Offshore Fishing in the Florida Keys

Nice slammer dolphin. The Florida Keys are world renowned for their fishing. After all, the Florida Keys are known as the ‘Sportfishing Capital of the World’ – and for good reason. The local offshore waters are teeming with a large variety of gamefish, including sailfish, blue or white marlin, dolphin (mahi-mahi), tuna and wahoo. The local reef habitats are also full of grouper, king mackerel, yellowtail and a large variety of other snappers.

Most species are available year round but the spring and summer months see an influx of dolphin – also known as mahi-mahi. While the fall and winter months see the action for sailfish get red hot.

Here's a typical sailfish. Other than trolling for dolphin, most the fishing can be labeled ‘live baiting’. A day of live baiting starts off with Capt. Jim catching fresh live bait early in the morning, before your charter begins. Capt. Jim will not waste your fishing time searching for bait. With the live bait secured, there are several methods that can be employed: slow trolling, drifting and/or kite fishing. The method chosen will depend on the species being sought and the local conditions.

Slow trolling is where the live baits are a trolled at a very slow speed. The act of trolling allows your baits to cover a larger area in search of gamefish. The baits are trolled slow by necessity to keep them from drowning. Live baits trolled too quickly will lead to their quick demise.

Check out this monster jewfish. As the name implies, drifting is a method where the baits are deployed as the boat drifts over a productive fishing area. If the conditions are favorable, drift fishing can cover as much area as slow trolling – and without the noise from the boat engines.

A kite can also be used while either slow trolling or drifting – although locally it’s mostly associated with drift fishing. The fishing kite’s purpose is to keep the live bait on the surface. The kite has several release clips where your fishing line is attached. The kite suspends your fishing line and the bait right at the surface. The live bait on your hook instinctively tries to swim down or away to safety. The bait’s struggle to get away from the line’s grasp sends tantalizing vibrations through the water column ringing the dinner bell for any nearby predators. Another fascinating aspect of kite fishing is that you will often be able to see the fish strike the bait. Since the bait is near the surface, some of the strikes will be spectacular.

Here's a trophy size wahoo caught offshore. If you’ve never been fishing offshore in the Florida Keys, you are missing something special. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a curious beginner, a day offshore in the Florida Keys will bring you in touch with nature’s wild side. And no one can help experience beautiful offshore waters of the Florida Keys like Capt. Jim Peabody of Reel Therapy Charters.

Reel Therapy Charters
Capt. Jim Peabody
Phone: (305) 872-7412
Cell: (305) 395-1820
CaptJimRTC@aol.com