Florida Sportsman Forums - Keys Fishing Reports http://forums.floridasportsman.com/ Fishing and Diving and Reports Only. en Sun, 26 May 2013 08:11:03 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.floridasportsman.com/images/misc/rss.png Florida Sportsman Forums - Keys Fishing Reports http://forums.floridasportsman.com/ Brutal at the Bridge, but a Bahia Honda Slam http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?113030-Brutal-at-the-Bridge-but-a-Bahia-Honda-Slam&goto=newpost Sun, 26 May 2013 02:58:14 GMT After a late night trip yesterday, we thought the best way to catch the midday outgoing tide while the winds allowed was to run up to Bahia Honda... After a late night trip yesterday, we thought the best way to catch the midday outgoing tide while the winds allowed was to run up to Bahia Honda again. David and I bucked the east wind to reach the protection of the bridge, but found little relief from the wind and waves when we got there. The wind direction quartered the current, augmenting the waves and making it hard to keep baits where they needed to be. Weeds were also a bigger problem than last week.

We had several hits and drag pulls before the first hookup, but that ended up being a nice 75# tarpon. A few minutes later another hit but no hookup, then a bait down deep was taken. The fish ran long but stayed deep, and when we caught up with it we were pleasantly surprised that it was a 40# permit. We've caught a few permit here from time to time, but none this size.
Hopefully the GoPro video turns out well...here's a screen shot:

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Several other crabs were taken deep without hookups, and we assumed there were more permit around the pilings. David feathered his bait down around the piling, and felt the take. Again the fish stayed deep, but this time didn't run far. After we drifted into the clear, some pump-and-winds brought the fish to the surface. No permit this time: David's fish was a really nice snook!

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As the conditions deteriorated we made the rough trip back to Cudjoe, feeling we had made the best of what we had to work with in catching what David now calls a "Bahia Honda Slam."

A brief thunderstorm passed through in late afternoon, and gave us a very short window of calm as it left. One last quick trip to a nearby basin provided David with another tarpon, 1/4 the size of the big fish he caught last night. Under better conditions we finally got some decent photos...we'e mostly been videoing.

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Within minutes the winds kicked up again and drove us off the water, and barring some unexpected blessings it doesn't look as though they'll stop this week.
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]]> Keys Fishing Reports DogDoc http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?113030-Brutal-at-the-Bridge-but-a-Bahia-Honda-Slam Tagged Dolphin http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?113009-Tagged-Dolphin&goto=newpost Sat, 25 May 2013 23:52:21 GMT Offshore Key Largo, nothing that interesting about today, a couple of Bonita and a schoolie dolphin with a tag from dolphintaggin.com in it. Enough... Offshore Key Largo, nothing that interesting about today, a couple of Bonita and a schoolie dolphin with a tag from dolphintaggin.com in it. Enough for lunch and a free T-shirt, can't complain. ]]> Keys Fishing Reports deadcatbounce http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?113009-Tagged-Dolphin BPK 5/17-5/24 http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112968-BPK-5-17-5-24&goto=newpost Sat, 25 May 2013 17:24:28 GMT Slap wore out the dolphin, fish were past the wall, the majority of our fish came off of birds. The lure of choice was the triple D made in marathon,... Slap wore out the dolphin, fish were past the wall, the majority of our fish came off of birds. The lure of choice was the triple D made in marathon, my dad has used their lures for over 20 yrs. here's a few pics, big bull weighed 55 lbs on a certified scale!!
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]]> Keys Fishing Reports hineymo http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112968-BPK-5-17-5-24 Yellow Jack and Full Moon Monster http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112949-Yellow-Jack-and-Full-Moon-Monster&goto=newpost Sat, 25 May 2013 14:34:00 GMT We're scrambling to fit in as much inshore fishing as we can before the winds howl for the week.
After taking Nancy to the airport yesterday morning, David and I launched the boat at Garrison Bight and headed west. The trip to the Marquesas was quick, but unproductive. More breezy that I expected, it was tough to pole our bay boat where I wanted, and the shallows were more crowded than I've seen them. Trying to not get in their way, we steered clear and only saw a few tarpon.
Adventure over, we headed back late morning, but stopped by a shallow wreck to play a bit. David threw a small shrimp jig, expecting a small mangrove to be hiding in the eddies, but was surprised by a drag-screaming fish heading back to the wreck. After several runs back to structure that David was able to stop with his light bonefish rod, we landed a 10# Yellow Jack . I've heard they are good eating...we'll find out.

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We played with the spanish in KW harbor, keeping enough of the bigger ones to fillet for Nancy, caught a few big mangroves on some structure, and headed back home.
After cleaning the boat and the fish, and taking a nap, we headed back out for a late afternoon tarpon trip close to the house. Just as we started the first drift, David noticed the pinfish trap, full of chum, that I had forgotten to set out on the way to the basin. A quick run back to the grass flat got it done. On drift 2.0, David hooked up to a monster. She took us into some extremely shallow water, jumping multiple times as the moon came out from behind the clouds...a beautiful sight in the moonlight as the shallows made her jump instead of running deep. The jumps tired her more quickly than some other much smaller fish, and she measured 84" in length by the boat.(total, not fork) Our girth measurement was admittedly an estimate, but even our most conservative estimate put her at 180#'s. Average fish this trip have been 75-100#'s or so: some days they seem to run consistently 50, some days they were all 125-150...several fish have been 165#'s or so. This one fish was in a totally different class. We caught two other 50-75# fish later...all 3 revived quickly...more quickly than we did. We came home for a much-needed rest.
Sorry no good pictures...IPhone photos at night don't show much.

I wish the winds would allow more night trips with the full moon, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
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]]> Keys Fishing Reports DogDoc http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112949-Yellow-Jack-and-Full-Moon-Monster Thinking it may be time for the Nereid worm swarm in the Lower keys http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112923-Thinking-it-may-be-time-for-the-Nereid-worm-swarm-in-the-Lower-keys&goto=newpost Sat, 25 May 2013 05:09:19 GMT No, they r not palolos & no they r not "hatching." Going to head out the next day or 2 & have a look. I will post if I see any. ]]> Keys Fishing Reports turtle boy http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112923-Thinking-it-may-be-time-for-the-Nereid-worm-swarm-in-the-Lower-keys Full Moon Wahoo Rig Video http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112894-Full-Moon-Wahoo-Rig-Video&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 22:47:03 GMT Been getting lots of emails & calls about wahoo baits. Here is a quick clip of us using it a couple weeks ago. You will see exactly what it looks like. Its called the "Golden Goddess".

]]> Keys Fishing Reports TavernierGuy http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112894-Full-Moon-Wahoo-Rig-Video Yellowtail- Lower Keys 5/24 http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112881-Yellowtail-Lower-Keys-5-24&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 21:36:17 GMT Left 8:30 with DogDoc and as soon as we stopped bottom was lit up. Dropped chum, nice tide and started hooking up with squid/tuna. Little lull,... Left 8:30 with DogDoc and as soon as we stopped bottom was lit up. Dropped chum, nice tide and started hooking up with squid/tuna. Little lull, changed to jigs with silversides and steady catch. Not huge but fat and strong. Fun morning.


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]]> Keys Fishing Reports CaptBill http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112881-Yellowtail-Lower-Keys-5-24 live bait reports from Key West needed! http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112866-live-bait-reports-from-Key-West-needed!&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 19:38:42 GMT Coming down to head to the Tortugas 6/3 and looking for areas to target pinfish and ballyhoos before our westward trek, any help would be... Coming down to head to the Tortugas 6/3 and looking for areas to target pinfish and ballyhoos before our westward trek, any help would be appreciated. Also, any good local bait boat info too! ]]> Keys Fishing Reports bamahemi http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112866-live-bait-reports-from-Key-West-needed! 5-23-13 Good To Be Offshore BPK!!!!! http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112782-5-23-13-Good-To-Be-Offshore-BPK!!!!!&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 02:56:08 GMT Solo bloody deck trip today off BPK, good to be back as always!!! :willynilly:willynilly. Headed out early in anticipation of a good day, always... Solo bloody deck trip today off BPK, good to be back as always!!! :willynilly:willynilly. Headed out early in anticipation of a good day, always hopeful when the seas cooperate to get to the deeper water. Found some birds right away in about 260 feet and immediately deployed my rigged ballys...naturally another bigger boat with multiple fishermen is moving into the area but I already have a bead on where the birds are moving and hook up right away :grin to a decent schoolie at 9AM to start off the day. I watched and quickly redeployed my lines and they did not secure 1 fish and moved. Worked the area for a little while with no more strikes and moved on. Trolled a bit and found a pretty decent weedline in 550 feet worked that for awhile with multiple other boats and only caught the weed fish...ugh:banghead. Headed even deeper for another hour or so to no avail. Came back in and in roughly 440 feet had a nice strike but the hook did not catch. Then I saw a large cylindrical object and another boater fishing nearby, he called me over as he was nearly done fishing the area as we spoke, nice guy also fishing solo. I hooked up a large mahi while at a dead stop and watched him go airborne and eventually break my skirt rig as I was not moving and the drag was slightly tight, beautiful fish to see! Started chunking after that and scored some decent but not huge fins, lost several in the bloody mayhem, wished I had someone else on board like my lovely wife who loves to fish and we would have really done well as I lost several boat side but I was not complaining1:wink It really was tough to hook up with those fins as there were a TON of small jacks and ocean sunfish just hammering away at anything you dropped.as they were so aggressive. Well, I started really looking over the area and saw a number of very large tripletail under the cylinder, what a day to have no fresh shrimp! Again, the jacks were everywhere and very tough to get the tails interested in my cut sardine and I finally switched to cutting up some fresh bally and deploying them right nearby where they were at. Caught 2 smaller ones and then whammo, a very nice 16 incher in the boat :grin:grin followed by almost a 19 incher...:grin:grin:grin:grin. Sweet!!! Somehow my net broke during this time, crazy! Took off in anticipation of heading home and found some more birds, put out another bally and picked another mahi but barely legal, kept him in the water for a quick pic. Back at the dock I now realized how difficult it really is to clean a boat full of blood, I usually clean the boat as the day wears on but it was bloody mayhem there for awhile by my lonesome. Enjoy the pics and TIGHT LINES!!!

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]]> Keys Fishing Reports latitudeajustment http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112782-5-23-13-Good-To-Be-Offshore-BPK!!!!! Dry Tortugas Grouper Jigging with Capt Yuri May 20 - 22, 2013 http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112716-Dry-Tortugas-Grouper-Jigging-with-Capt-Yuri-May-20-22-2013&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 20:33:15 GMT I had an rare opportunity to fish Dry Tortugas wth Capt Yuri as one charter group was looking for anglers and Capt Yuri asked me whether I could join... I had an rare opportunity to fish Dry Tortugas wth Capt Yuri as one charter group was looking for anglers and Capt Yuri asked me whether I could join the trip.
Fortunately I didn't have any major fishing trip planned and I didn't hesitate to take the offer.

One of the main purpose of this trip was to test new Black Hole Magic Eye models. Her is list of my tackle.

Rods and Reels

for grouper:

8' Black Hole Magic Eye 804B conentional rod with JM PE6 filled with 80 lb Jerry Brown
5'4" Black Hole Cape Cod Special 250g Jigging rod with JM PE10 filled with 130 lb Jerry Brown Hollow
5' Black Hole Cape Cod Special 450g Jigging rod with JM PE10 filled with 130 lb lb Jerry Brown Hollow

for mutton snapper:

6'3" Black Hole Magic Eye 632XXH jigging rod with JM PE2 reel filled with N.S. Hybrid PE3 line
5'7" Black Hole Magic Eye 571XXH jiggign rod with JM PE3 reel filled with 40 lb Jerry Brown hollow.

Jigs:

-Super Sardine jigs 200g and 250g
-JIGNPOP Flat Hammered Diamond jig 8 oz and 10 oz

I put aside small jigs like Black Hole Biter and Taifun jigs for mutton, but I forgot to bring them.

Another objective of the trip is to take videos to show how I jig for grouper, mutton or deep drop.
Everybody jigs differently, but I hope some get some idea from the videos.


-------------------

Slow Jigging Tecnhique

I observed that anglers who start jigging use fast cranking technique influenced by Japanese style jigging.
There are times when fast cranking is very effective. But, in my opinion, slow jigging is the way to go for bottom dwellers fishing like grouper.
Slow jigging is nothing but to bounce the bottom slowy imitating injured bait fish falling down.

My favorite jigs for grouper is 6 - 10 oz JIGNPOP Flat Hammered Diamond jigs, but I tested 200 g and 250g Super Sardine jigs this time. I don't know it was because grouper were very active on the trip and grouper loved Super Sardine jigs which other fishermen on the boat can testify.
I easily got two days limit of grouper on jigs on the trip.

I brought 250g and 450g Black Hole Cape Cod Special for jigging grouper. And I decided to test 250g rod first.
After the trip, I feel 250g is good enough even for grouper, even for black grouper.

One time, I hooked up a giant several hundreds lb goliath or warsaw grouper on 250g Super Sardine jig and fought about 15 minutes on 30 - 35 lb drag before leader line got broken when the monster charged very hard. I spooled with 130 lb Jerry Brown and 150 lb leader line in case of big black grouper, but still it was not good enough for monster goliath/warsaw grouper.
When the monster pulled the line, I felt heavy like I was fighting a giant bluefin.





grouper jigging with light tackle. Black Hole Magic Eye 571XXH/JM PE3 combo


Black Hole Magic Eye 632XXH/JM PE2 combo. I gave Biter jigs to Capt Yuri when I fsihed with him during Thanksgivings and he said the Biter jigs have been dynamite for mutton and grouper. I had only two Biter jigs and I could see after using them on the trip why he likes the jigs so much.


Super Sadine jigs were hot for grouper on this trip


















We are editing the grouper jigging video and the video will be pasted by today. ]]> Keys Fishing Reports kilsong http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112716-Dry-Tortugas-Grouper-Jigging-with-Capt-Yuri-May-20-22-2013 Need an Islamorada Tarpon Report http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112701-Need-an-Islamorada-Tarpon-Report&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 19:13:49 GMT Has anyone been fishing the Channel 2 & 5 the past few days for Tarpon? Looking for an updated fishing report? Thx ]]> Keys Fishing Reports Beamer http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112701-Need-an-Islamorada-Tarpon-Report Mid Marathon vacation report http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112618-Mid-Marathon-vacation-report&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 04:06:46 GMT Came down about 4 days ago. Haven't been able to get the tarpon/flats boat offshore yet - looks like tomorrow will be our window.

Have actually had little luck with tarpon thus far. Have had a few bites landing one at the 7mile bridge. Trying to "match the hatch" finding Richie for Mullet/ buying crabs and catching pin. Even dropped down to 40lb flouro but just haven't had that lucky day of 5-10 jumped fish. Seen 100's of them.

Now to the good stuff. Jumped my first and second tarpon on fly today/tonight!!!!! Have to say close to the best fishing experience of my life. Used my fishing partner/fellow forum member Rawdaws homemade flys which was cool. Came really close to landing the second fish before getting around structure and breaking me off.

Hopefully we can find the bull and cow tomorrow and make it a A+ trip. ]]> Keys Fishing Reports Icatcher22 http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112618-Mid-Marathon-vacation-report Outgoing tide at Bahia Honda...Tarpon Tornado http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112609-Outgoing-tide-at-Bahia-Honda-Tarpon-Tornado&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 01:51:10 GMT With a few crabs in the pen, we decided to run up to BH for the early afternoon outgoing tide. A few boats were hooking up, but the bite was... With a few crabs in the pen, we decided to run up to BH for the early afternoon outgoing tide.

A few boats were hooking up, but the bite was slow for us until halfway through the tide. As the winds died down in front of a storm, the bite picked up and we jumped 10 or so. We only released 3: a few wrapped us on the bridge, and we lost 3 more when the Gamakatsu circle hooks broke! Go figure.

Amongst all of the center consoles and technical flats skiffs, we watched a camo jonboat fight a number of fish, giving a roostertail salute after each successful battle.

Just as the tide and the bite slowed, the storm we'd been watching build in from the northeast dropped a waterspout right next to the marina between the old and new bridges. At first it was a neat video-op, but then it got bigger and headed right for us. Not having a clue what would happen if we didn't, we and a bunch of other boats cut loose and scattered just before it passed through the bay we had been fishing. Probably not a big deal, but it was spooky to see it so close....reminding me of the documentary footage of the tornado crossing a highway overpass. It was sobering and humbling to have a scary moment from such a minor incident, and know the folks in the midwest have experienced such tragic and devastating storms this week.

We'll be taking advantage of the weather over the next few days, 'cause next week looks rough! ]]> Keys Fishing Reports DogDoc http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112609-Outgoing-tide-at-Bahia-Honda-Tarpon-Tornado <![CDATA[Muttons, Phins, & 2 Days with Ed]]> http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112465-Muttons-Phins-amp-2-Days-with-Ed&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:53 GMT Wanted to post up a quick report for you all heading down this weekend. Have not been doing much offshore fishing at all since my last report as I... Wanted to post up a quick report for you all heading down this weekend.

Have not been doing much offshore fishing at all since my last report as I have had my regular clients in looking for Muttons and Flag Yellowtails. I really enjoy fishing the reef. We had a nice offshore wind from the east which kept the conditions favorable. When I target Muttons, I don’t do much deep dropping as I like to catch them in my chum slick.
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Rumor has it that NOAA/FWC are looking to close the Mutton season during the spawn due to people taking more than their limit or just flat out abusing it. Keep this in mind this spring. It could very well happen and sooner than you think.

I do a lot of prep work (chunks of every thing Wicked Tuna style) for reef fishing.


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Tom & Carrie also got on some Mangos & a couple of nice Yellowtails for dinners.

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Fished with Eric & his crew. We put a nice Gag Grouper in the box and a legal size Cobia for dinners, but the catch of day was this awesome Mutton Snapper caught at sunset.

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Monday Ed wanted to go look for dolphin. We had storms blowing up everywhere, then the wind picked up. At one point we had 3-6ft seas. It got snotty. Ed hung in there. When he started telling me about all the big fish he caught over the years, I really had no worries. This guy was rock solid and focused. He kept it tight. Got on a gaffer early in 400ft. Got covered up by other boats with 20min. Told Ed it was not worth it for gaffers so we turned back for the beach, I had one more area I wanted to check out if the seas let me. Sure enough, we got blasted by a 20lb cow, cow spit the hook of course. No worries. Had 2 baits out. Made a quick turn then Ed hooked up. Ed liked to look at his watch. After 7 min. Ed brought the fish to boat, keeping it tight all the while. The colors of this fish surfing the was was awesome. I really felt confident as this guy knew the drill.

Asked Ed if he wanted to make another pass. He said no. He had enough meat. Truely a great fisherman.

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Day 2 with Ed. He had flag yellowtails in mind. He had patience, ate a sandwhich worked a bottom rod. I think he was in shock when we brought them up under a bright sunny sky in the middle of afternoon in 60ft of water. He listened and got the technique down. After rocking up a few, I had him make a few minor adjustments. He caught some fat fish in less than 1 hour. My wife brought him the fillets in a laundry basket. Said he was going to share with his friends for "Good Karma". Great guy.

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Have a good holiday weekend, please be safe & good fishing karma!

Ryan
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]]> Keys Fishing Reports TavernierGuy http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112465-Muttons-Phins-amp-2-Days-with-Ed Heading down Friday....Forecast looks windy http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112399-Heading-down-Friday-Forecast-looks-windy&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 22:55:58 GMT Hope something changes. Heading down Friday for 10 days. The long range forecast looks like a blow out! I hope this is the 90% of the time the... Hope something changes.

Heading down Friday for 10 days. The long range forecast looks like a blow out!

I hope this is the 90% of the time the weather folks are wrong. ]]> Keys Fishing Reports astm216 http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?112399-Heading-down-Friday-Forecast-looks-windy