8-24-13 August deep sea fishing in Key Largo

There’s been some great fishing the past few weeks while offshore fishing in Key Largo. We’ve been leaving from 20 miles south of there, and been fishing from anywhere from the edge of the reef to 30 miles out. The reef has provided lots of action with yellowtail snapper and a few mutton snapper, a little further out on the wrecks we have also caught some vermillion snapper and amberjack, and then out in the gulf stream we have been catching mahi and blackfin tuna… We’ve have also been doing some swordfishing and been picking away at some fish. It hasn’t been easy but we have caught some nice fish the last month, but with the good days there has been some real slow days with no broadbill as well. We should still have plenty of snapper and blackfin tuna coming up this fall, as well as some mahi but there might not be quite as many as there has been lately.

Capt. Nick Stanczyk

6-26-13 Key Largo Deep Sea Fishing Report

It’s officially summer time here in Key Largo which means it’s time for Mahi! The bite the last few weeks has been pretty good overall, and there’s been fish of all sizes. We are having to measure some fish to see if they are legal size, and then we’ve had some nice bulls up to 30 lbs. There’s also been quite a few “football” size blackfin tuna on the humps south of key largo. The swordfishing has been a little tough lately, but we did manage two nice fish, one around 110 lbs and the other around 130 lbs. I imagine the mahi fishing will remain good, the tuna bite should improve, and hopefully the sword bite turns into a great bite like it did last year at this time. Make the drive a few miles south and send us an email when you’re ready to go fishing.

Capt. Nick Stanczyk

bnmcharters@gmail.com

4-21-13 Offshore Fishing in Key Largo in Mid April

The Offshore fishing in Key Largo has been pretty active lately. We’ve been catching a little bit of everything, and doing quite a variety of fishing. The Shark fishing has been very exciting lately. We caught 5 tiger sharks our last 3 shark trips from 400 – 700 lbs. All catch and release. We also had a couple bull sharks mixed in too. We’ve had a couple good days on the mahi and a couple slow days. They are really just starting to show up so it’s still a little early to count on them. Our best day was 35 fish, mostly schoolies but we did gaff a few up to 8 lbs. The amberjack bite is on fire! We caught 6 amberjacks yesterday with 3 bruisers over 50 lbs. They make great smoked fish dip and decent table fare. We have better eating fish so we usually don’t eat them as much as other places, but they’re definitely edible! We been catching yellowtail, vermillion, and mangrove snapper as well when we wanted dinner! A couple weeks ago we also had some good sailfishing, catching 3 one afternoon and then 6 the following day. The sails have thinned out now, but we might see some more here soon. The permit showed up on the reef the past few weeks and we have caught a handful of them, including some real beauties weighing in the 30 lb class range. On the reef we also had a cobia yesterday and saw another one that didn’t bite. Send me an email when you’re looking to get out on a key largo fishing charter and we’ll hook you up! We are only twenty minutes south and fish the same waters!

Capt. Nick Stanczyk

bnmcharters@gmail.com

3/24/13 Key Largo Monster Fish!

Fishing wasn’t easy today here in key largo backcountry fishing.  Howling southwest winds of 25 knots!  We made our way into the bay and limited out on big seatrout though up to 20′.  Also lots of ladyfish which we use for cut bait, and a few snappers of the mangrove variety.  Shark fishing in key largo was productive lots of blacktips and blacknoses.  Though after a few of them we hooked a big 100 lb tarpon!  A welcome surprise, he stayed on the line and we chased him for a bit and eventually got him boatside.  It was great to see in the muddy water we were fishing due to the high winds, but you never know what you’ll catch when your on a key largo fishing charter so you need to get out there and try!  I’ve also got a picture here of a monstrous goliath grouper caught by a young 10 year old boy on a charter last week.  They also caught a big bull shark plus plenty of other rod benders!  The tarpon fishing in key largo may slow down for a few days as we have more cold weather unfortunately coming, but I don’t think for long and good news is after it leaves I think April the tarpon will really go off as they have been ready and waiting!!!

2/24/13 Key Largo Trout and Snapper Fishing

Had a half day today on 2/24/13 and did some key largo snapper fishing as well as key largo trout fishing.  We hit some islands early with some live shrimp looking for mangrove snapper.  We found a ton though had to weed through some small ones but managed to pick out some nice 12 inchers for dinner.  Also off the edge of the bank that dropped into the moat, we picked three huge trout out as well as a redfish – unusual in the crystal clear water that is found in the area.  The trout were all 24-25 inches, nice size for down here!  Anything is possible on a key largo fishing charter which is what makes fishing down here so fun!  After we had enough fun with this, we went in search of muds in the bay.  These muds, often found in the spring and summer though can be around at any time, hold a variety of fish as well.  The usual suspects are ladyfish, trout, jack crevalle, pompano, and occasionally you also get some blacktip sharks and tarpon in there too.  Today we found more trout, not quite as big but several keeper size which we all released as well as some ladyfish.  One thing I often like to do is hit these muds and keep the ladyfish for bait, then do some key largo tarpon fishing by fishing some of those live and dead on the bottom around the local channels and bridges.  Didn’t try this today but definitely will become part of the half day routine as we enter the spring and tarpon season!  If your thinking of doing some february key largo fishing get in touch, I may possibly have some late afternoon trips still available!

 

2/23/12 Key largo goliath grouper fishing!

We were after a key largo goliath grouper fishing today.  Fished near the edge of the gulf as it was too rough to get out there deeper to the wrecks.  Lots of action early whilst catching baitfish.  A mix of trout, ladyfish, and jacks were just about every cast.  Even a few  spanish mackerel, bluefish, and pompano making their presence known!  Key Largo shark fishing was on our minds too as we caught 4 medium sized blacktip sharks while doing all this.  After we were loaded up.. goliath time!  We hit the hole that I was thinking about… all of a sudden a bunch of cobias surrounded us!  I reeled in the surface pinfish and one ate it, my angler also pitched too one and he ate as well – doubled up!  Unfortunately his spit the bait/hook, but he reeled the other one in nicely.  A little bit later after chunking some ladyfish and waiting with the big rods both doubled over hard!  We gave chase leaving one fish behind with rod in holder.  Decided to switch the fish we were working on as the one behind did roll over, and my angler started fighting him.   After a few minutes there he was – big 150 lb goliath grouper on spin tackle.. nice catch!  Grouper fishing in Key Largo is fun for these big boys!  We then switched back to the other big fish which appeared to be a big ol’ sawfish.  Fought him a bit more and I leadered him up carefully – all on monofilament 100lb!  Got hit bill out of the water twice as he thrashed violently, 2nd time though he cut us off but at least we saw him and got a technical release!  After that we hit a high water spot for some redfish which proved productive… 10 or so reds mostly keeper size though all were released.

2/10/13 Key Largo Flats Fishing Report

Fishing with Capt. Dave there was something awesome reported while stake-up bonefishing.  Key Largo bonefishing provides shots at large fish, stake-up fishing is a good bet when it’s windy and/or rainy.  You simply position yourself on the edge of on a flat and put your shrimps on and sit and wait.  Pre-cold fronts are often a spectacular time to fish as the bones can often go nuts foraging to prepare for the temperature drops.  This is a often way to catch many bonefish, as well as shots at permit, or in this case, big mutton snapper!  These muttons are an unusual catch while flats fishing key largo.  Definitely some good eating fish!  At first it was thought these guys were  permit as they were making some erratic movements, then discovered they were these nice key largo mutton snapper fish!  Also caught was a nice bonefish and a permit.  Not bad for a half day late afternoon key largo fishing charter!

key largo mutton snapper
key largo mutton snapper

1-10-13 Key Largo Deep Sea Fishing Report

Deep Sea Fishing in Key Largo has been great lately. On our Key Largo offshore fishing charters we have been fishing about 15 – 20 miles south, on the edge of the reef. We have been focusing on sailfish, since thats one of the most exciting winter time sport fish we have here. Today the wind was strong, 20+ knots out of the south east, and the seas were rough, 4 – 6′ with a few bigger swells coming through. It’s not the best wind for sailfish, but it didn’t stop them from biting. We released 2 out of 3 sailfish bites, and also caught a few mahi. We were fishing with Kites, using live goggle eyes and Ballyhoo for bait. Look us up when you want to go fishing in Key Largo!