Fishing report for 7-11-08 from D. M. Navarro @ the World Class Angler in Marathon.
 
Keys Wide Summary

      Now is a good time to go fishing offshore with calmer waters expected for the weekend.  We had a bit of a breeze during the week but from the southeast, which actually has helped bring in the weed lines closer in.  We have had dolphin throughout the Keys from 18 to 25 miles beyond the reef but now I feel that you will find them closer in.  The latest Gulfstream report has the inside edge running within 12 miles of the Middle and Upper Keys with the closest point just off of Key largo at 9 miles out.  This should provide anglers with a good amount of action with a much greater concentration of baitfish in these areas.  This always in turn will bring in more predator fish to feed on them.  

     Most of the reports of bay fishing that I have had in the past week have been quite poor.  This water temperature has to be the reason as even grouper that are usually aggressive, have been lackadaisical to say the least.  Most all working the bay are now seeking their hot spots for lobster for the upcoming dive days at the end of the month.  Overall daytime fishing has been quite slow. The only good reports out of this side of the islands has been with night fishing with a few very good catches reported.

     Night fishing is a great bet as the moon is in a favorable phase for the fish to be biting.  The reef is by far your best bet with yellowtail, muttons and numerous grouper available.  Mangrove snapper have been so plentiful that keeping track of your limit has been the only challenge.   Live baits, such as pinfish & shrimp are best but squid, ballyhoo, glass minnows and silversides are also great.  Sardines and Thread Herring have also been good bets for the larger fish with a large whole bait like these.  Take plenty of good chum for best results.  

     You only have a few weeks of open waters for night fishing as the traps hit the aqua soon.  The first week or so the traps are in, most of the ropes on them will tend to float until they ‘soak up’ and settle down.  Knowing the direction of the current in the area will do you wonders on not having to stop and remove a trap line from your prop.  (The lobsterman will also be grateful.)  When passing a trap, go on the down current side of the buoy itself as the line leading to the trap will be trailing off up current of the buoy.  This will allow you safe passage and keep the trap marked for the fishermen.   

     The rock humps along Hawk Channel are also a good bet for night fishing.  Drifting both the channel and the reef patches have been exceptional as of late.  Live baits or rigged squid have been good.  It has produced big grouper, very nice yellowtail and some huge mangrove snapper.  If you hit a spot with several bites in a small area, you may want to anchor and give it some time to see if you have found a good school.  

     The flats are only good very early in the day as water temperatures here have reached 95 and even spots of 100 degrees by mid afternoon.   There have been plenty of bonefish early and permit early but they have more sense than we do, as we are the ones sweating out in the shallows while they have retreated to deeper and cooler waters by midday

     Up to the east, I understand that there has been a huge run of nice fish on the reef edge about 5 miles east-northeast of Tennessee Light.  You don’t need numbers to find the area unless you are attempting to count the number of boats located in the region.  From reports that I have had, you only have to get in the vicinity to have your way with a wide variety of nice snapper and some very nice grouper that have been hot for some time.  Good Luck.

     If you are still looking for us, (The World Class Angler,) we have moved to our new location at 3740 Overseas Highway.  We are about a half of a mile farther down the road from where we were still on the Bayside of the Highway.  We are just east of Annette’s, (For those of you that know how to work a compass.)   We are in our new spiffy store where we now have live bait as well as all of the quality items that you have come to know us for along with the one thing we always promise, Honest Advice!  

reach dave at worldclassan@comcast.net

Captain Dave Navarro is a lifelong resident of Marathon, Owner of the World Class Angler in Marathon and captain of the charter boat, “Dave’s Dream.”

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