Key West Fishing Reports
Updated fishing reports from the Lower Florida Keys & Key West
Archive for April, 2008
April 27, 2008 at 12:58 am · Filed under Key West Flats Fishing
April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, we’re hoping they bring more tarpon to the Lower Keys. Tarpon have been scarce the last few days. Hard to feed and hard to find, even in their regular springtime haunts.
The weather is always subject to change here and the forecast seems warmer the next couple of days which could help bring a new push of tarpon to the Key West area.
Offshore fishing is a totally different story. Plenty to do. Sailfish to the east near Pelican Shoal, cobia cruising the color change, yellowtail snapper are also a good bet just off the reef. There are permit down to the west of Sand Key. Get there early before the crowd of boats.
Gulf fishing has been good for tuna behind the shrimp boats. A fun trip but an expensive one. Split it between a few people and you’ve got a trip you will never forget. It’s more like catching than fishing. Capt. Mike Weinhofer on the Compass Rose offers this trip. Right now he’s going 65- miles one way to do this type of fishing.
Look for mahi-mahi to move in closer to the Keys in May. Tarpon will continue to move through the Keys throughout the summer months. June and July are both excellent for tarpon on the flats.
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April 14, 2008 at 2:08 am · Filed under Key West Flats Fishing
Tarpon fishing got hot this week. Plenty of fish pushed into the Lower Keys. Light tackle boats are getting them in the Harbor and Northwest Channel, and flats fishing guides are fishing the shallows from the Marquesas to Big Pine. There are some large tarpon moving along the ocean flats. They may stop along the way in Shark Key or near Cudjoe Key to look for a snack.
Permit are now mostly offshore. They are on the Atlantic and in the Gulf on patch reefs. The flats still hold permit but they are few and far between until late May or early June.
Bonefishing has improved with the warm weather. We are expecting a cold front tonight that will change the fishing for the next few days. In lieu of the prized three glamor species, fish for barracuda on the flats for fun.
Offshore waters are filled with plenty of opportunities. Sailfish on the color change with some cobia moving through. This week will be the World Sailfish Championship in Key West. Look for 110 boats to be out there in search of multiple releases as they pursue the grand prize of 100K.
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April 8, 2008 at 5:47 pm · Filed under Key West Flats Fishing
Fierce winds have subsided in the Lower Keys. The high winds have made fishing a challenge inshore and offshore. Despite windy conditions the fishing itself has been decent.
Flats are holding tarpon, bonefish and permit. Barracudas are still snapping good too. Look for tarpon fishing to get better as the month goes on. Permit are offshore to spawn but there are still a few stragglers on the flats.
Offshore the sailfishing has been decent. Mostly east of Key West is where the action is. Yellowtail fishing on the reef is hot right now and permit can be found on several of the patch reefs and shoals west of Key West and in the Gulf.
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