Capt.ChrisLembo
12-11-2006, 10:38 AM
Key West Report 12/10/06
Man this weather just will not give us a break. We had one nice day in the past week and a half and it was right back to 25 knots of wind. Just before the last front came through the fishing was a little slow. A full moon and an approaching front do not make the best conditions. As the front passed, the water cooled down, the wind picked up and the fishing took off. I only fished inside the reef this week and even there it was 3 feet and choppy. The water temperature inside the reef was 77 degrees and the fishing was red hot.
Offshore was not fishable (with any sort of comfort) for the past few days and that trend should continue for the next couple. Once the seas calm own a little we should be in for a run of bigger Sailfish. The Dolphin run that we had over the past few weeks should linger on and we should be getting more Blackfin Tunas moving in. Bait is thick on the reef so look for fish on the drops along the reef-line.
Reef and wreck fishing should turn on this week. Water temps are down and as long as the next front stays a little weaker the fishing in the 80’-110’ range should be fantastic. I had one charter pick up a decent Cobia of 20 pounds and there are some big Yellowtail biting. Bait is pretty easy to find right now. Almost anywhere in the shallows you will find Pelicans diving on bait.
Inshore fishing has been excellent in Hawk Channel. The rough weather kept most boats at the dock but I saw a few other boats scattered along the various patch reefs that dot Hawk Channel. Gag Grouper were biting like crazy after the front passed but it took 25 small ones to finally get a 24" keeper. Big Pinfish will keep most of the little ones away but you may sit for a while before the big one moves in to investigate the chum and find the bait. The fishing was fast and furious with Lane Snapper, Spanish and Cero Mackerel along with Red, Black and Gag Grouper. As soon as the bait hits the bottom it is a hookup. I had a charter pick up a 45 pound Kingfish and another with a bunch of 20-25 pounders. Live Pilchards were picked up as soon as they hit the water. Sharks, Porgy, Yellowtail and Mangrove Snapper rounded out the patch reef catch.
No word on the Gulf-side as the weather made it too rough to get out there. Cobia are starting to move into the shallow areas as well as the wrecks and rock-piles scattered just to the North of Key West.
Man this weather just will not give us a break. We had one nice day in the past week and a half and it was right back to 25 knots of wind. Just before the last front came through the fishing was a little slow. A full moon and an approaching front do not make the best conditions. As the front passed, the water cooled down, the wind picked up and the fishing took off. I only fished inside the reef this week and even there it was 3 feet and choppy. The water temperature inside the reef was 77 degrees and the fishing was red hot.
Offshore was not fishable (with any sort of comfort) for the past few days and that trend should continue for the next couple. Once the seas calm own a little we should be in for a run of bigger Sailfish. The Dolphin run that we had over the past few weeks should linger on and we should be getting more Blackfin Tunas moving in. Bait is thick on the reef so look for fish on the drops along the reef-line.
Reef and wreck fishing should turn on this week. Water temps are down and as long as the next front stays a little weaker the fishing in the 80’-110’ range should be fantastic. I had one charter pick up a decent Cobia of 20 pounds and there are some big Yellowtail biting. Bait is pretty easy to find right now. Almost anywhere in the shallows you will find Pelicans diving on bait.
Inshore fishing has been excellent in Hawk Channel. The rough weather kept most boats at the dock but I saw a few other boats scattered along the various patch reefs that dot Hawk Channel. Gag Grouper were biting like crazy after the front passed but it took 25 small ones to finally get a 24" keeper. Big Pinfish will keep most of the little ones away but you may sit for a while before the big one moves in to investigate the chum and find the bait. The fishing was fast and furious with Lane Snapper, Spanish and Cero Mackerel along with Red, Black and Gag Grouper. As soon as the bait hits the bottom it is a hookup. I had a charter pick up a 45 pound Kingfish and another with a bunch of 20-25 pounders. Live Pilchards were picked up as soon as they hit the water. Sharks, Porgy, Yellowtail and Mangrove Snapper rounded out the patch reef catch.
No word on the Gulf-side as the weather made it too rough to get out there. Cobia are starting to move into the shallow areas as well as the wrecks and rock-piles scattered just to the North of Key West.