Happy 2014, and what better way to start out the new year than taking advantage of Stuart’s best month for what it’s known for, Sailfish Capital of The World! Using 40 to 50 pound leaders with circle hooks, and trolling naked ballyhoo or presenting live baits from either outriggers or kites provide multiple opportunities at catching sailfish, dolphin, wahoo, and blackfin tuna on the average January day. Whichever method you choose to target your quarry, I promise you, it’s worth your time and money to start pulling dredge teasers. While live baiting for the above species, a strip teaser has become a must. Being extremely easy to deploy, fish and store, these portable bait schools lure every type of species to within feet of your boat and will increase productivity tremendously. While trolling dead bait, I recommend a dredge of rubber fish, natural bait or a combination of the two, fixed to one or more umbrella rigs to emulate a school of bait consisting of anywhere from 8 to 50 fish. Both types of teasers attract fish from greater distances than single baits alone, cover more of the water column and keep hungry game fish near the boat long enough to get them to eat a hooked bait.
• Focus most days fishing between 120 and 220 feet of water around color changes, rips, scattered grass lines, bait and bottom contour.
• On slower days head to the reefs and fish a spoon on a planner rod or Cannon downrigger for good kingfish action.
• Expect and be ready with a cobia Slayer Jig for cobia migrating down the beach on manta rays, especially later on in the month.
• Grouper season just closed, but amberjack, cobia and other reef and bottom fish are still open and very productive in January.
Good luck out there this January, and I hope your fishing trips and year are “Off the Chain”!