Monthly Archives: January 2009

The Florida Keys have been experiencing the coldest weather of the winter during the last week. Water temps have fallen into the high 60’s and a persistent northerly wind has driven clean blue water well off shore. King Mackerel have dominated the fishing scene and we have had consistently great action on the Kings over the last week. The larger fish have been in the 30lb class. Live baits fished off the kite are producing spectacular sky rocket bites. The wrecks are producing plenty of Amberjacks and a few grouper, Angler Joe Ryan caught a 27lb Black grouper on Sat which was the largest of the week. Sailfishing is slow with the temporarily poor water, and the Tuna bite has also slowed. We have caught a few large Yellowtail on the reef, but the water is too cool to make the Yellowtail comfortable.

The Tuna fishing is the best it’s been all winter, but the Sailfishing has temporarily slumped. As a result we have been using more pilchards and thread herring for bait and less live ballyhoo. The end of the bar area 18 miles SW of Key West has been a hot spot for the Tuna activity. There has also been an increase in the number of King fish along the reef and we have caught several recently in the 30lb size. Surprizingly there have been a fair number of off season Dolphin available as well. With a current cold snap producing the coldest weather of the winter to date and a steady north wind we may have seen the last of the dolphin for awhile but expect the king fishing to improve and for another influx of sails when the weather settles down. Grouper fishing on the reef will improve as well with the water temps decreasing.

Everything is biting! From Yellowtail to Dolphin to Sailfish to Blackfin Tuna, Key West’s well deserved reputation for fishing variety is on display. The Ballyhoo are swarming on the reef edge and Sailfish are plentiful, chasing the ‘hoo’s in the shallow water. Big Cero’s, Yellowjacks, Mutton Snapper, Dolphin and Tuna are also spraying the bait. When the current is right the reef fishing is outstanding too for Yellowtail and Black Grouper. Swordfish are also in good supply on the 200fm drop when the weather is calm.