Fishing Reports by Capt. Steve Friedman

Red September - September has been Red hot so far! Water temperatures are hovering around the mid '80's due in part to some rainstorms that have stalled over the Keys in recent days. Pretty typical for this time of year. I think it's these lower water temps that more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada

Tarpon Heating up in the Keys - The tarpon bite has been heating up along with the water temps. Since the last cold front moved through water temperatures have been holding steady in the mid 70's which is allowing the tarpon to move in from the gulf to warm themselves in the shallo more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada

Everglades redfish and mackerel report - FISHING REPORT 1/23/11 A cold front passed through South Florida yesterday. Fishing and the weather had been consistent up until then. Gulf was a little slow with a mackerel bite, but closer inshore they were thick. Lots of redfish around Flamingo b more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada

Keys fishing for beginners to experts - Plenty of wind and clouds have made for a challenging week of fishing. It's these kind of conditions where the prepared angler can have some fantastic results. Or the novice angler can fuel a desire to practice more in order to be better prepared f more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada

Spring fishing in the Keys - High pressure weather continued to domintate the Keys last week. Strong winds and weak tides left some flats exposed thoughout the entire day. These flats can be very shallow even at high tides, when the wind blows against a weak current. Fish that more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada

Tripletail and the Reef - Those of you just arriving to the Florida Keys may not be aware of some new fishing regulations that were issued in January of this year. Or maybe you live here but aren't sure of the changes. Here is a reminder of what those new regulations mean, pa more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada

Bayboat Billfish Tournament Series - If you have been following this report for the last few weeks, you're probably aware that my reports have been heavy on the reef and light on the backcountry. While the backcountry is my second home, this time of year the bite has been more consiste more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada

Cold still prevails but fish are biting - Cool water on the flats has continued to keep the bite most steady in and around the reef. I've been looking for clear water with a depths of around 20 feet where I drop my chum bag over, and start to look for the ballyhoo to show up behind the tran more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada

20th Annual Swamp Guides Ball - Since the cold spell, reports from the Gulf are still sounding more like grumbles and gripes. It's been tough to come by even the usual quarry of Spanish mackerel, cobia, grouper, snappers, and so on. The fish that have repopulated the flats are v more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada

Florida Bay cold weather bite - The Florida Bay has certainly taken a big hit with the cold weather.  Catfish, grouper, snapper, barracudas, boxfish, triggerfish, eels, bonefish and snook have all been adversely affected.  Many of these fish can't take the stress of a prolonged dee more...
Capt. Steve Friedman - Islamorada