March 8th Fishing Report

Here we are in March already and I’d have to say based on my ten years of living in the Keys, this has been one of the nicest and kindest winters weather-wise that we’ve had in years. The topic of conversation around mid-February has often been focused around the question, “When do you think this wind is going to stop blowing?” This February and into early March has been a dream for our fishing fleet and the fishing action proves it.

It’s no surprise why the Southern Kingfish Association would hold not one but two tournaments in the Key West area in one season. The king mackerel fishing has been outstanding. The SKA Pro Tournament brought the best of the best in kingfishing back to Murray Marina in Key West for the first leg of a 5 tournament tour. The first day of fishing went off with a bang. The dramatic bimini start was orchestrated out in front of Key West with the historic PT boat sounding off its cannon to start the tournament. The calm seas and beautiful weather allowed many of these boats to run comfortably to the Dry Tortugas fishing grounds. At the end of the day our waters to the west of Key West has produced many smoker kings tipping the scales at 50- and 60- pounds plus.
Meanwhile the charter captains of several offshore boats agree that kingfish is still the hot bite this week. Captain Joe Mercurio on the Triple Time out of A&B Marina has had his share of luck catching his limit of kings on any given day. “The blue water has been kind of mean,” said Mercurio, meaning that it’s given up a lot of good fish. Mercurio frustrated with some of the good fish he’s had on the line, a sailfish jumping off, and another fish pulling the hook. Regardless, Mercurio had some good days of fishing, catching a 30- pound wahoo off Eastern Dry Rocks. He also mentioned that a couple mahi mahi have been caught in the 20- pound class. His charter ended up with a nice catch of schoolie mahi mahi, “Enough for dinner,” Mercurio said. Smaller mahi dolphin have been plentiful and generally in only a couple hundred feet of water. All of Mercurio’s fishing is done trolling skirted and bare ballyhoo.
I asked Mercurio about the sailfishing, he replied, “Most action seems to be to the west with a few sails being caught off Western.” Mercurio is one of few charter captains who have been fishing these waters for decades.
Captain Rob Nevius on Jerkwater Charters out of Hurricane Hole Marina agrees that king mackerel have been granting some hot action to the west of Key West just off the reef edge. Nevius has been getting them on live bait but says just chumming them up and jigging seems to work the best. Nevius runs a light tackle SeaVee boat and really enjoys the action that light tackle sport fishing has to offer here in the Lower Keys.
As for other action around Key West, Nevius explained that the cobia bite has been pretty hot too. He’s been finding cobia in the Gulf in some of the ‘typical’ cobia spots in larger schools. Nevius has had some fabulous days of cobia fishing, catching his limit and boating cobia in the 20- to 25- pound range.
Sailfishing is certainly a hot topic in the Keys in March and April. The sailfish migrate through our area each year around now but the action is still not up to speed. Nevius recalls last year’s bite started much earlier. “Last year January and February we had a great run of sailfish,” he said. This year has been a little different. “I’ve found that a north wind pushes the green water out and puts the fish down,” he added. Ideal conditions off Key West for sails are to have the blue water inside 200 feet of water. “It seems to be the best time to fish for them,” Nevius remarked.
Tarpon fishing has been spotty this week. The southerly breezes seemed to keep them biting in the Key West Harbor and Northwest Channel. As the winds turn to a more north direction, the fishing becomes more difficult for tarpon. That doesn’t mean they are non-existent, just more difficult to get a bite.
Several flats guides I talked to said they’ve had their shots at some great fishing this week. Loads of bonefish from Big Pine to the Marquesas Keys means the water temperatures are getting up there slowly but surely. There are also plenty of large permit around, many of them tailing in very shallow water looking for a feast.
Our only hope is that March will give us more mild weather and more fabulous fishing opportunities.