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Its time for the Keys

 | By Seamus on 4/3/2011 6:40:30 PM | Views (58)

  For fishing fanatics, the Florida Keys are a relatively nearby paradise almost any time, but spring is probably best of all as the winds of winter tend to moderate while temperatures generally stay below summer highs -- and many game fish are at their peak. That especially applies to the big migratory tarpon as they work their way...

 

For fishing fanatics, the Florida Keys are a relatively nearby paradise almost any time, but spring is probably best of all as the winds of winter tend to moderate while temperatures generally stay below summer highs -- and many game fish are at their peak.

That especially applies to the big migratory tarpon as they work their way north through the Keys and provide an often hot bite in channels running through the many bridges. A large percentage of those tarpon weigh over 100 pounds, and provide a small boat big game experience on relatively light tackle in near shore protected waters.

The middle of the night is the ideal time to pursue tarpon, as they feed more readily and there's less competition from other boaters. I joined Capt. Jeff Pfister (305 393-0369) on his center console from Dockside Charters in Islamorada at 3 a.m. on March 25 for a run in the dark through cuts in mangrove islands to Channel 2. We started getting hits as soon as the current switched to outgoing, and Bob Montey of Essex, Ct. released a 60-to-70-pound tarpon. The silver king I then hooked on a live pinfish made a much bigger splash on its first jump, and eventually forced us to follow it through the bridge out into the ocean before the 140-pounder was beaten on a Penn spinning reel and Super Seeker rod before the release. John Baker, also from Essex, hooked a similar tarpon at first light -- but it broke the leader almost next to the boat. That's a fairly typical night of spring tarpon fishing, but it's not unusual for 10 or more to be hooked during a trip.

A few hours later, I was fishing the flats off Hawk's Cay with Capt. Rick Killgore (800 698-5773) as he poled toward schools of 10-pound permit. It was 90 degrees and so calm that those fish were even fussier than normal, but I felt better when Capt. Sal Cursi called to say it was 28 degrees and snow was on the ground in Sewaren. The flats were like an aquarium, as we saw many tarpon over 100 pounds (those "laid-up" tarpon rarely hit), huge bull sharks, and sea turtles. One of those permit eventually did eat the live crab I cast to them before making the typical long runs on light spinning tackle prior to the release.

Offshore fishing had been producing lots of cobia up to over 60 pounds that were being spotted under rays near the reef. Richard Stanczyk of Bud N' Mary's Fishing Marina (800 742-7945) in Islamorada arranged a trip last Sunday with his brother, Capt. Scott, on the latter's 56-foot Catch 22. Among those aboard were Vin Sparano of Waretown, former editor of Outdoor Life, and Joan Salvato Wulff -- a woman's casting champion while growing up in Paterson. She later married Lee Wulff, the Izaak Walton of recent times. Since his death, Joan has been running her fly fishing school in the Catskills -- but winters in Islamorada.

The Stanczyk's were disappointed when no cobia were spotted, but we had steady action chumming at anchor on the reef with yellowtail snappers plus a few beautiful blue parrotfish up to 22 inches that were released. A barracuda well over 20 pounds ate one of my hooked fish, and I was shocked to be able to release it after a lengthy fight on 15-pound mono as the tiny short-shanked #2 hook tied directly to the line (necessary to fool the wary yellowtail) embedded on the outside of the upper jaw – away from the large teeth. We caught 42 delicious yellowtails before locating some cero mackerel for Wulff and veteran flats skipper Rick Ruoff to catch fly casting. On the way back, a five-foot sailfish was spotted, and Hunter, the mate, was able to find the single pilchard in a live well full of large cobia baits. The sail hit that bait immediately, and I released it after a few runs and jumps.

The best of tarpon and dolphin fishing in the Keys is yet to come in the next couple of months, providing an opportunity for anglers to enjoy world class fishing in the U.S. that's just a few hours away by plane.

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Catch Information

Species:
Bull Shark
Bull Shark

Cero Mackerel
Cero Mackerel

Cobia
Cobia

Great Barracuda
Great Barracuda

Mahi-mahi
Mahi-mahi

Pinfish
Pinfish

Sailfish
Sailfish

Scaled Sardine
Scaled Sardine

Tarpon
Tarpon

Yellowtail Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper

This Fishing Report was submitted on 4/3/2011 6:40:30 PM by Seamus and last updated on 4/3/2011 6:40:30 PM.


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