Webmaster's Note:
Due to numerous emails about the "practice of Dolphin fishing" I would like
to make the following clarification.
The fish we are referring to as dolphin, as it is called in the Keys and
south Florida, is a fish, also known as the Dorado and
Mahi-Mahi. This is not the Dolphin mammal.
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Last
Updated: 02/12/2019
Quick Glance
Provided by staff writer Captain Russ Pellow
visit him online at
www.RustyIV.com
Captain Russ also answers questions in our Ask The Captain Forum
Check it out!
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Offshore: |
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There have been some charters fishing the
Islamorada Hump for Blackfin Tuna this past week and there was a
good bite to be had. Captain Ed Yanetti captained the Skipper out of
Founders Park and got into the Tuna on the Hump with a showing of
Dolphin catching three wintertime gaffer Mahi. |
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Reefs: |
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This time of year, there are Sailfish Tournaments
every week. The Islamorada Women’s Sailfish Tournament was this past
week. First place boat was the Floridian with 4 sailfish releases.
Second place was Last Dance with 4 releases and third was IBC with 3
releases. There were 10 boats fishing the two day affair releasing
25 Sailfish. Captain Don on his Kay K IV out of Whale Harbor Marina
had a few nice days on the reef doing battle with a few Sailfish and
lots of King Mackerel. On the “Shake and Bait” out of Post Card Inn
anglers caught King Mackerel, Dolphin and Yellowtail Snapper
mid-week. Captain Paul Johnson on the Reef Runner had a fare out
from Maryland and caught a bunch of nice King Mackerel and Bonito.
Inside on the patch reef areas bay boat captains fished 10 to 25
feet of water on the calm days. Captain Lou Brubaker chummed up a
mess of Mangrove and Schoolmaster Snapper along with Mutton, Red
Grouper on a sixteen-foot deep live bottom patch. |
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Gulf and Bay: |
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The Spanish Mackerel and Snapper were willing
participants invading chum lines in the Gulf last week. Just outside
the Everglades National Park boundary, just beyond the Yacht Channel
the Spanish Mackerel are really on fire. Anchor and chum and the
Snapper usually get things started and then the Mackerel get the
scent and its drags screaming. Casting jigs tipped with a pencil
erasure size piece of Shrimp is the method of choice. There have
been a few Cobia reported too. Captain Joe Gargan has been catching
Snapper, Mackerel, Jacks, Ladyfish and a few Pompano in the Gulf. |
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Flats, Backcountry and Flamingo: |
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The news from the backcountry is just great as it
has been for many weeks. Guides are carrying a well full of live
Shrimp to fish “the park” and just bailing the Snook and Redfish.
Mike Forester of Mangrove Mikes Café in Islamorada summed it all up
staying the action has bee great for quite a while and over time the
fish have grown in size. Captain Freddie out of Smugglers Marina on
Snake Creek has fished several Flamingo trips and reports releasing
Snook and Redfish in double digit numbers every trip. Seatrout
catches have been very good in the upper bay near the mainland
shoreline. |
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Last
Updated: 02/12/2019
Capt. James Chappell's Fishing
Report
Provided by Catchalottafish Charters
visit him online at
www.Catchalottafish.com
305-803-1321
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Hello everyone, and welcome
back to this week’s report! Some pretty good weather we have had
this week, but doesn’t look so great for the weekend. The winds are
forecast to pick up to 25 knots, so it’s not going to be easy for
any of you with smaller boats. With that out of the way, the fishing
this week has been decent. A couple days of good fishing, and a
couple that were just downright tough. The sailfish bite has had its
ups and downs, as we really need a new body of fish to move in.
Several of the fish we are catching have multiple hooks still in
their mouths and are getting smarter every day. The wreck fishing is
picking up with the bottom bite, and there have been lots of king
mackerel around the wrecks and reef. The Yellowtail bite on the reef
was great early in the week, but slowed as we lost our current and
the water became gin clear. South of Alligator light has been better
for reef fishing as the water was dirtier with good southwest
current. The patches are producing well after this last cool front,
with some decent bottom dwellers as well. This wind is hopefully
just what we need to push in the gulf stream current, and get these
sails on the move. A lot of fish being caught north of Miami, so
keep your fingers crossed. Well, be safe this weekend, and we will
catch you next week!
Tight Lines,
Capt. James Chappell |
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