Here in Key West there are so many ways to
fish and so many species you can catch in our waters. Wrecks
provide habitat for the bottom dwelling fish as well as migratory
fish because they also hold plenty of bait. In the lower Keys
there are many wrecks that are shared by both fisherman and divers.
Wrecks are in shallow and in water as deep as 240 ft. There are
many different structures including a tugboat, large ships, airplanes
and submarines. A few years ago there was a new ship sunk off
Big Pine Key for a artificial reef, the wreck was the Adolphus
Busch Sr. It's new home is in 100ft. of water and provides a
great habitat for many species of fish.
We will fish all types of wrecks. In the fall
and winter the tuna, bonito, wahoo and sailfish are in and around
deep wrecks off the Keys.
We use live bait to get these fish
excited and get them to the surface. Hooking these fish is
a lot of fun and a lot of action. We also send down a live bait
to the bottom for a mutton snapper, grouper or amberjack. Fall
happens to be one of the best times to be offshore for light
tackle fishing.
Reefs are loaded with snapper and grouper in
the Lower Keys. We may visit many different rock piles and reefs
during a day of bottom fishing. With some chum and bait, the
results should be good with some fish to cook for your dinner.
Offshore Fly Fishing in Key West
If
the flats are not your game and you want to give your fly tackle
a run for its money, try some offshore fly fishing. Sailfish,
kingfish, tuna, mahi dolphin, cobia, jack crevalle and bonito
are just some of the species you can fish for with a flyrod here
in the Keys.
We will catch live bait and then use it to
get the fish excited and feeding near the surface, then you make
your cast to one of these monsters and hold on for a great fight
on a fly rod.
Some of the best opportunities on fly in the
deep water are during the fall tuna run which starts in November
and in the spring for mahi dolphin, and tuna once again in the
Gulf of Mexico. Tuna school up where shrimp boats clean their
catch in the early morning.
This
type of tuna fishing is a blast and is the perfect opportunity
for anglers to feel the pull of a tuna without having to cast
too far. It's a weather permitting trip though since we have
to go quite a ways to find the shrimp boats.
Please visit the key west
fishing rates page to find out about booking an offshore
fly fishing trip.
Tarpon fishing in Key West Harbor
One of the most popular trips is a tarpon trip in Key West Harbor.
Our light tackle fleet here in Key West use by-catch from shrimp
boats and other chum to get tarpon to bite. Multiple hook ups
are not uncommon and if you have chartered for a full day you
may do some tarpon fishing for part of your day and also try
and catch some fish for dinner.
Night tarpon fishing is another sport
in itself. We use spin casting outfits and a plug that sinks
and just reel it slowly
through the water near a deeper channel at dusk. This type of
fishing is fun if the conditions are right and you pretty much
have to count your "jumped fish" and not your landed
tarpon to the boat. Tarpon have a mouth with similar texture
and consistancy to a cinder block so set that hook hard!
Here in Key West there are so many ways to
fish and so many species you can catch in our waters. Wrecks
provide habitat for the bottom dwelling fish as well as migratory
fish because they also hold plenty of bait. In the lower Keys
there are many wrecks that are shared by both fisherman and divers.
Wrecks are in shallow and in water as deep as 240 ft. There are
many different structures including a tugboat, large ships, airplanes
and submarines. A few years ago there was a new ship sunk off
Big Pine Key for a artificial reef, the wreck was the Adolphus
Busch Sr. It's new home is in 100ft. of water and provides a
great habitat for many species of fish. 
We use live bait to get these fish
excited and get them to the surface. Hooking these fish is
a lot of fun and a lot of action. We also send down a live bait
to the bottom for a mutton snapper, grouper or amberjack. Fall
happens to be one of the best times to be offshore for light
tackle fishing. 
If
the flats are not your game and you want to give your fly tackle
a run for its money, try some offshore fly fishing. Sailfish,
kingfish, tuna, mahi dolphin, cobia, jack crevalle and bonito
are just some of the species you can fish for with a flyrod here
in the Keys. 
This
type of tuna fishing is a blast and is the perfect opportunity
for anglers to feel the pull of a tuna without having to cast
too far. It's a weather permitting trip though since we have
to go quite a ways to find the shrimp boats. 
