Miami, Florida - Offshore

Fishing has been typical for this time of year. The most prominent fishing has been for Dolphin. Anglers are still finding good numbers of Dolphin in 400 ft out to 1200 feet of water. There has been plenty of weedlines and the fish have been searching for food beneath it. There seems to be a fewer amount of big fish than what we have been seeing in the weeks gone by. The average size of the fish being caught has been from four to five pounds. However, Capt. Frank Godwin on the “Sonny Boy” ( 305-323-1395) found a husky 43 pound bull Dolphin pushing a wake down a weedline Saturday afternoon. He said he was surprised to see the fish considering so many people have been fishing so many tournaments, they have been putting heavy pressure on the fish. Other anglers are having no problem catching their limit of fish. Along the edge of the reef, anglers are still finding a few Kings and Sailfish. Kingfishing has been better in the morning and the Sailfish have been showing up in the afternoon. Bottom fishing is good. The Yellowtail action has been good on the deeper reefs outside of Key Largo. Fisherman using chum mixed with sand are having better action. It’s is a messy ordeal, but the sand helps the chum drift deeper down to the fish, bringing them up to your boat quicker. Also anglers in the “know” take a handful of chum and sand and make a ball around their bait. They then take a couple of wraps with their fishing line, around the ball. By dropping this ball overboard, it will sink down to the fish. When a short tug is given, the chum ball breaks apart and exposes the bait. Fresh cut bait is best. Ballyho and Pilchards make excellent baits. Always drop a live bait overboard and keep it on the bottom. Big Grouper love Yellowtail and will congregate around your chumline in search of an easy meal. Drop a smaller Yellowtail (legal size is 12 inches) to the bottom on a 50 pound rig. Black Grouper can’t resist them. Look for Mutton Snapper to be hanging around the same area. The week before the full moon should be best. Speaking of full moons, night time fishing for Snapper should be great during the upcoming full moon. Mangrove Snapper should be spawning during the next moon. They will be in the same area off Key Largo but will bite better at night. You will find many of the Snappers over five pounds.