Key West in April ????

[Jcvistait]

Hello everyone, I am new to the forum. My girlfriend and I heading to Key West in April. I have read alot of the post and talked to one local about wade fishing. Looks like there isn't alot of areas to wade and fish. I am not here to target tarpon,permit, or bones. I just want to catch fish. Looking to have some fun with a fly. I was wondering if there are flats to fish from an Kayak? Was looking to rent one while there. Not looking for anyones honey holes. Its not like I will be coming there that often. I even asked our friend we would be staying with about some of the locals, just looking for someone to fish with. He has lived there his whole life, and said it has gotten out of hand. He said alot of locals don't do that much with the cost of keeping a boat down there. I might even do one guided trip while there, but just looking to enjoy the surroundings and wetting a line.Any info would be helpfull. Thanks

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

There was a post a few week ago that I responded to. There is very little wade fishing in Key West for a couple of reasons;
Firstly, the flats are soft and most are unwadeable. Secondly, Most waterfront property is either Hotels, Military or Beach and not worth wading. The flats that are fished off Key West are a fairly long distance from the shore. Most flats guys fish anywhere from a 6 to 30 mile ride from their marina on the flats that surround the islands you see in the distance when you look out from anywhere on Key West. Anything close to shore has too much boat traffic or no access. from shore.

You could probably hook a Cuda on the flats in front of the Airport but it is really not worth fishing. My buddy was riding his bike there a week ago and got hooked on the backcast by a guy from New Jersey.

You could Kayak around but the problem is you need to see the fish to catch them and you can't see through the water while sitting at water level. You might catch a Mangrove Snapper along the Mangroves or a small Cuda. It would be a long Kayak ride to where you need to go. One Kayak fishing guide takes you and the kayaks in a boat on a 6-20 mile ride and then drops the kayake to fish the mangrove channels and creeks.

Key West is know for Offshore fishing (Mahi, Wahoo, Sailfish) , Wreck Fishing, reef fishing and on the flats for Permit and Tarpon. Bonefishing is exponentially better further up the Keys but they are around and big but weary.

If you want the best flats guy around Key West call Justin Rae at 305-744-0903. He runs a Maverick Mirage.

[Jcvistait]

Thanks for the info. I forgot to add,,,,I will have wheels to get around and can travel to others Keys if need be. So, any other info would be helpful,,,but not looking to drive all the way back to Largo,lol :)

[ladalang]

I stayed in the Grassy Key in March. We rented a boat and went out on the ocean did a litte snorkling and it was just beautiful. caught fish too, not sure what kind but we had a blast. The second picture is the same fishing trip.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ladalang/flafish.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ladalang/keys.jpg

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

That is a White Grunt, otherwise known as a Key West Pork Chop. Good eating and common around all reefs shallow or deep. Usually less than a foot long but are scrappy on light tackle. Will bite anything and prefers squid and shrimp.

If you had just used 20 or 30 pound mono or Flourocarbon leader about 6 feet long instead of that wire leader you would have caught a bunch of other species as well. If there are Grunts then there are Yellowtail Snapper, Gray Snapper and probably Porgies, Grouper, Hogfish, Triggerfish, Margate and more.

[Jcvistait]

I also was wondering what type of leaders should be used?

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

For bottom fishing most captains prefer to use a slider rig.


Basic slider bottom rig:
Use the lightest egg sinker that will get you to the bottom on the main line. Then tie on the smallest swivel that will stop the egg sinker from going any further. Then use 6 feet of 30 pound Flourocarbon then a 2/0 or 3/0 short shank bronze live bait hook. Drop to the bottom and bring up just so it won't get snagged. If you don't hook the bottom once in a while then you are not close enough. Use a longer leader of 12 feet of 30 lb Flourocarbon to target Muttons. Live Pinfish, Pilchards, small Grunts, Cigar Minnows, Thread Herring or dead squid, dead Thread Herring or a chunk of Bonito, Spanish Mack, Cero Mack, Kingfish, Bluefish or Blue Runner are all good baits. Unlike the Northeast don't release any Bonito (False Albacore)...use them for chunk bait.

If you don't get any bites then move to 20 pound Flourocarbon. The fish can see everything and you should use the smallest terminal tackle necessary.

While bottom fishing you need to chum like a madman. You should be going through around 1 1/2 blocks per hour when water is cool as it is now.

You should also freeline for Yellowtail at the same time. I use a 10-12 pound rig with about 10 feet of 12 or 15 pound Flourocarbon to a regular shank hook 1 or 1/0. Use a small strip of Squid, Bonito, Herring or a few Mahua (silversides) on the hook. Take a few Mahua and toss them over and shake the chum bag. Then let the bait drift back with the Mahua and chum cloud you just released. Leave bail open. They will not hit a stopped bait. You may also need to make balls of Chum/Sand/Oats/Mahua and drop them to really get the Yellowtail going. Keep a small stream going and make big clouds of chum and sandballs at intervals and let your bait drift with the cloud. The yellowtails will come up to check out the cloud and hit your bait. Sometimes you have to let it get 100 feet back before you find the big fish.

Grouper on bottom: The Key is the first 10 feet of the fight. You should use Powerpro as the stretch af any mono smaller than 80 will give big fish the chance to get into the rocks and cut you off. Once you get him 10 feet from the bottom keep pumping up and you should get him. No Jimmy Houston hook sets. Just reel and pump up.

You can cover the topwater for Kingfish with a Ballyhoo, either dead or Alive or a live Bluerunner drifted way back on a rig with wire and a stinger hook. Use a SPRO 50# small swivel then haywire twist a foot of #4 coffee colored wire then haywire a 1/0 live bait hook, then another 4-6 inches of wire (according to bait size) and a treble hook. It is tough to keep from tangling so I usually only put out 1 Yellowtail rod when I drop a stinger rig back. Just let it freeswim way back with bail closed and light drag. After fish hits you can tighten drag a little. Sometimes Spanish or Cero hit the swivel and cut you off so you need the little tiny SPRO swivels or just an albright will work. You have a good shot at a Wahoo with this rig and a small live bait if you are in the right spot.

For Sailfish you can slow troll (1-2 mph) a dead Ballyhoo or Live Ballyhoo on 6' of 30# Flourocarbon. Make sure bait is swimming on its side if dead and upright if alive, and not spinning.When fish hits drop it back and let him take it for at least 15 seconds before slowly engaging drag. NO JIMMY HOUSTON HOOK SET. Let him run and he wil start jumping. Kite fishing is a better method. Fly the kite with 1 or 2 Bluerunners, Speedos, GoggleEyes or other bait large enough to stay in the water, and drift two behind you. You can use Ballyhoo as the ones drifting behind you.

Be sure to have the regs with you and a measuring stick and know which fish are which and what the limits are and if they are fork or total length. FWC is not in the business of giving out warnings they want your money of you screw up and the fines are sometimes large.

[Jcvistait]

Sorry, but was looking for more info on Fly leaders.

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

Keep the fly rod handy but you will catch 10 times more fish on a 15 pound spin rig. Flyfishing is not really "the Rage" down here like it is up north. A Striper, Bluefish, small Bluefin is a blast on the fly but a 25 # Grouper or Blackfin or Sailfish or Wahoo on spin gear is equally fun.

a 30 # butt and 20 # 4 foot section of leader will do. It is not that complicated on the reef. For Tarpon you will need a 80 Lb shock tippet but I find that if you drop down to 30# Flourocarbon you will hook 10 times more fish and should be able to keep about 1/3 of them on.

Don't get so hung up on using the fly rod that you miss out on all the fun of a spin rod. A flyrod has its place but if that is all you use you will be disappointed.

You need to use spin gear first and when the fish get comfy so you can get a fly to them then whip it out. You can't really start with a fly rod right off the bat and expect to do all that well. You need to get the fish going with live bait and then drop a fly in on them. They will ignore a fly until they are in a frenzy.

[brinckmeister]

Since you have a vehicle, I would recommend trying Bahia Honda State Park at milemarker 37 or Ohio Key at milemarker 39. Both have firm-bottom flats on the Atlantic side. Bahia Honda also has good beaches and kayak rentals. Try to fish the flats on the incoming tide, you should have a chance at bonefish or barracuda.

[Jcvistait]

Capt Chris, Thanks for that info, I will try spinning tackle also. I was wondering if the winds blow to hard if going in the backwater,etc. If chumming the channels will work too? Will being in those areas as long as the tide is moving would it produce fish of any kind?

Thanks



brinckmeister, Thanks for that info, Had someone else tell me to try there too.

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

Backwater channels are good for Tarpon and Jacks as well as some big Lemon, Reef and Bull Sharks. You could also find Cobia on the edges of the channels. They cruise the edges of flats/channels with rays and birds.
Any type of small jig tipped with shrimp or squid will work.

[Jcvistait]

Thanks, Sounds like I will have alot of options.

[-mike-]

Since you have a vehicle, I would recommend trying Bahia Honda State Park at milemarker 37 or Ohio Key at milemarker 39. Both have firm-bottom flats on the Atlantic side. Bahia Honda also has good beaches and kayak rentals. Try to fish the flats on the incoming tide, you should have a chance at bonefish or barracuda.

curious, what are the regulations on fishing in bahia honda? i thought you werent supposed to fish there at all? just wondering because i go there every year but never thought of wetting a line with all the high strung park rangers around. (no offense to them, i appreciate their work)

[WatsonMD]

Chris,
I'd recommend Jacob Shemper as an excellent guide. He runs a flats boat but can also put you on "whatever's biting". If you want his info - drop me a line "watsonmd92@hotmail.com". I'm headed there myself in March for a couple of days with him.

Andrew