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Key West Fishing Report - Offshore
Capt. Ralph Delph
December 26, 2007
Key West - Saltwater Fishing Report
The weather has finally subsided enough to get out on the water and with all boats headed in different directions, allowing us to compile a reasonable fishing report. Winds continue from the northeast to east at around 10 to 15 m.p.h. The Gulfstream has been screaming east all along the reef from the Dry Tortugas to all points east.. Consequently, bottom fishing has been non-existent for the past month. However, a loop is forming to the south of the fort and this should be the end of the current that has been tight against the reef for so long. This should allow the winter push of muttons and the beginning of the groupers to move into the deeper reefs. The shallow water around the fort is loaded with Mutton snappers, possible more that I have ever seen before.
The salvation for us has been the daytime fishing for Swordfish. The entire team has enjoyed good success with our efforts and most anglers have been successful. We are taking these fish with 30 to 50 pound line and we have had good success with releasing them as well.
Some Blackfin Tuna have been showing up along with a few Wahoo in the area from Western Dry Rocks to Vestal Shoals. High speed trolling has been productive for the Wahoo while live pilchards and trolled balao have been responsible for the tuna.
The Gulf has seen an influx of cobia around the wrecks with most of the fish legal size. A few have topped the forty pound mark. There seems to be an abundance of Goliath Grouper in the 10 to 20 pound class this year. The tackle busters continue to haunt most of the wrecks and the first few mangroves or gag groupers being sacrificially devoured before you can get them to the boat.
The flats are still seeing a few bonefish and permit however most of the action seems to be on the ocean side with a mid day incoming tide. This should continue until the water temperature gets below 70 degrees.
That’s it for now. Tight lines and good fishing.
Capt. Ralph Delph
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