Key West Fishing Report - July 2006

KEY WEST – This week has been a wet one in the Lower Keys. Those developing afternoon showers are just a fact of life this time of year. It can sometimes put a damper on the day but for the most part the clouds are scattered and can be worked around pretty easily.
I actually had the opportunity to meet our Upper Keys writer, Mark Krowka in the confines of Papa Joe’s tackle shop in Islamorada this weekend. We had some severe thunderstorms in the area so several guides and their anglers were enjoying some coffee and sharing a few fish stories while the clouds passed.
I had booked a few days with Captain Steve Freidman over the holiday weekend in hopes of getting my husband, Capt. Justin Rea, a little time on the bow. It’s a great tactic for me since my skiff poling skills are still ‘in development’ and we get to see some different water and some big tailing bonefish. Although we do have plenty of bonefish in the lower Keys, they don’t tail as much for some reason.
Freidman has been fishing the Keys for many years and has made Islamorada his home. I enjoyed just sitting back and watching angler and guide work together to get the fly in front of the fish.
One word of advice to anglers new to the sport: communicate with your guide. The more you work together to spot fish and make an accurate cast in the path of fish, the more success and enjoyment you’ll get out of the experience.
This week was not a total wash-out for anglers in the Third Annual Conch Republic Ladies Dolphin Tournament. Several nice fish were weighed in, but the weather kept a few boats from venturing out for the one day tournament. All in the entire tournament was a success with 55 women anglers on 22 boats.
Lili DiStefano, guided by her husband, Captain Jeff DiStefano on the Second Chance out of Oceanside Marina managed a last minute remarkable catch – a 52.9- pound dolphin. “We hooked the fish at the last possible minute,” Lili DeStefano said. The clock on the GPS read 3:17 PM and DiStefano knew there was little time left to land this size fish and make it back to the dock to weigh in the fish.
“It was exciting and a good story to tell but I wish I had more time to enjoy the catch,” she added. They arrived back at the Conch Republic Seafood Company dock with ten minutes to spare. Team Second Chance took first prize for heaviest fish.
Other notable catches in the heaviest fish division include Mary Phund with a 32.2- pound fish, and Lara Rutskin with her 28.6- pound catch. Rutskin’s team fishing on the Equity Too also won first prize in the aggregate weight division with a combined weight of 50.9- pounds.
Captain Brice Barr on the Double Down out of Charter Boat Row in Key West also participated in the ladies tournament with is wife, Holly. He mentioned that fishing has slowed down a bit but conditions are still very good for fishing off Key West.
“There is plenty of current, bait and weeds but not a ton of fish,” remarked Barr. He’s been out fishing nearly every day and has found mahi-mahi up to 18- pounds but many more that are in the 8- pound range. Barr mentioned that he’s tried to change up the fishing a bit with his anglers and has had some success fishing the reef for mangrove snapper, yellowtail and muttons. “The water is still dirty which makes the reef fishing really good,” Barr said.
Captain Brice Barr can be contacted at 305-304-2314 or you can visit his website at www.doubledownsportfishing.com.
Captain John Batillo on the Greyhound V out of Charter Boat Row has had some great days of reef fishing as well. Batillo reported his anglers aboard the half-day party boat landed some great fish including yellowtail snapper, lane snapper, grouper, porgy and mangrove snapper. Anglers were mainly using cut bait and squid while some of the local regulars had bonito chunks and ballyhoo plugs to entice the bite.
Several of the party boats, including the Greyhound V run evening trips as well during the summer months. It can be a lot of fun to get out on the water at sunset and fish past dark here in the Lower Keys.
Flats guides are enjoying the abundance of feeding bonefish and permit throughout the backcountry flats. There are still tarpon around too but expect to find fish in the 50- pound range. This is also the time of year to look closely for baby tarpon under mangrove islands and in small coves in the backcountry.
Many of the fly fishing guides in the Keys are gearing up for the Del Brown Invitational Tournament scheduled for July 18-20th. This tournament is in memory of the late Del Brown, a pioneer in permit fishing. Brown caught over 500 permit on fly in his lifetime. For information on the tournament contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-664-2444.