Key West fishing report

[Incognito]

Key West Offshore 1/28/08

This week looks to be shaping up for some great winter fishing here in Key West. If you don’t mind a little rough water you will be rewarded with good action all over. Water temperature just outside the reef is 74.8 and 75 inside. The current situation looks good. There was a light westerly current anywhere east of Sand Key and it strengthened a little west of Sand Key.

Offshore has been good with the exception of just during the passing of the front. Once the front passes the bite should turn on for Sailfish. A good NE wind will keep the water and bait churned up and look for Sails to be spraying the huge schools of Ballyhoo that are just outside the reef. I found Sails in depths from 23 feet to 160 this week. There was a small color change around Pelican Shoal early in the week and massive weed patches are in the 200 foot depth. A few boats worked the weeds but found nothing. Dolphin looks to be moving to a more normal hit or miss this time of year. I worked 2 deep trolling lures back through my chum slick after 3 hours of heavy chumming. Something fast picked up one of the lures and ran off with 200 yds. of line in no time. Most likely a Wahoo but he spit the hook. Deep trolled baits work well over deep wrecks or back through your chum slick after you are done bottom fishing.

On the reef the Grouper and Mutton Snapper fishing has been excellent. I had two nice days on the reef this week. One to the east and one to the west. Both areas were productive and gave up 10+ pound Red Grouper and just legal Muttons as well as a limit of Yellowtail all over 3 ½ pounds. I managed to not catch one undersized Yellowtail this week. Pinfish were the preferred baits. Yellowjacks have been cruising the deeper hard bottom as well. Steve Rodger of the Spear One out of Murray Marine and I both found a few in the 15 pound range this week. Look for the reef fishing to remain good through this week until just before the next front. 80 feet on the outside of the dropoff was productive for Cobia although none were over the 33” minimum.

Wreck fishing has been action packed. Big Amberjack, African Pompano, Grouper, Red Snapper, Wahoo and Kingfish can all be found right now on some of the deeper wrecks. Sharks are patrolling most of them so get the fish up fast or you will lose them.

Inshore will be a good choice this week with the strong winds. Anchor just up-current of a patch reef and get the chum flowing. Start well above the patch and work the flatter bottom that is covered with soft corals around the patch. I usually find a few nice Mutton Snapper in these transition zones. I have found some of my biggest Grouper in as little as 12 feet of water so don’t worry too much about depth. Just work the outer zone and gradually drop some anchor line and get closer to the patch. Once the action slows pick up and move to another and start all over again. I usually use up one box of chum and move to another. Dead baits will be better if the water is cloudy. Bonito strips or a chunk of Mackerel gives off plenty of scent for the fish to follow.