Florida Keys

Saltwater Offshore Reports
1

I haven’t posted a report on this site in a couple years I believe. I moved to the Florida Keys about a year and a half ago. I recently got my open water dive certification and have started spearfishing. About three weeks ago I tried my luck just off of Bahia Honda, about 40 miles from Key West and we were able to stick two decent red grouper and nine just barely legal hog snapper. They were all taken in less than 20 feet of water near a small coral head. Nothing to brag about but I am hooked and hope to dive deeper soon for the nicer fish. All in all I am like a kid in a candy store with my newfound hobby.

myself with my first red grouper

My son Jeff with another decent red grouper

the total for the day

This was my first Mutton Snapper caught just to the southwest of Key West in 45 feet near the shipping channel.
Sure do miss Charleston but i’m here for good. Tight lines and sharp tips to all. I’ll continue to share my catches and my dive trips as long as everyone cares to read them.

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day…Teach a man to fish and he will stay out drinking on the boat all day”
><(((FISH)))">~~Vinnie

2

great report

3

Nice report. I always like to know what’s going on in the Keys. I get down there several times a year. LOVE it!!!

4

please keep us updated with your triumphs down there!

might as well be dead up here if i cant find that live bottom

5

good on ya fishman, just got back to charleston from spending last week in Key West myself.

bsbready, whats happening broski. We did some awesome inshore/nearshore fishing down there this year, but the trolling was quite slow.

Day 1 we went for tarpon and went 6 for 12 with quite a few missed hooksets, 3 black grouper, 1 jewfish, some yellowtail snapper and some mackeral. Took our own boat out the next day had lines in 215’ and after about 15 mins had about a 20lb cow on brought here to the boat stuck her with the gaff and was swinging her over the rail and her tail touch the gunnel and that was it she went nuts and hopped off the gaff and off she went. Trolled for the rest of the day and caught a cuda, messed around with a ton of small dolphin and worked a sailfish we just could not get to eat the fishing was slow and there were no big fish. We were listening to the radio and didnt seem like anyone was doing that good at all. Decided to go out with a guide on Friday and managed 1 wahoo, a cuda and nothing but undersize dolphin, went in to bottom fish in 200’ and caught tons of amberjacks and got rocked up by alot of big grouper. We should have just stayed inshore of the reef to bottom fish and tarpon fish in the harbor.

Planning on doing some tarpon fishing this weekend if you want to go. I talked with some guys and they are here.

Sails Pitch
196 CC Sea Pro
150HP Yamaha
“Get Hooked On The Sails Pitch”
[img=left]http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m257/TripleTail/Picture4.gif[/img=left]

6

Fishman…Keep them coming, good read and great pics.

reelly…

7

Thanks alot for the fine reception folks. I’m always happy to share my fishing experience’s with everyone.

Yes if you came down here to fish for wahoo or dolphin, there are good days and bad days. Huge Tarpon migrate through the keys for a few months during the year and just about anyone with some fishing experience can target bait and have a great day on the silver kings. Offshore? Thing is you dont ever know where the stream is going to be from one day to the next unless you keep track of it. Bottom fishing is where its at. People in Charleston would die for a nice set of grouper numbers but then you have to make the run to get to the numbers. Here i’ve learned how to bottomfish and have thoroughly enjoyed myself. I’ve dove on several spots that we fish on and am amazed. Best of all…its all within reasonable distance from just about anywhere in the Keys, and i’m talkin within 5 to 10 miles from the ramp or dock. Can’t beat it! Well almost!

Thanks again. Go Cocks!

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day…Teach a man to fish and he will stay out drinking on the boat all day”
><(((FISH)))">~~Vinnie

8

Fishman, which key are you living on?

9

that spearfishing is looking more and more fun whenever i see guys like yourself post the fish you’ve speared, congrats on the catch

10

Nevermind fishman. I see in you are in Big Pine. If you ever head up to the Grassy Key area to fish let me know. I lived there for a couple of years and can you put you on some good bonefish spots that you can access with or without a boat.

11

Thanks alot schmidt. I may just take you up on that. Heading back to Charleston next month to get my boat so I dont have to rely on friends down here to take me fishing. I’ve been waiting for a break in work so I can take a few days off to make the trip.

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day…Teach a man to fish and he will stay out drinking on the boat all day”
><(((FISH)))">~~Vinnie

12

Great report fishman. We just got back from our annual stay at Old Wooden Bridge Lodge. I have fished that area since 1995 and love it. Great choice living on Big Pine. I’ll look you up on the next trip for some advice from a “local”. Thanks, Brooks

GW 232GT Gulfstream
150Yam x 2
“3rd Day”

13

Sweet tat!

Great fish!

Be there or be on the Short Bus!!

2005 236 Sailfish
225 Yamaha 4-stroke

14

used to live in key largo right past john pennekamp and before the yellow bait house. my how things have changed. caught my first bonefish off lower mattacumbe 12 yo back when you could just pull off the road it was 9lb 12oz by the way. now you have to take boat around but rodriguez has some nice flats. but we mainly fish the lower everglades all the way to flamingo targeting snook,redfish,trout
by far the coolest place i have ever lived

15

Sounds like there are alot of Charleston folk who are familiar with the keys. I appreciate the advice as well as the insight.

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day…Teach a man to fish and he will stay out drinking on the boat all day”
><(((FISH)))">~~Vinnie…GO COCKS