Florida keys 2016

RidgeRunner · #1 07-25-2016, 12:26 PM

Fishing report--Islamorada - One week ain't enough gentleman. We as a family, my wife and daughter spent several days beating around on the Gulf side, snorkeling and Tarpon fishing bridges as the wind was blowing 15 to 20kts. I had one nice Tarpon blow up on a mullet at Whale Harbor Channel, no hook-up. After 2 hours waiting on a bite it gets boring. Plenty of small fish action at the bridges. Nice couple of jack crevalle to give me a pull. Caught a Moray EEL off the dock. Then the real fishing begins... Just me as the girls get seasick and don't like to fish like I do..
Alligator Reef (Trip #1 5 pm- 10pm after a storm passed it laid down so I could go to the ocean side comfortably. Little to no current. 60 to 80 feet seemed to be the sweet spot)- Hogfish, Yellowtail Snapper, Speckled Hind and Gray Snapper (Trip#2 Friday the day before leaving the wind lays down so we hit the reef for snorkeling action, Hens and Chickens Reef, and a couple others then I dropped the girls off and fished from 2pm to 6pm, same spots as trip #1 only more current) 18" Mangrove Snapper(my personal best), more Speckled Hind, a short Grouper, Gray Triggers, Hogfish, Grunts Galore and 4 breakoffs. 80lb braid 100 lb leader fishing with dead bait,(mullet and Whoo plugs) probably shark... Pictures to follow.
Fun was had all around. Despite the weather.

Nothing further offshore. I saw some kings chasing bait on the surface just beyond my casting range with a spoon, I was anchored up and on the fish so... No dolphin offshore trip, nor tuna. Too little time and it is a bit exhausting to troll four lines by yourself. Burned 30 gallons of fuel all week, went approx 120 miles and used a gallon of 2-stroke oil. LOL!

SkunkBoat · #2 07-25-2016, 02:20 PM

love that Keys fishing

spareparts · #3 07-25-2016, 06:34 PM

yall suck

Pipe_Dream · #4 07-26-2016, 12:23 PM

Awesome! Was down there myself back in April, caught a mess of mahi.

I love the Keys.

bgreene · #5 07-26-2016, 04:20 PM

Did you use the V with the 250 hp tricked out that runs 62 mph ?

bradford · #6 07-26-2016, 08:29 PM

Great report Ridge. Was down there back in November. For some reason I can never see your pics, site acts like I'm not logged in, maybe this time. We did a bunch of snorkeling at Alligator and Cheeca Rocks. Stayed at a place called White Gate Court. Free boat dockage and trailer parking up to 26 feet, dog friendly, waterfront bayside on Matecumbe bight about a mile down from Robbie's Marina. Y'all who go to the Keys should check it out.