KEY WEST – The change of seasons is coming soon here in the Lower Keys. We received a much needed sample of what cooler weather actually feels like this past weekend. It was a nice change from the stifling hot summer. The change in climate will also bring forth a whole new fishery in the near shore and offshore waters. Bait is already available along the south side of the islands.

Getting a jump on hunting for bait in the early morning will ensure it can be found easily. The more boats that get in shallow to cast net bait the more scattered it becomes. Look for pelicans diving in shallow water at a tell tale sign there is some bait in the area. Another area that has a good bait supply is the reef. Ballyhoo are reportedly everywhere and easily netted. Guides may net ballyhoo for use on a charter that day or they may brine the bait and bag it for use another day. Capt. Tony Murphy on the Key Limey was back at work this week after a short vacation “off the rock” we call Key West. He was welcomed by 30- knot winds while a tropical system blew over the Keys this weekend. The object of fishing in imperfect weather is to know a spot where you can hide from the wind. For Murphy this meant hugging the reef and utilizing a supply of live pilchards to entice some grouper and snapper to bite. A well full of pilchards goes a long way on the reef. Murphy got into some nice sized yellowtail snapper and had them eating on the surface. Although his anglers from Minnesota were new to light tackle fishing, they managed to land many of the snappers despite the bull sharks that were lurking near by. “We fed a lot of sharks,” Murphy said. Sharks can be almost annoying when fishing for reef fish such as snapper and grouper. Although the reef fish may try their hardest to swim fast, the angler needs to reel faster just to get the fish to the surface and out of the water. Murphy caught several species along the reef edge including snapper, grouper, mackerel and barracuda. He kept a few barracuda for use later in the day for the grand finale shark fishing. For more information on fishing with Capt. Tony Murphy, visit his website at www.keylimey.com. The offshore waters have become more active this week too. Dolphin are on their southern migration now and have made a nice show off Key West from 300- to 800- feet. Capt. Jim Sharpe of Sea Boots Outfitters reports some terrific dolphin fishing off Pelican Shoal out to 800- feet. Sharpe’s anglers have reeling in dolphin up to 20- pounds. “Some say this is the best dolphin fishing we’ve seen all year long,” Sharpe said. Sharpe also had several wahoo bite while he was trolling for dolphin. Unfortunately the wahoo chose to bite the rigs with mono line instead of the wire. They nearly had the wahoo to the boat and it chewed through the line. Sharpe says that we are on the verge of increased wahoo activity. These fish become more active before and after the full and new moon. Normally these fish like to eat a bait that is trolled deeper in the water column. This time the fish ate on the surface. The Mr. Z out of A&B Marina had some of the best days this week with a catch of dolphin, wahoo and sailfish. Capt. Craig Eubank hosted George Rameriz and his wife, Lisa of Orlando for a day of fishing off Key West. Rameriz landed two wahoo weighing in at 37- and 46- pounds. The couple also landed several dolphin in the 12- pound range. They were trolling bait south of the main ship channel in 400- feet of water. Visit Capt. Craig’s website at http://www.keywestfishtales.com for up to date reports and photos.