for a great half-day trip in calmer waters. The mahi mahi were moving through in close from 150-300 feet of water. Numerous debris/weed lines have been making their way up the reef in the moderate current. White terns and gulls have been working these edges and ganging up above schools of mahi mahi tailing down the heavy seas. Live baits have been the key to getting these finicky eaters hooked-up. Plenty of ballyhoo have been present at the usual spots. All that is required is a block of chum and some small hair hooks with a piece of cut bait. Head over to World Wide Sportsman at mm81 and ask the guys behind the counter to show you the hair hooks and how to use them. They will be happy to assist you in any way and get you out “catching”. They can also help out with any other tackle or fishing related questions. They are very knowledgeable and friendly, always willing to spend time with you to help.  The Gulf of Mexico has been fantastic for Spanish mackerel and blacktip sharks. Cobia and goliath grouper have also been present on the wrecks out in 20-40 feet of water. As the water temps go up in the coming week, the fishing should spark up so plan on spending a day in the gulf “catching” this week. Don’t let the high winds scare you off the water. The fishing remains great and plenty of good opportunities abound for the coming week. Head on down to your favorite marina and book that charter for your trip of a lifetime! Come on down to Fiesta Key Marina at mm70 and look me up in paradise! We have plenty of openings and would love to get out  “catching”!

Islamorada Offshore Fishing Report Update: March 04,2009 

This has been a windy week for the most part with lots of big seas and rough days. The sailfish have been very slow with only a few odd releases reported during the week. Do not dismay however; as the sailfish season is not over yet. In the next month we should see the sailfish fire up again on the color changes near Alligator and Tennessee.  For now the best fishing seems to be for mahi mahi. Many gaffer and schoolie sized fish were moving through our waters. The fish seemed to be concentrated from 150-350 feet of water. The 600 foot zone was also productive for dolphin throughout the week. The mahi mahi were somewhat picky preferring live offerings like cigar minnows and ballyhoo. I managed to catch a few on chunks and dead baits however; the live bait was obviously a better choice. The tip-off was to keep a watchful eye out for birds working the edges near weeds or a current seem. Every mahi mahi I found had birds present. The king mackerel have been lurking on the various wrecks from Pickles down to Tennessee from 85 feet to 160 feet of water. Live offerings down deep with wire and a dropper loop or downrigger were the best bet. Almost anywhere you go on the reef, king mackerel are present.  My largest king this week was 37 lbs, and fell victim to a live ballyhoo on #6 wire.  I have been using 12 and 15 pound main lines with 25 or 30 lb leader with much success. I think the lighter line is drawing more strikes. Try it out and see if this will work for you. Tunas have been good on the humps with feathers and various artificials working well every day we got out. Most of the fish are in the 4-8 lb range with some 12-15 lb fish mixed in. The amberjacks have been very slow on the humps. The annual spawn has been delayed by the recent cold fronts. They will be swarming soon so get you big stuff ready. I like my Avet 30/02 reels for this fishery. They pull as hard as the toughest jack and stand up to repeated punishment. Spool up with 65 lb magibraid from World Wide Sportsman and you are good to go. If you need a rod, head over to see Rick at Key Largo Rods and have him make a special rod for you or pick one off of the shelf. I can assure you that his rods will stand up to the punishment the big aj’s are about to dish out. Not many other rods can do this. I found out the hard way that not all rods are made the same. Rick builds a rod the way it should be….to last the long haul. He will not cut corners when he puts a “stick” together. The end result is a product that will whoop fish after fish for many years to come. If it fails, you get a new one no questions asked.  Get ready for another great week here in Islamorada.

Islamorada Offshore Fishing Report Update: February 25,2009 

       The offshore fishing is fantastic here in sunny Islamorada. The reef edge has been full of life with king mackerel, yellowtail snapper, vermillion snapper, mutton snapper, grouper, mahi mahi, sailfish, and wahoo present from Conch reef down to Tennessee reef.  There have also been some cobia moving up the reef on the backs of rays. The sailfish were slow this week but northeast winds have been forecasted all week and lower temps are sure to fire them back up again. We may have tailing conditions any day this week so be prepared.  If the sails don’t show, there are still plenty of king mackerel around to keep the rods bent and reels screaming. Kings are great fun and excellent battlers on light tackle. They are also delicious to eat after they have been smoked. Kingfish dip, crackers, and a good pinot noir is reason enough to leave the dock and head to the reef for some fun. The hump areas have been producing tuna and amberjacks with some mahi mahi starting to show. The southeast wind days are the best to target the mahi mahi. On the pre-frontal days, the tunas are feeding well on trolled feathers; as long as there is a little current. I still like the black and red or blue and orange colors best.  The ½ ounce size works well for me too.  The amberjacks are falling to live blue runners on a dropper loop system with 80-150 lb leader. A vmc 10/0 nemesis circle hook will work like a charm and rarely misses a bite or loses a fish. I like to place a small super strong 330 lb swivel 18 inches from the hook to help with tangles. A slow and angled decent will also help to deploy your offering properly to an awaiting jack.  Watch for signs of life to and from the humps and a school of mahi might show up. There have been some nice fish working through the system every other day so tomorrow may be your chance.  More and more dolphin will be coming as the season changes over to spring. A good run of large fish always comes early in February or March so look for them when the wind swings to the east. I just moved my boat down to Fiesta Key campground at mm70. What a great place! The people here are wonderful. Rob, Jack, and the rest of the staff have made me feel so welcome and at home. There is also a great cantina called Santiago’s right on the ocean with an awesome view and a killer margarita! It is like the old keys. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxing. Come on down and check it out. I am really glad I did, I am happy and proud to call this great place home!

    Islamorada Offshore Fishing Report Update: February 18,2009  

 What a beautiful week here in the Florida Keys. The weather was superb. This is why so many come and spend time here in the winter months to enjoy the mild temps and hot fishing action. The sailfish were on the slower end this week however; anyone willing to put in their time got their chances and many fish were caught and released. Capt. Mel Walker on the GOTCHA from Holiday Isle was successful at releasing sails more than a few times this week. Capt. Scott Stanzyk on the CATCH 22 from Bud & Mary’s marina also caught many sails for his anglers throughout the week with six releases on Sunday. The best action seems to be up by Conch reef, only a short ride from anywhere in Islamorada. Ballyhoo are still the number one bait in 90-120 feet of water.  We should have a little more wind this coming week so the goggle eyes and blue runners from a kite will get the job done. The wahoo were moving through the reef this week as several nice fish from 35-55 pounds were taken. They will usually show up in a pack of three to five fish so be ready for multiples if possible. Live baiting speedos on the reef edge and on wrecks out to 160 feet will produce huge results. An added benefit is that the sails and smoker kings love them too. The bad news is that they can be challenging to procure. While we are on the subject of PROCURE, I have found a great new product that helps me to catch fish. The name of the company is PROCURE and they sell products to add scent to your offerings. The super squid gel is my favorite one. Add a drop to your squid rig to entice more and larger snappers and groupers to bite your deep rigs. Smear some on your high speed jig for that extra touch on days when the bite is slower. I have even got fish to bite a bare hook with it! You can find it on-line at www.procure.com. Try it out, you will not be disappointed. They also make a dye to make your ballyhoo bright green, pink, and or blue. The bright green ballyhoo are really brilliant in the sunlight. The mahi mahi should be able to find them easier this spring when we shift our sights to the offshore grounds.

            The kings have been steady on the wrecks up and down the coast from Pickles to Tennessee reef. All that is required is some live ballyhoo or cigar minnows. Drop one down on a dropper loop rig with #5 or #6 wire and a ha ha stinger for great results. Of course the downrigger works very well as the depth fished will be more precise. Capt. J.R. Rudzin on the CAPT. JR from Holiday Isle is a downrigger master. He has been deploying a downrigger in his fishing system for over 20 years. He catches wahoo, tuna, dolphin, snapper, king fish, and grouper on his deep baits routinely. If you like to troll with live or dead baits, a downrigger will make a great addition to your arsenal. Enjoy another fabulous week of fishing in world famous Islamorada. See you next week!

Islamorada Offshore Fishing Report Update: February 11,2009

There was no lack of sailfish excitement this week as the blowing winds and cool temps kept the sails moving through our waters all week.  The bite has been better in the early morning or late afternoon so plan accordingly.  As of this writing the GENESIS and Capt. Jeff Fraser from Whale Harbor were leading the women’s sailfish tournament with seven releases after day one. The RELENTLESS and Capt. Paul Ross were close behind with six fish. Of course The KALEX and Capt. Alex Adler are always within striking distance with five fish. Either way it looks to be a great tournament with plenty of action and an exciting finish guaranteed for day two.  The sailfish should remain strong in the weeks to come so come on down and enjoy this fantastic sail catching season. It is a great time to get away from the frozen north and enjoy 75 degree temps and sunny skies. Another benefit is a longer day with plenty of vitamin d. If you are suffering from S.A.D. the only cure is a big dose of Islamorada complete with all of the snappers, groupers, and jacks your arms can stand. Mix that with a sailfish and a few king macks and you will be back again and again every winter for the rest of your adult life! The fishing has remained strong on the Oceanside from the patches all the way out to 200 feet. The cold water temps in the gulf have temporarily stalled the bite for Spanish and kings out back. As the temps come back to the 65-68 degree mark, the bite will take off again. Meanwhile, for those looking for calmer waters, focus efforts on the patch reefs for keeper yellowtails and schoolie muttons. There have also been grouper, porgies, hogfish, and lane snappers biting. All that is required is live shrimp for a great day of variety and fun for the dinner table. Use a light spinning outfit loaded with 20 or 30 lb braid with a 3 foot 20 lb fluorocarbon leader for best results. This outfit has plenty of pulling power should you hook a keeper red or black grouper while working the shallows. I also like a 3/8 once green Hank Brown Hook-up jig with a shrimp. It is pretty hard to beat on the patch reefs.  Get out and enjoy the ocean this week. The temps will be warming all week. Another big tip for the would-be fisherman: do not rely on the weather man to dictate your trip. They were wrong 100% this week. Ask your captain and leave it to his judgment. We are paid to be professionals and expert at interpreting the weather. Do not let the weatherman scare you away from a trip of a lifetime.  GOD bless and have a wonderful week “catching”.

Islamorada Offshore Fishing Report Update: February 04, 2009

       Another great week of offshore fishing has come and gone in Islamorada. The sailfish bite was slow in the beginning of the week but finished up with a big bang. The recent cold front moved many new fish into our waters from the north.  This week to come should be a good one if sails are your plan. Concentrate your efforts on the reef edge from 100-120 feet of water on all of your favorite haunts. For bait I prefer a live blue runner or goggle eye on the kite. Of course a live ballyhoo will always take even the most discerning spindle beak if rigged on 30 or 40 pound fluorocarbon leader. The standard 7/0 or 8/0 VMC circle hook will give you the results you want; landed fish! You may also try pilchards or cigar minnows if you can get them as they will help with the numerous king mackerel that have been working the reef edge and wrecks. As we move into February more and more king mackerel should start to show up. A large king mackerel can give your rods and reels one of the best work outs you can find in the keys.   Get out and enjoy the reel burning runs and ultra fast action that can be had close to home. They are also delicious when smoked as an added incentive to bring a few home. If finer table fare is your desire then you can always fish for yellowtail and mangrove snapper. They are always biting here in Islamorada on the patch reefs and reef edge. It is hard to beat live shrimp or pilchards for bait this time of year. Bring plenty of chum and get busy “catching”.  The deep water snappers are starting to show up on the deep wrecks and reefs.  When you can find them they are great eating and fun to catch. You may also catch a nice grouper while participating in this fishery.

        The Gulf of Mexico is still on fire. The Spanish mackerel are swarming more than ever out in the Gulf. All that is required is a few blocks of chum and plenty of live shrimp. You can catch fish until your arms fall off. You may also get into a cobia or two passing through while in the midst of the melee. After your chum soaks for a while some big sharks will come passing by to see what all the fuss is about. You can use medium tackle and #7 or #9 wire on a Mustad 7766 7/0 hook for consistent success.  The blacktips love something live. The big females are moving in right now so please only take the males. The females are full of young ones. The blacktip shark is an awesome fighter rivaling the fight of a tarpon. They are also very good to eat. Take a small one and try it on the grill. They are great. It is a great time to get out on the water and fish. Many of us have plenty of openings so get out on the water with one of Islamorada’s finest this week. 

       Sail fishing remained strong this week as cold north winds continued to blow.  As the wind moves around to the north east this week, expect more awesome sail fishing to continue. We are enjoying an awesome season of bill fishing here in Islamorada. If you want to catch more or get out for your first one, then this week should be a good choice. The sailfish love the cooler temps and northeast winds. This will cause them to migrate through the surface of the water column feeding on any reasonable offering along the way. My favorite bait is a blue runner or goggle eye on the kite. If you can catch some fresh ballyhoo, then this will also be a great choice to work the reef edge. While out on the reef, a king mackerel or wahoo may also come up and eat your live baits so an eighteen or twenty inch trace of #5 or #6 wire will help to catch one of these guys.  If you are only targeting billfish then 30 or 40 pound fluorocarbon leader will be a better choice.  A VMC 7/0 or 8/0 circle hook is a must and will help hook more fish.  The winds will be fresh next week around 15-20 knots so it is the perfect time to go fly a kite! Get out on the reef edge and enjoy the perfect sail fishing conditions.

      If calmer waters are your preference then you can head out to the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy some fast action with Spanish mackerel, snapper, grouper, sharks, king mackerel, and cobia. The gulf season is at it’s peak and the fishing is awesome. If you want to bend the rod, then the Gulf will always deliver. The biggest problem is bringing enough bait to last eight hours. It is not uncommon to go through 500 shrimp in a day with three anglers. The end result is three sets of very sore arms and three completely restored souls. Nothing improves your outlook on life like catching a whole boat full of fish! Give one of Islamorada’s finest a call and book that trip of a lifetime.

       The winter temps are cold but the fishing is red hot in Islamorada. We have had many cold fronts this winter.   They have been exactly what we need to spark the fish to migrate south and spend the winter here in the keys. The reef edge has been excellent for sailfish, king mackerel, snapper, grouper, and cobia.  We have not had a bad trip this year. Every trip out has been great. The sailfish have been center stage on the catch list.  They have been holding here in good numbers all season.  Every tournament has been successful with plenty of fish to go around. The RELENTLESS team led by Capt. Paul Ross has been dominating the scene day in and day out. They are in good shape to take the Gold Cup win this year with only the Islamorada Fishing Club tournament left to decide the winner. Not ever out of reach is THE REAL MCCOY led by Capt. George McElveen. They are close behind and very dangerous if you are in the lead. Capt. George is sure to show up with a big finish so this one is not over yet. The KALEX captained by Alex “Cappy” Adler is always ready to take the victory and so is the CATCH 22 and Capt. Scott Stanzyk. This has been an exciting tournament season and it will be a great grand finale when the Gold Cup finishes with the IFC event. If you have not had a chance to get out and catch a sailfish yet then treat yourself to a day on the water and do battle with the fastest fish that swims. They truly are the best light tackle fighter in the fish world. The fish are plentiful this year and ready to please.

                The king mackerel have also made a strong showing this year for similar reasons to the sails. They have been on all of the wrecks and reef points from Molasses to Sombrero. The cigar minnows work the best but ballyhoo will also work well too. The bait has been much tougher this week. Hopefully this will improve in the weeks to come.  If not, a butterflied ballyhoo on the deep rod will catch plenty of kings in a pinch. It works even better from a downrigger if you have one. If not, a dropper loop system can be employed with the same success.  The fish have been concentrated from 40-140 feet. Keep an eye out for a wahoo while fishing the edge this week. They are also moving through the keys reef system. 

                There have also been some nice mahi mahi in town this week. Focus on debris with life. Find a triple tail and you will probably find a wahoo or two and some dolphin.  We landed several slammers and gaffers this week during our travels to and from the hump and sword fishing. There are also a few medium tunas out there willing to bite a feather trolled way back. Get out on the water and enjoy the beautiful cool weather that makes wintertime so wonderful in south Florida.