Tag Archives: florida keys fishing
Journey Through the Florida Keys- Introduction
(from TryCharterFishing.com)
A Local’s Guide to Travelling through and Enjoying Paradise
KEY LARGO – ISLAMORADA – MARATHON – BIG PINE & THE LOWER KEYS -KEY WEST
As mainland Florida disappears into the passing reflections of your rearview mirror, and you become engulfed in the tranquil blues and greens of the Atlantic and Florida Bay waters, you soon realize that you’ve entered a part of the country that is truly unique.
A land unimpeded by sky-rise office buildings, rush-hour traffic jams and bright city lights. A place where nature overshadows development; where there are more saltwater canals and channels, than paved roads and parking lots; and where the preferred method of travel is by boat or bicycle, not by car or truck.
You’ve come upon a chain of islands where history is remembered through abandoned bridges, sunken fishing boats, hurricane monuments, and long lost lobster traps. A destination where anglers head to pursue world-record catches; divers and snorkelers voyage to explore the only living coral reef system in the continental United States; and visitors from around the globe travel to enjoy year-round sunshine, and balmy tropical temperatures.
You have arrived in the Florida Keys, and your journey into paradise begins here, with TryCharterFishing.com.
We’ve created a comprehensive Guide to the Florida Keys, that will assist you along the way as you embark on one of the world’s most scenic and enjoyable drives.
We’ll share with you our favorite activities; our must see attractions; the restaurants we eat at; and the hotels and accommodations that we recommend to our friends (when we get tired of them sleeping on our couches). This is an unbiased guide, written from a local’s point of view, that we hope will help you discover all the reasons we live, work, and enjoy life in the beautiful Florida Keys.
So follow along as we travel to Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine & the Lower Florida Keys, and finally Key West.
First stop:Key Largo 
A quick note about Mile Markers: In the Florida Keys, businesses and attractions are referenced by the green mile markers (MMs) located alongside the Overseas Highway (US-1). These begin in Key West (MM 0), and increase as you head east and then north to Florida City (MM 127.5). Throughout this guide we will refer to locations by the mile markers closest to them. “Bayside,” or “Gulfside,” refers to the right-hand side of the road if you are travelling towards Key West. “Oceanside” will be on your left. If travelling away from Key West, Bayside or Gulfside will be on your left, and the Atlantic Ocean will be on your right. Throughout this guide we will refer to the Bayside or Gulfside with a “B,” and the Oceanside with an “O.”
Nighttime Snapper Fishing in the Florida Keys
It’s hot! Correction, it’s scorching hot!
Currently, at 4:30 pm, its 94 degrees with only a 4 mph wind ever so gently blowing out of the East. Weather.com says it feels like its 104!
Talk about a heat wave, even for the Florida Keys.
This is the kind of weather that makes you want to stay indoors, camped out in front of the air conditioning vent. Every time I try and take my dog out to do his thing he looks at me as if I’m nuts.
“I’m not going out there you idiot! I’ll cook. Look at all this fur. I think I’ll just pee on the tile floor. There, done. Go back to your computer and leave me be.”
Jeff Reilly casting to the hungry snapper.
Now, I’m not complaining about the heat- I didn’t move to the Keys to cool down, but these temperatures sure do make it difficult to enjoy my two favorite outdoor activities; fishing and kayaking.
Trust me, on days like this you don’t want to be on the water in a self-propelled plastic vessel that offers zero shade and no throttle to throw into gear when you need to create your own wind.
Your best bet when it’s this hot is to find an empty bar stool in an air-conditioned bar that has a view of the water, sip a couple of ice-cold adult beverages, wait for the sun to begin to set, and then go fishing!
The mangrove snapper fishing is off the hook right now at the reef and the best bite is in the evening and after dark.
Sunday night Jeff Reilly of Grassy Key and I headed out around 6:30 and before the sun set had our limit of grovers.
Not only that, but we were sticking quality fish in the livewell and replacing them with larger fish as we caught them. We wanted to keep fishing and weren’t ready to leave after limiting out in such a short period of time.
For those of you thinking about heading out for some nighttime snapper fishing, I highly recommend giving it a shot:
- It’s inexpensive- you won’t burn much fuel (you can find the fish 4-5 miles from the dock in the middle Keys); a couple blocks or chum; bait and your gear.
- Mangrove snapper are delicious- one of my favorite fish to eat. The mild, white flaky meat tastes great grilled, fried, baked, or however you decide to make it. Plus, you’ll have no problem loading the cooler with plenty of tasty fillets to take back home with you.
- The reef is a great place to watch the sunset- you have to see for yourself just how beautiful the sun looks as it sets behind the seven-mile bridge- a giant ball of fire disappearing into a watery horizon. Simply amazing!
- It’s fun! Snapper fishing offers constant rod-bending action for all ages and skill levels. Each time jeff and I tossed a bait into the water it got slammed. For those of you that aren’t patient anglers, this is your type of fishing.
Our snapper catch- photo from the following morning.
Nighttime Snapper Tips
Below are a few basic tips to help you catch the big nighttime mangroves.
- Find structure. Head to the reef and look for a live bottom between 30 and 50 feet of water. Last evening we fished a spot that wasn’t in our gps machine but looked promising as the depth quickly dropped from 30 to 50 and the bottom contour clearly marked structure. Trust me when I say that we have that number marked now. Head to the reef, search around a bit, and you’ll find a good spot to drop the anchor.
- Chum. Get the chum out as soon as possible and make sure you have a consistent slick heading out from the boat. Take enough chum to cover the amount of time you plan to fish and have 3 or 4 blocks on the boat to be safe. Normally there will be a fair amount of vessels fishing around where you are and the snapper will leave and move to one of their slicks if your runs out.
- Use fluorocarbon. This is not mandatory, especially if the water is stained, but it definitely helps when the fish are being a bit line shy. A 6 or 7 foot splice of 20-pound leader should get the job done.
Delicious snapper fillets.
- Fish all water columns. The snapper may be deep or they may be more towards the surface. I like to use different size jig heads (1/4 oz and 1/8 oz did the trick last night) to locate where the fish are, and also like to free-line if the fish are near the surface (free-lining before dark will also give you a shot at catching yellowtails). It’s also fun to rig a bottom rod with a lead and live bait to drop it down and stick it in the rod holder. You never know if a mutton or big black grouper may be lurking below, ready to feed.
- Take a variety of bait with you. Last night you could have drifted a gummy worm back on a jig head and likely caught a keeper snapper- they were that hungry. This is not always the case though. I like to take live bait (pilchards or small pinfish) and cut bait on every trip. Last night a majority of fish was caught on chunks of frozen ballyhoo that we had caught and frozen the week before. Fresh pinfish strips are also one of my favorite snapper baits.
- Obey the laws of the sea. Be careful and considerate while fishing and boating at night. Display the proper lights on your vessel and do not anchor up in another boat’s chum slick. Also know your limits- you’re allowed 5 mangrove snapper over 10 inches per person.
- Have fun! Nighttime snapper fishing can be a blast. Hopefully these tips will get you started and you’ll be able to make it out and bend the rod. If you don’t have your own boat and are in the Keys visiting, go to www.TryCharterFishing.com and we’ll find a trip for you.
Tight Lines!
Reel Fiction
I paddled out the narrow canal and alongside the row of thirsty mangrove roots and then crossed the green water of the basin and headed towards the rickety dock at the mouth of the inlet. A light breeze had stirred a gentle chop in the channel and the saltwater slurped against the dock’s splintered pilings exposing sharp black barnacles that clung to the wood just below the high tide line. I maneuvered the boat alongside the outer piling and positioned its port side against the base to keep from drifting in the outgoing current. The barnacles scraped at the boat’s hard shell and made a painful crunching sound as the kayak rose and fell in the surf. I rested the paddle on my knees and reached into the bait bucket for a shrimp. The shrimp scattered and scratched at the plastic bucket and I pinned down a rather sizeable one and scooped it into the palm of my left hand. I bit off the tail just above the fan and threaded the hook up through the back and out behind the dark spot in the head so that the bend and the point were exposed.
The lively bait twitched and snapped and I tossed it into the water so it could breathe. I slid the rod from the mounted rod holder and flipped open the bail. I held the line gently with my forefinger to keep it from slipping and searched the water for any sign of movement. There was a faint ripple below the dock and I pitched the bait perfectly behind it and held the rod tip high to keep the shrimp from dragging on bottom. I delicately twitched the rod to enhance the shrimp’s presentation and suddenly the line went taut and I thrust the rod towards me to set the hook. The rod bent from the first eye down to the thicker middle eyes and there was a zip from the reel as line spun off against the drag. I tightened down on the fish and pulled rather hard to keep it from wrapping around the pilings and splicing the line on the sharp crustaceans. The kayak came loose from its moor and I drifted away from the fish which put even more tension on the line. I pointed the rod straight and let off the drag again to keep the line from snapping and the fish turned and swam towards me and I reeled hard and fast to remove the slack. I saw a flash of silver as the fish showed me its side and then it continued out past the rocks and towards the open water. It was a big tarpon, at least a hundred pounds, and I knew I was in for a ride.
There was a flats skiff heading out the inlet and the guide slowed to an idle and looked on as the fish towed me past his bow. The tarpon was taking me where it wanted to go and it dove deep and headed out the channel, veering to the west and through a trough that ran along the beach. It pulled at a steady pace with the wind behind me and the fourteen feet of plastic rode nicely in the waves and felt stable. I held the rod handle firmly in my left hand and clutched the paddle under my right shoulder, using it as a rudder to stay straight behind the fish. The strong fish showed no signs of slowing and it continued past the hotel pier, and then past the narrow beach and the row of pastel vacation rentals. There was a group of tourists out taking their morning strolls on the coarse sand and one saw the bent rod and pointed in my direction. I welcomed the attention and gave a quick nod as I glided by, pretending I was in control of my situation.
The sun was now beginning to climb in the morning sky and I slid my polarized sunglasses off my visor and over my eyes. The lenses cut down on the glare and the contrast of the clear blues and greens of the shallows came into view. I rested the paddle across my thigh and took a quick swig from the water bottle and placed it back in the cup holder between my legs. Without warning the tarpon turned hard and ran away from the beach and accelerated back to the east. I nearly lost my balance as the kayak swung completely around and a small wave crashed over the stern and soaked my back. Then a long dark shadow rose to the surface and a keen grey fin appeared just yards off the bow. It sped towards the end of the line with such aggression that I knew it was a bull shark, and acting solely on instinct, I reached for my pocket knife and sawed at the braided line until the tension vanished. The fish was now free and it raced towards the deep and just narrowly missed the shark’s charge. The big bull circled around once more and then disappeared below the surface and I could no longer see it or the tarpon and I assumed it was gone.
For a moment I was relieved for the fish and for myself, but then the shark reappeared on the starboard side and advanced a second time. The tarpon got hit hard and with such force that it rolled on its back and the shark ripped at its scaled flesh and tore the fish completely in half behind the pelvic fin. The tarpon’s head convulsed on the surface and blood poured into the water and I turned away and felt sick. For a moment I paused in disbelief but then a second dorsal fin appeared and I was quickly reminded that this was not a place I wanted to be. Not in an exposed small plastic boat especially. I reeled in the now weightless line and put the rod back in the holder and angled the boat towards the shoreline and headed quickly back home. I paddled steady and strong until I reached the shallow water and I sat back in the padded seat and took a moment to catch my breath.
I felt terrible for what had just transpired and I could not get the gruesome image of the attack out of my mind. I cursed myself for letting the fish swim into an ambush and for draining the energy he would have needed to escape the shark’s advances. I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves and then turned back into the soft breeze and continued home. I paddled past a string of lobster buoys bobbing in the surf and I took a moment to appreciate how the sun had turned the sky pink and outlined the clouds the color of fire. On any other day I would have taken out my camera and photographed the beautiful images but right then I was in no mood. I waited a couple of minutes for several charter boats to speed out the inlet and for their wake to dissipate and I paddled near the rocks to stay clear of their path. I glanced over at the dock where I had hooked the strong fish nearly an hour before and knew that it would be some time before I pitched a bait there again.
Muttons and More!
Between battling a sinus infection and cleaning up after my Australian Shepherd puppy (he’s not house-broken yet), I haven’t gotten out on the water as much as I’ve liked to.
Fortunately, I was able to get out Sunday for a quick fish/snorkel trip- and I had the opportunity to go mutton snapper fishing for a couple of hours last night with Captain Jason Long of Best Bet Sportfishing.
On Sunday, Jeff Reilly and I headed out to fish a wreck and to see what species were looming below.
On the first drift Jeff hooked up with this monster AJ and I thought he was going to suffer a heat stroke from battling the hard-fighting fish on light tackle in the 90-degree heat (with absolutely zero breeze).
After a few more drops we decided it was way too hot to fish and we headed for the patch reefs to cool off and look for hog fish. The seas were glass calm and the visibility was amazing.
Jeff was able to shoot a few hog fish on the grass and we enjoyed the fillets at a tasty dinner that evening at Ty and Tara’s house where we took in yet another amazing sunset.
Tuesday, it was time to do a little first-hand research for the Florida Keys fishing report (which Captain Long and I do our best to write). The theme of this week’s report was “Escape the Heat,” so we headed out that evening to fish for mutton snapper under cooler temperatures.
Within minutes, Ann Nash and Kyle Witwer were hooked up with fish and shortly thereafter two big muttons were in the box.
One drift later and all four of us had hooked up and reeled in a quality pink each. Captain Long definitely knows where to find the fish and how to target them.
If you’re planning to fish for mutton snapper in the Florida Keys, here are few tips (that I have learned) that may also help you catch fish.
- Fish where the fish are (a bit obvious huh?)- If you search online you can find public gps numbers for wrecks throughout the Florida Keys that do hold mutton snapper. However, these wrecks get a ton of fishing pressure and they are often much less productive than the smaller wrecks that the good charter captains, like Jason Long, know of. My advice: if you’re looking to target mutton snapper on your own, try the numbers you find online and give it a shot. If you come up empty though, you may want to book a trip with one of the many excellent Florida Keys captains who can take you to the spots that no one else knows of!
Use fluorocarbon- at least ten to fifteen feet. Muttons can be very finicky and line shy- you don’t want them seeing your leader.
- Hold the weight on the bottom and use enough lead to keep it down- try to keep the rod as still as possible and always keep the lead firmly on the bottom. Do not lift the rod up and down.
- Reel down on the fish, don’t set the hook- when you feel the fish take your bait, crank down hard and then lift the rod. Do not set the hook in an upward jerk motion- this will cause you to lose fish more often than not.
- Fish with live bait- live pilchards, pinfish and ballyhoo, to name a few, can all entice a hungry mutton snapper.
It’s a Tuna!!!
Now, by no means am I an expert when it comes to the subject of identifying fish.
I can tell you the difference between a Spanish mackerel and a cero mackerel, or a black grouper and a gag grouper, but test me on the different species of shark, or the multitude of colorful fish you’ll catch while fishing the reef or out deep dropping offshore, and I’ll likely not have a clue what’s on the end of your line.
But yesterday, while I was kayak fishing off Key Colony Beach, I was fairly certain that the two gentlemen I saw surf fishing from the rocks at the mouth of the inlet, had indeed misidentified their catch.
While not nearly as good as yellowfin tuna, yellow jacks are actually very tasty.
And while you’d be amazed at the variety of highly sought after game fish and table fare species that you can catch while shore or bridge fishing in the Florida Keys, I am fairly certain that yellowfin tuna is not one of them.
Thus, when I heard one of the guys- in a serious and demanding tone- shout “go get the gaff, it’s a yellowfin tuna,” I nearly capsized my kayak from laughing so hard.
Again, I am no marine biologist, but I am positive that at no time will you catch a yellowfin tuna ten yards off the beach in the Florida Keys, no matter how hard you try.
Not only that, but yellowfin tuna are not that common anywhere in the Keys (unlike their smaller cousins the blackfin tuna), although you may catch one here or there while out fishing the humps or out beyond the Gulf Stream.
So I guess all things considered, if I thought I had a yellowfin tuna on my hook, I probably would have yelled for someone to get the gaff as well.
I can only assume that the fish the gentleman lost in the rocks was a jack crevalle, or maybe even a yellow jack. Both are hard-fighting, extremely fun game fish to reel in (especially on light tackle), but far from the trophy catch of a yellowfin tuna.
This brings me to the point of this post- after all, the goal was not to poke fun at the shore-bound tuna angler. The goal was to advise you that if you’re planning on fishing in the Florida Keys, whether on your own boat, or from shore or bridge, make sure to acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations for Florida saltwater fishing.
I know a few Florida Fish & Wildlife officers and Monroe County sheriffs who will not show sympathy when it comes to writing you a hefty ticket for keeping more than your bag limit, or for tossing undersized or protected fish in your cooler.
Can you tell the difference between a black grouper (shown here) and a gag grouper?
So take the time to learn the species that you’ll be catching before you drop a line into the water. Not only will this keep you from getting in trouble when the law asks to check your catch; but it will also impress your friends when they ask what type of fish you caught.
“Oh that, that’s a schoolmaster; a type of snapper.”
Plus, if you know your species, you won’t have to worry about some local “know-it-all” writing an article about you!
Florida Keys bridges, equipped with new fishing platforms, are a great place to catch a variety of species.
A great place to start is the Florida Keys species guide that can be found on Try CharterFishing.com. This guide shows you photos of the different species you can catch; as well as their food quality, where they can be found, and the regulations and bag limits for each.
Another good idea is to print out an updated copy of the FWC Regulations (regulations constantly change so print a new copy often), and always keep it with you in your tackle box. Throw in a tape measure to measure the length of your fish, and you’ll be ready to hit the water.
Below are some basic regulations to get you started. You can view photos of each here.
- Mangrove Snapper: 10 inches or greater. Limit 5 (included in 10 snapper aggregate bag limit).
- Yellowtail Snapper: 12 inches or greater. Limit 10 (included in 10 snapper aggregate bag limit).
- Tarpon: It is common practice to release all tarpon but you can possess 2 if you have a tarpon tag.
- Snook: Must measure between 28-33 inches and are illegal to keep from Dec.-Feb. & May- Aug. You are allowed to keep one “slot” fish during snook season.
- Jack Crevalle: No regulations but they are very poor to eat.
- Yellow Jack: No bag or size limit and despite what some may say are actually quite tasty!
- Black Grouper: Must be over 24 inches. 2 per angler per day.
- Barracuda: No size or bag limit. Rarely eaten and often contain ciguatera- they can be poisonous to eat!
- Goliath Grouper: Federally protected. It is illegal to keep them!
Florida Keys Kayak Fishing – The Basics
Kayak fishing is one of my favorite ways to get out on the water and spend an afternoon. It’s great exercise, you have an opportunity catch a wide variety of fish (especially here in the Florida Keys), and best of all- it’s inexpensive!
You don’t have to dig into your wallet to fill up your kayak with gas and oil every time you want to go fishing, and, aside from a quick rinse with the hose, there’s virtually no maintenance or repair bills!
Plus, you don’t have to deal with those yahoos who flock to the public boat ramps on the weekends. All you need is a few inches of water to slide your yak into the water, and you’re on your way to great fishing.
Of course, kayak fishing does have its restrictions; none greater than the limited fishing grounds you are able to paddle to, and the amount of time it takes to travel from one fishing hole to the next.
But if you know where to find the fish, and know how to target them, I guarantee that you’ll keep the rod bent, and have a chance to catch a number of trophy species, just like the guys you see out there poling around on their flats skiffs.
Over the past two years I have caught bonefish, permit, tarpon, redfish, snook, grouper, snapper, sharks, barracuda, and more from my kayak. And I’m determined to add a few new species to that list this year, including sailfish!
Below I have compiled a list of the basic equipment and gear that you will need to begin your new pastime as a kayak angler. Please check back to FromtheYak.com often to read my latest kayak fishing reports, as well as tips on how to rig your kayak and how to target specific species.
The ultimate kayak fishing goal- catching a Florida Keys permit.
The Kayak
You don’t need an expensive kayak to catch fish in the Keys. A basic 10 to 15-foot sit-on-top kayak will handle the job in the waters you will be fishing. Just about any Florida Keys kayak rental will have this type of kayak available to rent if you don’t have your own.
I have two Perception kayaks that I bought used off Craig’s list (a 12′ Swing, and 13′ Prism), and they more than handle my fishing needs; both inshore, and when I’m feeling a bit daring and head a few miles out into the Atlantic.
I installed rod holders on both my kayaks which allow me to carry multiple rods at a time. While the rod holders are a luxury, it’s not necessary to have them on your yak. You really only need one rod and reel outfit to catch fish, and you shouldn’t have any problems finding room for it (just lay it across your lap facing the bow of the boat).
The Tackle
If I could take only one rod and reel combo kayak fishing with me, it would be a 7′ medium action spinning rod, spooled with 15-lb. monofilament line (or 10-lb. braid), and a 20-30 lb. splice of fluorocarbon leader.
This set-up will allow you to fish the docks for snapper, snook, jacks and more; and the flats for bonefish, small sharks and barracuda. Small resident tarpon can also be fought and landed on this setup.
On nearly every one of my kayak fishing expeditions (unless I’m fishing for tarpon or heading out to the reef) I take the same three outfits with me.
- 7′ medium-light, fast action spinning rod, with Shimano 4000 series spinning reel, spooled with 8lb. braid line, and 6 feet of 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader.
- 7’6 medium, fast action spinning rod, with Shimano 4000 series spinning reel, spooled with 10 lb. braid line, and 6 feet of 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader.
- 7′ medium-heavy spinning rod, with Shimano 8000 series spinning reel, spooled with 30lb. braid line, and 6 feet of 40lb. fluorocarbon leader).
Note that using a splice of fluorocarbon leader (4 to 7 feet attached directly to your mainline) will help your chances of catching fish- but is not mandatory. Fluorocarbon line is almost invisible underwater and thus helps when targeting line-shy species such as bonefish, permit and tarpon.
If you don’t want to spend the money to buy a spool of fluorocarbon (it can be quite expensive!), a monofilament leader will do the trick. The heavier the leader the better when you’re fishing around docks or pilings where your line is likely to get frayed.
Also remember that your gear is destined to get drenched with saltwater in your kayak. Therefore it’s wise not to take your best gear out with you- and always make sure to thoroughly rinse your rod(s) and reel(s) with fresh water after each trip. It’s a good idea to frequently clean them (properly!), or take them to a tackle shop for maintenance as well. Saltwater will deteriorate your equipment quickly and proper reel maintenance is a must when kayak fishing.
The Bait
I prefer to fish with live bait or fresh dead bait over artificial lures- simply because I have more success with them. Live shrimp, blue crabs, pinfish, and even small pilchards will survive for a few hours (or more) in a flow troll style bait bucket.
To keep the bait alive as long as possible, I will attach the bait bucket to my kayak using a six-foot piece of rope, and keep it floating in the water whenever I am drift fishing or during breaks from paddling. If I am paddling to or from a location, or kayaking quietly across a flat trying to remain as stealthy as possible, I will place the bait bucket in the stern of the kayak and refresh the water every ten or fifteen minutes.
Live shrimp is my bait of choice for nearly all types of kayak fishing, and nearly every species, including bonefish, tarpon, snapper, snook, redfish, and more, will eat a live shrimp, or fresh piece of shrimp tipped on a jig head.
Artificials can be very productive and a lot of fun.
When trolling channels or bridges; casting baits into the mangroves; and when targeting wintertime barracudas on the flats, I like to break out the artificial lures.
For trolling, I prefer to drag diving plugs, such as Rapalas® or Yo-zuri Minnows; or soft baits, like a D.O.A. Bait Buster or TerrorEyz.
For casting to hungry barracuda on the flats, soft-plastic jerk baits and top water lures (such as a Mirrolure® plug) can be loads of fun. Despite not having a reputation of being a glamorous game fish, big barracudas (especially from a kayak) can be an absolute blast to reel in.
Other artificial lures, such as Berkley® Gulp baits, crank baits, spinners and spoons all have their place in a kayak angler’s tackle box depending the species you are targeting.
Mustad 2/0 baitholder hooks are great for keeping live shrimp on the hook.
I like to rig one light-weight rod with a size 2/0 baitholder hook (for hooking a live shrimp or small crab on), and my other light spinning outfit with a 1/4 or 1/8 ounce jig head, or skimmer jig, tipped with a piece of shrimp (the extra weight helps me to cast to fish that are further away).
For my larger rod I usually rig it with a Size 4 or 5 live bait hook (with no weight), and keep it ready with a shrimp or crab to pitch to a passing tarpon or permit.
Where to Fish
There are endless miles of fishy waters surrounding the Florida Keys that are accessible to the kayak angler.
My favorite places to fish are around docks, mangrove islands, small bridges and passes (with a minimal amount of tidal flow), channels, deep water basins, shallow grass flats and flats with a hard bottom.
I advise starting out fishing around docks- either on the bayside, the Atlantic side, or on one of the many canals. Any number of fish can be caught around Florida Keys docks, including: snook, tarpon, grouper, snapper, jacks and more.
Fishing around small bridges can produce a variety of fish, including an occasional cero mackerel.
If you are unfamiliar with the Keys waters, just look at a marine chart, or use Google Earth, to map out a few flats, mangrove islands, and deep channels to fish. Find a spot that looks interesting, and give it a try.
One of the best parts of kayak fishing is finding your own unique honey holes that you may never have discovered if you were fishing from a motor boat.
Kayak Accessories
You will see kayaks online and on the water that are rigged for some serious fishing. Some are equipped with built-in live wells, gps navigation devices, fish finders, outriggers (for fishing offshore), and I’ve even seen one with a miniature tuna tower on top.
Drift sock and flow troll bait bucket.
Frankly, you don’t need any of these things to catch fish from your kayak- especially in the Florida Keys! All you need is a rod and reel, a dozen or so live shrimp, a bait bucket, a few #2 or #3 size hooks, a life jacket, a pair of pliers or dehooking device, a knife (or other line cutting tool), a paddle, and a desire to catch fish.
On my kayak trips I also like to bring along a drift sock as well, which I will throw into the water to slow the boat down if I am fighting a big fish, or if I am drifting too fast in the wind or current. When the drift sock opens it fills with water and creates a nice drag against the boat.
Other common kayak accessories include stake-out poles (for remaining stationary in shallow water), rear and center-mount rod holders, anchors (I simply use a brick tied to a rope), and padded kayak seats, which are a must if paddling long distances.
What Else to Bring
I never head out in my kayak without taking a digital camera, a cell phone, a pair of polarized sunglasses (not only will they protect your eyes but they will help cut down the water’s glare and help you spot fish), and plenty of water. I enclose my camera and cell phone in a small water-tight fishing bag, which I tightly secure to my kayak seat to make sure it doesn’t fall into the water.
It is also smart to put your camera and phone into a Ziploc® to further prevent them from getting wet. After breaking my last digital camera (I dropped it in the water), I purchased a water-proof Pentax®Optio W60 camera that I don’t have to worry about getting wet. Plus, it takes great underwater shots.
I also suggest bringing along a ruler or tape measure to measure the fish you catch. That way you can to tell your friends just how big the fish you caught were, and if you plan on keeping any fish, you’ll know if they are of legal size.
I release all the fish I catch from my kayak, but if you plan to take a fish or two home, you may want to attach a cooler filled with ice to your kayak. A small, soft-case cooler, tied down with rope and bungee cords, should do the trick.
Enjoy!
These tips should give you a good jump start for pursuing trophy Florida Keys fish from your kayak. Just remember to always be safe, keep it simple, and fish with a partner as often as possible.
Please check back to FromtheYak soon to read more about kayak fishing in the Florida Keys.
Tight Lines and Good Fishing!
