Florida Keys Fishing Report Week of 8/6/2018
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:
The Dolphin bite has been the same as the past few weeks. The main body of Dolphin are from 20 to 25 or more miles from the dock. There have been some fair to good catches of Dolphin closer with some small throw back Dolphin in the mix. The Blackfin Tuna on the Islamorada hump have been cooperating nicely some days with Tuna hitting small black and red feathers. Then other days, when there are no current rips to be seen on the Hump and then no birds working the action slows down. Captain Travis on his Indigenous charter boat out of Bud and Mary’s Marina did some dropping and boated a Swordfish mid week.
Reefs:
The reef bite is pretty much all about the Yellowtail Snapper, with some nice Mangrove Snapper too. All along the reef from Molasses to Alligator and below near Tennessee Reef the Snapper are biting well. Captains are anchoring in water from 50 to 90 feet deep and chumming hard. Mixing oats with softened chum and using a ladle to cast the slurry mix off the transom creates a cloud that the Snapper cannot resist. While drifting baits on light 12 pound spin gear the Yellowtail Snapper are accompanied by some real nice Mangrove Snapper also. There will be some nuisance fish in the chum like Bermuda Chubs and Filefish that will annoy you by eating your bait before the Snapper. And, also occasionally there may be some Bull Sharks hitting hooked Snapper, but that is the food chain.
Gulf and Bay:
The Trout and Snapper are still going strong in most of Florida Bay. Up north along the shoreline Captain John Gargan has been catching lots of Trout and often keeping some for dinner by using the old tried and true popping cork method. Down to the west where the bay meets the Gulf the Trout are in good supply. With the hot water the Mangrove Snapper are absolutely voracious. While drifting and jigging for the Trout you will get non stop Snapper bites and hooking the ones large enough to get the hook. In this area the Tarpon are still in good supply and will be prowling the banks and sitting in the channels feeding on Mullet, Crabs and all manner of forage that thrives in that rich area. Fishing a live bait under a float or a fresh chunk of Mullet, jack or ladyfish on the bottom will also prompt action from Tarpon and Sharks.
Flats, Backcountry and Flamingo:
In the Flamingo area there will be good supplies of Trout living and feeding in the lush grassy lakes. Drift a live bait such as Shrimp, Pinfish or Pilchard and you will find Snook and Redfish in the channels or up shallow in potholes. Captain Lou Brubaker set up next to an island where the tide ran deep under the Red Mangroves and got into Snook and Redfish casting Shrimp and Pinfish. Sometimes the juvenile Mangrove Snapper will hit your bait over and over and drive you crazy but persevere and you will be rewarded.
CapMel Staff
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