Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Key West Bottom Fishing In Winter

You can enjoy some great fishing around Key West during Winter. There is a myriad of fish in the waters off the coast of Key West and they're just as hungry as they are during Spring and Summer months.

One fish that is most apt to be caught during Winter months is hods head which are notably one of the best tasting fish in the sea, if not a little funny looking.

If you fish the bottom, particularly around reefs & structures you can catch lots of snapper, predominantly yellowtail and mutton. Grouper are also great to catch off the bottom. You've gotta be careful to position the boat off the rocks though so you can pull him away from the rocks. Otherwise the grouper will dart into them and cut your line.

Fish with small fish like ballyhoo, sardines & pinfish. Set your tackle for bottom fishing to catch 20 to 40 lb fish. That oughta do it.

Best of luck catching bottom fish around Key West.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Fishing Key West In Winter

Many northern sport anglers think that Winter fishing in Key West isn't that great.

It's true that most of the fish that the area around Key West are famous for, such as tarpon, various bonefish and permit have 'flown' south for the Winter. That doesn't mean Key West doesn't still have great fishing to offer.

In fact the fish that replace the Spring, Summer and Fall fish are generally better tasting. You can expect to catch a myriad of great fish such as mackerel. If you think a mackerel can't put up a fight, maybe you don't realize that a king fish is a mackerel. That could be a 40 pound fish, built for the fight on the end of your hook.

Some say that when they pull a king fish into their boat the fish seems more mad that scared. They seem to have a look like, "why don't you jump into the water with me and then have a go. We'll see who wins then!".

In Winter time you can still catch lots of snapper, grouper and mutton. Both are known to make for a great tasting fish dinner. These are bottom fish, not runners like the mackerel.

You can also go fishing in the flats and back country along the mangroves of Key West. Though tarpon are rare in Winter, you can catch a decent sized red fish or sheep head.

Fishing is great around Key West all year long. Just rent a skiff or better yet book a Key West fishing charter and take advantage of the local captains' boats, gear and knowledge. You're sure to have a great time, any time of year.

Friday, February 17, 2012

The Lightening Fast Wahoo Caught While On Key West Fishing Charters To Go Open Ocean Fishing

Wahoo are long thin fish resembling mackerel except that they're bigger and quicker. The back is blue and also the sides are silver with blue streaks running from back to belly. Wahoo are normally about 3 to 5 feet long and weigh from 20 to 75 pounds. The largest on record was over 8' long and weighed about 180 lbs. Wahoo are among the fastest fish in the ocean, rivaling the marlin. They can swim as high as 80 mph. They have razor sharp teeth and they're mean. Wahoo could be discovered anywhere in tropical or sub-tropical waters, World wide. Having a really white meat, wahoo are among the incredibly ideal tasting fish in the sea.

Wahoo are deep water predatory fish that travel far out in the ocean. They're normally discovered 12 miles out or further. Wahoo come to the Gulf of Mexico to spawn around April, peak in June and are still rather plentiful until October. They're surface hunters. Look for grass lines or debris or anything that will host bait fish. Look for frigate birds or signs of bait fish jumping out in the water. Should you can locate a drop off near a reef or locate a wreck after which locate floating debris around, that's an excellent spot for wahoo also as other awesome game fish. If you're fishing for wahoo you're likely to find them in the exact same places that you'll locate mahi-mahi or tuna. You'll fish for wahoo a bit differently though due to the fact they're so brutal and so quickly.

Wahoo like live, quickly moving bait fish. They'll eat mackerel, ballyhoo, tiny jacks, herrings, flying fish, spiny boxfish, butterfish, pilchers and squid. They'll even go right after bonito and tuna. Wahoo do not run in schools but where it is possible to locate 1 it is possible to generally locate other people just due to the fact they have a tendency to be attracted to the exact same issues. When the water is murky it is possible to often catch them in deep water.

You'll want a pretty sturdy rod and reel. You need to use 30 to 50 lb. test line and about a 4' 80 to 100 lb. steel leader. Don't attempt to use a leader made of mono, those sharp teeth will rip it to bits. Use a short shank 10/0 or 12/0 hook. Some swear by a significantly smaller hook, as tiny as 4/0. A wahoo's teeth are razor sharp and its mouth is difficult. Ensure your hooks are sharp so they can penetrate his mouth. Should you depend on the captains running the Key West fishing charters for deep sea fishing, they'll take care of all that, such as the fishing licenses for you. Anglers complain about losing wahoo all the time.

All About The Majestic Bluefin Tuna With Key West Fishing Charters On Deep Sea Tours

The bluefin tuna that can be found around Key West is known as the atlantic bluefin tuna or the northern bluefin tuna. They are very large fish, normally 6' to 8' long, weighing a bit over 750 lbs. They can be found anywhere in the Atlantic Ocean and can travel thousands of miles in a year.

Bluefin tuna rival swordfish and blue marlin for size and speed. They can travel over 40 mph. so they're great fighters. They're very deep water fish and can go as deep as a thousand feet down. Bluefin tuna are rarely found closer to shore than 5 miles out. They travel in schools, often a hundred fish or more.

If you intend to catch a bluefin tuna with a rod and reel, realize that this is not a sport for the faint of heart. You can spend days looking for a school of bluefin tuna, and not find any. You can spend hours and even days trying to reel one of these monsters to the boat. They're very big and very strong. You'll need the equipment, including the boat that can handle a war like this. You also need to know the laws pertaining to bluefin tuna fishing. You need a special permit to catch them. The easiest way to handle all the needs of a quest like this is to book a private charter on one of the Key West fishing charters and specify that you're big game fish, especially bluefin tuna. They'll be able to set you up at the right time of year, with the proper licenses and permits and the proper gear. They'll also have the boat you need.

They come to the Gulf of Mexico to spawn between April and June. This is the best time of year to fish off Key West for bluefin tuna. You can generally find them off the deeper reefs and ship wrecks, around oil rigs or anywhere there are structures between 120' and 300' feet deep, especially where bait fish can be found.

Bluefin tuna eat herring, whiting, mackerel, flying fish and mullet. They'll also eat squid, eels, and crabs. You can attract the tuna with free chunks of bait (not on hooks). Just throw a bunch of fish chunks out there. Watch how fast they sink. You want your bait to mimick the free chunks. Frozen chunks will sink slower. Tuna bite pretty easily so it shouldn't be too difficult to convince them that its feeding time. They'll bite on cut bait pretty readily.

Going For That Huge Tarpon With Key West Fishing Charters To Fish On The Flats

Tarpon is often located fairly a lot anywhere around the Florida Keys too as other locations within the Globe. When fishing for tarpon on the Key West fishing charters you are going to in all probability fish the backcountry of Key West, the flats or around the reefs. You can actually catch the smaller tarpon, around 50 lbs, within the backcountry. The Key West backcountry may be the bay as well as the channels the wind by way of the mangroves on Key West. The flats, or shallows of Key West are located in a lot of locations, the most beneficial are around the Marquesas Keys. Larger tarpon, weighing as a lot as 250 lbs., is often located within the flats of Key West and occasionally around the reefs and wrecks.

Over the last decade or so, fly fishing within the Key West backcountry and within the flats has turn into an increasing number of well known. There are actually many rig setups that you can use to catch tarpon. Lately, fly fishing seems to be one of the most well known, maybe because of the irony; catching a 200 lb. fish on a fly with exceptionally light tackle.

Tarpon will strike on flies. They also eat pinfish, modest crustacians, shrimp a particular sea worm referred to as palolo worms. Tarpon prefer live bait to cut bait. They're predators not seriously scavengers. The palolo worm lives within the channels and flats. They hatch in substantial numbers in the course of a falling tide inside a full moon. Tarpon really like palolo worms.

Fighing Game Fish Such As Red Fish Booked With Key West Fishing Charters To The Backcountry

Red fish, also called red drum, red bass or channel bass are a favorite fish for Key West fishing charters that fish the backcountry along with the flats of Key West. Red fish is usually located within the estuaries and brackish rivers all along the Eastern coast from the United States from Maine all the way down Key West. They're located all around Key West, up by way of the Gulf of Mexico and as far as the Northern parts of Mexico. The larger fish will stay a great deal more out within the deeper channels and can even be located on the reefs.

Red fish are commonly fairly smaller, weighing 8 to 10 lbs. but catching a 40 lb. red fish isn't uncommon. The largest red fish on record weighed in at 94 lbs. So as it is easy to see, although they're generall fairly smaller, red fish, especially around Key West can get fairly major.

Your most desirable bet for catching red fish could be the by taking advantage from the backcountry Key West fishing charters. As you might expect, you commonly catch red fish in shallow water. You're commonly going to look within the smaller channels among the mangrove trees. You'll choose to make an effort to fish in an outgoing tide when the fish are moving out into the channels and bays toward the ocean. To catch the bigger fish, stay out within the deeper channels. Look for locations that show signs of bait. You're searching for minnows, fish jumping and for birds which can be hunting for smaller fish and crustacians. Make an effort to obtain oyster bars and estuaries that flow out of marshes. These are wonderful locations to find red fish. For those who fish for 15 or 20 minutes inside a spot and don't get a bite, move on and try somewhere else.

Hooking The Coveted Mahi-Mahi When You Book Key West Fishing Charters For Fishing The Deep Waters

Mahi-mahi, also called dolphin (not the mammal) or dorado are predatory fish which will be located anywhere in tropical or subtropical water, the Globe over. The Florida Keys are an excellent location to fish for mahi-mahi. They're a deep water fish that live in schools. Mahi-mahi are anywhere from 8 to 140 lbs. In most cases not more than 40 lbs. They're recognized for their aggessive behavior and for acrobatic ariel displays when they get hooked. Mahi-mahi are a colorful fish. They have a rich green dorsal fin that runs the full length of its body. the head could be the largest portion from the body; the body just just before the tail could be the smallest. The back from the mahi-mahi is rich green, the sides are yellow and/or blue along with the belly is yellow or white. The fish's colors can modify rapidly. The fish within the picture may be a female, weighing 34 lbs.

The perfect occasions to fish for mahi-mahi are among April and June or October and December. Make sure to get on the list of Key West fishing charters that may accomodate your intention to catch mahi-mahi. They are able to commonly be located no less than 3 miles from shore in water around 120' deep and not deeper than 275'. Although mahi-mahi are deep water fish, they commonly hunt near the surface. To find a school of mahi-mahi look for frigate birds or any type of floating seaweed or debris, especially Sargasso. The floating weed beds deliver shelter for bait fish and as such, attract mahi-mahi. Frigate birds feed on bait fish so they are able to sometimes be noticed flying above the floating debris or weed lines. Look for bait fish, especailly bait fish jumping out from the water. If you ever can get debris or possibly a floating weed line of Sargasso just off the edge of a reef that is definitely an excellent location to fish for mahi-mahi.

Quite often you possibly can attract schools of mahi-mahi by tossing out smaller baitfish which include sardines or ballyhoo in nets or hookless lines though the boat is trolling slowly near the debris. You possibly can also chum the water with live bait. If you ever see frigate birds you might try throwing a ballyhoo at them to obtain the birds stirred up. That may stir up the fish. Either process can sometimes goad the school into a type of feeding frenzy, generating them very easy to catch.

Catching Big Grouper When You Book Key West Fishing Charters To The Gulfside Reefs Off Key West

Easy methods to catch a grouper on Key West fishing charters

The perfect location to fish for grouper are the Florida Keys, especially Key West, the Bahamas and down by way of the Caribbean Islands. Grouper are regarded bottom fish. They like to stay closer towards the bottom and close to rocks and solid structures so they are able to hide or escape into them. You possibly can get grouper in water as shallow as 10' but they nonetheless like to stay closer towards the bottom. Ship wrecks are a good location to find grouper. Grouper are a white meat fish and they're especially tasty to eat.

Goliath grouper are protected in Florida waters. That is definitely, it is actually illegal to catch goliath grouper (jew fish) and not release them. Grouper commonly like warmer water. Gag grouper, red grouper and Nassau grouper in certain like water temperatures 65 to75 degrees.

As mentioned, grouper are commonly a bottom fish. They are going to then again come close towards the surface for a tasty smaller fish. In most cases, any time you fish for grouper you're going to utilize fairly heavy tackle and you're going to choose to drop it towards the bottom. They like live bait but will strike on cut bait. A further option to fish for grouper, especially in shallow water, around 10 to 15 feet is always to by 'trolling' which implies cruising at an extremely low speed though dragging your line behind the boat. Grouper, especially smaller grouper in shallow water will come up and strike the bait.

The general rule with grouper is rather intuitive. Smaller grouper live in shallow water and take smaller bait. You possibly can fish for grouper in water as shallow as 10'. Larger grouper which include the significant Warsaw grouper are in deeper water, as deep as a few hundred feet deep. Ship wrecks are exceptional for deep grouper fishing.

How To Catch Cobia When You Book Key West Fishing Charters To The Gulfside Reefs Off Key West

Cobia are usually located anywhere within the Globe in tropical or sub-tropical waters. They're migratory, commonly travelling North for the Summer time. They have a brown back and grey sides. They look rather a bit like a shark. They have a distinct stripe running from the mouth towards the tail. Cobia commonly weigh 20 - 30 pounds. and can weigh something like 100 lbs. They're located within the Southern parts from the Gulf of Mexico mainly for the duration of late Fall, Winter and Spring months. They have white meat and are on the list of most desirable tasting fish within the ocean.

You possibly can book fairly near any from the numerous Key West fishing charters to catch cobia. They've been located in water as deep as four thousand feet. They can be quite readily located around reefs, wrecks, pilons and any stationary or floating structures massive and smaller. They are able to be located within the Important West flats and backcountry, all of the way up into the estuaries and brackish rivers. They're a great deal more likely to be further out for the duration of months when they're on the move, heading North or coming South. For the duration of Winter months they are able to likely be located closer to shore. Watch for schools of them. You possibly can sometimes see them churning the water.

Cobia fairly considerably eat any bait fish, eels and crabs. There's evidence that they might possibly essentially prefer swimming crabs and shrimp. Ballyhoo, smaller mackerel, pilchers, mullet and fairly considerably any bait fish will do well although. Quite often they'll attack on one particular bait, quite often a further so make an effort to bring a range. You possibly can catch them on the bottom or the surface, quite often one particular will perform superior than the other. If you're going out on the Key West fishing charters make sure to ask if anybody's catching cobia. Tell the captain you want to catch some cobia.

Cobia attack lures fairly well. They don't seem to be tremendously picky eaters. Make an effort to use lures that look a bit like any bait fish that may be within the region. When a cobia is hungry, he'll fairly near attack anything that's thrown at him. Cobia are opportunists and fairly speedy to attack what they consider may be a wounded fish. If you ever jerk the lure like a wounded fish, your chances of hooking one particular are superior.

Game Fish Like Amberjack Out With Key West Fishing Charters Into The Sunken Ships And Reefs

For the bait you can use for amberjack you can actually use any decent sized live bait fish for instance mullet or croaker, menhaden, perch or greater however, blue runner. You can actually use shrimp too but ensure that they're as massive as you can actually get. Ordinarily you'll use a 9/0 or 10/0 circle hook. Hook your bait fish from the mouth up by way of the upper jaw.In location of baits you can actually use lures. You need to utilize shiny metal spoons, butterfly jigs and normal West Coast Iron lures. Live bait will virtually normally deliver greater results than lures.When an amberjack hits the bait he'll hit it actual tough and run like heck. He's not as decent at snagging you up within the rocks as a grouper or possibly a snapper but even nonetheless, you need to make an effort to maintain him out from the rocks. Set your hook actual decent, actual rapidly and try not to let him run, at the very least until you've got him out within the open.fishing on the reefs and wrecks of Key West can be a blast. If you're on one of many Key West fishing charters that go out towards the reefs and wrecks make sure to tell them you're soon after amberjack. They'll set you up using the suitable tackle and tell you how and where to cast your line.