The Lower Keys Offshore Report

December 2009: Lower Keys Fishing Report

A little taste of tropical weather slid past us bringing high winds and seas.  Ida has passed and dropped giving me the impression that we slid through another season.  The weather kept a lot of people off the water and prevented me from wanting anything to do with offshore fishing.  There were likely plenty of sailfish cruising down mountainous waves if you had the boat and nerve to get out after them.

One thing that I was reminded of as the winds gusted to 40mph was that there is just about always something to fish for here in the Florida Keys.  I got out on the flats two days during the weather and found dumb hungry fish.  We tucked into a leeward shoreline and put out some scent.  I used a chum tube with squid and cut mullet.  Do this in just about any spot out back and the sharks will soon be there.  Whole barracuda is best if you have it but any natural bait will do. I rig two spinning outfits and one conventional which I match to the size of the fish in the slick.

Prior to the weather passing through, things were going great offshore.

Black fin tuna were on the feed all up and down the reef line.  Trolling feathers on chumming with live baits will get the fish to the box.  We also found dolphin feeding on the reef line.  The bait migration is in full swing and predators, including sails, are chasing bait into the shallows of the reef.  Look for birds and baitfish showers.  Live ballyhoo are easy to come by so put a few in your live well to aid in your chances at success.

I love reef fishing this time of year.  If you keep an open mind and a variety of bait then action is sure to come.  Be ready to cut loose and chase fish if you see activity.  I like to keep my anchor on a float so I can take off without fussing with the anchor.  Good luck and good fishing.

Captain Andrew Tipler of Last Cast Charters in the Lower Keys, offers both flats fishing with fly and spin and offshore / reef / wreck excursions, with combination trips also available. He can be found at www.LastCastCharters.net.

October 2009: Fall is Here

Fall is here and temperatures will soon be dropping.  We can still expect some warm, make that very warm, weather.  This is the time of year the locals can have the Florida Keys all to themselves.  Tourists are few and far between and boat traffic is at a minimum.  We will soon feel the influx of snow birds but for now you can have your spots all to yourself.

I have been back in town and loving every minute of it.  It has been good to get back out and bend a rod.  The bone fishing has been excellent and should continue right up until the first cold fronts.  Look for the fish to be on just about every flat on the incoming tide.  Live shrimp and flies will be gobbled up by hungry fish.  The trick is getting it to them without spooking the fish.  Cast to the edge of a big school or lead them, the more fish there are the more eyes you have looking out for danger.  Permit fishing will be a good bet as water temperatures climb throughout the day.

Reef fishing has been fair but will continue to be a good bet during the fall.  Look for flag yellowtail to be schooling on the deep edge of the reef.  Spend a little time scouting with your sonar before anchoring up to fish.  Make sure your chum falls onto the fish.  A mixture of play sand, oats, chum, and menhaden oil will get wary flags feeding.  Try putting a live yellowtail on the bottom just in case a big grouper passes by.  It looks like the new regs are here to stay and this winter/spring will mean no grouper on the table so get one while you can.

Offshore fishing is sliding into the fall gear.  There are hordes of skipjack tuna roaming around between the ups and downs and the wall.  Troll small tuna feathers and cover some ground.  Remember your baits are BEHIND the boat.  Tuna do not like to bite after being run over.  I like to keep a few marlin lures in the spread just in case; big marlin will often follow these schools of tuna.  For something a little different try tossing butterfly jigs to busting fish.  Use light tackle and be prepared for screaming runs.  Blackfin often mix in with these schools, when you get one first bleed the gut and immerse in a salt water and ice slurry.  By doing this you can insure that the fish will be in top quality when sitting next to the wasabi and soy.

Closer in the fall run of dolphin will be kicking into high gear.  Look for big fish to be chasing flyers under the birds. Jet heads or lure/bait combos let you cover territory in a hurry which is important when chasing fast moving fish.  These fish are often a hundred yards or more from the bird and moving fast so be patent and keep working and you will be rewarded.

Sword fishing season is in full swing and more and more people are getting into the sport.  The best advice I can give is to do a trip with someone who has boated a few before going it alone.  Next is to invest in a high quality sonar.  A 500w with transom mount transducer just does not cut it.  With some luck you can hook a few but having the sonar capability will keep you in the strike zone longer.  Look for 1000+ w and a multiple element 50 Hz.  Airmar just came out with a new tm260 which does bolt onto the transom and has a 7 element 50 Hz cluster.  I personally use this one and have been very happy.

Captain Andrew Tipler of Last Cast Charters in the Lower Keys, offers both flats fishing with fly and spin and offshore / reef / wreck excursions, with combination trips also available. He can be found at www.LastCastCharters.net.

September 2009: September is Prime Time for Yellowtailing

This past month gave us some good fishing even if it was a little inconsistent.  It was hard to pick a pattern and stick with it.  Being on the water every day is one thing that helps guides come home with consistent catches of fish.  Finding a pattern was tough making each day a bit like starting from zero.
Dolphin fishing has been a tough proposition for the majority of the summer.  I don’t know if it is due to weather patterns and water temperatures or a sign of changing times.  Typically this time of year leaves us up to our elbows in schoolie dolphin.  While trolling a weed line during mid summer it is often necessary to pull up and move just to get away from the ravenous schools of peanut dolphin.  This year has not produced these conditions.  We had a good spring run of big fish but things petered out quickly.  We put some nice fish in the boat over the past month but consistent numbers were not there.  Hopefully we will have a good fall run.
This is prime time for yellowtailing so load up with chum and get out for a few flag tails.  Carry at least one block for every hour you plan on fishing.  If the water is gin clear, like it often is this time of year, then bring along sand, chum oat and menhaden oil mixture to help get the fish chewing.  Look for cero mackerel to make an occasional showing at the reef.  Rig a light rod with a live bait or a lure to get in on the action.
Nighttime reef fishing is always a good bet this time of year plus a great way to beat the heat.  Big mangrove snapper push out to the reef during the summer.  Live pinfish are hands down the best bait but just about anything will work when the bite is on.  It is a good opportunity to empty out all the old bait living in the bottom of your bait freezer.  Bonito chunks, ballyhoo chunks, squid and finger mullet are all among my choices.
Swordfishing is in full swing with night and day broadbills coming to boat.  Winds are generally lighter this time of year making the run to the wall a little more comfortable.  Plan on doing a few day drops but don’t forget about the nighttime bite.  Watching a big sword come into the lights is a sight that you won’t soon forget.
Flats fishing is best done early in the day.  Daytime water temperatures quickly climb past the comfort level of most flats species.  An afternoon shower can sometimes drop the temperatures back into fishable temperatures.  Look for bonefish on the incoming tides particularly on the gulf edge.  The permit will be available over a larger range as long as you find good moving water.

Captain Andrew Tipler of Last Cast Charters in the Lower Keys, offers both flats fishing with fly and spin and offshore / reef / wreck excursions, with combination trips also available. He can be found at www.LastCastCharters.net.