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If your desire is to head offshore this week, go to the humps for some excellent tuna fishing. The fish currently being caught range in size from footballs to 20 pounds and more. Successful tactics include fishing live bait and butterfly jigs as well as trolling small feathers or Dallas darts far behind your boat. As it has a tendency to do this time of year, the dolphin fishing has slowed a bit. There are still fish being caught, but there is a definite lack of consistency and appreciable numbers.
For those willing to invest the time, daytime swordfishing is producing excellent results, with a fair number of fish over 150 pounds landing in boats off the Middle Keys. There are also frequent sightings of both white and blue marlin. Numerous sailfish have been spotted free jumping, with many being taken by anglers dragging ballyhoo in their spreads.
Inshore, the snapper action remains steady, with good size yellowtail biting well during the day and the mangrove bite fantastic at night. Mutton snapper are hitting well in depths ranging from 100 to 200 feet. Quite a few amberjack have moved in to the higher profile wrecks. Most of these are in the 20 to 30-pound class. These fish are great fun on light tackle and, at these sizes, make good eating when cleaned properly.
Here’s some news: the goliath grouper bite is phenomenal throughout the Gulf waters! Just remember, use circle hooks and release these denizens unharmed without lifting them in the boat. There are plenty of mangrove snapper and the occasional yellowtail snapper lingering around the Gulf wrecks. You may also encounter some stray cobia and permit. Be sure to have either crabs or shrimp to tempt these wary game fish.
The two-day Sport Lobster Season (known locally as lobster mini season) is July 29 and 30 this year. We welcome visitors in search of tasty crustaceans and encourage all to join us for some great fun. At the same time, we ask you to exercise caution, as our waters will be congested with boats, snorkelers and divers. Please be gentle with our reef. Please be respectful of your hotel/motel room or vacation rental. Please be courteous to your fellow visitors and the locals. Finally, please adhere to the regulations. |
