 |
Key West Fishing Report - Offshore
Capt. Ralph Delph
March 24, 2002
Key West - Saltwater Fishing Report
Between the weather and the Red Tide that has plagued the lower keys, the fishing has been very good or very poor, depending on whom you are talking or fishing with. Those fishing close to home have had to put up with the Red Tide and those fishing far from home have had to put up with the weather. The Red Tide appears to be on the wane, although some areas around Smith Shoal are still showing water the color of dirty tea. This has kept the main push of kingfish and cobia to the north. Some kingfish are still showing well to the west where the Red Tide has not affected that area. Some cobia are starting their northward migration and it appears that the spring will still offer some good sailfish and cobia fishing along the color changes during the month of April. The blackfin tuna have been fairly nonexistent out front and bonito seem to be the main stay for the trolling boats off shore. Most of the trolling boats seem to be working the reefs for cudas, mackerel, jacks or what ever they can find. Dolphin have been showing when the blue water moves in close but that has not been common for a while. The bottom fishing has been slow out front and mutton snapper have been fairly scarce for most anglers. Even the Tortugas have seen only moderate mutton snapper fishing compared to past seasons, however on an up note, the grouper fishing in the Tortugas has been good to outstanding. Full limits of gag, black, scamp and red grouper have been taken on most trips with most of the action coming on jigs. On a couple of recent trips, warsaw grouper have gotten in on the action when Kevin Upton caught a 65 pounder on spin with a jig and 9 year old, Martini Arostegui boated a 57 pounder in pee wee division. The strong west bound current out front of Key West has set the yellowtail fishing back although some hard core tailers have brought in some fair catches.
The Quick Sands area has been all but dead due to the Red Tide but I have noticed that the water in this area is starting to clear up with a more transparent green water replacing the latter. The action in this area is probable over for this season.
The flats around Key West have been on again, off again due to both the Red Tide and the weather. The permit action has been your best bet with only a sporadic show of tarpon now and then. I have had no reports on the bonefishing further east or north.
The harbor has been producing some fair catches of tarpon but has recently had a good run of medium to large permit. Those using fresh shrimp boat chum have been producing the most fish. A few small cobia have been taken there as well.
That’s it for now. Tight lines and good fishing
Captain Ralph Delph
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
