February 6, 2005

Fishing in the Lower Keys has been a bit of a challenge due to the cool temperatures we have been experiencing. The fish on the flats are very temp sensative and when it drops below 70 on the flats, most of the fish head for deeper water. There are exceptions though. Barracudas, sharks and jacks are around and since their food is scarce due to the cooler temps, they will crash a lure or bait pretty easily.

The beginning of the week I was out fishing the flats just off Sugarloaf Key and had seen some really nice size permit. They easily tipped the scales at 20 plus pounds. The permit will be around in full force until the end of March when they take their yearly spawn offshore on wrecks and reefs.

If you are looking for bonefish, the middle and upper Keys are where it's at this time of year. The guides down here will make the journey if they feel the fishing is going to be good, but it's quite a trip and a longer day.

Wrecks and Reefs
Wreck and reef fishing has been pretty active, mostly on patch reefs where they have not been pounded by dozens of boats. Mangrove snapper, groupers and some cobia are the best targets this time of year. Cobia will even get up and moving on to the flats if the water temperature gets just a bit higher.

Offshore
Offshore fishing in the Lower Keys has been all in all pretty good. Large kingfish action makes for a good day. They will hit a blue runner off a kite, on the surface or down deep if you are trolling. The sailfishing has slowed down but they are still being caught. Look for sailfish action to heat up again in the coming weeks. The deeper wrecks are holding some nice mutton snapper, groupers and occasional tunas and wahoo.