Snapper are biting in Marathon

[cletus9000]

Thanks for the report. Love the Keys fishery. Have been down there the past three years and rented a boat for a week. The reef is guaranteed action and if the weather is decent blue water fishing isn't far off. Good luck on the mahi if you go. If trolling, I like to run a small bird in front of a small bubbler type chugger head lure way back behind the dolphin spread. Often good for a tuna or two.

[garlien]

Nice catch...Wish I could be there...Ah someday !

[1morecast]

Way to go Don!Sure looks warm down there.

[drichitt]

Got "out" to the blue water yesterday. The northern edge of that meandering warm flow of water was only 3.5 miles off the beach. That's closer than running from Sandy Point ramp to TPL. It was almost too calm. As most of you know, I am fairly new to the offshore stuff but am a quick learner and will put my time in to learn.

Didn't find many bunches of floating sargassum grass but what we found we worked. I had set-up a spread of 4 trolling rods; 3 of them rigged with Billy Baits (Mini Turbo Slammers in lime green and pink trimmed with mylar) and one with a pink Rattle Jet. Worked up to 10-12 miles offshore but never found much activity. Did find some Bonita chasing bait and picked up 5-6 small Bonita in the 24-28" range. Not what I was hoping for but every trip is a learning experience and boy is that blue water beautiful. I have a few local fishing friends that are helping me get organized and am open to any help and suggestions from my northern brethren. Thanks cletus9000.....off to the local tackle shop. I have a few 3-4" chugger type surface plugs; what size did you use and what trolling speed would you suggest?

[cletus9000]

I use the ones from Reel Draggin Tackle (link below). I'm sure you can find something similar in a local shop. The bird makes a nice commotion in the water bringing the fish up while the jet head leaves a bubble stream in the water that looks like a fleeing bait fish. You're trying to match the hatch with flying fish (I assume there are still some down there this time of year?), so small-ish, blue and white is my go to. Small blue bird maybe 36 to 48 inches in front of the lure. Here are some pics that sort-of show the set up and some small dolphin and tuna caught a few years ago in the summer. Good luck out there!

lure.jpg

mahi.jpg

tuna1.jpg

http://reeldraggintackle.com/collect...ead-multi-port

[5th Tuition]

Originally Posted by drichitt

Got "out" to the blue water yesterday. The northern edge of that meandering warm flow of water was only 3.5 miles off the beach. That's closer than running from Sandy Point ramp to TPL. It was almost too calm. As most of you know, I am fairly new to the offshore stuff but am a quick learner and will put my time in to learn.

I have a few local fishing friends that are helping me get organized and am open to any help and suggestions from my northern brethren.

What you need is a "northern" mate for your boat
Get all the kinks worked out
5th (Marty)

[drichitt]

Originally Posted by 5th Tuition

What you need is a "northern" mate for your boat
Get all the kinks worked out
5th (Marty)

Looking forward to seeing you and Mike on the 30th.


Cletus9000....I appreciate the detail and pics. I definitely plan to put one of those rigs out there.

[cletus9000]

Hope it works for you. Blackfin are motor shy, so if the grass isn't too bad you literally can put that thing 100 yds or more behind the boat with a light drag in the roof rack. Even a small tuna hits like a freight train, so be prepared for some screaming drags!