Islamorada Offshore Fishing Archives

Islamorada Fishing Report March 28, 2019

April 2, 2019 by Mark

Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s report! A very similar week to last week, as it is the typical spring trend which means lots of variety in the fishing and the weather. The weather has been all over the place this week, and so has the fishing. A little bit of everything going on this week though, except for a lot of King Mackerel and Yellowtail Snappers. A few Sails, Tunas, and Mahi-Mahi were roaming the offshore waters this week, but I wouldn’t say anything was exceptional except for the Kings and Yellowtails. There were a few good days of deep dropping for Vermillion and Yellow-eye snappers, and the AJ’s and Almaco bite has been pretty good with the closure coming up. The humps had a few moments early in the week with the Blackfin Tunas, and there were a few nice weediness early, but once the wind showed up they were all broken up. We are close to calling it Mahi season, but I wouldn’t open the gates just yet. You can bet it won’t be long though! Plenty to catch down here, as we even had the Cobia show up on the Rays early in the week with the calm weather and clean water. Everything is falling into place for an epic spring/ summer season, but we definitely need this weather to cooperate a little bit more. We will see what next week brings. Good luck out there this weekend, as the weather is looking pretty good!

Tight Lines,

Capt. James Chappell

Islamorada Fishing Report March 14, 2019

March 18, 2019 by Mark

Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s report! A lot going on out there in the blue this week with some pretty snotty conditions. Good numbers of sailfish around, with a day or two of moderate tailing conditions. Some Mahi moving around on the edge of the current, as well as some tunas. Plenty of king Mack’s too on the edge and in the green water. The wrecks and deeper live bottom are heating up as the mutton snapper bite continues to grow. The Groupers have been happy in the rougher seas this past week as well, but being that the season is closed they get to go back home. Good thing I have their address for May 1st! The reef has been on fire with some Jumbo Yellowtails as they get ready to start their annual spawn, so there’s a lot going on right now to say the least. The weather for the weekend is shaping up, so get on out there and get it done! Good luck everyone and be safe out there!

Tight Lines,

Capt. James Chappell

Islamorada Fishing Report March 7, 2019

March 13, 2019 by Mark

Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s report. The sails are starting to show up better each day, as the conditions are becoming more favorable. The water has cleaned up considerably, but we could use some east current to make it really good. For now, a decent south current will have to do. The Mahi’s have been moving through the shallows the past few days as it’s been hard to keep a bait in the water with so many around. Good numbers of Blackfin tunas as well scattered about. Plenty of kings still around the reef and wrecks, and the militia Snappers appear to be biting a little better each day. The weather is looking great for the weekend, so there shouldn’t be any issues on the “deeper” side of the reef for anyone. The reef bite has been pretty good the last few days, as the Yellowtails have been happy. Looking forward to the nice weather this weekend, so enjoy it! See ya next week!

Tight Lines,

Capt. James Chappell

Islamorada Fishing Report February 21, 2019

February 22, 2019 by Mark

Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s report! The weather has had its ups and downs this week with some nice weather in the beginning of the week, then the wind started back up toward the end. The good news is that the winds are subsiding and should be nice for the weekend. Maybe a little wind close to 15 knots for Saturday, but Sunday is looking beautiful at around 10 knots. The fishing this week has been marginal for Sailfishing, as this wind should have kept the current in on the edge of the reef, but somehow did not. The HUGE moon that we just had I am sure pushed it out with the big tides, so with the wind staying out of the southeast, as this moon shrinks I am hoping the current will come back. A few sails around each day with most boat getting a shot or two throughout the day, but this is not the fishing we are used to. I think the weekend is going to have a more positive outlook than the past 2 weeks, so we will see what it brings. The wreck fishing has been picking up with the mutton snappers, and the groupers have been chewing. Can’t keep any groupers until May 1st, but they are still fun to catch. Still seeing good numbers of Kings and bonita, and a few really nice Wahoo this week with one weighing in at 61 pounds. That is a pretty good one for these parts, but we still haven’t seen the big numbers of them yet. The reef bite remains good with the yellowtail snappers and ceros if that is what you are after, as the wind has been creating enough movement to keep these guys chewing. The best of it has been from 60’ to 80’ as usual, so not much change here. Although, the patch reefs have some pretty nice fish on them, so you definitely don’t have to go deep to get them. No report from the Cobia on the ocean side this week mostly due to the weather, but if we get it to slick off, and the water cleans up, I will bet you they will be on the rays. Should start seeing the permit on the wrecks pretty soon, as they begin their annual migration to spawn. I have received one report already from the bubble blowers that they are starting to see a few on the offshore deeper wrecks, so stay tuned for this update. Still some pretty good fishing around, but you just have to fish smart. It has definitely been a week to “fish for what is biting’. Well, that is it for this week everyone! Check back next week to see what’s going on in our little piece of paradise!

Tight Lines,

Capt. James Chappell

Islamorada Fishing Report February 14, 2019

February 14, 2019 by Mark

Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s report! Pretty much nothing but crappy weather starting off the week as the front came through, and now at the end it is finally nice again. Looks like the weekend is going to be decent, so that should bring some smiles to everyone out there planning on getting out on the water this weekend! The fishing has been pretty good all week, but the Sailfishing is not as good as it could be. We finally got a little current moving in, so it has made conditions more favorable, but we haven’t seen much of an increase in numbers of fish. There are fish here, but they are pretty beat up, but as long as this current stays in here we should be back on track in the very near future. The good news is pretty much everything else is biting pretty good, so whatever else you like to catch shouldn’t be too much of an issue. The wreck fishing has been solid between nice Kings, Blackfin Tunas, Mutton Snappers, and even a few Wahoo. The Muttons could bite a little better, but you can definitely find a couple/few for the dinner table if you choose. The reef has been solid as well with a great bite of Yellowtail Snappers and some really nice Kings and Ceros in the slick. The Patches were doing good to the West, but the water has cleaned up considerably since the winds have subsided. Still fish to be caught on them, but you got to scale down your tackle to get the bigger fish to chew. Live Pilchards, if you can catch them or purchase them, is the way to go. This way you can really get the fish fired on the freebies making it much easier to catch them. Another good note is that the Cobia are starting to show up in the sand off the patch reefs. The last couple days the boys have found some rays loaded up with some nice fish to 50 pounds. Hoping this sticks around for a while, as the past year has been tough with these guys. The offshore scene is starting to show some promise with some Mahi starting to move through. Hoping this is a good indication of what is to come in the near future. Blackfin Tunas are on the humps, as well as Amberjacks and Almaco Jacks too. With the nice weather anyone who wants to get out should be able to, and with the fishing remaining pretty solid, the docks should be loaded up. I hope everyone has a great weekend, and be safe out there!

Tight Lines,

Capt. James Chappell