We’re having one helluva fishing season this summer. The action on the reef is just amazing. Bonitos are dominating the bite on the reef, leaving us little down time when we’re not hooked up fighting a fish.
The king mackerel bite is hot this month too. The kings are averaging 4 to 10 pounds and are biting excellent trolling the reef on our sport fishing trips. Blackfin tuna, weighing up to 30 or 35 pounds, are biting sporadically on the reef. They travel through, usually in groups of 2 to 3 fish, along the reefs eating the ballyhoo and sardines. They don’t bite on every trip, but are a great find when we do catch a couple.
Wahoo are another species that we catch on occasion when we least expect it. We catch them trolling the reefs, using the same technique we do for most species this month, and they always bite the deep planer bait. Wahoo get up to 40 or 50 pounds out here and are one of the coolest catches you can get. When you catch one, you are required to shout at the top of your lungs, WAHOO!
Offshore fishing has been hit or miss lately. And with all the action happening on the reefs, there’s been little reason to fish out that far. A few boats are finding some small schools of mahi mahi, but they really haven’t made their grand summer entrance yet. Last year the mahi mahi bite was late and I suspect it will be this year again. I foresee them biting really good in later August and throughout September, so get ready! Offshore is best described as hero or zero. You either end up with a boatload of fish or a long day of nothing at all. Action is red hot on the reef so if you want to catch the most fish, stay in the 100-300ft of water zone.
To everyone fishing this month out there, I hope you have good fishing and Tight Lines!
Capt. Brett Magers
New Lattitude Sportfishing
(954) 707-2147
www.newlattitude.com