Greetings fish fans. The fishing out of Key Largo this past week has been fantastic! I don’t know where most of you are, but you need to be here.
The patch reef fishing is in full swing. You can go to just about any of the smaller inside reefs and find fish. Get yourself up current of the coral patch in the deeper water, secure your anchor, and put out your chum bag. It doesn’t take long for stuff to start happening. This is very easy fishing and it will produce all types of snapper, grunts, hogfish, and grouper on the bottom as well as spanish and cero mackerel on the surface. A ¼ ounce chartreuse Hook Up jig and some live shrimp is all you need, but when the macks show up, you’ll need to tie on a small piece of light wire.
Florida Bay has been producing some great catches of sea trout and redfish. In the deeper grassy bottomed bays close to Key Largo, look for “mullet muds”. The muds will appear as milky colored water and are quite obvious compared to the clearer water around them. Drift through the muds and cast jigs with live shrimp or Berkley Gulp baits under a Cajun Thunder float. You will also find lots of “rodbenders” mixed in such as jacks and ladyfish. Over in the Flamingo area you will find the trout and redfish in the deeper channels and runoffs, as well as up on the flats during a nice warm sunny day. Again, chartreuse Hook Up jigs and shrimp in the channels and I prefer a weightless soft plastic bait on the flats.
If you are hoping for some screaming drags on light tackle, you can head to the edge of the Gulf this time of year and find lots of bluefish and spanish mackerel. The macks are speedsters and the bluefish are sluggers, but they will both test the limits of your reel’s drag system. Anchor up in about 10-12’ of water and set up a chum slick. You’ll know when the fish show up. The mackerel are known for leaping out of the water when they are chasing baitfish. Jigs and shrimp as well as silver spoons will get the bites, just don’t forget your wire leader.
Until next time, good tides and keep the Sun to your back. >
Capt. Kerry Wingo
Tails Up Fishing Charters
www.tailsupfishing.com
305-394-1383
Key Largo Back Country Report 2-12-11
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