Heading down to the ragged edge resort in islamorada in mid june…been there before but weren’t too lucky, anybody got any advice for the reefs and offshore? any advice is appreciated
20’ Grady White Overnighter
150 Evinrude
T1GHT L1NES
was in marathon last june, did alittle trolling but it seemed all the charter boats were still goin like 30 miles and i didnt wanna do that. stayed just about 10 miles out and caught a few dolphin and a wahoo. did alittle reef fishing also. get ur self a reef anchor or buy 10 regular anchors, anchor in about 20’ of water right before the reef drops off and sabiki up some bait (also try in 5’ of water looking for the little pin fish that are everywhere), they make great grouper bait), hopefully the jack looking fish with a blue streak down it side (blue runner?) and put out a chum bag and look for ballyhoo schooled up behind the boat, wait for em to get close and them chuck the cast net. once u have some bait pull anchor, go out to about 60-80-100’ of water, drop anchor, put a big circle hook through the bottom lip of the ballyhoo wrap some copper wire around bill and shank of hook to keep it in place. tie blown up waterballoon about 10’ up the line/leader and let it drift back in the current with the reel in free spool with the clicker on.(had a monster sail fish crash my ballyhoo last year but didnt have it in free spool so he spit it) then drop down ur live bait to the bottom and pull it up about 3-4 feet from the bottom and wait. with the reef anchor when ur ready to leave attempt pullin it in (probably wont happen), pull it as tight as possible kleat it off at the bow and floor it in reverse until u feel it break loose then pull it in and bend the hook back, hope this helps
19’ Key West CC 140 Johnson
16’ War Eagle 40 Yami
12’ Alumacraft 1954 Johnson 5.5
VOTE DEMOCRATIC ITS EASIER THAN GETTING A JOB!
Those are great tips for the “Purple Island”.I was there last year in June for my 25th honeymoon.No boat,but I caught snook,tarpon,bones,snapper,cudas,sharks,and bugs by wading/snorkeling/kayaking behind the cottage we stayed in at The Moorings.It is next door to the Cheeca Lodge on the ocean side and across the street from the big BPS.I am jealous and would leave today to spend another week there.Good luck!
“Modern day Robin Hoodism-Steal from the sucessful and give to the poorly motivated.”
A group of us go to Islamorada about every summer to dive and fish. We lease a boat for th e occasion. As far as the fishing just go out until you hit a dropoff or temp change and go for it. We use the same baits there as here. Ballyhoo with skirts, Islanders, etc. Got into some nice dolphin and kings last trip. Be careful about fishing around the reefs. Most are very off limits to fishing , but are great dive spots. A local guide told me about a spot for tarpon at the foot of a bridge somewhere around there. It has an “L” shaped concrete wall that goes out into the channel. He said to go out on the wall on an incoming tide using a large Cisco Kid, or Yozuri lure(the shinier the better) and the Tarpon would hit. I didn’t get to try the spot, but the locals know about it too and agree with the guide.Don’t forget to hit the Bass Pro Shop down there…it’s like heaven for fishermen!
Tarpon are catchable around most of the bridges, especially on the shore end of them.
As far as trolling, I did well 10-15 miles off-shore, did not want to ride as far as the charters either. And yes, be careful around the reefs, might want to check w/ the locals to be sure which ones you CAN fish.
If you want to catch some inshore, go into the Gulf side about 5-8 miles and you will see several Islands that look spread out. What you can find between each set of islands is the ‘cut’ between them and the adjacent flats. Be careful/slow motoring up to it, but once you get in the cut or creek, it will deepen substantially and is a fish-haven. Mind all the Everglades Park rules and reg’s for sure.
Hope you have a great trip.
bugs in June, really???
I didn’t keep them or anything else for that matter,but it was cool to tickle them out of the rocks.
“Modern day Robin Hoodism-Steal from the sucessful and give to the poorly motivated.”