Islamorada Sea Horse Report

Capt. Rick Rodriguez
June 14, 2011
Islamorada - Saltwater Fishing Report

Lately the off-shore fishing in Islamorada has been revolving around Mahi AKA (Dolphin). Mahi have been very easy to find in the Gulf Stream all May. All of the Whale Harbor fleet has been producing great catches of Mahi. Lures, dead bait, live bait, trolling, and run and gun methods have been very productive. Mahi have been found on weed lines, current edges, floating debris, and under flying birds.
Along with the Mahi are plenty of Black Fin tuna. The tuna have been in large schools in 250 feet of water moving north with the current. They have been easy to find under flocks of birds, and have been eating small in line feather jigs, small plastic squids, and live pilchards. These fish are moving quickly through our area feeding on any smaller fish they encounter. All the Humps have been holding large and small tunas. Some days are more productive than others, depending on the current. On the days the Gulf Stream is moving quickly over the Humps the tunas are ready to eat. We have caught them on many different lures and colors. Live bait has been the easiest way to catch them if you are able to get the bait. If you don't have live bait, try jigging butterfly jigs, on a spinning rod. It is a fun, productive way to get bit. Another way to catch tunas is to use a kite rig trolling a single rigged Flying fish, Ballyhoo, or Cigar minnow. This method takes some team work with the captain driving around boat traffic and an angler working the kite rig.
While fishing for Mahi it has been a common occurrence to see Sailfish moving up the road with the Gulf Stream. Weather they are free jumping or tailing near the surface most of these sailfish are eager to eat. Unfortunately they really want to eat something alive, like Ballyhoo, Cigar minnows, or Pilchards. Some controversy about free jumpers not eating; maybe sometimes they don't but they seldom swim alone. Their buddies will normally cooperate if you work an area over where you saw one jumping. Sometimes you just get lucky and the Sailfish will come up behind the boat and inspect your baits and eat. These are nice gifts when your covering ground looking to catch Mahi.
The Back country guides in Whale Harbor have been catching Tarpon like crazy. On their morning, day, and evening trip they have been getting multiple hook ups and landing many fish. Tarpon have been found along the bridges, flats, boat channels, and around other great places in Florida bay. They have been catching many large tarpon in excess of 100 pounds. These fish have been caught on fly, live bait, and dead bait. Local favorites have been Mahi bellies, live Mullet, and live crabs. Most of these baits have worked well close to the bottom.

Capt Rick Rodriguez
305-664-5020
www.floridakeysfishing-charters.com

Islamorada Fishing Forecast:

More Mahi tuna

Target Species:

Mahi Tuna wahoo

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