09 Mar Winter Fishing in Islamorada
The last report I had given was unfortunately pretty grim. One thing I believe in strongly is being honest in my fishing reports. When its good, I let you know how good it is, and when its crummy, although it isn’t as much fun for you to read I tell you the truth.
Fortunately this week I get to give you a better synopsis! The Islamorada Lady II out of Robbie’s came in a few days ago with smoker (large) kingfish, yellowtails, amberjacks up to 30 pounds and it was all topped off with three mutton snappers up to 18 pounds!!! Capt. Jeff said they caught the nice muttons on live ballyhoo fished on or near the bottom while slow trolling.
The Capt. Michael got back into the swing of things after a brief mechanical grounding by catching porgies, kings, lots of vermilion snappers, a few muttons and large numbers of groupers. As stated a hundred times this winter… all of the groupers and “vermies” had to go back due to new state laws. We will be able to keep both species again starting May 1st. There has been a lot of controversy over this new rule change, as with any closure to a fishery, but lets all just hope it makes the grouper fishing of the future much better. Whether you like or dislike the rule you can’t do anything other than hope that it makes our future fishery stronger.
The words “deep drop” mean different things to different people. For some fishermen deep dropping is 200 feet of water and for others its 900 feet, but whatever you want to call it the Contagious with Capt. Shannon Attales at the helm did great in 300 feet of water on yellow-eye snappers, red snappers, mutton snappers and tunas. Capt. Brian Cone, the boat’s owner and normal captain was out of town so his mate, Capt. Shannon went out there and showed everyone that Brian isn’t the only great fisherman on the boat. They limited out on snappers and threw a few tunas on top of them just for good measure.
I would love to give you a night fishing report, but we just haven’t been getting any boats out there after dark lately. I think that’s mainly due to the cold weather. I know 55 degrees doesn’t seem like cold, but when you get out there in the middle of the ocean and its blowing 15 knots 55 gets pretty darn chilly. Fortunately, the weather is getting warmer and warmer every day and the forecast is for this trend to continue. Historically speaking, the nights should start getting pretty nice starting this time of year lasting all the way through the fall. The yellowtails should be biting well on the wrecks this time of year… don’t be afraid to call Nancy or Steve at our ticket booth and make a reservation at 305-664-8070.
Hope to see you soon,
Capt. Brian