I know I’m a bit late putting up this report but I’ve got a short break before a 3 week canoe trip into the Everglades. I drove down on the 27th, fished Dec 28th - 31st and Jan 3rd and managed to hit the last few days of grouper season. Out of the 5 days I fished, I only made it out to the reefline one morning but when lunch time rolled around and we didn’t have any bites on the troll, we headed to the backcountry to end our day with a box full of fish.
The backcountry bite was hot all week long and we couldn’t keep the grouper off the line. The action with the big mangrove snapper and just barely short muttons and grouper was hot and heavy in 9 - 15’ and live pinfish were the bait of choice for the nice fish. Each day the mangroves ranged from 13 - 19", the Muttons were 12 - 15 7/8" and we put one legal grouper in the boat. The mackerel, blue fish and ladyfish were all pretty active and were making it tough to cast a pinfish far back in the chum slick.
Many of these kids were from inland states and had experience with bass and panfish so this was quite a new and awesome experience for them!
The pirate wench being lowered down a mast at Schooner Wharf bar in Key West on New Years Eve
My mate Jack and one of the adults fro
