Tortugas return !
Me and the neighbor just flew back today!. Fished/sailed 10 pm this past thurs returned to port sunday 1 pm. 3 day boat out of Stock Island, Key West. Nothing better for your money. Fishing was good to excellent. Only bad news was a cold front that pushed thru late sat nite that shut the fish off, otherwise all 3 fish boxes would have been filled. The boat caught fish included blackfin tuna, mahi, king mackeral, wahoo, yellow tail , scamp grouper, black grouper, red grouper, the famed MUTTON snapper (which is why u go, and keep returning). O yeah, and each and every type of small reef fish imaginable. (If u chicken rig). Pool fish was a near 50lb Cubera, what a beast!. Capts moved boat around well, weather was nice. Boat had 26 anglers and there must have been at least 30 totes filled with these assorted fishes when it was all over.
I faired ok, had much better trips but each trip is different. This has to be my 20th year fishing out of key west (on this headboat or the other headboat) in December or January. The fishing is excellent, its the opportunity to catch a fish of lifetime with every drop to the bottom.
Six pack fishing has their advantage and cost difference is really minimal, but u gotta have six guys who r committed and u gotta reserve NOW for NEXT Winter. You also have to KNOW who really catches fish and who doesn't, fishing the Marquesas is not fishing the Fort or west thereof. The headboat that remains in KW is fine. Cook on board,food is good, so food not needed, beer also available. The key to fishing on these 3 and 4 day trips is FRESH BAIT! Gotta spend 150-200 bucks on good Goggle eyes, speedos and ballyhoo, DON'T waste ur money on frozen! Catching ur own is ok, but buy it, go online, subscribe to a florida magazine, look up a florida sportsman forum, join, make contact w people in miami or fort lauderdale, or the keys, make a bait connection, spend any extra time in local shops and pry the locals for intel, tell them where ur fishing. You r better off talking online and w local shops and anglers in them while your there. The keys are too nice to go down and spend hours catching a bait that's useless. Between 2-3 guys it becomes cheaper and less aggravating.
This electronic and written info will also keep u up to date on the many regulations. (Atlantic vs Gulf). Last thing u want do is book a trip, catch a nice 20 lb grouper and have to throw it back! These trips r unforgettable, once u go u will be hooked. Each trip is better and better. Now i gotta plan for the NEXT one. Grouper re-opens May 1st, and i know i will b there! :thumbsup: Good luck.
