I know a lot of you guys have fished all over, so hopefully some of you can offer me some advice on a trip that I’m taking at the end of May. I’m going to Key Largo with some close friends for a long weekend fishing trip. We are only bringing a small boat to do some backwater stuff, but we want to take an offshore charter as well.
I know that the dolphin bite is usually hot around that time, but I would love to chase some different fish – especially ones that we don’t have a whole lot of up here in Charleston (although I’d still love to get on a billfish wherever I am). I have been looking online at different charters that are available, but I wanted to get some ■■■■■■■■ before booking.
Round Up Charters out of Kay Largo comes highly recommended, and I’ve heard a lot about Bud N’ Mary’s in Islamorada. Does anyone have any suggestions, either about which offshore charter might be more productive or about which area might be better during that time of year?
Thanks!
2000 Sportcraft Sport Cat 255
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160
I know a lot of you guys have fished all over, so hopefully some of you can offer me some advice on a trip that I’m taking at the end of May. I’m going to Key Largo with some close friends for a long weekend fishing trip. We are only bringing a small boat to do some backwater stuff, but we want to take an offshore charter as well.
I know that the dolphin bite is usually hot around that time, but I would love to chase some different fish – especially ones that we don’t have a whole lot of up here in Charleston (although I’d still love to get on a billfish wherever I am). I have been looking online at different charters that are available, but I wanted to get some ■■■■■■■■ before booking.
Round Up Charters out of Kay Largo comes highly recommended, and I’ve heard a lot about Bud N’ Mary’s in Islamorada. Does anyone have any suggestions, either about which offshore charter might be more productive or about which area might be better during that time of year?
Thanks!
2000 Sportcraft Sport Cat 255
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160
You aren't going to be impressed by their dolphin bite and blackfin bite unless you want to see how many will fit in a 5 gallon bucket. Sailfish in South Florida is usually a winter\EARLY spring thing.
If you want to do something different, you can find someone who does deep dropping for swords during the day time. I think the Bud and Mary’s boat does this. We fished a half mile from them a couple years ago and caught 2 swords in the middle of the day. It’s rich man’s cat-fishing, but it’s definitely “different” and a cool experience.
That being said, when I go to the keys, I typically completely put “offshore” out of my mind. I’ve yet to see a catch down there that I thought rivaled a catch in Charleston. We tend to do more reef
How small is the boat? Take a couple of chumblocks to the reef and have a ball. It’s not far. The keys today are nothing like 25 or 30 yrs ago. Like Skin said, most of the dolphin aren’t much bigger than a flip-folp.
Thanks for the advice, guys! I’m really looking forward to this trip. We are definitely going to try our hand inshore at finding some tarpon and/or bonefish, plus hopefully get on some snook (maybe even try some dock lights).
skinneej - I would love to do some freediving for hogfish, and I’m sure everyone else would prefer that over peanut phins all day. I’ll have to get that guy’s contact info from you!
7cs - it’s a little 15’ Key West, and there are 4 of us. I would love to go catch a mess of yellowtail for dinner, but it’s really going to depend on the conditions. None of us mind getting beat up, but we want to be safe.
2000 Sportcraft Sport Cat 255
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160
I live here now and charter fish out of here! We might be in the Bahamas in May! Most is correct on this topic, but we do have pushes of big fish as well! Just depends on the time of year! It’s mainly all sight fishing down here so either way it’s going to be different! I like/prefer to deep drop here! Not saying the time your coming is the best, Considering the gov. Is trying it’s best to shut that down too I’ve caught some of the biggest queen snapper, tilefish, and snowey/yellowedge grouper here! We use electrics but it’s still fun! And you have to pretty much use the electrics to beat the sharks! Hope you make it down and have a great time! If there’s anything I can help you with please feel free to give me a shout! Good luck and catch em up!
I fished with John Reynolds of “drop back charters” out of islamorada. Tons of fun to fish with and we stayed some dolphin. They were 15-20 lb class and we nailed like 15 of them and 10 nice black fin in a half day. Not the fish they described as fitting in a 5 gallon bucket… Great times and this guy can flat out fish. He Was raised there.