Blackfins, Sailfish, Snapper, Kings all biting in Marathon!
Capt. Bob Brown
February 9, 2011
Marathon - Saltwater Fishing Report
Some great winter weather has been happening in the middle Florida Keys the past couple weeks and the fishing has responded with some great action going on Keys wide. The offshore bite at the Marathon and 409 humps has been fantastic for nice sized blackfin tuna along with an occasional Wahoo and Billfish showing up in the area. A few Dolphin (mahi-mahi) have been showing up at times under frigate birds anywhere from the 150ft range on out to the edge of the gulf stream which has been hanging out about 20 miles or more from shore. There has been an awesome color change along the edge of the reef from Marker 20 to Looe Key and probably beyond. Ugly green water being pushed out by the outgoing tides along the bridges is butting up against the clear dark blue warmer water being pushed inshore by the southerly winds we have been having. This creates a great target area for Sailfish and Cobia and the bite has been on for both of these species lately. On the "Sundance" this week, we have had Cobia around 40lb and quite a few Sailfish, one day hooking six but only getting two to the boat. Yesterday the King mackerel were chomping in hawk's channel and along the color change in about 120ft of water and we caught many, some as large as 30lb.
The Mangrove Snapper bite has been fantastic at the 7 mile bridge lately with tons of fish in the 12-13 inch range but plenty of decent keepers in the 15-17 inch range have been around as well. Some large bull and blacktip sharks have been stalking the area as well, and anglers have had plenty of big shark opportunities to deal with.
Also, the Tarpon are starting to show up here and there around the 7 mile bridge area and around some wrecks in FL bay so if Tarpon is what you seek, there are enough of them around to get you a big jump out of a big silver king!!
Great weather and great fishing has been the rule lately so come on down, get out of the cold, and catch a big fish here in the fabulous Florida Keys! If you would like more info on fishing here in Marathon and the middle Keys check out our web site. Good luck in all your fishing adventures!
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