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4/5/14 Early April Offshore/Reef Fishing Report for Islamorada

 | By Seamus on 4/1/2014 2:10:22 AM | Views (1098)

I know my report is a few days late, but I was off on a fishing mission myself in Venice, Lousiana. I did get back out on my boat here today though and talked to the guys to get the scoop of what's been going on while April fishing in Islamorada at Bud n' Mary's marina. The past week has been pretty busy for the offshore fleet, which has been fishing both the reef as well as further offshore in the blue water. Each day has been different, with a few days being more active than others. Yesterday there was some great catches of Mahi (dolphinfish), with fish from 3 to 25 lbs, but today was a completely different story. A couple boats did find a few schools of mahi, catching 15 - 20 keeper schoolies (3 - 5 lbs) , but the other few boats that fished for mahi didn't find any, or found very few. As a rule this is still early in the season for mahi, but it should only get more consistent the next few weeks. A few boats have been doing some "deep dropping" (bottom fishing in 400 - 600' of water), and there's been rose porgy, yellowedge grouper, snowy grouper, and blueline tilefish (the deep water grouper are open for harvest compared to the shallower reef groupers which are not). The humps have been providing plenty of ambjerjack and almaco jack the last few days as well. They have been caught both on bait as well as vertical jigs. Back on the reef the boats have been doing some live bait kite fishing and slow trolling, as well as bottom fishing. There was a handful of sailfish caught and released a few days ago, but I didn't hear of any the last two days. I would say the next couple weeks there will be the occasional sailfish for the most part, but if the wind and current line up just right for a few days, there is a shot at a big push of sailfish anytime in April! There's been a few blackfin tunas around too, but not as many as the past two weeks. I think as we get closer to the full moon we will see a lot more blackfins. While bottom fishing on the reef the yellowtail snapper bite has been decent for the most part, although today was difficult for some boats where the water was clear. There's still a few mutton snappers around and there's been some really nice gag and black grouper caught and released too. Hopefully these groupers will be around when May 1st comes, because someone will be eating good! Only a few boats have been wreck fishing with live bait and there's been a handful of king mackerel as well. Each day has been different, but if you are up to catch anything, you'll always have an enjoyable day out on the water! Give us a call at the office when you want to set up an Islamorada Offshore Fishing Charter. 305 664 2461

Capt. Nick Stanczyk

Quick picture of a sailfish on the Relentless before it's released back into the water

Gag grouper caught and released aboard the Fearless

Mixed bag of yellowtails, scallywags, and a bunch of Almaco Jacks on the Bn'M II

Gon Fishin V with another spectacular catch of deep drop fish including a big 32 lb yellowedge grouper

Nice 20 lb mahi coming to the gaff on the Relentless a few days ago

Capt. Nick Stanczyk holds up a big redfish caught in Venice, Lousiana a couple days ago

 

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Catch Information

Species:
Almaco Jack
Almaco Jack

Black Grouper
Black Grouper

Blackfin Tuna
Blackfin Tuna

Blueline Tilefish
Blueline Tilefish

Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper

King Mackerel
King Mackerel

Mahi-mahi
Mahi-mahi

Mutton Snapper
Mutton Snapper

Red Drum
Red Drum

Sailfish
Sailfish

Snowy Grouper
Snowy Grouper

Yellowedge Grouper
Yellowedge Grouper

Yellowtail Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper

This Fishing Report was submitted on 4/1/2014 2:10:22 AM by Seamus and last updated on 4/8/2014 2:10:22 AM.


Location

79851 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL US


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Bud N' Mary's
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