Florida Keys Fishing Report week of 5/21/2018
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:
This past week has been the wettest we have had here in Islamorada in a long time. The offshore anglers have been doing pretty well despite the nasty weather. On the Kay K IV Captain Don said early last week that he found several schools of Dolphin inside 350 feet of water. Then his mid week trips were much less productive and finally on Saturday the Kay K IV anglers racked several nice Mahi. We can only guess there was a void in the migration. Captain Travis on the Indigenous out of Bud and Mary’s Marina had a great trip on Friday with some big Bull Dolphin over thirty pounds brought to gaff. Captain Brian in the Contagious put a big Wahoo in the boat along with a catch of Dolphin. There have been plenty of Blackfin Tuna in the mix also.
Reefs:
It seems the Yellowtail Snapper have been giving reef anglers fits also. There have been frequent days with no current on the reef. What that means is that the Snapper will not come up out of the rock to the chum and will not take baits. The Months of May and June are considered the best for the Yellowtail as they go on a pre spawn glut, so not to despair the bite will continue. There have been some Permit caught on the wrecks and also African Pompano [another member of the Jack family] by anglers slow trolling baits deep off the reef.
Gulf and Bay:
The small boat community has been most affected by the rainy weather. Anglers in skiffs and bay boats in the backcountry have had to break out the rain gear and get wet, or just stay in port this past week. The rain was not always hard, but hours of the moderate precipitation will dampen your resolve. It is the tropics in summer and the rain is to be expected. Trout fishing in the bay has been good, both in the northern areas and down in the lower, out west spots. Tarpon anglers are doing well in Florida bay and out adjacent to the Gulf.
Flats, Backcountry and Flamingo:
Lots of guides are staying close to home and Tarpon fishing the channels in the Islamorada area. Captain Vinnie Biondoletti has been drifting live Mullet evenings and catching Tarpon consistently. In the backcountry the Trout are in good supply and there are plenty of Mangrove Snapper in the ditches and moats around the islands. Captain Lou Brubaker fished a couple of channels in downtown Islamorada and got into a variety of Snapper, some small Grouper and a few jacks to provide some good local rod bending for a family.
CapMel Staff
Latest posts by CapMel Staff (see all)

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR