AS SEEN IN THE JULY/AUGUST 2008 ISSUE 

July/August Lower Keys Fishing Report:

By: Captain Andrew Tipler - Last Cast Charters

Summer is here and one thing is for sure, the fishing will be as blistering as the tropical sun! During the months of July and August, success can be as simple as concentrating your efforts early and late in the day. Fishing under the light of the moon takes off with midday relegated to relaxing in the shade, perhaps with a frozen concoction and fine cigar. For those of you that have had the opportunity to visit the Keys during the winter but were blown away by high winds and rough seas, now is the time to get in on some fantastic summer fishing. Calm seas and light winds offer visitors the perfect conditions to venture offshore. Just remember to protect yourself from the scorching sun and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

Near-shore, yellowtail snapper are king on the reef with 90 to 120-foot depths being a great place to start. I suggest you get out early before it gets too hot and put a few in the box before heading offshore in pursuit of more glamorous game fish. Plan on going through at least one block of chum for every hour you spend on the reef. Sand-balling can be an extremely effective when the water clarity makes the ‘tails finicky. I like to mix one block of chum with an equal volume of sand and one cup of menhaden oil. Leftover glass-minnow and shrimp also make great additions.

Once you have the yellowtail in a feeding-frenzy, a small jighead tipped with a thin bonito strip is my top choice; however, a fresh ballyhoo strip comes in at a close second. Depending on the velocity of the current, the fish will vary in distance from the boat. Sometimes you have to free line your bait way back in the chum slick to get it started while at other times you may have to add a little extra weight. Keep trying different methods until you find what works best.  

For your offshore endeavors, schoolie dolphin should be easy to locate as they are everywhere this time of year. I can tell you that tossing flies to schoolies is one of my favorite offshore pastimes. Try going as light as a five-weight to give some sport to these acrobatic fish, however, I suggest you keep an 11-weight handy in the event a slammer swims in to investigate. It can get a little crowded around well developed weedlines during the summer, so be sure to give your fellow boaters plenty of room and never discount the water 100-yards or more from the edge of the sargassum.

The month of July also marks the real start of swordfish season here in the Lower Keys. These gladiators of the deep are available year-round, but summer’s light winds allow more opportunities to get out and test your skills. Daytime swording is the hottest trend, but don’t forget about the night bite. Plan your trips accordingly to find fish when they are most active. I like getting in a few hours of daytime drifting and then a few hours at night. This way I am back at the dock with enough time to get some quality shut-eye for the following day’s trip. Check the 2,000-foot depths during the daytime hours and move up into 1,000 to 1,400-feet at night. 

For anglers interested in skinny-water, permit can be found on the flats and willingly tolerate the warmer temperatures. I suggest targeting bonefish early in the morning and then moving on to the permit pursuit as the morning progresses. Large, mature tarpon have moved out for the most part leaving behind only resident fish as well as some healthy schools of juveniles. If you are targeting ‘poons with live bait, keep your casts low to the water. Do your best to get in the habit of casting to a point above the water then stopping your bait so it falls gently to the surface. Believe it or not, tarpon find crustaceans falling from the heavens a bit unnatural.

Until next time, good luck and good fishing.

---

Save and Share this Article: