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Keys Fishing Reports
 The Lower Keys Fishing Report is brought to you by Capt.
Andrew Tipler. Lastcastcharters.net
To fish with Captain Andrew you can call him at 305-744-9796
or you can reach him via email at scarpa1@bellsouth.net
September 06, 2007- Lower Keys Fishing Report
It seems that the dolphin made
a liar out of me, the fall run might have started. There have
been some nice fish caught early and late. Most of the fish
have been in the 5-15lb class with a few larger fish mixed in.
The dolphin were grouped under floating debris and some schools
numbered in the dozens. Capt John of Fun Yet Charters loaded
the boat on Monday. There have also been lots of tuna out in
600-800ft. Keep an eye out for marlin while working around the
schools of tuna.
Reef fishing was
fairly good this week. If you get in current and chum heavy the
fish are coming up in good numbers. A little weight will help
get the bait to the fish. The hank brown jig heads and calcutta
models both work great. Strip ballyhoo and bonito strips both
worked well. The fish were good sized and willing to eat. I
had multiple reports of nice sized grouper being caught in the
evenings. A live pinfish or grunt will get the attention of any
grouper in the area.
Wreck fishing was tough with
the current we had this past week. We repeatedly found over
2kts of current and getting to the bottom was tough. There were
some nice mutton snapper if you worked hard to get them. Some
rock ledges on the deep edge of the reef are holding muttons as
well. Live pinfish and butterfly style jigs are both good for
targeting them.
We saw marlin on most trips
this week and managed one on Sunday. The fish ate a lure tolled
off the short corner. When working around schools of tuna I
like to keep one or two marlin lures in the spread. I like
trolling one on the second wave and one on the third. Rig the
lures with 200-400lb mono for these guys and hang on. There is
not much out there that puts on a show like a marlin crashing
the spread. I will run my tuna lures right off the rod. It
seems like the hook up ratio is better than out of the riggers.
Set your tuna baits way back and don’t be afraid to troll fast.
Small blue/white/silver Billybaits worked well. The tuna seemed
to be targeting small flying fish so this lure choice is a dead
on match.
Flats fishing for bonefish
continued to be red hot. Fish were moving over the flats on the
strongest flow of the tides. Chumming with cut shrimp is a
great option for those not willing to pole a skiff through the
shallows. Both ocean side and gulf side flats had good numbers
of fish. They are more than willing to chow down on a live
shrimp but will also eat a well placed fly.
I got a call shortly after last
weeks report hit stands. Turns out my pinfish traps were picked
in a prop and taken in to untangle. They were kind enough to
give me a call once they saw the report and I have gotten them
back. Now I feel bad for the venting my frustrations in print
but had I not the call have never come in. Good luck and good
fishing.
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