Wahoo, Blackfins, Mahi & Sailfish yesterday in Marathon, FL Keys
Capt. Bob Brown
January 19, 2011
Marathon - Saltwater Fishing Report
The warming trend we have experienced this week in the middle Keys has heated up the fishing with all facets of the incredible middle Keys firing on all cylinders! Yesterday was a great day just off the edge of the reef with some big Wahoo coming to the docks. Some Mahi-Mahi were also out there along weed lines that were from the edge of the reef in 100ft of water all the way out to 650ft. Some big Blackfin Tuna also came in yesterday from near deep oceanside wrecks and the sailfish were popping up the past few days all along the Sombrero reef area all the way to Big Pine Key. Those nice additions to the already hot King mackerel and snapper bite on the reef has made for some fantastic catches the past few days. Some large Cobia have also been cruising the oceanside hawk channel area, mostly around rays in the long key area.
Hopefully this south wind period will help move the gulfstream back in closer to shore and help the blue water bite even more. Recently the stream has been as far as 30 miles off of the lighthouses along the lower keys which keeps the sailfish and Mahi further offshore than we like to go in the winter months. It is due for an inshore turn this week and we should see some red hot sailfishing when this happens.
Some big tarpon have already showed up around the 7 mile bridge this week, and some nice local sized fish of up to 50lb have also been around being caught in the dark with the full moon right now. Live pinfish or casting plugs is the preferred night time routine here. Look for this action to continue to heat up in the coming weeks and months as more and more tarpon migrate into the area. During warm calm periods, the bite can be great here at the 7 mile bridge even though it is not yet considered tarpon season....
Bayside wreck fishing has been great for nice mangrove snapper, gag grouper (that we unfortunately have to release due to unfair new regulations....) some large king mackerel area also luring in the bay around wrecks and the spanish mackerel are hot in the bay from 8-15 miles out on the grassy areas. Cobia have been popping up on the gulf side wrecks a bit further out, and some goliath grouper have been caught as well on these gulf side spots. Snapper fishing has been great back around the islands NW of Marathon like near East Bahia Honda Key. Plus this past week has seen plenty of great eating Snapper right at the 7 mile bridge from Moser channel west.
If you would like to get in on some of this great middle Keys action, give us a call or check out our web site. Good luck in all your fishing adventures!
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