By: Capt. Bruce Andersen
August is an amazing time to experience offshore and reef fishing here in the Florida Keys. While many folks might think the summer heat would keep you indoors, getting out on the ocean is actually one of the best ways to stay comfortable. The sea breeze and salt air keep you much cooler than you’d ever be back on land, and there’s no better place to soak in the beauty of the crystal-clear reef waters or the deep blue water of the Gulfstream.
Offshore fishing in late summer offers exciting opportunities for mahi-mahi and blackfin tuna. Mahi-mahi, also known as dolphin fish, are plentiful this time of year. We often find them under working birds, floating debris or weed lines offshore. Their beautiful, tropical colors, amazing acrobatic fight they put up and great table fair make them a popular target all summer long.
We also enjoy a late summer and early fall run of blackfin tuna that provides some of the most consistent, fast-paced tuna fishing of the entire year here in the Keys. These hard fighting fish are often found around offshore humps like the Islamorada hump, the 409 hump or the west hump. They can be caught trolling small feathers, vertical jigging, or my favorite, chumming and live lining with live pilchards. Usually, the biggest challenge isn’t hooking them, it’s getting them up past the sharks waiting below to grab an easy meal. It makes for an exciting battle and adds to the thrill every time!
Closer to the reef, fishing is also very good. Yellowtail snapper are abundant along the reef edge and provide steady action. These delicious fish are typically caught by anchoring and chumming to draw them up behind the boat. Mangrove snapper are another staple on the reef this time of year, For those who prefer bottom fishing, mutton snapper can be targeted on deeper wrecks and ledges. They’re a prized catch, known for being one of the hardest fighting and hardest to fool snapper here in the keys
Whether you’re after the acrobatic mahi offshore or looking to fill the cooler with tasty snapper from the reef, August offers some of the most enjoyable fishing of the year. If you’d like to experience the incredible late summer fishing in the Florida Keys, I’d love to have you out with me aboard the Captain Easy. Come join me for a day on the water, where you can relax, stay cool, and make memories you’ll never forget. Let’s go fishing!
— www.captaineasycharters.com | You can reach Captain Bruce
Andersen at Capt. Easy Charters, MM 85, call 305.360.2120 or
email at: captbrucekey@comcast.net