Things are looking up around here as far as fishing goes – and dare I even say, with the weather too?
Some cooling rains and evaporative winds this week have slowed our ascent to a boiling ocean, which is a good thing. With any luck we can keep it going into the fall. Hopefully more reasonable inshore water temps will liven up the inshore and reef fishing.
Offshore, our best- and worst-kept secret is proving to be true again: Our best mahi fishing is in the late summer and fall. As I’m sure you know, mahi are the fastest-growing fish in the ocean, reaching a length of 36 inches in one year. So, all those 18-inchers from June are probably keepers now. Coupled with the migration of fish back this way from up north, this gives us a lot of quality-size fish out there.
Where they are has been a little less dependable. The usual 15-20 miles offshore is your safest go-to zone, but there have been plenty of days recently where gaffer-size fish have been chasing flyers in 200 to 500 feet of water, so don’t blow by that zone without checking it out. Who doesn’t like to run 20 or 30 miles less over the course of the day?
As usual, look for birds and weed lines. In anticipation of some larger fish around, I like to keep a few heavier (20-pound class) setups on the ready.
Set a pinfish trap for a well full of easy-to-catch live baits. Unless the fish are picky around a full moon, they usually gobble them right up. Oftentimes trolling through a bunch of fish, you’ll hook the biggest, most aggressive fish first, but not always. I like to pitch a medium or large size live bait out right away to target the larger fish. This will reduce the number of peanuts you might have to de-hook en route to boxing your keepers. Once a pack of fish begins to seem disinterested in your offerings, move on. You’ll save precious time.
The current seems to have settled to a more “normal” 2-ish knots out there, making it prime for deep dropping and swordfish. We’re just now coming into what many would consider our best swordfish season. Since the days are still much longer than the winter months, you get a lot of good bottom time out there right now, and it’s been pretty active. If you’re ready to get that bucket list broadbill, now through October is a great time, so make the call.
Another wonderful thing about now through November is the crowds, or lack thereof. The brunt of the lobster madness is over and there is usually ample breathing room anywhere out there. If you’re not restricted to school schedules for your vacation or fishing trips, late August through early December truly is the best time to come to the Keys.
