Kings Archives

Islamorada Fishing Report – 07-16-2020

August 4, 2020 by Mark

Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s report! Another beautiful week here in Islamorada, as the weather has been pretty nice all week. Of course we had the normal summer showers and such to work around, but that is just part of living in paradise in the summertime!

Fishing on the Reef

The fishing this week has been pretty good, especially on the reef. The mangrove snapper bite has been in full force as these tasty critters continue to spawn. The yellowtail bite has been pretty good too, as they are mixed in with the mangroves in a lot of areas, but nonetheless have been pretty solid on the deep reef too.

Offshore - Deep-Sea Fishing

A few nice surprises this week with a few sails showing up out in the deep, and a few blue marlin as well. The offshore report this week has remained a little stagnant, but did show some promise late in the week. It appeared that some mahi’s were trying to move back into the area.

The last couple day we were able to catch out limit of schoolies, and a few nicer fish. The best of the offshore bite has been on the west hump live baiting for the tunas. There’s a pile of nicer tunas out there, and they are on the west and 409 humps as of Thursday afternoon.

The swordfish bite this week has had a couple whoppers in it with 2 fish caught in the high 300 pound range, and a few smaller fish seems to be the word on the street. Make no mistake this is going to get better as the late summer and fall gets closer.

Fishing the Wrecks

The wreck fishing this week has been decent as well, but not red hot by any means. A lot of king mackerel around, jacks, sharks, and bonita, but the bottom bite is one day to the next. The bottom fishing has been really inconsistent this year, and I wish I could tell you why, but I can’t. It just hasn’t been a great year for bottom fishing. Very inconsistent current, if any, so that is what I am going to chalk it up to.

Charter Fishing

Well, I am sure we will find a way to get it done no matter what is going on, and I am sure you will too! If you need a boat, or any advice email me at jchappe7@bellsouth.net and I will do my best to get you squared away. Have a great weekend everyone, and be safe out there!

Islamorada Fishing Report for 11-21-2019

November 21, 2019 by Mark

Islamorada, Florida Keys - Fishing Report

11/21/2019

Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s report! What a week here in Islamorada! We have had some incredible fishing, and some great weather to go with it!

Sailfishing

The sailfish are here and happy, and everything is falling right into place. The sailfish have been active both showering ballyhoo and on the kites this week. Most boats seem to be averaging around 3-5 shots per day, so it has been pretty consistent.

Reef & Wreck Fishing

The reef and wreck fishing here in Islamorada has been pretty solid, as well, with the bottom fish cooperating, and the pelagics putting on a show too. The wahoo bite this week has been solid, and plenty of kings, tunas, and other supporting cast members showing their faces. All this has made for a great week!

The reef bite on the yellowtail snappers has been pretty solid also. So, there is a lot going on down here right now.

Swordfishing

The swordfish ledge this week slowed a bit, but I am sure this will be picking back up before you know it. Hopefully the winds will be nice this winter and allow for some extra days of fishing.

Time will tell, but one thing is for sure, the fishing is great! Check back next week and we will fill you in on what is going on down here. Please give us a call if you need a charter!

Tight Lines,

Capt. James

Islamorada Fishing Report July 4th, 2019

July 5, 2019 by Mark

Islamorada, Florida Keys - Fishing Report

7/4/2019

Hello everyone and welcome back to this week’s report! Another great week with some great fishing!

The Offshore Bite

The offshore bite has had its ups and downs, but most boats have seem to pull through. Some decent fish out there if you can find them, and still plenty of shakers around so keep on them and it will pay off.

Swordfishing

The sword ledge produced again this week with the best of it being to the west. This should only get better as we move toward the fall.

Tuna, Reef & Wreck Fishing

Deep dropping, Tunas on the humps, everything is pretty solid offshore. The reefs and wrecks are going off right now with lots of kings, Jacks, and a few groupers and muttons around the wrecks, but the big news is the mangrove spawn. These guys are going off all over the reef, and some really nice ones, so get in on the action! Plenty of YT’s around as well so go get them! Well, that’s all for this week and be safe! Happy Independence Day!

Tight Lines,

Capt. James Chappell

Islamorada Fishing Report April 18, 2019

April 18, 2019 by Mark

Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s report! A great week of fishing here in the upper Florida Keys as the sailfishing was going off early in the week. Slowed down a bit on Thursday, but hopefully the current will pick back up and they will start tailing again.

Offshore – Deep-sea Bite

The offshore bite continues to show promise with more mahi moving in each day. The moon is Friday, so I will bet that soon after she passes it will be game on. The football sized tunas have been getting thicker on the humps too, and there are plenty of AJ’s around there as well. The sharks have even been quite nice so far, but we will see how that ends up. Not much from the sword ledge this week as it has been a bit rough, but once the winds subside, I am sure there will be more reports.

Wreck Fishing

The wreck fishing has picked up nicely this week as the mutton snappers have been chewing pretty good. It has helped that the current has been decent all week for sure, but this moon is the beginning to them getting fired up to spawn. Going to be a lot of nice “pinky’s” caught over the next few moons. Plenty of Kings and groupers around as well on the deeper structures, but remember that you can’t keep any groupers until next month. Grouper season opens May 1st, so you can bet there will be some really nice one’s caught. The permit have been pretty solid on all of the usual wrecks as well, but the winds have made it tough this week.

Reef Fishing

The reef remains as good as it gets with yellowtail snappers, as they continue to spawn, and some whoppers at that. Some really nice mangrove snappers have been showing up as well, although it is a bit early for their spawn, they are already seeming to gather on the shallow reefs.

Plenty to catch out there if you have the vessel to brave the seas safely. The winds are gonna be 15-30 over the weekend, so be safe. Let’s hope the fish bite!

Tight Lines,

Capt. James Chappell

Islamorada Fishing Report April 4, 2019

April 5, 2019 by Mark

Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s report! Another interesting week with weather, but the fishing remains pretty solid! The offshore bite is beginning to heat up as the mahi are starting to show up a bit better each day. Here hasn’t been much consistency to depth, but the Frigate birds have been on them hard. The humps offshore have been holding some smaller tunas, but not much for the larger ones. They have been spread out in the deep edge of the reef and wrecks mostly. The sword ledge produced in a big way this past week with a couple monsters hitting the docks. Two fish over 500 pounds with one of them at 757 pounds! Another fish off Haulover Inlet going 650 I heard. I’m going Saturday, so hoping for a nice one! The deep reef and wrecks slowed up this week as the current weakened considerably from the week before. Hoping this SE wind will push it back in and keep the ball rolling. Plenty of kings around as well as some wahoo, so still some good action. The reef and patches have been great all week despite the lack of current. The Yellowtails are spawning and hungry, so pretty easy pickings there. Permit have showed up on the wrecks as well, so get your crabs and give it a go! Well, that’s it for this week! Have a great one and be safe out there!

Tight Lines,

Capt. James Chappell