Summer is in full swing across the Upper Keys, and last week reminded everyone what July fishing is really about. You’ve got to earn your fish.
Water temperatures pushed toward 90 degrees. Saharan dust kept the skies hazy and the rain away, and a stubborn east-southeast breeze held at 10 to 15 knots most days. If you were willing to put in the work, the fishing was there.
Offshore: Mahi require patience
Early in the week, a crew from West Virginia ran a three-quarter day and worked singles in 350 feet before following frigate birds and terns diving on flying fish into deeper water. That bird-and-bait pattern pretty much defined the week. Find the frigates, get a bite or two, then move. A late-session five-fish flurry in 700 feet put a proper end to their day.
Midweek, a six-man crew ran a full three-quarter day chasing scattered weed patches and short lines. The ocean made them earn every fish. They came home with enough mahi for dinner and then some. Not a hero-shot day, but a real one.
By Saturday, a full-day trip found conditions even tougher. Waxing crescent moon, weak tides, minimal current. Every fish had to be fought for. The crew put enough mahi on the table for a solid spread, but it took all-day patience to get there.
The week’s best offshore trip came Sunday, when a father-son duo from Texas battled rough morning seas with a southeast breeze near 15 and Straits running 2 to 4 feet. Scrambled hookups and tangled lines marked the early going, but as the wind laid down by late morning, the pair transitioned to sight-casting and hooking their own fish. They ran the box full. A proper limit of mahi.
The takeaway: Mahi are out there, but July isn’t giving them away. Run the weed lines, follow the birds, and bring your patience. The Gulf Stream is close and the fish are eating. They’re just making you work for it.
Reef: Yellowtail leading the way
The reef was the most consistent producer all week. Yellowtail snapper fishing rated good in 40 to 75 feet on most days, with Alligator Reef standing out as the best all-around option when conditions allowed. Mangrove and mutton snapper both rated fair throughout the week, though the mangrove spawn is winding down.
A midweek family trip targeting reef species found mangroves still stacked up despite the spawn tailing off. A 5-year-old fishing for the first time outworked most grown men on the boat, and the crew put enough snappers in the box for dinner, including a quality mutton that went straight to the Fish House in Key Largo to be cooked fresh. That’s how you do a Florida Keys family day.
The play: If you’re heading out this week and want reliable action, the reef is your best bet. Load up on yellowtail in the 40- to 75-foot range and you’ll come home happy.
Looking ahead
Expect more of the same as we push deeper into July. The mahi bite should improve as weed lines consolidate and current flow picks up with the lunar cycle. Reef fishing will remain the bread and butter. Yellowtail are dependable, and mutton snapper are always worth a shot in the right depth. Keep an eye on the Gulf Stream edge.
Tight lines and sunscreen. It’s July in the Keys. Embrace the grind.
