Best of Fishing in the Florida Keys
Topic:
A Decade of Keys Fishing
It’s safe to say that after 10 years of bringing us all great fishing information and stories, Onshore/Offshore has been and continues to be a leader in fishing publications. It’s only fitting that we take the opportunity to celebrate the 10th anniversary issue with a look at the past, present and the future of fishing in the Keys.
As we all know, July 27th and 28th are this year’s dates for “Mini-Season” (aka: Lobster Sportsman Season). Mini-Season is always held on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. Monroe County accounts for more than 80% of Florida’s Spiny Lobster catch, even though the regulations limit us to only 6 lobsters per harvester. That just goes to show that we have some pretty easy “bugging” down here.
The most popular area for lobster will be the Gulf side of the Keys where the water is clear and shallow making for great snorkeling and “bullynetting” at night. Looking back 10 years ago, did you know that the lobster regulations were 6 per person or 24 per boat? Even with the change in the bag limit, Monroe County still is THE place to be if you’re looking to go get some bugs!
Need some bigger game than just a few lobsters? How about Blue Marlin? That’s right; you can head down to Key West this month and fish for the most prestigious game fish swimming! The Drambuie Marlin Tournament is July 20th-23rd. Come down and try and win $50,000 in prize money while partying the night (and days) away in Key West during the Hemingway Days Festival. It only makes sense to have the Biggest Marlin tournament in the Keys coincide with the festival honoring the man that made Marlin fishing famous. Most of us will be working the area around Wood’s Wall looking for “the man in blue” while we pick up Dolphin, Wahoo and Tuna as “bonus” fish to weigh-in. The Drambuie Marlin Tournament has always had exciting finishes due to the format of Marlin release points combined with points for “fun-fish” weighed in. I can tell you that I personally went from leading this event in 2007 on Day 1 and most of Day 2, and managed to hold on to 3rd place by a few points! As a benefit, you can come down, fish the Marlin Tournament and stay for Mini-Season!
And let’s not forget about the reef. July is when anglers discover night fishing for Snapper. Easy access from almost every dock and a short 6-mile ride to the reef’s edge can be another way of beating the heat. Warm, clear water this time is year is perfect for getting the family out and snorkeling and diving in the shallows during the day while reserving the “above” water activities for the coolness of dark. Mutton, Yellowtail and Mangrove snapper have all moved to deeper water to beat the heat themselves and aren’t as finicky at night. Plus you get the added benefit of getting to see sights not visible when the sun is up. Phytoplankton light up the surface of generally flat seas like the stars in the sky and will garner almost as many comments as the fish coming over the side!
10 years ago, we had a 5 Grouper per person limit and now we have a 3 Grouper bag limit. Coming off the 2nd year of the Grouper closure for the South Atlantic, we are already seeing the benefit of the closure. Almost every angler is reporting some of the best Grouper fishing that they’ve had in years without having to go all the way to the Dry Tortugas. You can wet a line for them, or grab a spear gun and hop in the water to cool down while you explore the reef and hunt for dinner.
Fishing on the wrecks, you’ll find plenty of hungry fish waiting for your bait to drop down to the depths. July will have several species holding at different levels in the water column, so don’t fail to present baits in 50-100’ increments depending on the fish you’re targeting. Amberjack, Kingfish and Barracuda will hold in the upper portions of the wreck while Snapper, Grouper and African Pompano will wait at the bottom. Braided line works best for getting some of these bruisers away from the structure. 10 years ago, I caught my first Lower Keys Swordfish fishing the area known as the “East Crack” of Woods Wall. Many years and trips later, Swordfish are still my personal favorite. July might not be primetime as far as sheer numbers of swords off the Keys, but it is perfect conditions! Light current in the Gulf Stream, wind 5kts and variable, when coupled with clear skies screams SWORDFISHING. For those who have always longed for “testing the waters” in this fishery, July is the perfect month for you.
Since the first published issue of Onshore-Offshore Magazine, we fishermen (like Onshore/Offshore) have gone through many changes. An increase in the number of anglers and the advent of better equipment was followed by reduced bag limits by regulators. We now find ourselves with fewer regular anglers making the most of their equipment and catching more fish because of information being shared and exchanged through venues such as Onshore-Offshore.
So here’s to the last 10 years and the high hopes for what the next 10 years will bring! Catch’em Up!
It’s safe to say that after 10 years of bringing us all great fishing information and stories, Onshore/Offshore has been and continues to be a leader in fishing publications. It’s only fitting that we take the opportunity to celebrate the 10th anniversary issue with a look at the past, present and the future of fishing in the Keys.
As we all know, July 27th and 28th are this year’s dates for “Mini-Season” (aka: Lobster Sportsman Season). Mini-Season is always held on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. Monroe County accounts for more than 80% of Florida’s Spiny Lobster catch, even though the regulations limit us to only 6 lobsters per harvester. That just goes to show that we have some pretty easy “bugging” down here.The most popular area for lobster will be the Gulf side of the Keys where the water is clear and shallow making for great snorkeling and “bullynetting” at night. Looking back 10 years ago, did you know that the lobster regulations were 6 per person or 24 per boat? Even with the change in the bag limit, Monroe County still is THE place to be if you’re looking to go get some bugs!
Need some bigger game than just a few lobsters? How about Blue Marlin? That’s right; you can head down to Key West this month and fish for the most prestigious game fish swimming! The Drambuie Marlin Tournament is July 20th-23rd. Come down and try and win $50,000 in prize money while partying the night (and days) away in Key West during the Hemingway Days Festival. It only makes sense to have the Biggest Marlin tournament in the Keys coincide with the festival honoring the man that made Marlin fishing famous. Most of us will be working the area around Wood’s Wall looking for “the man in blue” while we pick up Dolphin, Wahoo and Tuna as “bonus” fish to weigh-in. The Drambuie Marlin Tournament has always had exciting finishes due to the format of Marlin release points combined with points for “fun-fish” weighed in. I can tell you that I personally went from leading this event in 2007 on Day 1 and most of Day 2, and managed to hold on to 3rd place by a few points! As a benefit, you can come down, fish the Marlin Tournament and stay for Mini-Season!
And let’s not forget about the reef. July is when anglers discover night fishing for Snapper. Easy access from almost every dock and a short 6-mile ride to the reef’s edge can be another way of beating the heat. Warm, clear water this time is year is perfect for getting the family out and snorkeling and diving in the shallows during the day while reserving the “above” water activities for the coolness of dark. Mutton, Yellowtail and Mangrove snapper have all moved to deeper water to beat the heat themselves and aren’t as finicky at night. Plus you get the added benefit of getting to see sights not visible when the sun is up. Phytoplankton light up the surface of generally flat seas like the stars in the sky and will garner almost as many comments as the fish coming over the side!
10 years ago, we had a 5 Grouper per person limit and now we have a 3 Grouper bag limit. Coming off the 2nd year of the Grouper closure for the South Atlantic, we are already seeing the benefit of the closure. Almost every angler is reporting some of the best Grouper fishing that they’ve had in years without having to go all the way to the Dry Tortugas. You can wet a line for them, or grab a spear gun and hop in the water to cool down while you explore the reef and hunt for dinner.
Fishing on the wrecks, you’ll find plenty of hungry fish waiting for your bait to drop down to the depths. July will have several species holding at different levels in the water column, so don’t fail to present baits in 50-100’ increments depending on the fish you’re targeting. Amberjack, Kingfish and Barracuda will hold in the upper portions of the wreck while Snapper, Grouper and African Pompano will wait at the bottom. Braided line works best for getting some of these bruisers away from the structure. 10 years ago, I caught my first Lower Keys Swordfish fishing the area known as the “East Crack” of Woods Wall. Many years and trips later, Swordfish are still my personal favorite. July might not be primetime as far as sheer numbers of swords off the Keys, but it is perfect conditions! Light current in the Gulf Stream, wind 5kts and variable, when coupled with clear skies screams SWORDFISHING. For those who have always longed for “testing the waters” in this fishery, July is the perfect month for you.
Since the first published issue of Onshore-Offshore Magazine, we fishermen (like Onshore/Offshore) have gone through many changes. An increase in the number of anglers and the advent of better equipment was followed by reduced bag limits by regulators. We now find ourselves with fewer regular anglers making the most of their equipment and catching more fish because of information being shared and exchanged through venues such as Onshore-Offshore.
So here’s to the last 10 years and the high hopes for what the next 10 years will bring! Catch’em Up!
