By: Capt. Bruce Andersen
As we kick off January, I want to wish everyone a wonderful start to the year and thank you for your continued support. This month marks my 31st season of charter fishing in the Upper Keys, and beginning another year on the water here never gets old.
January is one of the most exciting months to fish here in the Florida Keys. Winter brings cooler temperatures, cold fronts, and huge schools of baitfish giving us a wide range of options. From reef fishing to wreck fishing offshore to chasing cobia and spanish mackerel back in the Gulf. But without question, my favorite winter technique is live bait and kite fishing for sailfish and the other pelagic species that roam the waters just outside the reef.
Kite fishing is an experience all its own. Carefully watching your baits on the surface suspended from the kite line while we wait for that bite is something every angler should experience. Sailfish, blackfin tuna, mahi, kingfish, and wahoo all roam these waters and any one of them can make your day.
What makes this style of fishing even more thrilling is that we do it on light tackle. Catching these powerful pelagics on the same light gear we use here in the Florida Keys is one of the most exciting things you can do in sportfishing. There’s nothing quite like watching a sailfish tail walk across the surface while you’re connected to him on 12-pound line, or feeling a wahoo make a blistering run nearly to the end of the spool. These moments where everything goes quiet except the scream of the drag, are some of the most exciting experiences you can have on the water.
January is the prime month for this kind of action, and the combination of live bait, kites, and winter conditions gives us a real shot at multiple species in a single trip. Whether we’re drifting baits from the kites or slow-trolling lively baits along the edge, every day holds the potential for something unforgettable.
If you’ve been thinking about booking a trip, this is the time. I’m grateful to begin my 31st season doing what I love, and I’d be honored to have you aboard The Captain Easy for some incredible winter fishing.
Here’s to a great year ahead, and tight lines to all!
— 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