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Islamorada Fishing Roundup

Brought To You By Captain Greg Ekland

Captain Greg owns and operates the CLOUD NINE in Islamorada out of Bud & Mary's Marina. You can reach him at 305/360-7476. email: info@islamoradafishingtrips.com or visit his site: www.islamoradafishingtrips.com


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: February 18,2009

      This past week I had the pleasure and the honor of going fishing with four American men who chose years ago to serve their country.  Three were enlisted men, one was an officer, all are heroes.  They were part of a group down here in the Keys from the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. These men all carried scars and horrific wounds that stop you in your tracks. They referred to the moment that they were wounded in terms like "there I was walking on patrol and I got blown up" or "there was a flash and I was down crawling to my buddy"  almost like me saying "then the fish peeled off 200 yards of line".  It just happen and they moved on.  They spoke of the efforts that they are making to get back into shape to go back to Iraq, but in terms of when they get their running leg adjusted and their stump heals completely.  I heard a Staff Sargent from North Carolina who handles bomb sniffing dogs explain to me with total clarity and need, how he will be back on patrol in combat as soon as he gets his wind back and his sprint times down.  All this as he was adjusting the spring action on his artificial leg!  There was no false bravado here, just everyday American men who have made sacrifices of thei time, their bodies and their futures so the rest of the world not just America may be a better place one day.  

       We were fishing on the charter boat "Relentless"  out of Bud ‘n Mary's Marina at mile marker 80 in Islamorada.  Capt. Paul Ross and mate Jimmy Hendricks put on a show!  Its no wonder these guys have dominated the sailfish game as of late, they never stop looking for signs of bait, birds and sailfish.  We ran up and down the reef-line all day, constantly changing baits and setups as conditions changed through out the day.  We caught 3 sails the first day and they caught 6 sails on the second day and won the tournament that was held for them and their buddies.  The soldiers were far removed from the hospital halls and the hours of therapy that makes up their days in D.C. They were given a dose of medicine that can only be found out on the water while fishing.  The effect of the day's fishing is so effective, yet so simple, you could see the disconnect from the hospital and how their focus narrows down to the moment, the task at hand, the rod, the reel and the fish.  When you are concentrating on a running, leaping sailfish on a blue - blue sea, you can't and won't look too much past the task at hand. That is the beauty and power of fishing for anyone who takes a rod and reel up in their hands for a day on the water.  The level of commitment these men showed to recovery and moving on is amazing and has humbled me. I have an artificial knee and my other replacement knee is in my future, I will never complain about either joint again.  If you come across a soldier or veteran of our armed forces take the time to shake their hand and tell them "Thank You" and keep your opinion of world politics to yourself.  

      As far as the fishing on the flats and backcountry its red hot in the Gulf and the trout bite around Flamingo is great on either tide. The warm weather has redfish and snook getting back on track.  Soft plastic jerk baits were producing large trout and snook on the edges of the channels out west of Flamingo on the incoming tide and the falling tide was prime time for live shrimp work low and slow on the bottom.  

       Thank you to all of the boat crews and to Mangrove Mike's in Islamorada for taking care of the soldiers from Walter Reed.  Also thank you to the Elk's Club for their efforts, the lunches from The Island Grill, and many other people who helped.  And thanks to Elizabeth, of this paper, for all her effort she somehow fit into her schedule to make sure these soldiers had fun on the water…and her work as the committee boat and tournament director.


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: February 11,2009 

       Welcome to the Sportfishing Capitol of the World and the Fabulous Florida Keys.   In this weeks addition of the Weekly Fisherman you will find everything you need to know about what is biting, who is catching, and what fishing events are happening this week in the Keys.   Make sure to check out the area detailed fishing reports for more details. Here you will find my roundup of what is happening in our fishery here in the Keys this week. If I can help you get hooked up with a local guide or crew to do some fishing during you visit please contact me at the above information.

            The Sailfish action heated up of Key Largo and Islamorada last weekend after the passage of our latest round of cold fronts.  The Islamorada Ladies Sailfish Tournament angler experienced some excellent Sailfishing. Congratulations to the team of the Sweet Release on their victory,  Sailfishing should continue to be excellent this week as we crown the full moon on Monday and the weather forecast calls for moderating temperatures. In addition to the Sailfish several other species have been caught along the Keys reef line lately. 

            The Cobias have been showing up with regularity the last ten days.  Several schools have produced fish in fifty pound range.  These hard fighting fish are best taken on live baits such as grunts, cigar minnows, and pinfish.  They can be targeted along the gulleys and sandy areas along the edge of the reef and found more often than not following the large black southern stingrays that frequent these areas.  February and March are the best months to catch Cobias in the Florida Keys and the early signs for this season look exceptional.  The King Mackerel bite rebounded from the cold snap of last week over the weekend.  The Kings have ranged from 5 to 40 pounds lately with the larger fish holding on the deeper ledges of the reef.  This coming week should produce some good fishing for the speedy predators as we return to more normal temperatures and wind direction.  The Snapper fishing turned off with the cold temp of last week but should rebound this week.  Both the top edge of the reef and the rocky patch areas closer to shore are holding several species of snappers right now.  In addition to the snappers the red and gag groupers are starting to show up in the patch reef areas in the northern Keys and this is a good indicator that the black groupers are soon to arrive.    

            The inshore fishing on the Gulf side suffered a bit last week with the cold temperatures but with the current warming trend and the rising water temperatures this week fishing should recover quickly.  The Snook, Redfish, and Trout fishing should be good by weeks end.  There are also Spanish Mackerel, jacks, pompano, and a variety of other fish that will benefit from the increasing water temperatures.  Closer to the main island chain the Bonefishing has been good on the incoming tides lately. 

This is an amazing time of year to fish the Florida Keys and experience some of the best fishing we have to offer.  Whether your pleasure is chasing Sailfish along the reef or a wide variety of fish in the backcountry you couldn’t be here at a better time.  We have one of the greatest collections of fishing captains and crews in the world here in the Keys so make sure you take advantage and go fishing during your visit.  Enjoy your week and feel free to contact me if I can help you with questions or arrangements.  Great Fishing!  Capt. Greg


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: February 04,2009 

       Welcome to the Sportfishing Capitol of the World and the Fabulous Florida Keys.  You are here in the Keys at one of the best times of the year to get in on some amazing fishing action.  In this weeks addition of the Weekly Fisherman you will find everything you need to know about what is biting, who is catching, and what fishing events are happening this week in the Keys.   Make sure to check out the area detailed fishing reports for more details. Here you will find my roundup of what is happening in our fishery here in the Keys this week. If I can help you get hooked up with a local guide or crew to do some fishing during you visit please contact me at the above information. 

       Offshore fishing this past week has been excellent.  The Sailfish bite has continued to please visiting anglers.  The Sails are taking advantage of excellent bait supplies holding along the edge of the reef as their primary food source.  Ballyhoo, Sardines, Cigar minnows, and Pilchards have been providing a variety of bait choices for our anglers and different fish species.  Slow trolling these baits or fishing them from kites has proved very effective for most of the crews looking to catch Sailfish.  With the passing of two more cold fronts early this week I expect the Sailfish bite to continue to be strong.  The Sailfish are not the only game in town right now.  The King Mackerel bite has produced lots of fish lately in the 5 to 35 pound range.  These speedy predators are holding best around the wrecks and ledges of the reef in 110 to 150 feet of water.  The Cobias have also shown up in force during the last week.  Several schools of these hard fighting fish have been prowling the ocean side of the Keys from the edge of the reef inshore to the patch areas.  These fish are a ton of fun to catch and have been caught between 15 to 50 pounds in the last few days.  This fishery should continue to better over the next few weeks.

       Along the reef edge and patch reef areas the snapper fishing has started to rally.  Yellowtail and Mangrove snappers are starting to bite during the warming periods between cold fronts.   The Mutton snapper and Grouper bite has also better.  Several Captains from up and down the Keys are reporting quality catches of these larger bottom fish.  The patch reef areas are also producing some great Cero Mackerel fishing.   These fish are the smaller cousins of the King’s and make for some great table fair and as well as fast action.  Light wire leaders and plenty of chum can really spark these guys into a feeding frenzy. 

       The skinny water fishing along the flats and mangrove areas of the backcountry has been producing some great Snook fishing.  Last weekend marked the 2009 Swamp Guides tournament and the anglers toughed out some cold windy conditions to raise a ton of money for charity.  Congratulations go out to all of those who participated and organized this great event.  In addition to the excellent Snook bite several of the area guides have been catching a good number of Redfish and Trout.  There have also been some early signs of Tarpon and Bonefish activity during the warming periods between fronts. 

         This is an amazing time of year to fish the Florida Keys and experience some of the best fishing we have to offer.  Whether your pleasure is chasing Sailfish along the reef or a wide variety of fish in the backcountry you couldn’t be here at a better time.  We have one of the greatest collections of fishing captains and crews in the world here in the Keys so make sure you take advantage and go fishing during your visit.  Enjoy your week and feel free to contact me if I can help you with questions or arrangements.  Great Fishing!  Capt. Greg 


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: January 28,2009 

       Welcome to the Fabulous Florida Keys and the Sport Fishing Capitol of the World.  Fishing this past week here in the Islands has been fantastic.  Along the reef edge on the Ocean side of the Keys the Sailfish action has been consistent with most crews releasing 3 to 5 fish a day.  Out back in the Gulf of Mexico the King Mackerel and Cobia fishing around the numerous wrecks and ledges has been producing some awesome fish to fifty pounds.  We are in the height of the winter fishing season here in the Keys and as a visiting angler you couldn’t have picked a better time to come here fishing.

                As I mentioned above the Sailfish action has been very good along the reef from Ocean reef to Key West.  The strong series of cold fronts we have experienced over the last ten days has held up the migratory sailfish in large quantities around the bait that is heavily stacked on the shallower ledges of the reef line.  Ballyhoo, sardines, cigar minnows, and goggles eyes are all providing forage for the Sailfish that are here right now.  We have been using several of these baits, flown under kites for stealth, to produce some quality fishing for our clients.  Last week concluded the Florida Keys Sailfish Gold Cup Series with the Islamorada Fishing Club’s Sailfish Tourney.  The Relentless team ran away with the last event and closed out the series winning all three legs of the Gold Cup.  The Relentless team is led by Capt. Paul Ross and featured anglers Jim Hendrix, Jimmy and Debbie David from Miami, and Fenton Langston of Key Largo.  They released 48 sailfish in 6 days of fishing while on their way to top honors in the Gold Cup series.  Congratulations to all of them on their victories and very impressive season.

       The Sailfish are not the only game in town on the Ocean side these days.  The King Mackerel schools have taken up residence Keys wide and range in size from a few pounds to more than fifty pounds.  The larger Kings have been holding in 120-180 feet of water and falling for cigar minnows, blue runners, and speedos.  These make for great sport on light tackle and should remain in place in our waters now through March.  There has also been an increasing number of Cobia caught lately.  These fish are migrating through our area right now and range in size from 10 to more than 60 pounds.  They can be found along the shallower ledges in the reef all the way back to the wrecks on the Gulf side.   Sight fishing for these powerhouse fish can produce the best results and some great fights for visiting anglers.  These fish will also continue to congregate in our area now through the middle of March.  As we approach the beginning of February we will see an increase in the number of Snappers and Groupers along the top edge of the reef.  These fish start to assemble this time of year into pre-spawning schools and we will see fishing for these species improve over the next few weeks.

       The inshore fishing has also been improving.  The Redfish and Trout are biting well in several spots in Everglades National Park and around the banks and Islands to the SW toward Key West.  The bonefishing has been excellent on the rising water nearer the main Island chain lately.  As we start to get more warm days between our cold fronts in February the fishing will only improve on the flats.  Once the water temps warm back into the 70’s we should also see the first signs of Tarpon activity in our area in several months. 

     February is a great month to fish here in the Keys.  We have a lot of excellent action for visiting anglers this time of year and our world class collection of guides and crews are available to put you on them.  If I can answer any questions you have about fishing here in the Florida Keys or help you get hooked up with a day on the water please contact me at the number or email above.  Have a great week and good fishing!  Capt. Greg


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: January 21,2009 

Welcome to the Fabulous Florida Keys, the home of the Sportfishing Capital of the World and the original Weekly Fisherman newspaper.  In this week’s issue you will find an overview of what has been biting Keys wide, what to expect in the upcoming week of fishing and who made news in the fleet.  You will also find area detailed reports from local Captains who bring their on-water experiences back and share them with you.  If  I can help you get hooked up with a local crew to do some fishing while you are in the area please contact me at the information above.

       This past week marked the middle of the Sailfish tournament season here in the Keys with the passing of the Annual Islamorada Presidential Sailfish Tournament.  This event replaced the Cheeca Lodge Presidential as the second leg of the Florida Keys Sailfish Gold Cup Series while the lodge cleans up after the fire.  The field of 28 boats enjoyed a good bite of Sailfish both days -- landing  a hundred or so fish.  The Relentless Team led by Capt. Paul Ross released 11 fish to take first place.  They also won the opening leg of the Gold Cup Series and have a commanding 6 fish lead over the Real McCoy team going in to the last leg this Thursday at the Islamorada Fishing Club. 

       The weather conditions the last week have taken on a familiar pattern for this time of year as the cold fronts from the north have been flying through every four days or so.  This fact, combined with the large volume of bait that we have on the edge of the reef Keys wide, has been producing some excellent Sailfishing. The high hook-ups of the fleet have been catching five to ten Sails a day.  I expect the weather and fishing to continue the same patterns this week. 

       The King Mackerel fishing has also been very good.  Large Kings to 45 pounds have been caught by several of the boats in the fleet recently.  These fish are feeding on larger baits along the ledges in the reef from 90 to 150 feet and are being caught Keys wide.  There has also been good fishing for Greater Amberjacks, Blackfin Tuna, Wahoo, and Cobias lately.  This is the time of year in the Keys when the winter time fishery is in full swing.  Make sure you get out and do some fishing during the next two weeks while all of this action is available to you.

       Further back into the Gulf the Spanish Mackerel bite has continued to be strong.  These fish are in place from 5 to 15 miles to the West of the Keys and are congregated around areas of structure in 7 to 20 feet of water.  The succession of Cold fronts has sparked the Snook bite back in the creeks and rivers of the Cape.  There have also been some quality schools of Redfish and Trout on the Bayside.  The bonefishing has been good closer to the Islands along the Ocean flats during the heat of the day.  We will start to see a warming of the water temps in the shallows over the next 30 days and the beginning of February will find more and more guides and their anglers out on the water catching these and other species. 

       There is no better time to come out and experience some of the best fishing the Florida Keys has to offer.  Whether your pleasure is chasing Sailfish along the reef or a wide variety of fish in the backcountry you couldn’t be here at a better time.  We have one of the greatest collections of fishing captains and crews in the world here in the Keys so make sure you take advantage and go fishing during your visit.  Enjoy your stay here in the Sportfishing Capital of the World and please get out and enjoy our amazing fishery.  Good fishing  Capt. Greg


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: January 14,2009 

Welcome to the Fabulous Florida Keys, the home of the Sportfishing Capital of the World and the original Weekly Fisherman newspaper.  In this week’s issue you will find an overview of what has been biting Keys wide, what to expect in the upcoming week of fishing and who made news in the fleet were last week.  You will also find area detailed reports from local Captains who bring their on-water experiences back and share them with you.  If  I can help you get hooked up with a local crew to do some fishing while you are in the area please contact me at the information above.

From North Key Largo to Key West the excellent Sailfish bite has been a main stay for the fleet lately.  The Islamorada Invitational Flyrod Tournament out of the Florida Keys Outfitters was held this last week.  Capt Charlie Scoble and his team on the YO HO HO released two fish to come away with the Grand Champion honors.  The two day event drew several quality teams.  The Sailfish were difficult to get to tease to the fly but the fleet hooked several fish and landed only three.  The Sailfishing on live bait has continued to be excellent.  The fish are focused along the shallower edge of the reef and are using the huge schools of ballyhoo baitfish as their main supply of food. 

       Besides the great Sailfishing we are experiencing an excellent bite of King Mackerel.  These fish have been held up on the shallower ledges of the reef from 35 to 140 feet of water.  These speedy predators make for some great light tackle action and can be taken in a variety of ways.  They have ranged in weight from 5 to 40 pounds and will continue to provide some excellent action for the next few weeks.  The Cobias are starting to show up in force on the Ocean side of the Keys.  Several boats out of Marathon caught a number of these great sport fish between 30 and 60 pounds last week.  As we continue into January the Cobias will continue to show up in larger numbers Keys wide inside the edge of the reef.  Bottom fishing along the reef and patch reef has continued to produce good numbers of smaller Mutton Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, and some great Cero Mackerel action.  Look for this all to continue to be good next week.

       The weather man is forecasting a strong cold front to move through the Keys midweek.  This front should be excellent for fishing as it will cycle the migratory fish along the edge of the reef and refresh the stocks of bait held up along the ledges of the reef.  We are still holding some impressive stocks of Ballyhoo, cigar minnows, sardines, and pilchards in our area.  This abundance of bait has not only made catching bait easier for the local crews but is also providing some excellent forage for all of the fish species the fleet is currently targeting.  This should continue to be the case this month and help to encourage the fish migrating by our reef to stop and feed for a while in between fronts.   And help make all the tournaments this week have a good bite!  Don’t Forget the Islamorada Presidental will be held at Marker 88 Restaurant, 15th thru 17th – contact Dianne at 305/852-2101 or email ditournaments@aol.com.

       Further back into the Gulf the Spanish Mackerel bite has continued to be strong.  These fish are in place from 5 to 15 miles to the West of the Keys and are congregated around areas of structure in 7 to 20 feet of water.  There has also been some good Cobia action in the Gulf during the past ten days.  Several Guides reported excellent Redfish and Trout bites in Everglades National Park to the West of Key Largo and Islamorada as well as off the Marqueses and back side of Key West.  There have also been some good numbers of Snook along the outer banks of the Park and up into the estuaries of Flamingo.

      There is no better time to come out and experience some of the best fishing the Florida Keys has to offer.  Whether your pleasure is chasing Sailfish along the reef or a wide variety of fish in the backcountry you couldn’t be here at a better time.  We have one of the greatest collections of fishing captains and crews in the world here in the Keys so make sure you take advantage and go fishing during your visit.  Enjoy your stay here in the Sportfishing Capital of the World and please get out and enjoy our amazing fishery. 

Good fishing  Capt. Greg


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: January 07,2009 

Happy New Year and welcome to the Fabulous Florida Keys, the home of the Sportfishing Capital of the World and the original Weekly Fisherman newspaper.  In this week’s issue you will find an overview of what has been biting Keys wide, what to expect in the upcoming week of fishing and who stand outs in the fleet were last week.  You will also find area detailed reports from local Captains who bring their on water experiences back and share them with you.  If  I can help you get hooked up with a local crew to do some fishing while you are in the area please contact me at the information above.

            From North Key Largo to Key West the excellent Sailfish bite has been a main stay for the fleet lately.  The Sailfish tournament schedule continued last weekend as the Key Largo Sailfish tournament drew a field of more than 20 boats.  Congratulations go to the Kalex team out of Bud n Mary’s marina in Islamorada led by Capt. Alex Adler who released 11 Sails on their way to a first place finish.  The Islamorada Invitational Sailfish Flyrod tournament kicks off this week out of the Florida Keys Outfitters in Islamorada.  This event always draws some great crews and anglers from all over the Keys and takes the art of Sailfishing to the next level. 

            Besides the great Sailfishing we are experiencing an excellent bite of King Mackerel.  These fish have been held up on the shallower ledges of the reef from 35 to 140 feet of water.  These speedy predators make for some great light tackle action and can be taken in a variety of ways.  They have ranged in weight from 5 to 40 pounds and will continue to provide some excellent action for the next few weeks.  The Cobias are starting to show up in force on the Ocean side of the Keys.  Several boats out of Marathon caught a number of these great sport fish between 30 and 60 pounds last week.  As we continue into January the Cobias will continue to show up in larger numbers Keys wide inside the edge of the reef.  Bottom fishing along the reef and patch reef has continued to produce good numbers of smaller Mutton Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, and some great Cero Mackerel action.  Look for this all to continue to be good next week.

            The weather man is forecasting a strong cold front to move through the Keys midweek.  This front should be excellent for fishing as it will cycle the migratory fish along the edge of the reef and refresh the stocks of bait held up along the ledges of the reef.  We are still holding some impressive stocks of Ballyhoo, cigar minnows, sardines, and pilchards in our area.  This abundance of bait has not only made catching bait easier for the local crews but is also providing some excellent forage for all of the fish species the fleet is currently targeting.  This should continue to be the case this month and help to encourage the fish migrating by our reef to stop and feed for a while in between fronts.

  Further back into the Gulf the Spanish Mackerel bite has continued to be strong.  These fish are in place from 5 to 15 miles to the West of the Keys and are congregated around areas of structure in 7 to 20 feet of water.  There has also been some good Cobia action in the Gulf during the past ten days.  Several Guides reported excellent Redfish and Trout bites in Everglades National Park to the West of Key Largo and Islamorada as well as off the Marqueses and back side of Key West.  There have also been some good numbers of Snook along the outer banks of the Park and up into the estuaries of Flamingo.

            This week in the Keys brings us not only the beginning of a new year but also a huge number of visiting anglers to our waters.  There is no better time to come out and experience some of the best fishing the Florida Keys has to offer.  Whether your pleasure is chasing Sailfish along the reef or a wide variety of fish in the backcountry you couldn’t be here at a better time.  We have one of the greatest collections of fishing captains and crews in the world here in the Keys so make sure you take advantage and go fishing during your visit.  Enjoy your stay here in the Sportfishing Capital of the World and have a wonderful start to your New Year! 

Capt. Greg


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: December 31,2009 

            Keys wide the Sailfish bite continued to be strong last week.  The Christmas week brought with it some strong East winds and the Sailfish responded by congregating along the shallower ledges in the reef.  The Sails have been showering large schools of Ballyhoo baitfish up and down the reef.  They are also taking advantage of the large amount of sardines and cigar minnows that are holding in 75 to 130 feet of water.  Casting and trolling Ballyhoos, cigar minnows, and sardines as well as flying baits from kites has been producing multiple releases for a lot of the crews from Key Largo to Key West.  The King Mackerel bite has also been excellent.  Large fish to 50 pounds are lined up along the reef from the western edge of Key West to Key Largo.  These fish are aggressive feeders and make for great action on light tackle.  The Kings should continue to be in our area in great number for the next few weeks.  Several boats in the Key Largo and Islamorada area experienced some great Wahoo action last week.  Wahoos from 25 to 60 pounds took trolled and live baits in 150 to 240 feet of water.  The heavy East winds of last week have given way to light breezes this week and that should bring with it some great conditions for catching these drag sizzling speedsters.  Large baits such as speedos, goggle eyes, and smaller bonitos are all prime choices for baiting up these great fish.  Further inshore the patch reef fishing has produced some great catches lately.  Large Mutton Snappers, Cero mackerel, Yellowtail Snapper, Black and Red Groupers, and a few Hogfish have been filling up several local boats’ coolers and providing some excellent action for anglers.  When the wind is up and the water is muddy this alternative to the deeper water can be very productive. 

            The winds of last week created some good conditions for mudding Bonefish along the ocean side of the Keys.  Several captains and there anglers braved the windy conditions and caught good numbers of these active fish.  Further back into the Gulf the Spanish Mackerel bite has continued to be strong.  These fish are in place from 5 to 15 miles to the West of the Keys and are congregated around areas of structure in 7 to 20 feet of water.  There has also been some good Cobia action in the Gulf during the past ten days.  These fish are hard fighting and make excellent table fair.  They should remain in good number this week both on the Gulf and Ocean sides of the Keys.  Several Guides reported excellent Redfish and Trout bites in Everglades National Park to the West of Key Largo and Islamorada.  There have also been some good numbers of Snook along the outer banks of the Park and up into the estuaries of the Cape.

            This week in the Keys brings us not only the beginning of a new year but also a huge number of visiting anglers to our waters.  For those of you that have come to fish our waters you will no doubt be greeted by some of the best fishing we have to offer.  Whether your pleasure is chasing Sailfish along the reef or a wide variety of fish in the backcountry, you couldn’t be here at a better time.  We have one of the greatest collections of fishing captains and crew in the world here in the Keys to guide you to some of this excellent fishing.  If I can help you with setting up a trip or answering any of your questions please give me a ring.  Enjoy your visit to the Sportfishing Capital of the World and have a wonderful start to your New Year!  Capt. Greg

 


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: December 24,2009 

Welcome to the Fabulous Florida Keys, the home of the Sportfishing Capital of the World and the original Weekly Fisherman newspaper.  In this week’s issue you will find a quick overview of what has been biting Keys wide, what to expect in the upcoming week, and who the stand outs were in the fleet this week past. Also make sure to check out the fishing reports from each of the contributing Captains for detailed fishing information from their area.

Chamber of Commerce weather and good numbers of Sailfish greeted the Florida Keys Junior anglers last week during the Islamorada Junior Sailfish Tournament.  The team of the Contagious led by Capt. Brian Cone took top honors with a two day total of nine Sailfish releases.  This event has received a lot of support from both visiting anglers, local kids, and corporate sponsors over the years and this year’s event was a huge success.  Congratulations to all of those who participated on a job well done.  It is great to see the future of our sport doing so well.

As we enter Christmas week here in the Florida Keys we are all excited about the quality of fishing the Keys waters is offering to this years visiting anglers  Huge numbers of cigar minnows and sardines continue to dominate the bait supply along the ledges of the reef from Key Largo to Key West.  Several Species of gamefish are using this bait supply as their main food source from the top edge of the reef out to 300 feet of water.  Large numbers of Sailfish and King Mackerel are stacked up along several of these ledges in the reef.  The Sailfishing has been excellent in South Key Largo, Northern Islamorada, Marathon, and Key West.  Most boats have been releasing multiple fish a day and this pattern should continue for the next few weeks.  The arrival this past week of huge numbers of King Mackerel has also brought us some excellent fishing action.  These fish have been as large as 55 pounds and there are several fish in the 20 to35 pound range to catch.  The Kings make great sport on light line and can be caught right now from the top edge of the reef out to 165 feet.  The Cobia fishing is a two sided story this week.  A few fish to 35 pounds were caught on the Oceanside last week but the real numbers of these fish are staged on the gulfside from 10 to 20 miles out.  We are due a cold front Tuesday which should help to move these fish out to the reefs on the Oceanside where the offshore fleet can get the anglers into schools of these great fish.  Look for Cobia fishing to be very good in the area for the next few weeks. A few Blackfin Tunas, Amberjacks, and lots of Sharks have been biting at the area humps in 450 to 750 feet of water.  Further inshore we are catching good numbers of Mutton Snappers to 20 pounds.  We are also starting to see the arrival of a few Black Groupers to the area.  Last but not least are the Wahoos.  Christmas week always seems to bring with it the arrival of several schools of Wahoo to the Keys waters and this year should be no different.  A few were caught last week to 50 pounds and once the winds settle out from the front early in the week we should see more of these great fish hanging on the docks in the afternoon.

Inshore the Redfish action has been great.  The fish have been averaging 5 to 7 pounds and feeding on the flats around several of the island and mainland shorelines this week.  As predicted the calm weather last week was great for inshore fishing.  Several guides reported great catches of Spanish Mackerel, Goliath Grouper, Cobia, Tripletail and Mangrove snappers.  Several guides also reported solid Bonefishing on the Oceanside flats this past week.  The Spanish Mackerel bite continues to be excellent.  These fish have set up residence in the Gulf off of Islamorada, Marathon and Key West.  There have also been several Pompano, Sea Trout and Ladyfish and Sharks caught in the back waters of late. As we cycle yet another cold front this week look for the inshore fishing to pick up as the winds settle out and go back to the E/NE.

Once again welcome to the Florida Keys and thanks for spending your holidays with us.  Fortunately for you, you have landed here in the middle of some great fishing. Make sure you include some time on the water this week during your holiday visit and take advantage of some of the best fishing we have had this season.  I would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and if I can help you book a charter in the area or answer any questions please feel free to contact me at the above number.  Enjoy your week here in fishing paradise!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Capt. Greg


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: December 17,2009 

       Yet again this week the Sailfish bite has been excellent. The two tournaments out of Islamorada this week both posted large numbers of Sailfish releases. The Main Attraction out of Marathon with Capt. Marty Lewis and crew released 17 Sailfish in one day to win the Islamorada Fishing Club’s Captains Cup tourney. They were followed closely by the crew of the Reel McCoy out of Bud N Mary’s Marina in Islamorada with 16 releases. The 15 boat fleet released a total of 130 Sailfish in the one day tournament. This quality of fishing continued last weekend for the Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Classic. The crew of the Carib Sea led by Capt. Kenny Spaulding released 17 Sailfish to take top honors. The Kalex led by Capt. Alex Adlertook second place and were followed in third by Capt. Paul Ross and the Relentless team.

       There is no doubt that the weather patterns have been a major part of the great bite the Keys has been experiencing lately. The last cold front was followed up by a period of light Northeast breezes and the fish have been piling up along the reef from Key Largo to Key West. Last week I reported the early arrival of monster masses of sardines and cigar minnows along the deeper ledges of the reef. Well the good news is that they are still here in large quantity and they are providing some excellent forage for several of our winter time species here in the Keys. Sailfish, Wahoo, Dolphin, Blackfin Tuna, and King Mackerel have all been caught this past week by the fleet Keys wide. The King Mackerel fishing has been consistent this week and with the arrival of the next cold front due by Friday we should continue to see good numbers of these fish in our waters Keys wide. Some of the Kings the last few days have been up to 40 pounds and they have averaged 15 to 20 pounds. Cigar minnows have been the bait of choice but Blue runner and speedos have taken their share as well. Several packs of Dolphin have been using the deeper ledges of the reef the last few days and they should continue to be evident this week as the weather man is calling for some stiff breezes out of the SE early in the week before the arrival of the next cold front. The Cobia bite this week is still improving and a few fish to forty pounds were found along the shallower edge of the reef on the ocean side and on several of the wrecks back into the Gulf of Mexico. The Blackfin Tuna have been busting the large masses of sardines and cigar minnows in 180 to 240 feet of water. These fish have average 8 to 12 pounds and been as large as 20 pounds this past week. All of this fishing action mentioned above should continue to thrive this next week as we welcome the arrival of the Holidays guests to the Keys.

       Inshore several Snook and Redfish are gathered up on the flats and creeks in Everglades National Park. The warm weather early this week should elevate the water temps on the flats and get these fish really happy. The Bonefish will also benefit from the warmer water temps and should be good this week. Several guys reported solid bonefishing on the Ocean side flats this past week. The Spanish Mackerel bite continues to be excellent. These fish have set up residence in the Gulf off of Islamorada, Marathon and Key West. There has also been several Pompano, Sea Trout and Goliath Grouper caught in the back waters of late. As we cycle yet another cold front later this week look for the inshore fishing to pick up as the winds settle out and go back to the NE.

       The arrival of the Christmas Holiday crowds early next week are no doubt going to be welcomed by the Keys residents with open arms this year. Most of the Fishing fleet will be on the water over the next 7 to 10 days and with all of the great fishing we should have some extremely happy visiting anglers. I would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and if I can help you book a charter in the area or answer any questions please feel free to contact me at the above number.

Enjoy your week here in fishing paradise!

 Capt. Greg


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: December 10,2009 

       Sailfish Everywhere! That has been the hot topic in the Keys now for three weeks and last weekend’s Islamorada Sailfish Tournament posted some amazing numbers. 30 boats turned out from all over South Florida to compete in the tournament and caught more than 400 Sailfish in three days. When the smoke settled, team Relentless, lead by Paul Ross from Bud N Mary’s Marina in Islamorada, released 30 fish over the three days to take top honors. Capt. George McElveen on the Reel McCoy and his team took second and the XXX team was third.

       Again, this week the weather has been excellent for fishing here in the Keys. The last cold front was followed by a period of light Northeast breezes and the fish have been piling up along the reef from Key Largo to Key West. The headline news for fisherman this week has been the early arrival of monster masses of sardines and cigar minnows along the deeper ledges of the reef. Normally we don’t see this amount of bait until early January and it is attracting large amounts of Sailfish, Blackfin Tuna, and King Mackerel. The King Mackerel fishing has been excellent early this week and with the arrival of the next cold front due by Friday we should continue to see good numbers of these fish Keys-wide. Some of the Kings the last few days have been up to 40 pounds and average 15 to 20 pounds. Cigar minnowshave been the bait of choice, but Blue runner and speedos have taken their share as well. The Cobia have also continued to gather on the Atlantic side and on several of the wrecks in the Gulf. Reports from fisherman north of the Keys on both the Gulf and Atlantic sides have been excellent and we are due some big numbers of these fish during the next few weeks.

       Inshore, the Redfish and Snook bite has also been excellent. Several of the flats to the west of Key Largo, back towards Everglades National Park are holding good schools of these fish. There has also been a great Sea Trout bite back in the park during the last few days. The lighter winds and sunny weather last week also perked up the Bonefish both on the Ocean and Bay side flats Keys-wide. The Bonefish bite has been best at midday into the afternoon as

the shallower waters warm and the fish become more active on the flats. The Spanish Mackerel bite was also excellent this past week. These fish have set up residence in the Gulf off of Islamorada, Marathon and Key West. The Spanish Macks are aggressive eaters and make great targets on any tackle of your choice. As the winds settle out from the passage of the latest cold front early this week, this great inshore fishing action will surely continue.

       In the Upper Keys this week the Sailfish tournament trail continues with the Islamorada Fishing Club’s $25,000 Captain’s Cup on Thursday and The Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Tourney on Saturday and Sunday. If you would like more information about how you can participate in this events please contact Dianne Harbaugh directly at (305) 852-2102 for The Captains Cup and Tammie Gurgiolo at (305) 852-9337 (or email her at fishinbully@msn. com). As you can see, the fishing here in the Florida Keys is excellent right now. If I can help you book a charter in the area or answer any questions please feel free to contact me at the above number.

 Enjoy your week here in fishing paradise!

Capt. Greg


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: December 03,2009 

Again this week the Sailfish bite has been epic throughout the Keys. The crew of the Sachem led by Capt. Bill Bassett and mate Bill Chapman topped the fleet this week in Sailfish releases. His anglers Carrie and Charlie Owens, their daughter Diana and son in law Joe Harris and their two sons Joe and Nathan caught an impressive 42 out of 53 Sailfish in seven days. This family has been fishing the Keys for more than 25 years and this is the best Sailfish bite they have ever seen this time of year. Last week was also a banner week for some of the Key’s junior anglers. Cheyenne Cale age 11, released her first 3 Sailfish last Sunday with the help of Cameron Bassett on the wire aboard the Sachem. Capt. Kenny Spaulding from the Carib Sea guided his son K. C., age 8, to his first Sailfish on fly. The fish ate a tube fly and K.C. battled the fish to the boat in less than 15 minutes where he promptly retrieved his fly and set the fish free. Bailey Hypes, age 8, caught a 38 pound Wahoo on 12lb. test with us aboard the Cloud Nine. These kids are the future of fishing here in the Keys and it is great to see them prosper so early in their angling careers. Congratulations to All on a job well done!

       As we discussed last week, the weather pattern here in the Keys has been excellent for fishing. As we roll in to the beginning of this week we are due yet another cold front and then a 5 to 7 day period of North to Northeast winds. This continuation of the favorable weather pattern will no doubt keep the Sailfish bite strong Keys wide. Another factor that has helped make the offshore fishing excellent recently is the extraordinary number of baitfish that have assembled along the edge of the reef from north Key Largo to Key West. Huge schools of Ballyhoo, cigar minnows and Sardines are shimmering along the edge of the reef. This huge mass of bait is providing a very attractive food source for the various species of game fish currently migrating through the Key’s waters. Besides the large number of Sails in the area we are starting to see the arrival of several small King Mackerel and some healthy Cobias. Last week the Kings ran 5 to 10 pounds and a few of the Cobias even topped 40 pounds. These fish will continue to stack up for the next few weeks and provide prime opportunities for anglers to enjoy a variety of fish to chase.

       Inshore the Redfish and Snook bite has been excellent. Several of the flats to the West of Key Largo back towards Everglades National Park are holding good schools of these fish. The lighter winds and sunny weather last week also perked up the Bonefish both on the Ocean and Bay side flats Keys wide. The Bonefish bite has been best midday into the afternoon as the shallower waters warm and the fish become more active on the the flats. The Spanish Mackerel bite was also excellent this past week. These fish have set up residence in the Gulf off of Islamorada, Marathon and Key West. The Spanish Macks are aggressive eaters and make great targets on any tackle of your choice. As the winds settle out from the passage of the latest cold front early this week, this great inshore fishing action will surely continue.

       This week marks the opening of the Sailfish tournament season here in the Keys with the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament. The tournament is sponsored by the Islamorada Charterboat Association and draws anglers from all over the country. The three days of competition make up half of the angling days for the Florida Keys Sailfish Gold Cup series. Fishing begins Friday, Dec. 5th and should post some great numbers this year with all of the fish in town. If you would like more information about how you can participate in this event please contact Dianne Harbaugh directly at (305) 852-2102 or visit the website at www. islamoradasailfishtournament.com. Please give me a call if you would like to get in on  some of this great Florida Keys fishing or have some of your own fish stories for next week’s column. Thanks to everyone that contributed their efforts to this week’s column. Have a great week!

Capt. Greg


Islamorada & Florida Keys Fishing Roundup Report: November 26,2008 

       The Sailfish bite Keys wide has been off the charts and tops the headlines this week. A large number of Sailfish are held up from South Key Largo throughout Islamorada and down to Marathon and have been aggressively feeding on huge schools of ballyhoo stacked up along the shallow ledges of the reef. Last week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday the bite from Islamorada to Key West was off the hook. Capt. George McElveen on the Reel McCoy out of Bud N Mary’s Marina in Islamorada released 16 Sails in a single day. A few other Islamorada boats topped ten releases and Capt. Brad Simmons in Key West reported similar success. The current North to Northeast weather pattern and water temps in the high 70’s have set the stage for a great start to the Sailfish season just in time for the Holiday crowds. The large number of baitfish along the edge of the reef is impressive for this time of year and the favorable North northeast weather pattern is forecast to hold through the weekend. All these factors point to a great bite of Sails this Thanksgiving week so make sure you get out on the water and enjoy these prime conditions.

       The Sailfish are not the only game in town right now. The Dolphin bite has begun to taper off a bit but there have still been a few gaffer size fish on the inshore current and color changes of the Gulfstream. There was a color change brewing to the southeast of Key West over the weekend and if the Dolphin are going to continue this week you can bet areas like this will be the best. There are some Blackfin Tunas hanging around the area humps and wrecks. These fish have been in the 10 to 25 pound range but the sharks have been hungry and getting a whole one to the boat has been more than difficult at several of the spots. The King Mack bite has continued to be on the slow side. With the water temps still on the warm side we might still be a few weeks away from a big push of these toothy critters. Bottom fishing has been good inshore along the patches from Key Largo to Key West. A few Mutton Snapper and a steady bite of Yellowtail and Mangrove snappers have been reported area-wide. The upper Keys will be first to sound off that the groupers are here and should start to gather up a few of these fish during the next couple of weeks. Be on the look out for the arrival of the Cobias as well. Several of the wrecks off of the Cape are holding good numbers of these great fighting fish and with all of the North-based wind we are having, their arrival on the ocean side of the Keys in number is due.

       Inshore, the windy weather has made the Bonefish scarce. Further back toward Everglades National Park, the Snook bite was good for those that toughed out the windy conditions. Prior to the arrival of the wind, the Spanish Mackerel bite was excellent out into the Gulf. These fish are great light tackle and fly targets and should continue to provide some excellent action for the inshore anglers as we push into December.

       The Sailfish Tournament season here in the Keys kicks off December 4th with the Islamorada Sailfish Tourney. For more information you can visit the tournament’s website at www.islamoradasailfishtournament. com or contact Dianne Harbaugh directly at (305) 852-2102. It is followed up by the Islamorada Fishing Club’s $25,000 Captain’s Cup December 10th and 11th. Again, contact Dianne at the above number for more information. Enjoy your Thanksgiving week and make sure you get out on the water to take advantage of this awesome Sailfish bite. If I can help you get hooked up with a crew in your area or you have some information you want to get in next week’s column, please contact me at the above information.

Good Fishing! Capt. Greg

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