Late May / Early June - Please help set expectations

AJS_99

Hello! First time poster here.

My son and I are planning a fishing adventure for May / June next year and he picked the keys as a spot where he wanted to go fishing. Can anyone please let me know what we can expect to be typical target species both offshore and on wrecks at that time of year? 

I've scoured the internet looking for calendars, etc but find a lot of conflicting information, and I fully appreciate that conditions are variable. Just looking for some guidance to help me make sure this is a good time to come! 

We are looking for some good fights!

Many Thanks.

Mackeral Snatcher

If your looking for a fight, look no farther then the bridges.

There will be plenty of tarpon ready to go 10 rounds with you.

AJS_99

Thanks! We will definitely plan for that. If we did an offshore charter too - is that mahi season? What else would be targets at that time? 

suprasteve

Usually a good time for dolphin, and deepwater grouper will be back open too.

Al Bundy

fish are there, but so can the wind.  Based on my trips that time of year, I put your odds at 25% so rough no one goes out (5ft+), 50% 3-5ft on the reef and offshore which is a sliding scale from weekend warriors will tough it out up to it's just not fun to get that beat up even if you do go out and finally 25% flat as a lake.  Bayside is usually protected (depending on the wind direction) and fun can be had.  

AJS_99

Thanks very much. Sounds like I need to hedge our bets with some inshore as well. 

Are blackfin tuna, wahoo, bonita, and sailfish around then too? Or is that when they are moving out?

MulletFord

AJS_99 said:

Thanks very much. Sounds like I need to hedge our bets with some inshore as well. 

Are blackfin tuna, wahoo, bonita, and sailfish around then too? Or is that when they are moving out?

Those fish are always around, but Late May early June is not the best time to fish for them. 

AJS_99

Thanks all!

MulletFord, given that we are flexible, do you think we'd be better off planning earlier or later? Or is it always good, just with different target species?

Schweidee

Your getting lots of info.

As far as scheduling, it really depends on what you want to target (if anything).  If you want sailfish, come earlier.  If you want tuna/Dolphin come a little later.  You just want action and your open to what that looks like come almost anytime.  That's one of the great benefits of the Keys.

InstaGator

AJS, May and June have historically been my favorite times to go down to the keys.  However for the last 3 years the dolphin have not fully shown up by May or June, don’t know why.  Don’t get me wrong there are there just not in the size or numbers as previous year.  The black fin will be on the humps and I caught a ton this June speed jigging.  Caught one on every drop pretty much.  We also did real well deep dropping but that requires some specialized equipment.  Yellow tail are also on reef and there will be some good mutton bite in about 200 ‘ for the big ones.  The key for the mutton’s to me at lease is the correct drift speed and direction,parallel to the reef at about 1.5 knots.  I would definelttly target tarpoon and perhaps hit them on the days when the seas offshore are rough.  Good luck.

AJS_99

Thanks so much! As it stands now we are going to do 2 days offshore, 2 days targeting tarpon, and 1 day focusing on other inshore species most likely Memorial Day week. I’m doing this as a special trip for my son so I want to do everything possible to get him some fish stories! 

I’m hopeful that we will be able to find something big to fight with! 

RunFishRun

The wind dictates everything.  

piner_wahoo1

what  is your boat and where are you staying? that is my best time of year to fish w/ BIG dolphin, tuna and all the tilefish+yellow-edge and snowy grouper

AJS_99

Hello! We chartered with Catchalottafish in Islamorada for the offshore days. Thanks! 

InstaGator

AJS, you may seriously want to consider Piper Wahoo as he slays the fish down there

piner_wahoo1

jackpot ! big dolphin+ grouper tiles