Key West December Fishing

December 27, 2006 at 1:44 am · Filed under Key West Flats Fishing

December fishing has been hot in the offshore waters. Anglers can expect a little bit of a bouncy ride out to the reef and beyond but the reward will be great.

This Christmas several boats from the A&B Marina gave the gift of wahoo including the Outer Limits, Mr. Z and the Triple Time. Wahoo are being found offshore anywhere from 120 to 400 feet of water. These wahoo are ranging from 30 pounds to 60 pounds plus!

Mahi-Mahi (dolphin fish) are being found in closer to the reef and bar around the lobster buoys. The current has kept the bait hanging in close and the buoys offer them a little shelter since there is no real weed line to be found.

There have been some sailfish caught by both trolling charters as well as live bait boats. Sailfishing will remain consistant throughout the winter months and into spring. This years World Sailfish Championship is in April. Check their website at www.worldsailfish.com for more information. This year the tournament hopes to break one million dollars in charity dollars. It is a very successful tournament with tremendous results in the waters off Key West, FL.

January is going to offer some great fishing both inshore and offshore. Look for giant barracuda on the flats, jacks, sharks, sea trout, ladyfish, redfish, snook, permit, bonefish, and maybe if you are lucky a tarpon or two.

The Hog’s Breath King Mackerel Tournament is slated for January at Murray Marina on Stock Island. This is an SKA sanctioned event with great prizes and some of the best anglers and guides in the south east.

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Lower Keys Winter Fishing

December 9, 2006 at 12:50 pm · Filed under Florida Keys Fishing, Key West Flats Fishing

Winter time in Key West on the flats can be action packed. Sometimes the weather dictates what type of fishing we will do for the day but in the end there is always someplace to find fish.

Some of the top species from now through February will be large barracuda, Crevalle jacks and sharks. All of these fish are a tremendous catch on the flats and they put up a great fight on light tackle or a fly rod.

Barracudas in particular are one of my favorites. They like a tube lure to chase because it resembles a needlefish or fast swimming baitfish. A good tactic is to throw the lure out past the barracuda and let him take notice of it by retrieving it at a quick pace. Once he takes interest in it speed up the retrieve so he never gets a real good look at the lure. Often times the barracuda will chase the lure right to the rod tip and either take it right at the bow of the skiff or turn off and swim away. Once these fish are hooked you can expect them to make long runs and even aerobatic jumps trying to get that lure out of their toothy mouth.

Fly fishing for barracuda is a good sport for beginning to expert fly anglers. There are a variety of flies that work for barracuda on the flats. The flies are all long and slender and are tied with plenty of material will past the hook. Flashy material such as polar flash will get their attention.

Both flies and tube lures must be tied with a wire leader to the line. This ensures that we have a chance of landing the fish.

Barracuda hang out on the flats in the winter to warm up when the water temperature is cold. They will sometimes sit almost motionless in a deeper pothole on a flat awaiting the next baitfish to swim by.

Barracuda are found throughout the Keys and there are plenty of them in the lower Keys, Key West and Marquesas areas on the flats.

For more information on winter fishing please contact us at www.flyfishingthekeys.com.

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