Escape Winter To Fish Marathon
By CAM Staff
Maybe it’s a little chilly where you are, or maybe the winds with each passing cold front are keeping you off the water? If that’s the case, it’s time to book passage to the Florida Keys… Marathon in particular.
Sure, those same cold fronts might be hitting the Keys too. But there, a bitter cold front just means having to put socks on. And while it’s tougher to feel your way around the deck of a boat with a layer of fabric on your feet, the fish couldn’t care less.
Right now, kingfish should be thick around Marathon, on the Atlantic side in Hawk Channel and on the Gulf-side wrecks. Live pilchards fished on light tackle is the go-to technique, with large, lively bait being the No. 1 requirement. A king mackerel approaching 40 pounds is no joke, especially on 15-pound tackle.
A good chum slick will bring in all manner of predators around the Gulf wrecks or around the humps and coral heads in Hawk Channel, meaning kings are not the only game in town. Spanish and cero mackerel—although generally smaller than kings—will likely be in the mix, and aside from a smoked preparation they are thought to be better table fare.
Amberjack are another hard-fighting bruiser you’re likely to encounter this time of year. Reef donkeys in the 20 to 40 pound range will test your self worth.
On the Atlantic side, one is also likely to find good fishing for lane, yellowtail and mutton snapper as well as hogfish, grouper and pompano. Loading a cooler with these tasty fish is merely a matter of dropping a shrimp to the bottom and reeling them in. On windy days this can all be done inside the reef. Just a mile or two run puts anglers over appropriate depths in Hawk Channel, which generally remains calmer than the seas outside the reef and on the Gulf Stream. When the weather is right, it can be very worthwhile to push out beyond the reef. This time of year is known for producing pretty good waves of sailfish.
When one of those pesky fronts rolls through kicking up high seas, there’s always the option of retreating to the protected waters of Florida Bay. Off Marathon, Florida Bay is deeper and more open than the other Keys. Wrecks and artificial reefs provide fast action for any number of species for anyone with some good chum and live bait.
If you’re still on the couch reading this, drop the magazine and go pack a bag. If the forecast calls for cold weather, you might consider packing a pair of socks.
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