Well, we are in the full swing here in 2017, football is long over and the Keys are starting to get our annual population increase of “snowbirds.” And the people from up North aren’t the only ones looking to head south for the cooler months. The Florida-Straits are in the main migration pattern for many pelagic fish. With water temperatures falling with each cold front in the Florida bay, this pushes loads of bait fish, crabs and shrimp heading for deeper warmer water.
On areas where there are lots of bridges, this means there are a lot of bait and crabs and shrimp being pushed from the bay with each out-going tide. Getting in the tower and spotting rays that gracefully swim along the sandy bottom is a super effective way to locate schools of cobias. The rays flap their wings pushing up sand exposing little crabs and shrimp which the cobias take full advantage of the real offering. And finding a decent ray can really make your day. One ray can have as many as 30-40 cobias curiously following. Cobias are super curious and will eat most any offering, but some favorites are live grunts, eels, or a bucktail jig. The hardest part is not losing the ray in all the excitement going on.
With dropping temperatures up North and in the waters of Florida Bay we have a special time of year in the shallows right out front Islamorada, causing an intersection of migratory pelagic and baitfish seeking warmer homes. Get up in that tower and go slow when moving from spot to spot, because sails and cobias are both most curious fish that will sometimes just swim up to the boat to check it out. You don’t want to be going fast and run them over or too low where you don’t see them all together. Pay attention for large schools of bait, you never know what’s below or behind them. Stay safe and we’ll see you out there!
Captain Ross Early
EarlyBird Fishing Charters
Islamorada, FL
305-942-3618
www.fishearlybird.com
Facebook.com/FishingChartersEarlyBird
Instagram: @earlybirdfishing