Yearly Archives: 2016

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

December is here bring several newly arriving fish species to pursue. Fantastic action for Key West angling continues through years end.
From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters is changing yet still offers the light tackle angler so many options…

Deep Sea/Offshore:
Our offshore fishing has settled in vastly improving our light tackle action. Gone are the warm water species replaced with some outstanding and explosive species for the trolling fan. December kicks off the Kingfish action. Big “Smoker” Kingfish are providing excellent action well offshore and occasionally nearer the reef. The Mackerel family is here in huge numbers in general with quality size Cero and Spanish of late. December remains an excellent time to target the action packed Black Fin Tuna maybe not at the levels of November but still very respectable. There is nothing better than crossing paths with a school of Black Fin on the hunt…total chaos but crazy fun. We typically continue taking the solitary Wahoo during December. The iconic Sailfish bite continues to improve with ultimately January being the real kick off for our most productive time frame which continues for months into the spring. Unfortunately we say good by for the most part to the wonderful Mahi (Dolphin fish) as the cooler water temperatures force a migration for most of them away from our local waters. Soon as this is said we will have a few days of Mahi action fire up…there seems to always be a few Mahi around in our waters but in fairness to the angler…think of them as a wonderful bonus fish when they come in the boat. The apex predators remain active with December being a good month for large Barracuda. We are moving into an exciting period for offshore however, we believe a ½ day charter still has some challenges with ever changing travel times between marina and fishing grounds. Best bet book at least the ¾ day (six hour trip) especially if you are a party of three or four or more.

Reef & Wreck:
December can bring winds however the waters on the reef verses further offshore will remain comfortable most days. This continues to be a good time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out to the nearer shore wreck sites as well. The “reef donkey” is here in big numbers and ready to dislocate the angler’s shoulders. Amberjack fishing is typically very good for the next few months. The Cobia action becomes excellent for the next few months leading into the new year. The Snapper family continues to produce numbers with December typically being the last month before the Mutton Snapper get busy. The YellowTail and Mangrove numbers make up for the larger Mutton’s absence most days. The Grouper family will usually not disappoint for December as the last month to harvest Grouper before our season closes January 1. Our elusive Permit will still be making their presence known but at best I would place them in the “good” range. Always challenging, the Permit is a sought after sport fish and prized by anglers from around the planet. December will still offer the angler a fair chance for success.

Back Country:
Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year moves into an excellent time for fast paced action while targeting a very wide variety of species. Anglers will appreciate our calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country continues to grow with several sport fish species, edible fish, and predators to target but also numerous schooling species arrive to provide non stop action most days.  Trout and Pompano, Jacks, Lady Fish, Blue Runners, Grunts, the list is nearly endless in December.A perfect trip for the hard core light tackle angler to the novice angler or the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

Tarpon time is over in the back country. Remaining is our small resident population of juvenile Tarpon however these fish are super sensitive to changing conditions and become very “hit or miss”. Some Tarpon are still here but we typically do not target them for the next few months.

The ½ day to ¾ day morning departure trips continue to produce well however the afternoon water temperatures are not as high now so the later part of the day with good tides can be awesome. Permit on a given day in December can be pursued on the shallow patch reef and isolated shallow wrecks and the bite can be in the “good” range some days. The Redfish action by December is as good as we enjoy in Key West. Cobia fishing continues and can produce some quality fish and action. This is a time of fast paced “excellent” action in general from the schooling species such as Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks, Sea Trout, Pompano and more.

The Mangrove and Yellow Tail Snapper fishing remains good in the back country. For serious “table fare” harvest we definitely recommend the reef & wreck trips now but to include a few “keeper” fish for lunch or dinner will not be a problem in our shallows. The predator fishing continues. Giant Barracuda and several species of Sharks in the shallows are on the hit list. Our Monster Shark charters are awesome and continually produce multiple larger sharks even on the ½ day trips. December is predator time so these aggressive species are always ready to go “head to head”. We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:
Short periods of decent Bonefish action continue for the patient angler in December. Permit typically will have moved off the flats following forage by December. Tarpon are completely out of action on the flats for now. The flats angler should now include Barracuda and sharks on his hit list.  Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights.

Notable:
This is a time of lower and more stable water temperatures so good fishing conditions continue, friends. We still recommend fishing morning trips if going shallow as they remain the most productive over the later afternoon hours for the serious angler. The PM half day trips have improved and can be quite enjoyable especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. Reef trips in the afternoon fishing slightly deeper waters along with the patch reefs can be very good trips for later in the day departure times. Sharks are plentiful and active. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home!

Let’s go Fishing!
Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily 7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

November is here with cooler temperatures and several newly arriving fish species to pursue. Fantastic action for Key West angling continues through the fall time frame.

From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters is changing yet still offers the light tackle angler so many options…

Deep Sea/Offshore:
Our offshore fishing is rapidly changing and vastly improving for light tackle action. Gone are most of the warm water species replaced with some outstanding and explosive species for the trolling fan. November brings red hot Kingfish action. Big “Smoker” Kingfish with numbers growing daily are providing excellent action well offshore. The Mackerel family is here in huge numbers in general with quality size Cero and Spanish of late. November is an excellent time to target the action packed Black Fin Tuna. There is nothing better than crossing paths with a school of Black Fin on the hunt…total chaos but remarkably fun. We often times see a spike in the Wahoo action during November. Wahoo are fish that produce memorable takes, and long line stealing runs not soon forgotten by anglers. The iconic Sailfish begins to come to life and the rare but possible Marlin remain promising. Unfortunately we say good bey for the most part to the wonderful Mahi (Dolphin fish) as the cooler water temperatures force a migration away from our local waters by most. The apex predators remain active with November being a good month for large Barracuda although numbers may be down somewhat…so the angler simply trades quantity for quality. We are moving into an exciting period for offshore however, we believe a ½ day charter still has real limits for the remainder of our next few weeks/months. Our recommendations are to book at least the ¾ day (six hour trip) with the full day giving us all the tools to work with for you.

Reef & Wreck:
November can bring some light to medium winds however the waters on the reef verses further offshore will remain comfortable most days. This continues to be a good time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out to the nearer shore wreck sites as well. The “reef donkey” is here in big numbers and ready to dislocate the angler’s shoulders. Amberjack fishing becomes red hot for a couple of months now. The Cobia action remains solid with good numbers and average sized fish being taken regularly through the end of November. The Snapper family continues to produce numbers however November is not typically a great Mutton month here. The YellowTail and Mangrove numbers make up for the larger Mutton’s absence most days. The Grouper family will usually not disappoint for November for the table fare anglers. Our elusive Permit will still be making their presence known but will be slowing from a peak activity month in October. Always challenging, the Permit is a sought after sport fish and prized by anglers from around the planet. November will still offer the angler a good chance for success.

Back Country:
Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year also offers an abundance of visible marine life and tropical birds on the Mangrove Island shorelines with mirror calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country remains large with several sport fish species, edible fish, and predators to target. A perfect trip for the hard core light tackle angler to the novice angler or the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

Tarpon time is over in the back country as the migration of adult fish has taken place. Remaining is our resident population of primarily juvenile Tarpon and these fish are super sensitive to changing conditions and become very “hit or miss”. Some Tarpon are still here but we typically do not target them now!

The ½ day to ¾ day morning departure trips continue to produce well however the afternoon water temperatures are not as high now so the later part of the day with good tides can be awesome. Permit can be pursued on the shallow patch reef and isolated shallow wrecks and the bite is good on quality size fish most days. The Redfish action kicks off during November most years while Snook on the given day continue but we would place them in the “good” to “fair range” now. Cobia fishing continues. This is a time of fast paced “excellent” action from the schools of BIG Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks continue to be red hot with the larger fish going north of 25 pounds an absolute blast on light tackle and top water! Towards the middle of November we should see the ramping up for Trout fishing. These are one of the best “indicator” species to showcase the full transition into our fall patterns.

The Mangrove and Yellow Tail Snapper fishing remains good in the back country. For serious “table fare” harvest we definitely recommend the reef & wreck trips now but to include a few “keeper” fish for lunch or dinner will not be a problem in our shallows.

The predator fishing continues. Giant Barracuda and several species of Sharks in the shallows are on the menu. Our Monster Shark charters are awesome and continually produce multiple larger sharks even on the ½ day trips. This is predator time so these aggressive species are always ready to go “head to headâ€� so you adrenaline junkies out there should sight casting top water lures to cruising Barracuda! The Bonefish population in the back country has been fun lately on the deeper flats due to the west and we should continue to enjoy this bonus back country action for all of October before slowing somewhat. For the serious Bonefish angler the flats are still your trip but to include the possibility of Bonefish on the back country trips for a while yet is reasonable. We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:
Periods of decent Bonefish action continue for the patient angler willing to work for his prey. The Bonefish during November can be of quality size with fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds and occasionally larger yet. Permit typically will still provide the occasional opportunity on the flats but again this is slowing. The flats angler should now include Barracuda and sharks on his hit list as well. Tarpon are out of action on the flats for now. Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights.

Notable:
This is a time of lower and more stable water temperatures so good fishing conditions continue, friends. We still recommend fishing morning trips if going shallow as they remain the most productive over the later afternoon hours for the serious angler. The PM half day trips have improved and can be quite enjoyable especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. Reef trips in the afternoon fishing slightly deeper waters along with the patch reefs can be very good trips for later in the day departure times. Sharks are plentiful and active in the shallow waters of our back country. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home!

Let’s go Fishing!

Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily 7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

October is here but our summer time temperatures still remain. Fantastic action for Key West angling continues.
From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters offers the light tackle angler so many options…

Deep Sea/Offshore:

This is the time of year when the offshore angler understands our continuing higher water temperatures force run times and distances to become a bit longer to the more productive fishing grounds offshore. Our recommendations are for early take off times but the slightly better afternoon air temperatures do allow the angler to remain comfortable providing a now much better full day charter to be experienced. However, we believe a 1/2 day charter still has real limits for the remainder of our next few weeks/months.

The Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) bite remains good but is dwindling from the past few months. Dolphin ruled the offshore weed lines through August and early September. Our Spanish and Cero Mackerel remain quite active traveling in large schools. Black Fin Tuna have already provided the angler with some outstanding days a bit early this year in our thinking. October usually kicks off the Black fin action for a couple of exceptional months. The soon to be arriving Kingfish should make an appearance as typically during October we enjoy the beginning of several months of excellent Kingfish action. This continues to be a time frame for behemoth Barracuda as these apex predators really remain super aggressive. The rare Marlin “can” come this time of year well offshore way beyond the ½ day charter range and will always be extremely “hit or miss” in our local waters.

Reef & Wreck:

October continues with calmer waters on the reef verses further offshore. This continues to be a perfect time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out to the remote wreck sites as well. The elusive Permit is schooled up on the shallower Gulf Wrecks and typically October can produce some quality trips and individual large fish. Cobia are commonly taken from these same locations and would, in our opinion, remain in the “good range” for action through November. Our resident reef and wreck species such as Snapper and Grouper continue with predictably good action. This is a particularly productive period for large Yellow Tail Snapper. On the shallower “patch reef’s” the Red Grouper have been plentiful if not huge of late. Many calm days our Back Country guides have fished these areas with great success as is commonly done. Most days we fill the fish box with those wonderful “table fare” species such as Yellow Tail Snapper quickly. Sharks and large Barracuda are absolutely everywhere and if you feel well rested, friends they are always ready to go “head to head”. This is the best charter in our recommendation this month to be enjoyed on a 1/2 to 3/4 day charter.

Back Country:

Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year also offers an abundance of visible marine life and tropical birds on the Mangrove Island shorelines with mirror calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country remains large with several sport fish species, edible fish, and predators to target. A perfect trip for the hard core light tackle angler to the novice angler or the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

Tarpon time is over in the back country as the migration of adult fish has taken place. Remaining is our resident population of primarily juvenile Tarpon and these fish are super sensitive to changing conditions and become very “hit or miss”. Some Tarpon are still here but we typically do not target them now!

The 1/2 day to 3/4 day morning departure trips continue to produce well however the afternoon water temperatures are not as high now so the later part of the day with good tides can be awesome. Permit can be pursued on the shallow patch reef and isolated shallow wrecks and the bite is good on quality size fish most days. Snook on the given day continue and we would place them in the “good” range. Cobia fishing continues. This is a time of fast paced “excellent” action from the schools of BIG Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks continue to be red hot with the larger fish going north of 25 pounds…an absolute blast on light tackle and top water! Towards the end of October we should see the ramping up of both Redfish and Trout fishing. These are the first of the fall with cooler water temperature days species to signal the transition from summer time angling.

The Mangrove and Yellow Tail Snapper fishing remains excellent in the back country. For serious “table fare” harvest we recommend the reef & wreck trips but to include a few fish for lunch or dinner this is never a problem in our shallows.

The predator fishing continues. Giant Barracuda and several species of Sharks in the shallows are on the menu. Our Monster Shark charters are awesome and continually produce multiple larger sharks even on the 1/2 day trips. This is predator time so these aggressive species are always ready to go “head to head” so you adrenaline junkies out there should sight casting top water lures to cruising Barracuda! The Bonefish population in the back country has been fun lately on the deeper flats due to the west and we should continue to enjoy this bonus back country action for all of October before slowing somewhat. For the serious Bonefish angler the flats are still your trip but to include the possibility of Bonefish on the back country trips for a while yet is reasonable. We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:

Bonefish continue to provide excitement for the patient angler willing to work for his prey. The Bonefish action during all of October can produce quality size fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds and occasionally larger yet. Permit typically will provide another 30 days or more with good results on the flats. The flats angler should include Barracuda and sharks on his hit list as well. Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights. If Bonefish are on your angling “bucket list” this is a good time to book your trip with one of our legendary flats guides.

Notable:

This is a time of still warm but lowering water temperatures so good fishing conditions continue, friends. We still recommend fishing early morning trips as the most productive over the later afternoon hours for the serious angler. The PM half day trips can be quite enjoyable especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. Reef trips in the afternoon fishing slightly deeper waters along with the patch reefs can be very good trips. Sharks are plentiful now and active in the shallow waters of our back country. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home! Black Tip, Lemon and at times Bull are the more common of the several sharks cruising the shallows. Granted not overly dangerous, certainly not for the faint of heart, sharks in the shallows will provide you with memories of a lifetime. Are you up for it?

Let’s go Fishing!
Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily 7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

August brings heat and fantastic action for Key West angling.
From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters offers the light tackle angler so many options…

Deep Sea/Offshore:
This is the time of year when the offshore angler understands rising water temperatures force run times and distances to become a bit longer to the more productive fishing grounds offshore. Our recommendations are for early take off times or no more than ¾ day (six hour charters) due to the afternoon rising water temperatures. However, we believe a ½ day charter has real limits for the remainder of our warmer months.

It’s Wahoo time! This is an exceptional time to target your always elusive “Whoo” in Key West. The Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) bite remains good. Dolphin rule the offshore weed lines. Our Spanish and Cero Mackerel remain quite active traveling in large schools. This is a time frame for behemoth Barracuda as these apex predators really become super aggressive. The rare Marlin “can” come this time of year well offshore way beyond the ½ day charter range and will always be extremely “hit or miss” in our local waters.

Reef & Wreck:
This time of year brings calmer waters on the reef verses further offshore. This becomes a perfect time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out to the remote wreck sites as well. Many of the elusive Permit have migrated back from the offshore spawning grounds and schooled up on the shallower Gulf Wrecks. Cobia are commonly taken from these same locations and both would fall in the “good range” for action. Our resident reef and wreck species such as Snapper and Grouper continue with predictably good action although the Mangrove Snapper spawn has happened. The Amberjack are running large and still hitting aggressively. This action should remain for all of August before slowing. Most days we fill the fish box with those wonderful “table fare” species such as Yellow Tail Snapper quickly. Sharks and large Barracuda and absolutely everywhere and if you feel well rested, friends they are always ready to go “head to head”. This is the best charter in our recommendation this month to be enjoyed on a ½ to ¾ day charter especially to the reef.

Back Country:
Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year also offers an abundance of visible marine life and tropical birds on the Mangrove Island shorelines with mirror calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country remains large with several sport fish species, edible fish, and predators to target. A perfect trip for the hard core light tackle angler to the novice angler or the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

Tarpon time is over in the back country as the migration of adult fish has taken place. Remaining is our resident population of primarily juvenile Tarpon and these fish are super sensitive to changing conditions and become very “hit or miss”. Some Tarpon are still here but we typically do not target them now!

The ½ day to ¾ day morning departure trips continue to produce well. For a serious fishing experience we do not recommend fishing past 2-3 Pm daily as our shallow waters rising temperatures will slow the action. Permit can be pursued on the shallow patch reef and isolated shallow wrecks and the bite is good on quality size fish most days. Snook on the given day continue. Cobia fishing continues but these fish have scattered. This is a time of fast paced “excellent” action from the schools of BIG Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks continue to be red hot with the larger fish going north of 25 pounds…an absolute blast on light tackle and top water!

The Mangrove and Yellow Tail Snapper fishing remains excellent in the back country. For serious “table fare” harvest we recommend the reef & wreck trips but to include a few fish for lunch or dinner this is never a problem in our shallows.

The predator fishing continues. Giant Barracuda and several species of Sharks in the shallows are on the menu. Our Monster Shark charters are awesome and continually produce multiple larger sharks even on the ½ day trips. This is predator time so these aggressive species are always ready to go “head to head” so you adrenaline junkies out there should sight casting top water lures to cruising Barracuda! The Bonefish population in the back country has been fun lately on the deeper flats due to the rising water temperatures. For the serious Bonefish angler the flats is your trip but to include the possibility of Bonefish on the back country trips is reasonable. We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:
Bonefish continue to provide excitement for the patient angler willing to work for his prey. The Bonefish action this time of year can produce quality size fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds. The flats angler could include Barracuda and sharks on his hit list if so inclined. Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights. If Bonefish are on your angling “bucket list” this is a good time to book your trip with one of our legendary flats guides.

Notable:
This is a time of rising water temperatures but good fishing conditions continue, friends. We still recommend fishing early morning trips as the most productive over the later afternoon hours for the serious angler. The PM half day trips can be quite enjoyable especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. Sharks are plentiful now and active in the shallow waters of our back country. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home! Black Tip, Lemon and at times Bull are the more common of the several sharks cruising the shallows. Granted not overly dangerous, certainly not for the faint of heart, sharks in the shallows will provide you with memories of a lifetime. Are you up for it?

Let’s go Fishing!

Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily 7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

July brings fantastic action for Key West angling.
From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters offers the light tackle angler so many options…

Deep Sea/Offshore:
This is the time of year when the offshore angler understands rising water temperatures force run times and distances to become a bit longer to the more productive fishing grounds offshore. Our recommendations are always “Full Day” charters especially with three to four anglers aboard but the ¾ day (six hour charters) will typically still produce well… we believe a ½ day charter has real limits for the remainder of the warmer months.

It’s Wahoo time! This is an exceptional time to target your “Whoo” in Key West. The Black Fin Tuna are still here and providing consistently good action. The Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) bite remains good. Dolphin rule the offshore weed lines. Our Spanish and Cero Mackerel remain quite active traveling in large schools. This is a time frame for behemoth Barracuda as these apex predators really become super aggressive. The rare Marlin “can” come this time of year well offshore way beyond the ½ day charter range and will always be extremely “hit or miss” in our local waters.

Reef & Wreck:
This time of year brings calmer waters on the reef verses further offshore. This becomes a perfect time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out to the remote wreck sites as well. Many of the elusive Permit have migrated to the offshore spawning grounds and schooled up so the Gulf Wrecks are becoming quite productive and this action will remain for the rest of July. Cobia are commonly taken from these same locations. Our resident reef and wreck species such as Snapper and Grouper continue with predictably good action. The Amberjack are running large and still hitting aggressively. Most days we fill the fish box with those wonderful “table fare” species such as Yellow Tail Snapper quickly. Sharks and large Barracuda and absolutely everywhere and if you feel well rested, friends they are always ready to go “head to head”. This is the best charter in our recommendation this month to be enjoyed on a ½ to ¾ day charter.

Back Country:
Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year also offers an abundance of visible marine life and tropical birds on the Mangrove Island shorelines with mirror calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country remains impressive with several sport fish species, edible fish, and predators to target. A perfect trip for the hard core light tackle angler to the novice angler or the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

It is still Tarpon time in the back country! Key West remains a prolific Tarpon fishery through end of July. Our Sunset Tarpon & Shark charters have been very productive and exciting. We recommend no more than three anglers aboard if Tarpon are your target species. The ½ day morning trips continue to produce well. Permit are on the shallow patch reef and isolated shallow wrecks and the bite is good on quality size fish. We have boated several in the past week in the 20 plus pound range. Snook on the given day have really come to life and are produced some outstanding catches. Cobia fishing continues but these fish have scattered. This is a time of fast paced “excellent” action from the schools of BIG Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks continue to be red hot with the larger fish going north of 25 pounds…an absolute blast on light tackle and top water!

The Mangrove and Yellow Tail Snapper fishing remains excellent in the back country. For serious “table fare” harvest we recommend the reef & wreck trips but to include a few fish for lunch or dinner this is never a problem in our shallows. Our Sea Trout remain active but are slowing with May being the last of their action.

The predator fishing has certainly exploded. Giant Barracuda and several species of Sharks in the shallows are on the menu. Our Monster Shark charters are awesome and continually produce multiple large sharks even on the ½ day trips. This is predator time so these aggressive species are always ready to go “head to head” so you adrenaline junkies out there should sight casting top water lures to cruising Barracuda! The Bonefish population in the back country has been fun lately on the deeper flats due to the rising water temperatures. For the serious Bonefish angler flats is your trip but to include the possibility of Bonefish on the back country trips is reasonable. We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:
Bonefish continue to provide excitement for the patient angler willing to work for his prey. The Bonefish action this time of year can produce quality size fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds. The Tarpon action remains good on the flats and in the shallows. The flats angler could include giant Barracuda and sharks on his hit list if so inclined. Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights. If Bonefish are on your angling “bucket list” this is an exceptional time to book your trip with one of our legendary flats guides.

Notable:
This is a time of rising water temperatures and great fishing conditions continue, friends. We still recommend fishing early morning trips as the most productive over the later afternoon hours for the serious angler. The PM half day trips can be quite enjoyable especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. For those anglers looking for that “one of a kind” fishing experience we suggest Tarpon at sunset or Sharks in the Shallows! Sharks are especially plentiful now and active in the shallow waters of our back country. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home! Black Tip, Lemon and Bull are the more common of the several sharks cruising the shallows. Granted not overly dangerous, certainly not for the faint of heart, sharks in the shallows will provide you with memories of a lifetime. Are you up for it?

Let’s go Fishing!
Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily
7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

Mid-May through mid-June brings fantastic action for Key West angling.
From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters offers the light tackle angler so many options…

Deep Sea/Offshore:
This is the time of year when the hard core offshore angler understands run times and distances can become a bit shorter to the more productive fishing grounds offshore. Our recommendations are always “Full Day” charters especially with three to four anglers aboard but the 3/4 day (six hour charters) will typically also produce well..

It’s Mahi Mahi time! This is an exceptional time to target your favorite sport fish fish here in Key West. The Black Fin Tuna are everywhere and providing some absolutely crazy good action as we continue to move through an “excellent” period for these prized pelagic fish over the next few months. The Sailfish bite remains and on the given day can still come to life. By mid-May we begin a several month long period where the Dorado rules the offshore weed lines. Our Spanish and Cero Mackerel remain quite active traveling in large schools. This is a time frame for behemoth Barracuda as these apex predators really become super aggressive. The rare Marlin “can” come this time of year as can the Yellow Fin Tuna but well offshore way beyond the ½ day charter range for certain and these two species will always be extremely “hit or miss” in our local waters. We continue to enjoy the Bonito action and we now enter into our better Wahoo time of year. Always elusive but unforgettable nothing strikes with the vengeance of a Wahoo.

Reef & Wreck:
Grouper season has opened finally so we can now harvest Grouper. In fact by this time of year the resident reef and wreck species such as Snapper and Grouper typically improve noticeably for us in Key West. With our calmer waters on the reef verses further offshore now this becomes a perfect time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out. The Snapper and Grouper bite is predictable great now and most days we fill the fish box with those wonderful “table fare” species such as Yellow Tail Snapper our local favorite for the dinner plate. Limiting out on Yellow Tail “Flags” is routine. The Mutton bite on the deeper wrecks continues to be fast paced on quality size fish as we move through the Mutton Spawn which occurs at night during the fuller moon phases. Mangrove Snapper numbers are good and the larger fish are aggressive.

For the angler looking for more of a challenge Permit now begin to make their way to the deeper waters and are commonly taken in the vicinity of isolated wrecks. Cobia will also remain on the reef and about most wreck sites. Typically the Cobia continue to be traveling near the surface in smaller “wolf packs” of about 3 to 5 fish but ranging from 15 to 50 pounds plus. We enjoy good Cobia action from now through to about November. Big Jacks are still in schools and patrolling the deeper wrecks in numbers. Of late Jacks to about 25 pounds have been common and provide the light tackle angler with a hand full of fight! Many locations on the reef will hold a population of Black Fin Tuna and slow trolling around these remote deeper wrecks can produce very well. For those anglers looking for a workout Amberjack are still here and activity is strong for the larger fish. By June we see this bite typically slow but come back to life again in July. Predators are plentiful on the reef and around the isolated ship wreck sites. Large Barracuda are common and several species of sharks are patrolling these areas as well. The Bull sharks and occasional Hammerheads will make your pulse rise when they swim along-side the boat before helping themselves to your hooked fish still in the water. This is the best charter in our recommendation to be enjoyed on a 1/2 to 3/4 day charter.

Back Country:
Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year also offers an abundance of visible marine life and tropical birds on the Mangrove Island shorelines with mirror calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country remains impressive with several sport fish species, edible fish, and predators to target. A perfect trip for the hard core light tackle angler to the novice angler or the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

It is still Tarpon time in the back country! Key West is now one of the most prolific Tarpon fisheries on the planet through end of June into July. Our Sunset Tarpon & Shark charters which can produce mind boggling action on huge fish have not been letting us down, a great trip for the serious angler looking to target the behemoth Tarpon that all seem to come shallow and feed at sunset. We recommend no more than three anglers aboard if Tarpon are your target species. The 1/2 day and 5 hour morning trips typically produce well also. Permit are in the shallows and the bite is good on quality size fish. We have boated several in the past week of so in the 20 plus pound range. Snook on the given days have really come to life and are produced some outstanding catches. Cobia fishing continues to be outstanding for “keepers” ranging in the 15 to 35 pound range being plentiful and aggressive. This is a time of fast paced “excellent” action from the schools of BIG Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks continue to be red hot with the larger fish going north of 25 pounds…an absolute blast on light tackle and top water!

The Mangrove and Yellow Tail Snapper fishing is excellent in the back country. For serious “table fare” harvest we recommend the reef & wreck trips but to include a few fish for lunch or dinner this is never a problem in our shallows.

The predator fishing has certainly exploded. Giant Barracuda and several species of Sharks in the shallows are on the menu. Our Monster Shark charters are awesome and continually produce multiple large sharks even on the 1/2 day trips. This is predator time so these aggressive species are always ready to go “head to head” so you adrenaline junkies out there should sight casting top water lures to cruising Barracuda! The Bonefish population in the back country has been fun lately on the deeper flats. For the serious Bonefish angler the flats is your trip but to include the possibility of Bonefish on the back country trips is reasonable. We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:
Bonefish continue to provide heart stopping excitement for the highly skilled and patient angler willing to work hard for his prey. The Bonefish action this time of year can produce quality size fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds. Permit are here, always elusive and challenging but we are enjoying continued success. The Tarpon action is good on the flats and in the shallows. The flats angler could include giant Barracuda and sharks on his hit list if so inclined. Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights. If Bonefish are on your angling “bucket list” this is an exceptional time to book your trip with one of our legendary flats guides.

Notable:
This is a time of slowing rising water temperatures and great fishing conditions are coming to the angler, friends. With our hard core anglers in mind we still recommend fishing early morning trips as the most productive over the later afternoon hours however the PM half day trips can be quite productive especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. For those anglers looking for that “one of a kind” fishing experience we suggest Tarpon at sunset or Sharks in the Shallows! Sharks are especially plentiful now and active in the shallow waters of our back country. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home! Black Tip, Lemon and Bull are the more common of the several sharks cruising the shallows. Granted not overly dangerous, certainly not for the faint of heart, sharks in the shallows will provide you with memories of a lifetime. Are you up for it?

Let’s go Fishing!
Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily 7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

Mid-April through May brings fantastic action for Key West angling.

From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters offers the light tackle angler so many options…

Deep Sea/Offshore:

This is the time of year when the hard core offshore angler understands run times and distances can become a bit shorter to the more productive fishing grounds offshore. Our recommendations are always “Full Day” charters especially with three to four anglers aboard but the 3/4 day (six hour charters) will typically also produce well..

It’s Sailfish time! This is an exceptional time to target your “bucket list” bill fish here in Key West. The Black Fin Tuna are everywhere and providing some absolutely crazy good action as we move into an “excellent” period for these prized pelagic fish over the next few months. The Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) bite comes to life in April and we begin a five month long period where the Dorado rules the offshore weed lines. Our Spanish and Cero Mackerel remain quite action traveling in large schools. This is a time frame for behemoth Barracuda as these apex predators really become super aggressive. The rare Marlin “can” come this time of year as can the Yellow Fin Tuna but well offshore way beyond the ½ day charter range for certain and these two species will always be extremely “hit or miss” in our local waters.

Reef & Wreck:

This time of year the resident reef and wreck species such as Snapper and Grouper typically improve noticeably for us in Key West. With our calmer waters on the reef verses further offshore now this becomes a perfect time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out. The Snapper and Grouper bite is predictable great now and most days we fill the fish box with those wonderful “table fare” species such as Yellow Tail Snapper our local favorite for the dinner plate. Limiting out on Yellow Tail “Flags” is routine. The Mutton bite on the deeper wrecks continues to be fast paced on quality size fish as we move towards the Mutton Spawn which occurs at night during the fuller moon phases. Mangrove Snapper numbers are good and the larger fish are aggressive.

For the angler looking for more of a challenge Permit now begin to make their way to the deeper waters and are commonly taken in the vicinity of isolated wrecks. Cobia will also remain on the reef and about most wreck sites. Typically the Cobia continue to be traveling near the surface in smaller “wolf packs” of about 3 to 5 fish but ranging from 15 to 50 pounds plus. We enjoy good Cobia action from now through end of April but then only slowing a bit until well into the fall. Big Jacks are still in schools and patrolling the deeper wrecks in numbers. Of late Jacks to about 25 pounds have been common and provide the light tackle angler with a hand full of fight! Many locations on the reef will hold a population of Black Fin Tuna and Kingfish. For those anglers looking for a workout Amberjack are here and activity is strong for the larger fish. Predators are plentiful on the reef and around the isolated ship wreck sites. Large Barracuda are common and several species of sharks are patrolling these areas as well. The Bull sharks and occasional Hammerheads will make your pulse rise when they swim along-side the boat before helping themselves to your hooked fish still in the water. This is the best charter in our recommendation to be enjoyed on a 1/2 to 3/4 day charter.

Back Country:

Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year also offers an abundance of visible marine life and tropical birds on the Mangrove Island shorelines with mirror calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country remains impressive with several sport fish species, edible fish, and predators to target. A perfect trip for the hard core light tackle angler to the novice angler or the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

It is Tarpon time in the back country! Key West is now one of the most prolific Tarpon fisheries on the planet through end of June into July. We have started offering our Sunset Tarpon & Shark charters which can produce mind boggling action on huge fish. We recommend no more than three anglers aboard if Tarpon are your target species. However the 1/2 day morning trips typically produce well. Permit are in the shallow and the bite is good on quality size fish. We have boated several in the past week of so in the 20 plus pound range. Although Redfish have started to migrate away due to our rising water temperatures the Snook on the given days have really come to life and are produced some outstanding catches. Cobia fishing continues to be outstanding for “keepers” ranging in the 15 to 35 pound range being plentiful and aggressive. This is a time of fast paced “excellent” action from the schools of BIG Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks continue to be red hot with the larger fish going north of 25 pounds…an absolute blast on light tackle and top water!

The Mangrove and Yellow Tail Snapper fishing is excellent in the back country. For serious “table fare” harvest we recommend the reef & wreck trips but to include a few fish for lunch or dinner this is never a problem in our shallows. Our Sea Trout remain active but are slowing with May being the last of their action.

The predator fishing has certainly exploded. Giant Barracuda and several species of Sharks in the shallows are on the menu. Our Monster Shark charters are awesome and continually produce multiple large sharks even on the 1/2 day trips. This is predator time so these aggressive species are always ready to go “head to head” so you adrenaline junkies out there should sight casting top water lures to cruising Barracuda! The Bonefish population in the back country has been fun lately on the deeper flats. For the serious Bonefish angler, the flats is your trip but to include the possibility of Bonefish on the back country trips is reasonable. We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:

Bonefish continue to provide heart stopping excitement for the highly skilled and patient angler willing to work hard for his prey. The Bonefish action this time of year can produce quality size fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds. The Tarpon action is good on the flats and in the shallows. The flats angler could include giant Barracuda and sharks on his hit list if so inclined. Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights. If Bonefish are on your angling “bucket list” this is an exceptional time to book your trip with one of our legendary flats guides.

Notable:

This is a time of slowing rising water temperatures and great fishing conditions are coming to the angler, friends. With our hard core anglers in mind we still recommend fishing early morning trips as the most productive over the later afternoon hours however the PM half day trips can be quite productive especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. For those anglers looking for that “one of a kind” fishing experience we suggest Tarpon at sunset or Sharks in the Shallows! Sharks are especially plentiful now and active in the shallow waters of our back country. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home! Black Tip, Lemon and Bull are the more common of the several sharks cruising the shallows. Granted not overly dangerous, certainly not for the faint of heart, sharks in the shallows will provide you with memories of a lifetime. Are you up for it?

Let’s go Fishing!

Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily 7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

March brings outstanding action to the waters of Key West!

From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters offers the light tackle angler so many options beginning in March. Few fishing destinations can equal the quantity or variety of species found here from the flats to offshore. It is “a time of plenty”….Â

Deep Sea/Offshore:

This is the time of year when the hard core offshore angler understands run times and distances can become a bit shorter to the more productive fishing grounds offshore. Our recommendations are always “Full Day” charters especially with three to four anglers aboard but the ¾ day (six hour charters) will typically also produce well.

Sailfish action remains exceptional! This is an awesome time to target your “bucket list” bill fish here in Key West. Kingfish are still here in numbers and remain aggressive however typically the action will begin to wane towards the end of the month somewhat.. In fact the Mackerel faimly (Spanish and Cero) are in our waters in good numbers. These species of Mackerel will continue to be steady action providers for some time usually through August. The Black Fin Tuna are everywhere and providing some absolutely crazy good action as we move into an “excellent” period for these prized pelagic fish from now through all of May at least. The Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) bite is still a bit early in the season so these first choice fish by many anglers may continue to be a bit “hit or miss” for a few weeks more. Keep the Mahi in the “improving daily range” any given day offshore now. On the upside the the rare Marlin “can” come this time of year but again well offshore way beyond the ½ day charter range for certain. Giant Barracuda are plentiful of course and the larger Cobia are certainly possible found cruising the well formed weed lines in March. We watch for Wahoo, again it is early but this season is not exactly following traditional times for certain fish species arrivals…

Reef & Wreck:

This time of year the resident reef and wreck species get red hot! With our calmer waters on the reef verses further offshore now this becomes a perfect time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out. The Snapper and Grouper bite is predictable great now (Note Grouper season is closed to harvesting these fish for March). We are limiting out daily on the big Flag Yellowtail daily in March along with most of those wonderful “table fare” species. The Mutton bite on the reef continues to be fast paced on quality size fish. Mangrove Snapper numbers are good and the larger fish are aggressive a bit more on the shallower reef areas of late.

For the angler looking for more of a challenge Cobia will are on the reef and about most wreck sites. Typically the Cobia are ranging from 15 to 40 pounds plus. We enjoy outstanding Cobia action from now through April. Big Jacks are still in schools and patrolling the deeper wrecks in numbers to about 25 pounds have been common and provide the light tackle angler with a hand full of fight! Many locations on the reef will hold a population of Black Fin Tuna and Kingfish for awhile yet. For those anglers looking for a workout Amberjack are here and activity is improving daily for the larger fish (reef donkey’s). Predators are plentiful on the reef and around the isolated ship wreck sites. Large Barracuda are super common and several species of sharks are patrolling these areas as well. The Bull sharks and occasional Hammerheads will make your pulse rise when they swim along-side the boat before helping themselves to your hooked fish still in the water. This is the best charter in our recommendation to be enjoyed on a ½ to ¾ day charter.

Back Country:

Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year also offers an abundance of visible marine life, sea and tropical birds on the Mangrove Island shorelines and mirror calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country remains impressive with several sport fish species beginning with that iconic sport fish the Tarpon! We have entered into the early pre-spawn with migrating adult Tarpon now flooding into our back country bays and basins and out onto the flats. We have landed numerous adult fish to 80 pounds already this year. Our sunset Tarpon trips will begin about April 1st so give these charters some thought as maybe an “extra trip” for an incredible experience with these behemoth nocturnal feeders.

The back country also provides countless species of edible fish, and several predators to target creating a perfect trip for the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

Our water temperatures have stabilized from a recent cold snap so quality sport fish have returned to more natural haunts in our shallows. The Redfish action remains quite good and typically does until the end of March into early April. Snook on those calmer, warmer days have really come to life and produced some outstanding catches. Cobia fishing has been outstanding for “keepers” ranging in the 15 to 35 pound range being plentiful and aggressive. This is a time of fast paced “excellent” action from the schooling species such as Speckled Sea Trout, tasty Pompano and the always fun “poor man’s Tarpon” the Lady Fish. BIG schools of Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks continue to be red hot with the larger fish going north of 25 pounds an absolute blast on light tackle and top water!

The predator fishing was certainly slowed by the unseasonable weather at the end of February, high winds and cold fronts holding over the island made it difficult for awhile but we have rebounded now with signs of the increasing population of huge Barracuda in the shallows. These tenacious hard fighters are back on the menu. Aggressive and always ready to go “head to head” sight casting top water lures to cruising Barracuda is spectacular! The Bonefish population in the back country has been fun lately on the deeper flats. Of course we can always count on the resident species of the back country to top off a productive day. Mangrove Snapper and Mutton Snapper have been crazy good and the Grouper bite has been predictably good while the season remains closed to harvest We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:

Bonefish continue to improve and provide heart stopping excitement for the highly skilled and patient angler willing to work hard for his prey. The Bonefish action this time of year can produce quality size fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds. The flats angler of course now can include the pursuit of Tarpon and should include Barracuda and sharks on his hit list if so inclined. Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights. If fly fishing for Tarpon or Bonefish is on your angling “bucket list” this is an exceptional time to book your trip with one of our legendary flats guides.

Notable:

This is a time of rising water temperatures and great fishing conditions are here for the angler, friends. With our hard core anglers in mind we still recommend fishing early morning trips as the most productive over the later afternoon hours however the PM half day trips can be quite productive especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. For those anglers looking for that “one of a kind” fishing experience we suggest Sharks in the Shallows! Sharks are especially plentiful now and active in the shallow waters of our back country. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home! Black Tip, Lemon and Bull are the more common of the several sharks cruising the shallows. Granted not overly dangerous, certainly not for the faint of heart, sharks in the shallows will provide you with memories of a lifetime. Are you up for it?

Regardless of your choice of action friends please book early! Our legendary guide team is always in high demand but for March, April and May we run flat out every single day. Although we are the largest operation in Key West by far with 31 top pro guides and state of the art boats, currently we have several dates completely booked 100%. We run nearly two thousand charters every year so booking well in advance is always recommended. You wouldn’t wait until Saturday afternoon to ask the prettiest girl in school to the Saturday night dance right? If you do that…you will be dancing with your cousin again! This guide team is first call on the island for a reason…book early!…Let’s go Fishing!

Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily 7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!

Mid-February Fishing Report—For today’s action call 866 259 4205

Mid-February moving into March is a time of transition towards great action for Key West angling.

From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters offers the light tackle angler so many options

Deep Sea/Offshore:
This is the time of year when the hard core offshore angler understands run times and distances can become a bit shorter to the more productive fishing grounds offshore. Our recommendations are always “Full Day” charters especially with three to four anglers aboard but the ¾ day (six hour charters) will typically also produce well.

It’s Sailfish time! This is an exceptional time to target your “bucket list” bill fish here in Key West. Kingfish are still here in numbers and running of good size. In fact the Mackerel faimly (Spanish and Cero) are in our waters in good numbers. The Black Fin Tuna are everywhere and providing some absolutely crazy good action as we move into an “excellent” period for these prized pelagic fish. The Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) bite increases but this is still a bit early in the season to go “Dolphin fishing”. Keep them in the “possible range’ any given day offshore now. On the upside the the rare Marlin “can” come this time of year but again well offshore way beyond the ½ day charter range for certain.

Reef & Wreck:
This time of year the resident reef and wreck species such as Snapper and Grouper typically improve noticeably for us in Key West. With our calmer waters on the reef verses further offshore now this becomes a perfect time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out. The Snapper and Grouper bite is predictable great now (Note Grouper season is closed to harvesting these fish) and most days we fill the fish box with those wonderful “table fare” species such as Yellow Tail Snapper our local favorite for the dinner plate. Limiting out on Yellow Tail “Flags” is routine. The Mutton bite on the deeper wrecks continues to be fast paced on quality size fish. Mangrove Snapper numbers are good and the larger fish are aggressive.

For the angler looking for more of a challenge Cobia will be found on the reef and about most wreck sites. Typically the Cobia continue to be traveling near the surface in smaller “wolf packs” of about 3 to 5 fish but ranging from 15 to 50 pounds plus. We enjoy decent Cobia action from now through April. Big Jacks are still in schools and patrolling the deeper wrecks in numbers. Of late Jacks to about 25 pounds have been common and provide the light tackle angler with a hand full of fight! Many locations on the reef will hold a population of Black Fin Tuna and Kingfish. For those anglers looking for a workout Amberjack are here and activity is building for the larger fish. Predators are plentiful on the reef and around the isolated ship wreck sites. Large Barracuda are common and several species of sharks are patrolling these areas as well. The Bull sharks and occasional Hammerheads will make your pulse rise when they swim along-side the boat before helping themselves to your hooked fish still in the water. This is the best charter in our recommendation to be enjoyed on a ½ to ¾ day charter.

Back Country:
Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year also offers an abundance of visible marine life, sea and tropical birds on the Mangrove Island shorelines and mirror calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country remains impressive with several sport fish species, edible fish, and predators to target a perfect trip for the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

Our water temperatures have stabilized from a recent cold snap so quality sport fish have returned to more natural haunts in our shallows. The Redfish action has been quite good of late. Snook on those calmer, warmer days have really come to life and produced some outstanding catches. Cobia fishing has been outstanding for “keepers” ranging in the 15 to 35 pound range being plentiful and aggressive. This is a time of fast paced “excellent” action from the schooling species such as Speckled Sea Trout, tasty Pompano and the always fun “poor man’s Tarpon” the Lady Fish. BIG schools of Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks continue to be red hot with the larger fish going north of 25 pounds an absolute blast on light tackle and top water!

The predator fishing was certainly slowed by the unseasonable weather, high winds and cold fronts holding over the island but has rebounded now the increasing population of huge Barracuda in the shallows have put these tenacious hard fighters back on the menu. Aggressive and always ready to go “head to head” so you adrenaline junkies out there should sight casting top water lures to cruising Barracuda! We have started taking a few more juvenile Tarpon from the Mangroves and shallows and are looking forward to the early arriving Tarpon to reach our back country. This is an early time in the pre-spawn period and the action can be a bit hit or miss for a few weeks yet…but Tarpon time is close! The Bonefish population in the back country has been fun lately on the deeper flats. Of course we can always count on the resident species of the back country to top off a productive day. Mangrove Snapper and Mutton Snapper have been crazy good and the Grouper bite has been predictably good while the season remains closed to harvest We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:
Bonefish continue to improve and provide heart stopping excitement for the highly skilled and patient angler willing to work hard for his prey. The Bonefish action this time of year can produce quality size fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds. The flats angler should include Barracuda and sharks on his hit list if so inclined. Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights. If Bonefish are on your angling “bucket list” this is an exceptional time to book your trip with one of our legendary flats guides.

Notable:
This is a time of slowing rising water temperatures and great fishing conditions are coming to the angler, friends. With our hard core anglers in mind we still recommend fishing early morning trips as the most productive over the later afternoon hours however the PM half day trips can be quite productive especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. For those anglers looking for that “one of a kind” fishing experience we suggest Sharks in the Shallows! Sharks are especially plentiful now and active in the shallow waters of our back country. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home! Black Tip, Lemon and Bull are the more common of the several sharks cruising the shallows. Granted not overly dangerous, certainly not for the faint of heart, sharks in the shallows will provide you with memories of a lifetime. Are you up for it?

Let’s go Fishing!

Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily 7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!

Mid-January Fishing Report—For today’s action call 866 259 4205

Mid-January is a time off great action for Key West angling.
From the Flats and Back Country to Offshore the overall population and wide variety of species in our local waters offers the light tackle angler so many options…

Deep Sea/Offshore:
This is the time of year when the hard core offshore angler understands run times and distances increase to the more productive fishing grounds well offshore. Our recommendations are “Full Day” charters.

It’s Sailfish time! This is an exceptional time to target your “bucket list” bill fish here in Key West. Kingfish are here in numbers and running of good size lately. These aggressive fish will knock the rod from your hands before heading for Cuba! Black Fin Tuna are everywhere and providing some absolutely crazy good action. Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) can still remain a target species in blue water. On the upside the elusive Wahoo have a spike in activity during January and the rare Marlin “can” come this time of year but again well offshore way beyond the ¾ day charter range for certain.

Reef & Wreck:
This time of year the reef and wrecks typically come to life for us in Key West. With our calmer waters on the reef verses further offshore now this becomes a perfect time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out. Comfortable seas make for enjoyable conditions for those worried about motion discomfort. Plus with the fast paced action there is no time to give anything a second thought other than fighting fish. The Snapper and Grouper bite is predictable great now (Note Grouper season is closed to harvesting these fish) and most days we fill the fish box with those wonderful “table fare” species such as Yellow Tail Snapper our local favorite for the dinner plate. Limiting out on Yellow Tail “Flags” is routine. The Mutton bite on the deeper wrecks continues to be fast paced on quality size fish. Mangrove Snapper numbers are good and the larger fish are aggressive.

For the angler looking for more of a challenge Cobia will be found on the reef and about most wreck sites. Typically the Cobia are traveling near the surface in smaller “wolf packs” of about 3 to 5 fish but ranging from 15 to 50 pounds plus. We enjoy decent Cobia action from now through April. Big Jacks are still in schools and patrolling the deeper wrecks in numbers. Of late Jacks to about 25 pounds have been common and provide the light tackle angler with a hand full of fight! Many locations on the reef will hold a population of Black Fin Tuna and Kingfish. For those anglers looking for a workout the Amberjack are still here and active for a while yet. Predators are plentiful on the reef and around the isolated ship wreck sites. Large Barracuda are common and several species of sharks are patrolling these areas as well. The Bull sharks and occasional Hammerheads will make your pulse rise when they swim along-side the boat before helping themselves to your hooked fish still in the water. This is the best reef trip in our recommendation and can be enjoyed on a ¾ day charter.

Back Country:
Always a fun and productive trip the back country this time of year also offers an abundance of visible marine life, sea and tropical birds on the Mangrove Island shorelines and mirror calm, crystal clear waters. The overall population of fish in the back country remains impressive with several sport fish species, edible fish, and predators to target a perfect trip for the family or groups numbering up to 4 anglers. The back country is also a fly fishers dream come true with protection from the wind for long casts and plentiful fish which will readily pursue a fly.

The cooler water temperature months bring some quality sport fish to our shallows. The Redfish action has been quite good of late. Snook on those calmer, warmer days have really come to life and produced some outstanding catches. Cobia fishing has been outstanding for the most part with small “wolf packs” of Cobia ranging in the 15 to 30 pound range being plentiful and aggressive. This is a time of fast paced action from the schooling species such as Speckled Sea Trout, tasty Pompano and the always fun “poor man’s Tarpon” the Lady Fish. BIG schools of Jacks including some huge Yellow Jacks have been red hot with the larger fish going north of 25 pounds…an absolute blast on light tackle and top water!

The predator fishing has been awesome…the population of huge Barracuda and several species of sharks are patrolling the shallows in numbers. Aggressive and always ready to go “head to head” so you adrenalin junkies out there should already be out the door heading this way! We have taken a few juvenile Tarpon from the Mangroves and the Bonefish population in the back country has been fun lately. Of course we can always count on the resident species of the back country to top off a productive day. Mangrove Snapper and Mutton Snapper have been crazy good and the Grouper bite has been predictably good now that the season is closed to harvest them… We “highly recommend” a back country charter this time of year and especially for those guests looking for a shorter than full day trip.

Flats:
Bonefish continue to provide heart stopping excitement for the highly skilled and patient angler willing to work hard for his prey. The Bonefish action is very good for this time of year with quality size fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds. The flats angler can always include Barracuda and sharks on his hit list if so inclined. Just a remainder that we provide a true “flats fishing experience” and this should not be confused with the back country fishing. These are two totally different experiences and if you are unsure of the differences call us at 866 259 4205 for more insights. If Bonefish are on your angling “bucket list” this is an exceptional time to book your trip with one of our legendary flats guides.

Notable:
This is a time of cooler temperatures but great fishing conditions friends. With our hard core anglers in mind we still recommend fishing early morning trips as the most productive over the later afternoon hours but the PM half day trips can be quite productive especially for those people just looking to stay in calm waters and enjoy a fun few hours catching fish. For those anglers looking for that “one of a kind” fishing experience we suggest Sharks in the Shallows! Sharks are especially plentiful and active in the shallow waters of our back country this time of year. Pursuing these heavy weight monsters on light tackle is challenging to say the least and talk about something you cannot do at home! Black Tip, Lemon and Bull are but a few of the several sharks cruising the shallows while feeding aggressively. Granted not dangerous but certainly not for the faint of heart either sharks in the shallows will provide you with memories of a lifetime. Are you up for it?

Let’s go Fishing!
Call Key West Pro Guides today to book your charter 866 259 4205 daily 7 AM to 9 PM. We look forward to your call!