Florida Keys Fishing Report week of 3/12/2018
Provided by:
http://www.IslamoradaSportFishing.com
(this report may be reproduced in any media format as long as credit is given to:www.islamoradasportfishing.com)

Offshore:
There have been no Charters looking for Dolphin just yet in the offshore area. The only activity is on and around the Islamorada hump with captains looking for Blackfin Tuna. There has been little Tuna activity and that allows some Captains to drop for Snapper in the 300 foot depths on the seamount. Captain Don on the Kay k IV tried the Tuna and soon opted to drop and ended up with a nice catch of deep water Yelloweye and Vermillion Snapper. Historically we can expect the Mahi Mahi to show up in the month of April.
Reefs:
Reef action is still going strong. There are still Sailfish being caught and released every day. The mixed bag is evidenced by the catch on the Vera Vita out of Whale Harbor Marina. Captain Billy reported a reef catch consisting of King Mackerel, Snapper, Amberjack and Blackfin Tuna. Captain Brian Cone reported finding a big pack of Cobia on the reef and toying with them by casting at and taking baits away from the smaller Cobia and trying to get the larger ones to eat the bait. Captain Travis on the Indigenous had a pack of very large Bluefin Tuna behind his boat while fishing for Sailfish. Captain Travis reported the big Tuna came up on Ballyhoo but did not take the baits. Captain Juan Garcia fished the ocean on his 22 foot bay boat and caught an African Pompano. Captain Ed Yanetti fished a private boat and released several Grouper but ended up with a great catch of Snapper.
Gulf and Bay:
Spanish Mackerel action has been fantastic in the gulf. The fish have been big and plentiful. Captain Lou Brubaker fished longtime customer Steve from Merritt Island and Steve caught a lot Spanish Mackerel, one of which weighed in at 9 pounds 12 ounces. The Florida State record Spanish Mackerel is twelve pounds. Snapper have been biting well in the Gulf and there are some nice trout mixed in too. While fishing the Gulf continue to look for Cobia to swim up behind the boat and even follow a hooked fish to the boat.
Flats, Backcountry and Flamingo:
Many guides are in Tarpon mode. There are lots of Mullet around. Big white muds in Florida Bay are holding Mullet and Mullet are pouring out of the backcountry on the falling tide. Skiff Captains are fishing the channels on the west end of Islamorada and hooking Tarpon morning and evening. Some guides are anchoring and chumming with cut fish carcasses and dead baiting the Tarpon also. Always put a small crab out under a float for the ever-elusive Permit while fishing the channels. Beyond the close to home Tarpon action, it would be fair to assume that the Snook action would be good out in the Cape Sable area also.

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