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Summer 2010 Fishing Report
It is summer time and the fishing is easy. As our days grow hotter the best fishing action is mainly in the early morning and late afternoon. Weather conditions are for the most part calm and sunny with the exception of the occasional passing tropical system. Nighttime temperatures are more tolerably and many anglers prefer to fish those hours when there is less pressure on the fish and the bite can be fantastic.
On the Oceanside the big three (bonefish, permit, tarpon) dominate the flats. Sight fishing conditions do not get any better than the conditions experienced June through September. Once again the early hours of the morning and late afternoon are the best time to pursue the coveted flats slam either on fly or light tackle. But the big three are not the only target species found on the flats this time of year; barracuda, jacks, and sharks will be found cruising the shallow waters all day long. Artificial’s and fly’s are the lures of choice if you want to hook into one of these great fighting fish.
Out back in the backcountry redfish, snook, and even a few sea trout will patrol the deep-water motes that surround the many different islands in Everglades National Park. Or can be found tailing in the very shallow waters of the many different flats ready to inhale soft plastic jerk baits, weed less spoons, or even well placed fly’s. Snook populations are on the rebound after this past winters massive die off from the extreme cold we experienced. But it is all coming back; several snook have been caught this summer as the population start to increase. And the future looks increasingly good. Even though we are not in peak tarpon season, tarpon will be found in the backcountry all summer long. Feeding around the runoffs of the larger flats and passes during the lower stages of the tides. Afternoons typically bring thunderstorms with a welcomed break from the afternoon heat. Do not forget to dress appropriately; light long pants and long sleeve shirts help keep those pesky horse flies off your arms and legs. Sunglasses are a must if you want to sight fish the flats, brown/ amber lenses are the most preferred.
Capt. Mike Makowski
Blackfoot Charters
Lobster season is upon us, the 2 day mini season was on July 28th and the 29th. Lobster traps are placed on Aug.1, since the regular season starts on Aug.6. The mini season was great but with all the divers they tend to wipe out the supply very quickly . Then the traps tend to finish off the supply. That’s when it is time to go to the local fishery to buy your supply. It was sure fun at the beginning of the season.
The dolphin season has its good and bad days. You have to cover a lot of water while looking for the fish. Finding birds and floating objects are the key to a successful trip, but you can always come across them in the wide open. While trolling, plenty of tuna have been caught and also some wahoo.
Wreck fishing has produced a mix of amberjack, grouper and also tuna are being caught using butterfly jigs. Bottom fishing on the reef has been very good for yellowtail snapper, best done early before the heat gets to be too much. The bottom fishing should be good for the next couple of months. Will be back with the fall fishing report.
Spring 2010 Fishing Report
Spring is here and with it comes the heat and calm days in the Florida Keys. Within the past week the dolphin(mahi-mahi) have been showing up in numbers. A lot of fish are shakers (under the required 20 inches to the fork of the tail) but they grow remarkably fast and hanging with the small ones have been several larger ones caught up to 60 pounds.
This is the best time to be fishing in the Key Largo area. There are many tactics in which to locate these fish, one is to high speed troll while looking for birds diving, weedlines or anything floating. Another way for the smaller boats is to run and gun until they spot something that looks promising and then start fishing.
Sailfish are still doing well before they head north, live bait have been the ticket either slow trolled or using kites. Kingfish are still hanging around before they start heading north but some tend to stay making Key Largo their summer home. The tuna bite is good, in the morning or evening when the sun is not to high.
Amberjack and tuna are biting well on the Key Largo hump and some wrecks in the area. These fish are being caught on butterfly jigs which are a new technique to the upper keys. It really gets exciting hooking up these large fish on spinners with braided line. Live bait is also a good way to go.
Yellowtail and mutton snapper are biting on the reef since the water has warmed up, but with the water being so clear and calm sometimes it gets difficult to get them to eat.
Hopefully the oil spill on the gulf will not come to the Florida Keys; we are saying our prayers. Come on down to Key Largo and the upper keys, the weather and fishing are great.
Spring 2010 Backcountry Report
As we get closer to summer our temperatures slowly creep into the 80’s, the fishing only gets better in the upper keys. Come enjoy the great fishing and the beautiful weather this time of year.
Its all about the bonefish, permit, and tarpon! The elusive flats slam! Oceanside the flats are teaming with life, boxfish can be seen feeding on Sargasso crabs near the surface, stingrays are followed by hungry permit, and migratory tarpon are followed by big sharks and can be seen from very far away. Sight fishing paradise is what some call it. Whether you are looking to sling some bait or throw a fly, opportunities for catching fish are around every corner.
In the backcountry the bite only improves. Redfish tailing in some of the biggest schools of the year will be abundant on the shallow water flats surrounding Flamingo. Snook are not as common as previous years but are still around the creek mouths feeding on anything that happens by. Otherwise the black drum, sea trout, and sheep head fill in the time between schools of redfish. Now if sight fishing is not your forte, pitching shrimp tipped jigs under overhanging mangrove trees will produce a healthy bite of redfish, snook, black drum, and the occasional hungry shark. Don’t forget about the tarpon ready to take a live crab thrown in front of them or soft plastic jerk bait.
On the shallow wrecks stacks of permit will be gathering in large schools in preparation to spawn during the full moon. Early starts will be required in order to have the best possible chance to land several permit. Grouper are in season and ready to make an appearance in the cooler.
Winter 2010 Fishing Report
Sailfish action in the upper keys has been real hot with fish being caught anywhere from 20 feet all the way out to 200 feet of depth. The sails can be seen balling up the ballyhoo and causing them to shower on the edge of the reef.
Kingfish in the Key Largo and Islamorada area has been phenomenal. Getting your limit of two per day has not been a problem. Inshore has cero and Spanish mackerel biting extremely well.
On the trolling scene wahoo have been caught on either trolling lures or live bait. Tuna fishing on the area humps have been cooperative, either trolling small lures way back, live baiting or deep jigging.
Patch fishing has been producing mutton snapper and mackerel along with various other species of bottom fish. Wreck fishing has been producing amberjack, kingfish, barracuda and mutton snapper but bringing them in before the sharks get them has become a real challenge.
Yellowtail fishing on the reef has been off mainly due to the cold water,the fish have become lethargic and have to adjust to the drastic changes in temperature.
Grouper fishing has closed from January through April and this
should really benefit our fishery for the future. Hope to hear from you soon for an upper keys fishing trip.
Winter Backcountry Report
Winter is here and it gets cold outside “where are my jeans?”. As to how cold it is it depends on where you are from. With the cold come the big schools of game fish. Bonefish, redfish, snook, black drum, and sheephead school together to spawn and stay warm. As the cold front pass the temps drop and rise slowly over the following days. As the temps change so do the fish move, every cold front we get the fish move further south. Usually shutting down the bite for a few days until the water temps have a chance to rise up again. When this happens the bite is on!!!! Not eating for a couple of days will make anyone hungry. Whether it’s the avid fly fisherman or the first time angler there is something here for everyone.
Wintertime means crystal clear waters and pristine sight fishing conditions for you fly anglers out there. Bonefish, permit, and tarpon are the most commonly sought after species on the Oceanside. Do not forget about the cudas and sharks patrolling the flats as well. Even on the days that are windy, you can always find a shoreline out of the wind somewhere. And on the bayside it is all about the redfish, snook, and seatrout. Half-day trips into the Everglades will be more than enough time to find these bruisers of the backcountry.
Look forward to seeing you soon…
Capt. Mike Makowski
Fall 2009 Fishing Report
Fall has finally arrived and the upper keys’ fishing has begun to change in Key Largo and Islamorada. The reef has had the yellowtail fishing really hot at this time and may slow with the water cooling. Grouper and mutton snapper have been caught on the nearby wrecks and will start moving in with the colder water.
The reef is full of baitfish and with this you can see schools of ballyhoo showering, being chased by sailfish and mackerel. We should have a great sailfish season in the upper keys this winter.
Moving offshore the dolphin (mahi-mahi) has been slow but will pick up as the cooler water will cause them to migrate south. These fish will be large and traveling near the reef feeding on all the baitfish. Some wahoo have been caught and their numbers will increase as winter approaches. Kingfish are on their way with the baitfish, smaller ones are here but the smokers will follow with the water cooling.
The best action in the upper keys has been the tuna bite, especially on the area humps. Trolling small lures way back has been the most productive. Amber jack are still being caught on the offshore wrecks and humps. It’s always fun to bend a rod with these bruisers.
Fall Backcountry Report
With the beginning of October we begin our fall season, my favorite time of year to sight fish. All ready we are starting to see lots of bait move into the area including Spanish sardines, pilchards, and a few finger mullet. As we start getting our cold fronts moving in from the north we will continue to see more bait move into the area. Along with the bait come better numbers of snook, redfish, tarpon, and seatrout. Gathering around passes and cuts waiting to ambush schools of bait on the move. We will see larger tarpon up to 150lbs, than we have during the summer. They follow the schools of finger mullet traveling down from the north, as do the snook and redfish.
With the water levels in Florida bay at their peak height of the year there is plenty of shallow water sight fishing opportunities
But do not forget the about the ocean side action. Bonefish, permit, and tarpon = flat slam. Fall is one of the best times of year to pursue the coveted flats slam. The past couple of days I have seen large schools of bonefish roaming the flats and tons of small tarpon rolling during the early morning hours. Eager to eat anything presented to them whether it is a fly or a live shrimp. Permit will be roaming the edges of the flats during the different tides and can be the most difficult of the three. And again as we start getting our cold fronts we will see greater numbers of all three species.
Fall action is typically close to home action. There are a lot of choices available for half-day trips whether it is during the day or night. With the cooler temp’s at night bugs tend to be less of an issue and tarpon, snook, and large mangrove snappers will be the best bites in town. Morning and nighttime will be the best bites until our nighttime temps drop below 70 degrees. So come on out and enjoy some of the best fishing available all year. | 
