Let the Buggin' Begin!

There has been a lot going on lately. The trip to Las Vegas to attend the ICAST trade show, working on new products to go with the new fish cleaning station and fishing. The final version of the table should be out soon. Once it is in production things could get hopping down here.

Mini lobster season start next Wednesday. This is always a zoo as thousands of boats descend on the Keys to catch Florida Lobster. It seems like every year someone dies chasing bugs. So if you are a bit out of shape and planning on participating in the mini season don't over do it. If you are boating remember that there are thousands of people in and on the water and a small percentage are totally clueless. Drive defensively and watch out for divers no where near their dive flags.

Fishing has been inconsistent. One day they bite and the next they have lock jaw. The outgoing tide has been best on the reef with the incoming very slow. Offshore the fish seem to be biting early (before 10) or late (after 2). Mid day is a good time to switch to deep dropping or looking for tuna.

A fair number of marlin encounters are being reported with few anglers ready for the visit. Having a heavier rod ready to live bait with schoolie dolphin is a good idea if you want to tangle with a big blue.

Inshore is about the same with the last half of the outgoing be much more productive than the incoming tide. We have been catching nice mangrove snapper all over the bay and bridges but you have to wade through a number of smaller fish before the bigger ones get nosy.

We are seeing fewer tarpon but they are still plenty around. Like everything else the outgoing tide early or late is when I see the most activity. Deeper channels near flats are good places to start looking for the silver kings.

Bonefish and permit are hard to find close in to Marathon, at least for me. Further west from Big Pine to Key West both have been fairly easy to find.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

The Fish Cleaning Table

Finally, the first fish cleaning table is out of the mold. The table is five feet long and 30 inches deep. It can be mounted in a variety of ways including under a custom tiki hut. The table needs a catchy name though. Aqua Table and Conch Clean are on top of the list. If you can think of a better name leave me a comment. Then come on down here to see how it works.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

Jacob and the Balleyhoo

Thanks to la nina the winds have been abnormal this season. Southeast 20 knot winds in July just ain't fun in a small boat. Most of my die hard client are just a bit miffed. Then along comes Jacob and his sister Megan.

Young kids just want to catch fish. Bait like Pinfish and Balleyhoo are great kid size entertainers that the parents can trade in for something more challenging. Jacob pictured and Megan caught plenty of bait which they and dad traded in for a variety of sharks, barracuda, snapper and mystery fish. Mystery fish being critters that spool your light tackle when you are expecting something smaller. All of the action was within two miles of the dock in sheltered water.

Add a trip to a deserted island with a nice beach to explore and the kids were nearly as impressed as the parents.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

Dolphin and More!

Tons of dolphin offshore and finally the winds are cutting the small boat fishermen some slack. The dolphin were mainly undersized last week with a lot of hunting required to find keepers. Now the school fish are almost all respectable. Big fish are hard to find but, a few slobs are coming to the dock.

The reef which has mainly been closed for me this month due to winds, is turned on with a good current. Plenty of yellow tail snapper though the size is smaller than last month during the spawn. Mangrove should be on the reef to spawn this month so look out for nice fat spawn fish through the full moon.

The bay and bridges have been a little slow due to the mangs moving to spawn and the constant 15 plus knot winds that are finally dieing. Tarpon are still around. Most of the fish I am seeing are in the deeper waters near the flats. I haven't been in the back country for a while but, I hear permit are pretty thick from the Contents through the lower Keys Gulf side islands. As a reminder, if you are trailering a small boat down to the Keys keep it own the trailer so you can hit a few different areas. A good GPS map helps you find some honey holes around the back country islands.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

Quick Marathon Fishing Update

Boy Howdy, there was a cold going around down here that kicked my butt. I am starting to get back to normal so back to posting. Not much to say, the dolphin are the main attraction. The reef is hot if you pick your tide.

Since I have been under the weather I need to catch some fish for dinner. A couple dozen live ballyhoo on the bottom should produce a few grouper, mutton and mangroves. Luckily, I know where to load up on live ballyhoo pretty close. After my small boat guide trip tomorrow, I may have to take a day just to kick some fish butt for the dinner table.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas

Big Dolphin Moving In and More!

I have been waiting to post this for over a month. The big slammer dolphin are here and chewing finally! I had been seeing slammers the last few trips but they were in no mood to play. Now that the winds are getting back to normal they are turning on. There have also been quite a few respectable size wahoo caught and the black fin and skip jacks are pretty easy targets.

Inshore the yellowtail are thick, the Big Mangroves are on the reef and the muttons are getting ready to spawn. Big kings are eating some of the 'tails so a balloned 'tail on wire might produce the biggest king you ever hooked into. I have been picking up a good size black grouper or two to spice things up. Speaking of grouper, the FWC is planning a closure from December through March on all grouper. Also starting June there will be a Gulf reef fish gear change. Circle hooks only, venting tool and approved de-hooking device. Ah, will the regulations ever end.

Wreck fishing is almost impossible right now with all the big sharks. If you want to tangle with a bull or hammerhead over 300 pounds now is the time. Tarpon are still thick and even willing to take a fly if you are so inclined. If you like to just relax and catch a nice mess of fish the bay is the place. Nice 2 to four pound mangroves and sea trout.

If you have been waiting for the bite to start it is time to pull the trigger and get your butt down here.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas