Key Largo Fishing Report - May 23, 2005

[Zachary]

I am going to start posting fishing reports.  Keep in mind that these are going to be sporadic and only based upon my personal fishing trips.  I do this in the hope that maybe some of you can similarly post your reports - where ever you live.

I am going to be moving from South Florida soon to up north because of work.  This is unfortunate becuase I just love fishing (and the warm weather).  I used to go fishing with the Kelly Fleet in Miami, but I have stopped for many reasons.  Reason number 1 is because you just don't catch much fish.  Reason number 2 is because, in the South Beach marina, they have built two big condos where we used to park.  Now you have to park very far away AND pay of the parking - no thanks.

So, as of about 3 years ago, I have been fishing with Capt. Chan's Gulfstream in Key Largo.  I have fished many boats in Key Largo through Islamorada, and the Gulfstream is the best by far.

So I went fishing yesterday and had a good trip.  Winds were from the NNE at about 7mph through about 5pm, then changed to the W at 15mph with rain.  But by that time fishing was over so we didn't care.

Anyhow, the current was VERY strong, but the good thing is that the wind and the current were going in the same direction, which is good for fishing in general, and yellowtail snapper fishing in specific.  However, since the current was so strong, it has hard to tell if you had a bite when "free shrimping" for yellowtail.  That said, I did manage to catch 10 fish - my personal best.  

Keep in mind that the Gulfstream is the only boat that I know of that "rotates" the fisherman.  This is how it works.  You go to stern of the boat on the left side.  There is a basket mixed with chum, oats, and sand.  You take a chunk of this and place it in your hand.  Then you put your hooked bait in the middle and make a "sand ball."  Make the ball tight, through it out in the water.

The sand ball serves 2 purposes.  First, it serves as a weight.  Second, as the ball goes down, the ball dissolves and creates a chum line.  This chum line is clouded by the sand making it harder for the fish to see your line.  As they eat the small bits of chum, they see your hooked bait flowing along the current with the other chum bits and eat it - and BINGO, there is your yellowtail snapper.  Please note - if you stop your line, then the fishing is over because your bait did not naturally flow with the chum.  I know it's hard to believe, but it's true.

So, when you throw your ball in the water, you let your line out and at the same time slide down the stern to your right, thus allowing the guy behind you to also make a sand ball and throw it out.  By the time you are in the middle of the stern, you should have a hit.  If yes, then reel your fish in while you are still sliding to the right.  If no, then, as "Fluff" the mate says - "Give up the dream."  By the time you are at the right side of the stern, reel up your line and go back in line to do it all over again.

So I say this because if you have 20 people yellowtail fishing, it may take up to 10 to 15 minutes to do it all over again.  Keep in mind that you obviously don't catch a fish every time you're up, so your fishing time is actually limited.  So if you catch 10 yellowtail, then believe me, you are doing very well.  (BTW, 10 snapper is the limit too.)

Some people don't like to rotate because you stand a much lesser chance to catch fish.  However, I have to admit that it is the most fair way because that way everybody can catch some fish.  Otherwise, if the stern is full of people, then I will never get a chance to catch any.

I should also say in this report that while I was bringing up one of my yellowtails, a big fish ate it on the way up.  When I brought the fish up, it was still alive, but badly hit - A GROUPER GOT IT BUT SPIT IT OUT! :eek:   This happens quite often.  It happened to me and to another fisherman as well.  Keep in mind that even if the grouper swallowed the yellowtail, I probably never would have been able to land the grouper.  My yellowtail was about 16 inches, so imagine how big the grouper was.  I was using a lightweight spinning reel with 15 pound test, and the current was ripping.  The chances of my landing a huge grouper from 135 feet with that set-up is one in a million - if that.

Anyway, 10 snapper is a good enough for me, and I'm going to have a great snapper lunch AND dinner for the next couple of days or so. :grin:

So that's my fishing report for May 23, 2005.  Hope you guys enjoyed it.

Zachary

[williwm]

zachary, Was the chum in the mixture finely ground? I've fished drifting in the chum line, but haven't seen that technique. I'm anxious to try it. Went diving with a little fishing between dives about 2 weeks ago. Red snapper weren't biting but we managed to spear 6 between 18 and 24 pounds. mw

[Zachary]

The chum wasn't too finely ground - and you don't want it that way.  You don't want a slick - you want chum.  Down here they mix the chum with oats and sand to make the balls.  That way, when as the ball goes down, it dissolves, and the chum particles (along with the sand and the oats) come off of the ball and the yellowtail eat them.

Heck, when I was cleaning my fish, I found a ton of the oats and chum in their stomachs.

I have never heard of anyone using this technique outside of the Florida Keys, but I don't see why it couldn't work elsewhere.  I have a cousin who lives in Mobile and I have fished there many times (which is similar to fishing any of the gulf states like Texas and Louisiana - the gulf waters are shallow compared to here.)

I must say that mixing these "ingredients" is quite messy, but well worth it.  The boats down here get a big clothes basket and pour the ingredients and "blend" them in there.  I would say that you could probably make anywhere between 50 to 100 balls.  Just make sure that you compact the balls and make them VERY TIGHT.  You want the balls to be quite most, then squeeze them tight.  Then wrap your line around the ball about 5 to 15 times depending on the depth.  This way, the wraps keep the ball more intact and it goes down deeper.  In the Gulf, where the water is about 60 feet, you really shouldn't need any more than 5 wraps or so, and the balls don't need to be big.

Make sure that you also have a bucket of water to wash your hand after you make the ball and through it in the water.

Try it out and tell me how you do.  Remember, use small hooks and small baits - not too big - maybe a little more than the size of the hook.

Zachary

[Robert]

Pardon me for being 'off topic'....but did ya make it to Sloppy Joes?

[Zachary]

Actually, that's a good analogy.  When  you mix the chum with the sand and oats, it kinda looks like that.  

Perhaps a sloppy joe ball might work - but might attract sharks rather than yellowtail snappers.

Zachary