02-28-2008, 07:10 PM
It's not always full-throttle fishing hitting on all cylinders. Yes, there still is a wide abundance of fish hitting all over the place but every once in a while, you will find one species or two that seem to take a break for a spell.
Two of them are the sailfish and the yellowtail. Both have been a little slow for a few days now.
The sailfish have been spotty although they have had their days when they would show in good numbers. The consistency has been the question. A good number of them have been found along the inside edge of the Gulf Stream where there is a noticeable current line. This has been a good spot when they are not very evident along the reef edge.
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I'm not saying this is where they go every day, but it has been fairly productive. Wahoo and quite a few dolphin have also been found along this edge. It has been varying from 550 feet to 650 feet of water. If it is calm enough and you are not having luck along the reef edge, you may want to give it a try.
Yellowtail have been more in pockets of large schools rather than spread out all over the drop-off of the reef. It takes some looking to find the larger schools. The shallower spots and up on the patch reefs have been the most consistent for finding fish, although not tons of the really big ones. They should be back up and chomping in a day or two in better numbers.
What have remained hot are the bay and bridge channels. These venues have held steady with mangrove snapper, grouper and many other species.
The bay has been full of mackerel, mostly Spanish. If you go out far enough, 7 to 11 miles north of the islands, and don't catch mackerel, you definitely need to attend one of our seminars or maybe more than one.
Two things to remember: Use good chum and wire leaders. Without wire leaders, you will be an expert at fishing knots by the end of the day and without chum you will be asleep by noon.
The best action has been from Sprigger Bank along the Everglades National Park boundary westward and southwestward to just beyond Bullard Bank and over to well west of Bluefish Bank. This ridge has been the hottest area and also has some of the best fishing for snapper on the bottom as well as occasional grouper and a cruising cobia or two.
If you take live shrimp, don't be shy. It will take you longer to put the shrimp on the hook than it will take the fish to bite it. If you just want to go for the camaraderie and to relax, don't use bait or you will be interrupted continuously.
The bridges have been red hot with a variety of species, not only from fishing around the bridges by boat but from off them as well. As you travel the Keys, you pass bridges and see dozens of anglers working from these old bridges.
One of the best anglers from the bridges in the area will be here this Thursday speaking of some of the techniques and tackle he uses off them to find success. He commonly limits out in a short time on several species without the use of a boat, which is a good thing for those who don't have one or on those windy days that you just don't want to go out and have your body turned inside out.
He'll speak at our Marine Educational Center at our free fishing seminar, at 6 p.m. Thursday. The center is at mile marker 50 bayside.
In other areas, flats fishing has been very good, with numerous bonefish caught and seen on a daily bass. The winds have not affected the guides as much as the visitors, mostly because the professional guides know where and when they can fish behind this island or that one and find fish in much calmer conditions.
Fly fishermen have been doing very well with the bones and on certain days, quite a few tarpon, too. Permit have been frequenting the flats all along. Other species that are not as popular but just about as much fun have been in abundance. Jacks, barracuda, small sharks and quite a few snapper have all been in these areas.
Capt. Dave Navarro owns the World Class Angler in Marathon and captains the charter boat "˜Dave's Dream.'
Two of them are the sailfish and the yellowtail. Both have been a little slow for a few days now.
The sailfish have been spotty although they have had their days when they would show in good numbers. The consistency has been the question. A good number of them have been found along the inside edge of the Gulf Stream where there is a noticeable current line. This has been a good spot when they are not very evident along the reef edge.
*
I'm not saying this is where they go every day, but it has been fairly productive. Wahoo and quite a few dolphin have also been found along this edge. It has been varying from 550 feet to 650 feet of water. If it is calm enough and you are not having luck along the reef edge, you may want to give it a try.
Yellowtail have been more in pockets of large schools rather than spread out all over the drop-off of the reef. It takes some looking to find the larger schools. The shallower spots and up on the patch reefs have been the most consistent for finding fish, although not tons of the really big ones. They should be back up and chomping in a day or two in better numbers.
What have remained hot are the bay and bridge channels. These venues have held steady with mangrove snapper, grouper and many other species.
The bay has been full of mackerel, mostly Spanish. If you go out far enough, 7 to 11 miles north of the islands, and don't catch mackerel, you definitely need to attend one of our seminars or maybe more than one.
Two things to remember: Use good chum and wire leaders. Without wire leaders, you will be an expert at fishing knots by the end of the day and without chum you will be asleep by noon.
The best action has been from Sprigger Bank along the Everglades National Park boundary westward and southwestward to just beyond Bullard Bank and over to well west of Bluefish Bank. This ridge has been the hottest area and also has some of the best fishing for snapper on the bottom as well as occasional grouper and a cruising cobia or two.
If you take live shrimp, don't be shy. It will take you longer to put the shrimp on the hook than it will take the fish to bite it. If you just want to go for the camaraderie and to relax, don't use bait or you will be interrupted continuously.
The bridges have been red hot with a variety of species, not only from fishing around the bridges by boat but from off them as well. As you travel the Keys, you pass bridges and see dozens of anglers working from these old bridges.
One of the best anglers from the bridges in the area will be here this Thursday speaking of some of the techniques and tackle he uses off them to find success. He commonly limits out in a short time on several species without the use of a boat, which is a good thing for those who don't have one or on those windy days that you just don't want to go out and have your body turned inside out.
He'll speak at our Marine Educational Center at our free fishing seminar, at 6 p.m. Thursday. The center is at mile marker 50 bayside.
In other areas, flats fishing has been very good, with numerous bonefish caught and seen on a daily bass. The winds have not affected the guides as much as the visitors, mostly because the professional guides know where and when they can fish behind this island or that one and find fish in much calmer conditions.
Fly fishermen have been doing very well with the bones and on certain days, quite a few tarpon, too. Permit have been frequenting the flats all along. Other species that are not as popular but just about as much fun have been in abundance. Jacks, barracuda, small sharks and quite a few snapper have all been in these areas.
Capt. Dave Navarro owns the World Class Angler in Marathon and captains the charter boat "˜Dave's Dream.'