Marathon- Florida Keys Fishing Report: October 24, 2008

FISHING THE MORNING 'AFTER'

Fantasy Fest- a time when the civilized come to Key West to go crazy, and the Key West crazies almost seem civilized. It’s eight days of festivals, parades, costumes, and partying. And it brings a tremendous influx of tourists to Monroe County during a slow time of the year.

For those of you down here visiting for Fantasy Fest- who are planning on indulging in a few adult beverages this evening- I’ve put together a few tips that should help you feel a little better for tomorrow morning’s fishing trip.

#1- Dramamine: If you are prone to getting seasick, there is a good chance that you will probably get seasick tomorrow- especially if the last thing you remember when you wake up is taking a shot of Jameson and dancing on the pool table at the Green Parrot. My advice- Take one Dramamine tonight, and then take half a tablet in the morning. That way you won’t be so groggy while out on the water.

#2- Water: Drink lots of water. Dehydration is the number one cause of most headaches. Drink a few glasses before going to bed tonight, and then bring along a couple of gallons for the morning’s trip. You’d be surprised how easily you can get dehydrated in the tropical sun.

#3- Keep Drinking: Should you find yourself leaving an establishment in the wee hours of the morning- especially if it’s a place named after a ‘dog,’ or ‘a monkey,’- you may only have one option on the road to recovery, and that is to keep drinking. Find a place that serves Bloody Marys- have one or two- and then load up on enough beer to get you through the trip (we're just joking).

In all seriousness, just remember to be safe and use good judgment. Most accidents that occur on the water involve alcohol. If you’re planning on captaining your own vessel- please save the cocktails for when you get back to the dock!

And now to the fishing report.

We are currently in the midst of our first real cold front and the numbers of migratory pelagics such as sailfish, kingfish, and cobia, are starting to increase in our local waters. On the flip side, the cold weather is pushing the dolphin out, and while we’re still catching a few, they’re becoming scarcer than they were a few weeks ago.

If you’re heading out to the reef look for frigate birds circling above schools of bait and you should get a shot at hooking a sail, kingfish, or cobia. Some big Cobia have been caught this past week with a few over 50 pounds.

Bottom fishing on the reefs and wrecks continues to produce excellent catches of mutton snapper, amberjack, and yellowtails- and the humps remain consistent for blackfin tuna and skipjacks.

The daytime swordfish bite has also been impressive, with several fish being taken in the 70 to 200 pound class.

Daytime swordfishing can be an exhilarating experience for any angler, but keep in mind that it’s not for the faint of heart. It can take several hours to bring a swordfish up from 1,500 to 2,000 feet. There are several great captains down here who would love to take you swordfishing.

Inshore, the snook fishing has been hot in the channels, at the bridges, and around the mangrove islands. Live bait continues to catch the most fish.

Your BEST BET for the week ahead: Pelagics at the Reef

Head to the edge of the reef and look for frigate birds working large schools of baitfish. Have two spinning rods ready- one with a 40 to 60 pound mono leader for sailfish or cobia, and one with #3-5 wire for the kingfish. Pitch out a live ballyhoo and get ready for an exciting battle. You never quite know what you’re going to catch out there.