Fishing Report

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!

Here comes the sun…and the fish to Key West!

The fishing action has been good although nature has dealt us a blow of cooler wind and water temperatures making for necessary adjustments to presentation and locations. No matter…things are about to explode in our waters. Our world class fishery is soon to be home to many of those “bucket list” sport fish and predators we all day dream about battling…So stop dreaming and book your charter today!

Let’s take a look at the entire fishing spectrum we offer our anglers at Key West Pro Guides.

Offshore:

Recently the action has been steady with our typical sport fish. Kingfish have been plentiful and of good size. Blackfin Tuna and been productive most days ranging up to 30 pounds of late. We have taken some Sailfish as well on those windy north wind days. The Gulf Stream dominates our offshore action this time of year and is running about 22 miles south of the reef. This has brought us some early season Dolphin fish (Mahi Mahi-Dorado) but things are beginning to get hot!

The Kingfish and Tuna action is going to explode! Sailfish numbers will continue to increase as they move towards spawning. Look for the Sailfish action on the color changes to go crazy! With the much cooler water temperatures to the north and the Gulf Stream making its seasonal move closer to the land mass a couple of things will follow. Dolphin will turn on and the resulting more defined “color change” offshore will also increase the Cobia bite as they aggressively patrol these areas in small “wolf packs”. All in all the near future is bright for the offshore angler.

Offshore “Deep Wrecks”:

This is where the most predictable action is today friends. Always a good choice for true heavy weight bottom fish these remote and isolated deeper wrecks have been holding plenty of bait therefore the action has been steady most days on big Mutton Snapper (ranging easily in the 12 to 14 pound range daily) Margate Snapper have been plentiful as well. Blackfin Tuna, Kingfish and Bonitos are cruising these deep wrecks in numbers. Drifting has been very productive while free lining live Pilchards but deep jigging is just as good with tipped artificial’s. An outstanding option over the past few weeks has been to anchor and chum heavily to draw in nice Cobia an the occasional bonus Sailfish.

Atlantic shallow wrecks and reefs:

The YellowTail Snapper fishing has been excellent with “Flag Tails” running to the “XL” sizes. Here again the Mutton Snapper bite is very good and the typical day results when fishing the patch reef areas south of the island is a nice mixed bag of Snapper and Porgy’s..perfect for the table fare angler.

The Gulf Wrecks:

As one of the very few operations in Key West possessing the necessary Federal Waters Charter Permits we have legally been making the long runs into the Federal waters of the Gulf to target Grouper. Plenty of Red, Black and Gag Groupers are there for the taking. Cobia have been plentiful on many of the distant wreck sites for us also…these areas few charter operators are willing to run too for their anglers but we do. Remember we often fish the Tower’s (see Specialty Charters on our www.keywestproguides.com site) to the west of the island and when there the Kingfish have been super aggressive to about 35 pounds, the Cero Mackeral will eat your arms off!

Back Country:

We are entering the “soft opening” stages of our Tarpon season. By March typically we begin to target Tarpon in earnest with reasonable expectations. Tarpon will remain a bit “hit or miss” for a while yet but the juvenile fish have started coming to life for us on the warmer days. Permit have been decent and certainly improving lately. The best trips have been for the faster paced bite of the schooling species such as marauding big Jack Crevalles and larger Mangrove Snapper to twenty inches recently. We have a few nice schools of tasty Pompano located fishing to the east of the harbor in the smaller shallow bays and basins. Predator fishing is amazing…with the large overall population of fish in the back country the sharks are everywhere and aggressive. Large Barracuda are common as well. This area provides the best and most predictable action near shore and we highly recommend this trip over the next months.

Flats:

Bonefish have been in decent size schools (15 to 20 fish) with some fish taken recently to 8 pounds. Permit action on the warmer days has been fair but spotty. This is the time of year we enjoy the Cobia migrating onto the flats following larger Rays. Cobia on the flats is a special type of excitement on light tackle and fly. The Black Tip sharks have made an appearance lately and with a vengeance. Larger Barracuda’s a common especially when keying in on the bottom’s “darker patches” holding a bit of warmth. We have a had a few shots at smaller schools of Tarpon but these fish are just cruising…Tarpon time is just around the corner on the flats but not quite here yet.

Friends the one sure thing we can say is fishing is greatly improving and therefore the demand for our Key West Pro Guides team is growing. Availability for March-April & May every year far exceeds our capabilities so do not hesitate. Book early and ensure we have the opportunity to fish together during your visit to the island.

Reservations: 866 259 4205 daily from 7 AM to 11 PM. We look forward to your call…let’s go fishing!

Captain Paul Tryon

Key West Pro Guides
www.keywestproguides.com

To some…a snow covered cottage tucked away in the mountains seems idyllic for winter…for the angler…a Sailfish “tail walking” across azure blue waters off Key West is what they have in mind for a winter wonderland…

Key West Pro Guides Fishing Report January 2015

For this report friends…verses covering the past and recent action…let us explore the coming action for January to early March…

When you mention offshore fishing during the cooler water temperature months in the tropics Billfish instantly come to mind. A top rated and prized species of these behemoth sport fish is the Sailfish. “Sails” bless the waters of Key West with a huge population providing excellent light tackle action starting in December every year. In fairness Key West from January well into our summer months becomes one of the most prolific offshore fisheries on the planet. Let’s take a look…

Offshore:

Looking forward, the offshore action will be exploding in the near weeks and months to come. From spawning Sailfish to “Smoker” sized Kingfish our light tackle action will be nothing short of exceptional. Always elusive, the Wahoo action will continue to be quite good far offshore on the weed lines and current breaks until the end of January. Spanish and Cero Mackerel will be schooled up and freely roaming through all of March while Black Fin Tuna explode onto the scene in mid-February. Giant Barracuda and plentiful sharks will patrol these same offshore fishing grounds with aggression as well. The winter months bring action but with variety, a perfect combination for the seasoned veteran or the angler looking for a “first time” memorable experience. Now’s the time to head offshore with the renowned Key West Pro Guides guide team.

Reef & Wreck:

In Key West, we make a distinction between our light tackle “offshore” fishing and our “reef & wreck” fishing. On any given day, the overall population of fish on the natural reef and numerous ship wreck sites during the winter months is impressive, offering the light tackle angler several options. The angler must think in terms of the “water column” to provide an accurate indication of what we will be experiencing when dropping live baits straight down to a huge fish population we already KNOW are there and aggressively feeding. Starting from the ocean floor the bottom dwellers such as the Snapper and Grouper families will be out in numbers. Moving a bit towards the surface we typically come into contact with Amberjack cruising just above the structure and cover. The “Amberjack” is the absolute master of the “Jack” family and rules with an iron fist. Brutally strong fish with unequaled tenacity the “AJ” is a serious match for any light tackle angler. Closer now to the middle of the water column as we continue moving towards the surface we often times cross paths with several of the “pelagic” sport fish typically found well offshore such as the Kingfish. Black Fin Tuna are routinely taken near deeper wrecks sites and the wondering Wahoo can make a surprise appearance also. Continuing on our way towards the surface from the middle of the water column some prized Permit action has been good for all of last December, however may slow somewhat for January before turning back on by February.

Key West is truly an amazing Permit fishery drawing anglers from around the planet to make a yearly pilgrimage to the island to pursuit these prized sport fish. The Cobia is a shining star of the reef and wrecks from December through April. Cobia although not as well known to some anglers, do have the ability to leave a lasting impression. Cobia are certainly aggressive and it would be fair to say curious fish that can quickly reach the fifty pound plus weight range in our waters. For those anglers with the dinner table in mind as well…Yellow Tail Snapper are the perfect target species. Plentiful, action packed and tasty…our Yellow Tail action sometimes can be a bit slower during January, however they can be counted on for fun and success most days. Of course anytime you have structure or cover regularly holding bait fish and smaller species you will quickly have a number of predators present. Barracuda and several species of larger sharks are residents of the reef and ship wrecks.

Back Country:

There is never a time of year when the back country will not produce and enjoyable day. Sure, the fishing can have some peaks and valley’s like any fishing grounds but with its natural beauty, abundant marine life, sea bird population, blooming flora and fauna and always flats calm, shallow and protected waters, everyday spent in the back country is special. The winter months in the back country provide the angler a large overall population of fish with a wide variety of species to pursue. From sport fish such as Permit, Redfish, Speckled Sea Trout and the occasional Cobia to predators including Barracuda and numerous sharks. The table fare species are well represented with tasty Pompano and especially the Snapper family. For sheer action we target Jacks, Ladyfish, Blue Runners and more. This is an excellent time for the fly fisher as nearly every species found in the shallows during the winter months will readily attack a well presented fly. Here’s a shocker to most anglers…Bonefish can be targeted reasonably well albeit not the typical sight casting approach by anglers as on the flats but still successfully.

Flats:

Flats fishing is the one area that does suffer a bit during the cooler water temperatures of winter. In fairness Bonefish will be your primary target species during this time period and their action falls into the “fair” range for December, January and February. Until about March the flats anglers need not wake from hibernation. Of course the similarities between the flats and the back country make the back country a perfect option. The angler is still armed with light tackle or fly gear, still pro-actively and stealthily moving across “skinny” water often times sight casting to the fish. No need for Cabin fever here! Our flats guides excellent in the back country as well so if you request your favorite or renowned flats guide while visiting the island during the winter months…no problem!

All in all friends our winter months in Key West bring outstanding fishing options and opportunities. The sun is shining, the palm tree’s swaying and the beer is cold it may hurt your teeth…let’s go fishing!

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

“As our tropical sun relinquishes its grip allowing water temperatures to cool the fishing action heats up!”

As we transition into our fall patterns fishing especially in the shallows improves. Falling water temperatures assisted by recent cooling rains and the appearance of abundant forage for the sport fish have brought the flats and back country into excellent condition and the fish have responded. Let’s explore the action anglers are experiencing now and for the near future here in Key West…

On the flats: The action and overall number of fish migrating back onto our flats of recent has been promising. October looks to be exceptional for targeting large Bonefish. The patient angler will be rewarded with quality Bones ranging from 4 pounds to those double digit behemoths Key West is renowned for. Likewise the Permit action has improved drastically of late on the flats. Holding primarily to the deeper edges and the channels adjacent to the flats quality Permit are being taken. Captain Jared reports some outstanding action over the past ten days on large Bonefish on fly.

As expected the predators have followed suit moving back into the shallows in numbers. Barracuda are once again plentiful and aggressive on the flats. Sharks are patrolling during the deeper tide stages providing anglers once again with multiple species to pursue. On the deeper flats and at higher tides Ladyfish have now ventured out so Sea Trout cannot be far behind. All in all the flats are back and improving everyday. If you are that angler that enjoys the chase of elusive sport fish…book now for tomorrow through the end of October for some awesome late season action on the flats.

In the Back Country: Things could not be better in the back country friends! Those same cooler water temperatures have really turned up the action. The Key West Pro Guides “back country” team reports fast paced action on a variety of species most trips off our docks of late. Captain Ryan is on the Bonefish & Permit once again reporting larger than average fish being taken recently. Bones in the back country are tipping the scales at 3 to 7 pounds routinely while Permit are averaging in the 12 to 15 pound arena but are ranging up to 25 & 30 pounds. The Permit have moved in from deeper waters to reached the outer edges of the back country. Many Permit are cruising in the channels of the back country now in search of forage, most have been found recently on the “patch reef” areas and shallow wrecks sites in small “wolf packs”. As the water temperatures continue to fall and the fish adjust to the season, Permit will push shallower soon reaching all the way into the bays and about the Mangrove Islands shorelines. A live Crab or large Shrimp is the ticket!

Captain Dave reports the conditions in the grassy bottomed bays and basins are near perfect and the fish are responding. He remarked the Redfish bite is on! Dave also continues to locate schools of large Ladyfish and a even a few early arriving Sea Trout in many of the grassy bays to the east. Moving towards our fall season the Trout action is just so perfect for families and novice anglers to experience incredible catches and numbers of fish ever charter comes home a winner. This is such a fun time in the back country! Captain Kelso says shortly after Sea Trout come to life we look for the exciting Pompano to appear (typically here by mid-October). Pompano are action packed schooling fish that are marvelous as table fare. Typically prized by anglers for everything good a fish can provide day in and day out in the shallows…great action, easy to locate & catch and so tasty on the dinner table…a perfect combination.

Captain John has been on fire lately targeting the predators! The Barracuda are on a tear and the shark population is growing daily in the back country. In the coming few days and weeks the predator fishing will definitely explode! If you enjoy sight casting to large aggressive fish on light tackle this is the perfect time to take things to the limit…sharks in the shallows on light tackle…awesome experience for all.

On the Reef: For the deeper water oriented angler conditions for our natural reef fishing in the Atlantic is as good as it gets for this time of year. The Yellow Tail Snapper bite is crazy good and knowledgeable anglers are loading up on these tasty and challenging fish. In general the Snapper and Grouper action is dependable and these heavy weight bottom dwellers are providing our anglers with plenty of “winner takes all” tug o’ war battles. We love it when our guests put the fishing rods to the limit on the Mutton Snapper and that is exactly what has been happening for the past few weeks now!

Deep dropping the wrecks: “With an early start and plenty of Pilchards out on the deeper wrecks…we’ll bring you back exhausted!” so says Captain Brad. The Key West Pro Guides “offshore” team has been on huge YellowJack’s and Amberjack’s for some time now resulting in banner days for the angler looking to go “head to head” with these hard fighting fish. The entire “Jack” family is prized for tenacity and the Yellow Jack and AJ sit at the head of the table! Captain Chuck says the early bite and most later afternoons have been exciting as Black Fin Tuna are all over these deeper wrecks. Captain Tyson has also been on the Bonito in these same type locations. Both Captains are chumming up these sport fish with live bait offerings setting reels screaming for our anglers. If you like moving away from the land mass this is hands down the best action in the deep.

Offshore: As is often the case friends in most fisheries…when one area lights up another slows and that is exactly what has happened here in Key West. The “Blue Water/Deep Sea” angler has had to work hard for his fish offshore. The few scattered weed lines are holding some late season Mahi but they are on the smaller size now as their season here draws to a close. By end of October the Dolphin action is typically over for the year. The Sailfish are slow but should begin to improve in October building towards year’s end when the Sailfish really turn on. “Troller’s” are focusing more on the Black Fin and Bonito for action now on the deep wrecks. Many are dropping baits on their way back to the docks for the AJ action on scattered deep wrecks as well to round out the day.

Key West Pro Guides…the island’s most productive guide team! Thanks for reading our local fishing report today friends, we trust you found the information helpful and we guarantee its accuracy. If we may assist you in any way…if you are ready to get on the water today or sometime in the future please give us a call at toll free 866 259 4205. Daily we staff our phones from 7 AM to 11 PM and we respond to on line interests and inquiries 24/7. Let’s go fishing!

Capt. Paul & Capt. Roc
866.259.4205

For today’s action call 866 259 4205

It’s Kick-Off Time in Key West

Mid-August is a time of transition for Key West angling.
Making the right move can result in “Banner Days”…

Deep Sea/Offshore:

As the Gulf Stream moves farther out from the land mass the fishing/trolling action is affected. Weed lines break down, currents many days lessen in force and bait fish scatter. Things become far more “hit or miss” nearer shore therefore the angler must cover far more water to be productive. 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 recommendation for the late summer are “Full Day” charters but with the option of stopping on the reef or wrecks when returning from trolling well offshore.

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) remain our primary target species in blue water. Fish running up to 15 pounds are the average with many in the 6 to 12 pound slot as routine. Larger Dolphin if found will definitely be well offshore. On the upside the elusive Wahoo are here and the rare Marlin can come this time of year but again well offshore beyond the ½ day range for certain.

Reef & Wreck:

When the offshore action slows this time of year the reef and wrecks typically come to life for us in Key West.  With our seasonally super calm waters on the reef now this becomes a perfect time for the angler with concerns about rough sea conditions to head out. Comfortable and calm 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 now and most days we fill the fish box with those wonderful “table fare” species. Yellow Tail Snapper our local favorite for the dinner plate are plentiful and active. Limiting out on Yellow Tail “Flags” is routine. The Mutton bite on the deeper wrecks continues with fish running from 12 to 15 pounds plus. Mangrove Snapper are spawning on the reef so numbers are large and the fish are aggressive. Grouper continue to range to about 20 pounds as well.

For the angler looking for more of a challenge Permit are on the isolated wrecks most days. Permit are elusive and certainly one of the more prized sport fish in our waters and we are entering a very productive time to pursue them. Cobia as well 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. Many locations on the reef will hold a population of Mackerel and for those anglers looking for a workout…the Amberjack are still here 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 deep water trip in our recommendation and can be enjoyed on a ½ day or better on a ¾ day charter thus allowing for great action early then beating the heat of the late afternoon on the water.

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 current Tarpon population is down to our resident year round fish levels. The migration of visiting spawning Tarpon has taken place and things in the Tarpon world have settled down somewhat. We refer to these fish as our juvenile Tarpon and they will range from 10 pounds to maybe 50 pounds…still awesome fighters on light tackle and/or fly but not many of the behemoth fish of the early summer months remain. Frankly, we tend to down play the Tarpon action as they become one of many excellent species holding in the back country. Anglers should look towards the elusive Permit or numerous Redfish for example. Jacks are providing fast paced action and while try to knock the fishing rod from your grasp…Trout will soon arrive joining Mackerel in the bays and grassy bottomed basins. Do not overlook the shark fishing now in the back country. Black Tip, Lemon, Bull even Hammerheads are all coming shallow to feed…shark fishing on light tackle in the shallows is unbelievably exciting and brings you head to head with our apex predators.

We HIGHY 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 with quality size fish ranging from 4 to 8 pounds. This action should continue to be the norm typically throughout all of October before slowing somewhat. 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:

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, Bull and Hammerhead 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 11 PM. We look forward to your call!

May-Day May-Day!!
The Waters of Key West are on Fire!

June in Key West brings some of our best fishing of the entire year. No matter if you are a shallow water angler pursuing the elusive sport fish of the flats and back country or a deep water aficionado targeting the big game fish offshore…now is the time!

From Bonefish to Tarpon, Grouper to Mahi Mahi…we have them all and the action is fast paced on quality fish. Let’s explore the options for the light tackle angler when stepping aboard with us at Key West Pro Guides.

Flats: Bonefish are plentiful and of good size ranging from 4 pounds to monster double digit fish. The fly fishers are enjoy large schools of aggressively feeding fish of late to the east while our pro flats guides are on the Permit and Tarpon to the west daily. Captain Dave Irwin has boated several large Permit of late along with this seasons largest Tarpon at an estimated 193 pounds pictured on our current Face Book page. Captain Jared has been the fly anglers best friend with several notable catches and Captain Eric has been solid on the Bonefish for some time now. Captain Andrew has been fishing the Atlantic side of the island with good results on the days the recent winds would allow. All in all friends this is as good as it gets on the flats. June into July is your best opportunity to experience our world class flats fishing so book now!

Back Country: Where to begin…the Tarpon action continues as Key West right now is the most prolific Tarpon fishery on the planet! These behemoth “bucket list” sport fish have flooded into our pristine back country waters by the thousands. To date the Key West “Back Country and Flats” guide team have totaled nearly 600 Tarpon jumped since March! In addition to the Tarpon action we are enjoying at least twenty additional species of great fish while working the bays and mangroves of the back country. Captain John Jackson says the Permit action has been stellar and Captain Ryan has been on some outstanding Redfish action. Captain Kelso states predators are abundant from giant Barracuda to several species of sharks including our local resident apex shark the super aggressive Bull. Hammerheads are witnessed on occasion as well. Captain Mitch reports schooling fish such as big Jacks can provide the fastest paced action many anglers will ever experience while tasty Mangrove Snapper are filling their dinner plates nightly. The marine life alone found in the back country this time of year makes this charter worthwhile. Friends…this place looks like Walt Disney went in there and built it for us…just beautiful with crystal clear clam and protected waters you never need worry about waves in the shallows…no such thing.

For the serious Tarpon anglers to novice angler or a family fun trip, I HIGHLY recommend booking a back country charter. Guests for years have said their time spent in the back country with us was the highlight of their entire time in Key West. Come see for yourself what draws people from around the world…let’s go fishing!

Reef: To explain the reef action in June and July we must think in terms of the water column. We have numerous species of fish co-mingling on the natural reef of the Atlantic and several remote and isolated “patch reef’s”. The bottom dwellers such as Snapper and Grouper are steady and running quite large. Captain Chuck and has filled the cleaning tables recently with monster Mutton Snapper and Grouper. Captain Ryan V has been on crazy large Mangrove Snapper for the past few weeks while brother Captain Tyson has been slamming the Flag Yellow Tails every trip off the docks on the surface. The occasional Black Fin or solitary pelagic often cruise the middle of the water column along with Spaniosh and Cero Mackerel forcing species such as Permit and Cobia to the upper column or surface at times. Sight casting to a school of Permit in our crystal clear waters is awesome and seeing a “wolf pack” of marauding Cobia coming at you will burn the impression into your memory banks for life!

Wrecks: Captain Brad has been all over the spawning Permit holding on the far offshore Gulf wrecks. Permit to 40 pounds are routine and the numbers of these elusive sport fish are impressive. Keeping in mind as one of very few Charter fishing operation in Key West processing “Federal Waters” Charter Fishing Permits which are mandatory to legally fish these distant wrecks holding the major populations of Permit we can take you out there without concern. On the Atlantic wreck sites there are few guides that can match Captain Logan of late and his excellent Cobia catches. Cobia upwards of 60 pounds are hitting the docks on a regular basis. Cobia just may be the most over looked wreck fish by many anglers…that is until they catch their first one!

Offshore: Captain Chip Veach continues to produce the most impressive daily catches of any guide on the island. From Dolphin our bread and butter blue water fish in June and July to the Black Fin Tuna, Mackerel and more, our offshore weed lines are jammed with sport fish and pelagic species. Captain Darin boated a solo Wahoo recently of gigantic proportions. Captain Grant took a nice late season Sailfish recently while filling the fish box with table fare for his guests. Captain Ryan M has been the utility guide of late as no matter what targeted species his anglers are looking for he just goes out and finds them. This is exactly what the KWPG team is all about. We cover all the bases.

Now is the time for that well earned R & R trip to Key West. We would appreciate the opportunity to share our world class fishing with you. BUT…friends you do need to book well in advance. Calling 866 259 4205 will put you in touch with our Reservation Specialists and from there…all you will have left to do is roll outta bed and step aboard for the fishing adventure of a life time!

Capt. Roc & Capt. Paul
Key West Pro Guides
866-259-4205

Welcome anglers to the Key West Pro Guides fishing report for April and May. As the largest private charter fishing operation in Key West we cover the entire spectrum of fishing opportunities in our local waters and beyond. Therefore we have the most “real time” input from our hand-picked team of legendary guides on which to base our report. No “blue skies” or guess work here friends just the plain truth about what we have experienced of late and what our nearly thirty years of experience and history in Key West reliably tells us is coming from the flats and back country to the reef and wrecks and blue waters offshore.

For an “up to the minute” report on today’s action call Captain Roc at toll free 866 259 4205 from 7 AM to 11 PM. Let’s talk fishin’…

Flats:

As spring arrives our flats action gets red hot with Bonefish ranging from 4 to 11 pounds plus and Tarpon from 60 to 150 pounds as expected however “did you know” Permit in March can be awesome on the flats? Captain Jared Cry reports excellent action recently on quality Permit and the Marquesas have been hot! Our Captain Eric Ryan has been on fire with early Tarpon as well. Great news Captain Andrew Asher will be back on the island and fishing from April 1st. Captain Andrew has been on an adventure he will enjoy sharing with you while you pursue the flats together! Captain Mike Bartlett has been steady on fish for several weeks now as always. Captain Pete Heydon has been putting the fly fishers to work on the flats to the east recently and reports good numbers of Bonefish daily.

The more remote and isolated flats you fish the better the action so March and April is an awesome time to make the long run to the Marquesas. These distance fishing grounds in the spring can provide the light tackle and fly angler with stellar action on those “bucket list” flats species. Captain Dave Irwin just this week “lit it up” in the Marquesas with two exceptional fly anglers visiting from Scotland. These guests stated they experienced the most incredible fly fishing of their lives! They really enjoyed the big Barracuda that fill the inside harbor this time of year!

These fabled shallows are home to one of the most prolific fisheries on the planet but even so…success is never a sure thing. You MUST have an experienced and knowledgeable guide at the helm with years spent learning the idiosyncrasies of these keys.

The Key West Pro Guides team of “Flats Guides” set the standard for success and have for several years. The Marquesas have become like the “back of their hands”. Now is the time to get off the couch and step aboard one of our new state of the art boats and fish with a renowned guide on the flats of Key West!

Back Country:

What more can we say about the Key West back country…it is THE place on the planet for Tarpon action as the early spawning migration has arrived and the population of behemoth Tarpon continues to grow. Tarpon averaging 60 to 120 pounds are routine on the days without old man North Wind making his presence known to the anglers. On the better condition days now ahead of us the action is an excellent indicator of what is about to come our way. This season it seems everything including the Tarpon action is happening a bit ahead of schedule. Our winter weather this year was unseasonably warm and the water temperatures remained higher than normal. Most of us believe this will positively affect this seasons fishing. Bait fish have flourished and are quite plentiful so the gorging Tarpon have plenty to enjoy. These nocturnal feeders are already quite active early most mornings and we have really had some outstanding half-day Tarpon charters lately. Captain Paul Tryon and Captain John Jackson have set the bar for success with Tarpon in the back country early then finishing off the day on sight and opportunistic feeders such as Permit on the “patch reefs” providing the angler with the best of all worlds. Captain Jackson recently was reported to have released more Tarpon last season than any guide in Florida by a team of Tarpon DNA researchers.

Captain Dave Brucker is already up to his old tricks escaping deep into the back country to put his anglers on several quality Tarpon and Sharks. Captain Kelso has found some new Redfish “honey holes” as well reporting exceptional success this month. Of course Tarpon are getting all the press right now from the back country and understandably so…however Tarpon are but 1 of easily 20 excellent species calling the Mangrove Islands and shallows bays home. Redfish have been everywhere and the Permit action has been equally as good. Captain Paul and Captain John have been all over nice size Cobia of late reaching up to 30 pounds plus! The Mangrove Snapper fishing simply cannot be any better for those anglers looking to enjoy their catch at trips end. Large schools of Jacks, Pompano and the waning but still good Sea Trout action has provided the family trips with fast paced and non-stop action. Shark fishing in the shallows has come on with a vengeance! For those anglers looking for calm waters and big fish…shark fishing will fit the bill. Black Tip, Lemon, super aggressive and even our apex predator shark the awe-inspiring Hammerhead are all in the skinny waters right now! Talk about something you probably cannot do on your home waters…This charter is not for the faint of heart. The Key West Pro Guides “back country” team is tops in Key West and recognized as the most productive team for back country action for the light tackle and fly angler.

Reef and Wreck:

Otherwise known as our “bread and butter” fishing in the early springtime if you are a lover of the deeper waters. The table fare species have been awesome this season. Key West offers anglers world class bottom fishing nearly year round but like all fisheries ours still has peaks and valleys to the action. February, March and April is a time of steadily increasing numbers and species found on the structure and cover. This season already we have enjoyed outstanding Snapper and Grouper fishing. Grouper season is open in Federal Waters, those big Grouper are ready to go “head to head” and now we can toss em’ straight into the fish box! May 1 is the opening date for Grouper in the Atlantic.

Captain Chuck and Captain Brad have been on the tasty BIG Mangrove Snapper and even BIGGER Mutton Snapper and are regularly filling the clean tables with 12 to 25 pound Mutton. Captain Ryan Logan as usual fishing the reef has been deadly on “Flag” YellowTail Snapper. He also reports some large YellowJacks and most days finding Cobia on the backs of sharks. Captain Chip Veach continues to astonish with magnificent catches from the distant locations known only to him… Captain Grant has been doing well on early Tuna and Bonito near the natural reef and recently has boated several in the Black Fin in the 20 to 25 pound range. Captain Darin reports nice Black and Gag Grouper (released) and the larger Kingfish along with Cero Mackerel are all over the wrecks right now with some Kings reaching towards the 50 pound mark.

Offshore:

In fairness even the top pro’s here with Key West Pro Guides were hit or miss early this season. When Captain’s such as Ryan and Tyson Veach are working hard to find fish…friends the fish are hard to find. That has recently turned around 180 degrees however as this stellar brothers “tag team” have been putting guests on Sailfish, Dolphin, Black Fin Tuna and massive Kingfish lately. Live Bait is the key and when drifting fresh live baits over the past couple of weeks they have boated several trophy sized Sailfish and Wahoo. The conditions are coming to us now and with talent and experience such as these guides bring to the game no worries getting on the quality fish from here on.

Deep Sea:

Captain Billy reports excellent Sailfish and Dolphin action but it is happening well offshore lately. The longer charter lengths are recommended and necessary for the best blue water action for now. Captain Billy, a fourth generation Key West charter captain will find the big sport fish when most others cannot. The Linda D.- V. is a 40′ twin diesel powered thing of beauty with its air conditioned salon, full restroom, tuna tower, fighting chair and top deck mates. This is hands down the finest deep sea option for the angler looking for exceptional fishing and comfort in Key West.

Winter Fishing in Key West is all about ACTION!

Friends, the fishing action across the board from the flats & shallow back country to the reef and wrecks to far offshore in our blue waters has been awesome! Let’s explore the current activity, recent notable catches and most importantly our predictions for the near future. We hope you enjoy the Key West Pro Guides fishing report for January 2014…

On the “Flats”:

We have been enjoying unseasonably warm water temperatures lately which in turn has brought the flats to life. Bonefish ranging from 4 to 11 pounds plus have been quite plentiful. A wonderful bonus for January reported by our Flats Captain’s Jared Cyr & Dave Irwin is the juvenile Tarpon bite. These smaller but super active Tarpon have been an absolute ball exploding top water plugs and feeding heavily on live baits near the mangrove flats and deeper edges. As always the flats anglers have had no problems in targeting large Barracuda and the shark fishing is impressive. Every shark charter off the docks for the past few weeks have experienced banner catches with several different species of shallow sharks such as Lemon and the racy Black Tip plus the much larger Bull Sharks have been making their presence known often as well. With the forecasted cold fronts moving through, our fishing is changing up bringing the more typical “winter time” species into play. Sea Trout and especially the Redfish are getting aggressive and providing great light tackle action as reported by every Key West Pro Guide fishing shallow.

In the “Back Country”:

Our back country guide team has been on an impressive tear lately in the shallows. The Sea Trout bite has been excellent with fish ranging upwards of the 4-5 pound mark! A few large schools of Redfish have been located and the traditional locations for Reds along the mangrove island are also producing well with several quality “slot fish”. Permit have been the target for many anglers recently and they have not been disappointed. Captain Dave Brucker and Captain Paul Tryon have had the hot hand on the typically elusive sport fish which have been boated in the 12 to 27 pound range this past week alone. Outstanding Mangrove Snapper catches are coming to the docks daily. Yesterday afternoon Captain’s Tryon, Jackson and Brucker teamed up to absolutely fill every inch of the cleaning tables here at the docks. Beautiful fat Snapper was first choice for dinner last night in Key West! The only thing that made the Snapper fishing difficult was apparently the Barracuda and numerous large sharks in the shallows were Snapper fishing also! Our Captain Kelso has been on the Cobia! Cobia are an island favorite species and anglers really appreciate these hard fighting, tasty fish which reach the 15 to 50 pound weights in our local waters quite easily. The recent traditional winter time cold fronts have affected the back country favorably turning the larger Redfish on and bringing into the bays those largest “Gator Trouts” Key West is so well know for…our back country team has been impressive keeping the anglers coming home happy with limits every day. The best news is there is nothing on the horizon we see to change this exceptional back country action for now…

The Natural “Reef and Ship Wrecks”:

The Key West Pro Guides renowned Veach brothers have set the standard for YellowTail Snapper and Mutton Snapper of late. These brothers have been on the fish in impressive numbers and weights. Both Tyson and Ryan Veach have had astonishing catches for their many guests over the past few weeks and there is no stopping them for now. Although the season to keep Grouper has closed on January 1, the bite has been outrageously good. It seems the big Grouper understand we must release them! Captain’s Chuck and Brad have found a “honey hole” for huge Kingfish reaching the 43 pound mark on the scales over the past few days. Kings are sought after for their tenacity when hooked up and a 43 pound King is akin to being slammed by a speeding freight train friend! Fishing the deeper wrecks has been quite productive recently when targeting Black Fin Tuna like Captain Chip has been doing. On these same deep wreck sites we have encountered numbers of Bonito and Kingfish as well. We are all awaiting the next full moon stage on January 15 which should turn on the super aggressive Wahoo and the action will likely be off the scale! We are predicting catches of Wahoo that exceed the 40-50-60 pound weights both on the deeper wrecks and for the offshore “blue water” anglers.

The “Offshore”:

January is Sailfish time in Key West! The offshore guides are reporting good Sailfish numbers and action. Captain Logan scored with an impressive 35 pound Wahoo this week, a beautiful fish. The Black Fin Tuna have been providing some fast paced action for the entire offshore guide team. Bonito have been plentiful as well. Captain Brad make quite a statement bringing in two very nice Dolphin for this early in our season. Taking a Bull (male) and Cow (female) to about 15 pounds caused quite a stir around the cleaning tables for sure. More so when the folks at our marina’s waterfront restaurant served them up to the lucky guests fishing with Captain Brad that day. Offshore the full moon on the 15th of January will turn things up a notch for certain. The Wahoo bite will explode!

All in all friends the bite is on and it’s your turn on the rod! Let’s go fishing! Give us a call at toll free 866 259 4205 or on line at [email protected] for our immediate reply. We look forward to hearing from you soon! Check us out on our Face Book page or catch our latest reviews on Trip Advisor. Thanks for your interest in our January fishing report as written by Captain Paul & Captain Roc of Key West Pro Guides.