Key Largo: Go Get Your Raccoon Tan Line
The fishing is always good in the Florida Keys. In mid-summer, dolphin can be a primary target for offshore anglers, especially those launching out of the northern Keys.
Key Largo, just about an hour drive from South Florida’s two major airports, is tough to beat as a summer fishing destination. It’s easy to get to, and the food chain in the waters around this northernmost key is prolific. Warm, nutrient-rich Caribbean waters pour into the Straits of Florida, combining with water flowing out of the shallow-water nurseries of the Everglades and Florida Bay. Massive amounts of baitfish draw in the gamefish. There are fish everywhere, which is why Largo is such a popular dive destination.
Offshore anglers in search of the big pelagics will find them out over at least 500 feet this time of year. The key to finding dolphin is to find the grass lines. Then it’s as easy as trolling the grass, which can be about as productive as it gets, with dolphin smashing ballyhoo and a very good possibility of big wahoo or tuna crashing into the spread.
For those who prefer to drop bait and hold a rod, bottom fishing the reefs is always an option. The patch reefs and wrecks off the Atlantic side of the Keys are home to tasty critters. Mangrove snapper, mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper, grouper and all the other assorted bottom feeders will fill a cooler quickly this time of year. Sometimes the key is to use bait that stays on the hook, and a squid is usually a good option, as everything eats it and it takes a determined fish to rob the hook of squid.
Inshore fishing can get tough everywhere during the hottest months of the year, but Key Largo remains the best bet if your target species are redfish, snook, tarpon or permit. Fishing early and late or even at night will improve the bite, and it’s also more comfortable for the angler.
Finally, everyone will likely forget about fish July 27-28 during the Florida lobster mini season. Key Largo is one of the best places in the world for lobster diving, and the mini season provides divers with the first shot at spiny lobsters before the regular season opens in August.
Time your trip right, and you can treat yourself to the marine adventure of a lifetime. Spend a few days trolling deep water. Hop over to the other side of the island to spend a day or two exploring the backcountry. Then cap it all off with a couple days under the water collecting tasty crustaceans. By the time it’s all over with, you’ll have a wide smile beneath a raccoon tan line. The cooler will be overflowing with fresh seafood. And with all the salt and wind, it’ll take a month to get your hair to lie down. What could be better?