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Key West Fishing Report - Offshore
Capt. Ralph Delph
January 30, 2005
Key West - Saltwater Fishing Report
The water temperature has fluctuated from a high of 73 degrees to as low as 67 degrees offshore. With these extreme differences, the action has varied from very slow with most trolling boats working the edge of the reefs for mackerel and kingfish, to red hot days of sailfish, wahoo, blackfin tuna, and even some nice dolphin reported, even with strong north winds. A spooky year at best. Most recently, with the Gulfstream moving in close to the reef just to the east of Key West, and warm eddies protruding from the northwest edge of the stream to as much as 30 miles to the northwest, has pushed good numbers of pelagic species into the Key West area. Sailfish and wahoo have been in good supply and the blackfin tuna action has been sporadic. Bottom fishing has been relatively good with black grouper into the 40# plus class providing some great action. Red grouper and scamp grouper have been in good supply and the gags are just now showing up in good numbers on the ocean side. The mutton snappers have been cooperative, however the red snappers have been harder to find. Amberjacks are numerous, so expect some arm wrenching if bottom fish are your target.
Along the reef, yellowtail action remains fair as does the cero mackerel, however if you are looking for smoker kingfish, go west young man, go west. Large kingfish along the reef have been a rarity this year and the large ones are coming from near the Tortugas. The inshore wrecks have been producing a few small cobia along with some jack action. Small muttons in the 5 to 10 pound class have been numerous on the hard bottom with block chum being used to draw them in.
The Gulf has been a puddle of Yoo Hoo for the past week and I have no reports of any action from there. Kingfish should make their show as the water clears and Cobia should be starting their northward migration and holding on the Gulf wrecks. Gag grouper should be in good supply, but again, no reports have trickled in.
The flats have been experiencing their winter doldrums as the water temperature has remained in the 60’s and even lower. Look for that action to pick up when the water temperature again hits the 70-degree mark.
That’s it for now, tight lines and good fishing.
Capt. Ralph Delph
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