14 May Snapper Fishing in Islamorada Getting Better and Better

Lately the snapper bite has been getting better and better both day and night.  If you name a snapper out there that we commonly catch I guarantee you it has been more abundant this week than last, and you can expect the same verdict next week.  The mangroves at night have been red hot. Nothing like the main spawn in July and August but it has been very good.  Capt. Ron limited out a few times last week and the week before in 20 feet of water.

The yellowtails are getting very close to spawning.  They all have eggs and “milk” in them when we fillet them and they are getting much more available to our angling tactics too.  The days when the water is very dirty are much more productive, but even when it’s clear we are catching them.

Grouper-wise, both the charter boats and party boat have been catching nice reds, blacks and gags.  As usual with groupers if the entire boat catches two or three it was a good day, so please don’t expect to go out and bring home a bunch of groupers just because I say the bite is good.  A good grouper week is one where we bring in about a keeper a day.

If you plan on fishing with us in the next few weeks I would expect the yellowtail bite to get RED HOT very soon.  Most likely a few days after the next full moon.  They will bite on almost any bait this time of year as long as it’s on a small hook and line no heavier than 15 pound test.  Ballyhoo and silversides are usually best.

The mutton snappers are getting ready to jump into the boat too. This full moon and the three days on either side of it are going to be awesome!  Use fresh ballyhoo and goggle-eye for them fished on bottom on a long leader.

The grouper bite will be about the same as now… a few here and there, mainly reds and blacks. Live baits are usually best but don’t discount a butterflied grunt or yellowtail.

We are creeping up on the hot mangrove season too.  It’s close but not here quite yet.  With the cold winter we had I wouldn’t expect a hot bite until after the full moon in July. When they are biting they eat anything, as long as it’s on line twenty pound or under.

Hope to see you out on a boat from Robbie’s soon!

Capt. Brian