Islamorada isn’t known the Sport Fishing Capital of the World for no reason -warm Gulf Stream waters bring a great variety of game fish toward the islands annually, making the island chain known as the Keys an international gateway for famous and recreational fishermen alike. Whether you want to trolling a couple of miles offshore or flats fishing in the mangrove filled backcountry flats, Islamorada has the catch of a lifetime you’ve been dreaming about.

More fishing contests are held in the Keys than anywhere else in across the country and present a good opportunity to find other fishermen, test your techniques, and maybe even seek a bit of fame and fortune. There are frequently no fewer than ten different contests going on from Key Largo to Key West monthly, centering on everything from dolphinfish to tarpon. Some fishing tournaments are planned for women or for children, and many profit different charities.

Florida Keys flats guides can whisk your expedition to the most plentiful locations for tarpon, permit, and bonefish, all of which are first-rate for both game and eating. Offshore charters are the best fashion for big game hunters to take on marlin, mahi mahi, tuna, and sailfish. Several charters have created nighttime trips in boats as long as fifty feet with luxury amenities, e.g. showers. Reef fishing for grouper and snapper keeps you closer to port and absolutely ensures you’ll eat well very soon.

Preparing for Your Fla Keys Fishing Trip

When deciding on a charter boat, determine whether you desire to fish with your own tackle or have it offered for you, and check into the status of bait and live well capacities. Know your angling skill and experience levels and charter a captain accordingly, because you don’t want the captain handing over you a fishing rod and a lump of squid and then going away, or reviewing basics if you’re a longtime fisherman. Most captains will merrily work with a range of skill levels, but it’s best to know this before setting out.

Be sure to bring along a strong sunscreen and a camera so you can catch and release but still show your adventure escapades back at the hotel. Release all fish you will not consume because over fishing now will exhaust the fish supply for future fishers. If you’re not keeping your fish, return the fish to the water as soon as you can; don^t forget, the more quickly you will be able to wind your catch of a lifetime in (the less time it spends hooked), the stronger it will be when returned to the sea.

Information & Tricks

Hunters trying for dolphin probably should get going in advance, shoot for nearly one hundred twenty^ of water, and drive towards diving birds or drifts of floating sea grasses. Developing chum lines helps bring small fish, and when you’ve got a jack or some other bait fish on your line, leave it on the hook since the dolphin will be pulled to it. Dolphin move through areas at a fast pace, so it helps to look for other boats and constantly troll rather than plunking down on one spot.

Amberjacks put up a awesome fight and can take a major part of the day for even an experienced fisherman to reel up. Go for heavy big Jacks at large sunken ships in over a hundred^ of water, and young fish in and around the reefs between November and March. Use a leader of 18 to 25 feet and some 50 lb. test, and catch live bait if you can do it. Don’t slag on your fishing pole, or you’ll drop it when when one of the amberjacks hit the bait.

Wise fishermen say the best way to catch a barracuda is with a tube lure in around 15 to twenty five feet of water, and to keep the tube going through the water or the barracuda will become mistrustful and wary. While barracuda are a first-rate sport fish because they’ll put up a heavy fight, they’re by and large not very delicious. Lots of of the fleshier fish (over 5 lbs.) have become toxic to humans because of their diet of reef algae. Ciguatera poisoning is rarely disastrous, but never desirable. Tiny barracuda can be sliced up into steaks and used for food.

The Florida Keys Lobster

The spiny lobster mini-season brings lobster-lovers from across the globe, so make sure to set up your reservations and arrangements early. These lobsters wander around the ocean from Brazil to Bermuda, even though a majority of them dwells in the Keys expanses. The moment you corner one, see that your net or bag is in reach before they get away, because these creatures jet off by spurting backwards through the water. Bring your catch to most Key largo restaurants and they’ll serve it up for you, or choose theirs and savour the taste without the work. FL Keys lobster are very similar in taste and texture to Maine lobster, only tinier. They’re outstanding boiled, steamed, or grilled, and sold whole, as tails, and as meat in many fish markets.

The two-day Sport Lobster Season happens the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and ending Thursday at midnight. New dates are:

• July 27 - 28, 2005
• July 26 - 27, 2006
• July 25 - 26, 2007

During this time, there’s a prohibition on diving and snorkeling within 300 feet of marinas, canals, and private shorelines to stop damage done by overzealous lobster hunters. There are bag limits, restricted areas, and dive gear ordinations. For complete and up to date regulations, please call the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at 850-488-4676 .

The commercial lobster season runs from August to March. Only commercial license holders may trap lobster & stone crabs, and Florida no longer prints commercial licenses. Existing licenses must be purchased from another angler.