Islamorada Fishing Report
Sorry not much on the phone this week…my fault…got slack. Anyhow, the first of the week we spent in the Tortugas and we had some success. Conditions were very tough, gin clear water and little, to no current. We did manage to put together a good catch of Red Groupers and Mutton Snappers all caught on jigs and cut bait. The Yellowtail snapper were another story. We struggled, found some nice flags but mostly 2lber’s. Bait of choice: glass minnows and shrimp on little 1/8oz jig heads and straight 20lb.
On the last evening we ran offshore and made our way drifting for Swordfish. One of our young guys on board managed to catch himself his first, about 75lbs…he did a great job. Might have had one or two other Sword bites and had to deal with the Sharks a little bit more than normal, but the kids enjoyed themselves!
Late in the week we have managed to do some Dolphin fishing, however, it has been a struggle for most of us…kind of strange, some heavy lifters and a few gaffers but not much.
Inshore on the reef edge things have spread out quite a bit. No more mass in one spot the spawning has begun! The Yellowtailing has been good with fish up to 3lb’s and some nice schoolie size Muttons 7lber’s. The Permit are still being caught on the big wrecks and on the flats inshore, Capt Jeff also tells me the Tarpon bite has been OK AT TIMES. He also makes note of the many storms that have been rolling through the Keys as of late and with these storms there has been great amounts of lighting. This in itself can really put a damper on the bite so that has been one big problem. Not to worry though…should be clear skies any day!! Capt Jeff tried his luck out back and found pretty good action on the Sea Trout ranging up to 5lb’s. Overall he has been dodging storms and keeping dry most of the week.
Capt.John Oughton – THAT’S RIGHT
cell 305-481-6527
