By Kit Mobley
The fishing action has been incredible here in Islamorada. Aboard DirtyBoat 2.0 out of Robbie’s Marina, we’ve been starting the days right by loading up on live pilchards at the shallow patch reefs.
Offshore, fresh bait is paying off. Big blackfin tunas have been biting aggressively on the humps, readily taking both live bait and trolled feathers. For anglers looking to bring home dinner, the deep-water bite for yellow-eye and vermillion snapper has been on fire. Chicken rigs baited with squid and sandy keys are getting slammed as soon as they hit the bottom.
Meanwhile, wrecks in and around 100 feet of water are holding some giants. We’re seeing impressive “flag” yellowtails coming over the rail on live pilchards. Anglers are also getting stretched by a powerful mix of sharks, goliath groupers and amberjacks.
FISH TIP
Big black tunas are biting on the humps. And fresh bait is paying off.
FISH FACT
Blackfin tuna can be found in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Brazil, including the gulf. Unlike other tuna species, blackfin tuna are not highly migratory and are not known to make trans-Atlantic migrations.
