Spring is firing on all cylinders out of Islamorada this week, and the offshore action has been nothing short of electric.
Wahoo have been the headliner. We’ve been connecting on smokers out past the reef edge — high-speed trolling is the ticket. These fish are mean, fast and eating. If wahoo is on your bucket list, now’s the time.
Mahi are starting to show up in bigger numbers. We’re seeing what looks like a few small schools of bigger fish beginning to move through — early signs of what could be a full-on mahi run. Keep your eyes on the weed lines and stay ready.
Sailfish are still steady right on the reef edge — Alligator to Tennessee has been the zone. You don’t have to run far to find them. We’ve been flying the kites with live bait and the results have been fire. Work the edge and they’ll come up hungry.
Kingfish are stacked up on the reef — Alligator, Tennessee and the surrounding structure have been loaded with smoker kings. Easy limits if you put the time in.
Cobia are on the move as the water warms. These brutes are showing up near structure and on the surface — keep your eyes peeled and a pitch bait ready at all times.
Yellowtail are as reliable as ever on the reef. Night trips have been absolutely ridiculous. If you want fillets in the cooler, yellowtail delivers it every single time.
The Gulf Stream is running tight — only 15 miles southeast of Alligator Reef Light. When the stream is that close, the bite gets stupid good.
FORECAST
Conditions are dialed in through Friday — northeast winds 5-10 knots and Hawk Channel seas at 1-2 feet. Mid-week is the sweet spot. Things start building Friday afternoon and Saturday night turns nasty with winds hitting 15-20 and seas stacking to 4-6 feet offshore. Plan accordingly.
