Florida Keys fishing charters and fishing reports tournaments

At WhaleHarbor.com, we provide you with the most comprehensive Florida Keys fishing information possible. The World Famous Whale Harbor charterboat fishing fleet is here to serve you with the most professional Captains and Mates available anywhere in the world. These are the finest Florida Keys Charter Boats available, not the rickety old boats you may have experienced in the past. Many of these Captains are second and third generation fishermen who can provide you with the fishing trip of a lifetime. They bring the experience, equipment and friendly attitude that is very rare in the fishing world, and will make for an enjoyable and fish-filled day on the water!

Florida Keys Fishing Report

Offshore:

Much warmer and calmer weather would usually prompt some to venture offshore, but plenty of Dolphin were found inshore harassing Sailfish baits this week. Mahi; Mahi from school size fish to over 15 pounds were caught just off the reef most of the week

Reefs:

Sailfish catches slowed this week as the calm seas are not conducive to a good Sailfish bite! King Mackerel were in reasonably good supply, but the size was lacking for the most part as fish ranged around the ten pound size. A few Mutton Snapper were caught while trolling live baits deep for the Mackerel. The annual Poor Girls Sailfish Tournament had a great turnout as usual with well over a hundred boats entered, but with only 38 Sails Released.

Gulf and Bay:

Much better conditions prevailed this week for Gulf anglers. Warmer, cleaner water was the positive, but the tide was almost nonexistent on the quarter phase of the moon. Wreck anglers caught Goliath Grouper, Gag Grouper, Cobia, Sheepshead and some Permit are reported showing up. Also the highly coveted Tripletail are hanging on the Crab buoys in the Gulf, but they are on the small side from undersized to just legal (15”).

Bill Shillingford from Cape May, N.J. fished the Gulf two days last week and tagged several fish for the American Littoral Society. His Tallys: Four Cobia, One Bluefish, One Gag Grouper, one Golioth Goruper, one Tripletail and seventeen Spanish Mackerel.

Flats, Backcountry and Flamingo:

The backcountry results were only fair due to the fact that the tide did not fall enough to uncover the flats. Lots of fish stayed up on the banks rather than come down into the drains and channels. The Trout are still a good bet, but not as many numbers as last week Capt. Mike Basset of Born and Raised Charters caught a nice 12 pound Snook for his charter last week along with plenty of trout. On the shallow Oceanside Flats Capt. Dave on the No Politics skiff released two Bonefish. The Flamingo area became more crowded this week as the launching ramps are open to the Bay. The ships store, restrooms and more is slated to open in mid March.

Florida Keys fishing charters

Fishing in the Florida Keys