Florida Keys Fishing Report

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Offsho
Charter captains report a down turn in dolphin activity this past
week! Dolphin got hard to find. Many fish are now throw-back size with
the recent 20-inch minimum for recreational fishermen.
Local angler Terry Cobb found a piece of debris in 140 feet of water
off Alligator Reef Light. He tossed a flying fish at the flotsam and
as it sunk was eaten by a nice bull dolphin in the 30-pound range.

Reefs:
Yellowtail snapper action is good early in the morning. Dual chum bags
and a tub of soft chum to ladle out as you make your drifts will bring
the snapper up from the reef.
Capt. Dirrk on the Miller Time sacrificed some small blue crabs to
catch a couple of permit on the Eagle wreck just northeast of
Alligator Reef lighthouse.
Mangrove snapper are biting well on rocky reef areas. The "Mangs" will
be in depths from 10 to 110 feet.
Early evening as the sun goes down into darkness is prime time.

Gulf and Bay:
For action and eating, the best bet by far is again the mangrove
snapper.
If you can find decent size shrimp, they will do the trick. A well
full of pilchards is the best bait, even if you must cut them to
smaller size to allow the snapper to inhale the bait. Fish the Gulf
sand holes for the mangrove action.
You will also catch sea trout, jacks, etc., with this method. Another
fun, productive and cool way to fish in this hot time is by jumping
from marker to marker. Fish the Gulf markers. Give it 20 minutes then
run to another one.
Fish live shrimp, pinfish or just throw jigs and plugs. Cobia, permit,
snook, snapper, trout and more will provide action.

Flats, Backcountry and Flamingo:
Bonefish guides are speaking of difficult conditions. One day sighting
a few fish the next day none to be found.
Up on the Flamingo Flats, the redfishing has been good. Capt. Chris
Scott says the reds are on the large size.
"They are very shallow," says Capt. Chris.
Tarpon action has been from good to spotty around the bridges
depending where you fish. Capt. Lou Brubaker reports catching two
"big" Tarpon near Whale Harbor on a recent evening trip.
Both fish ate crabs and both took over an hour to get to the boat on
20-pound spin.