5-15-13 Islamorada Fishing in Mid May

There's been some great catches of fish the past few days while fishing in Islamorada in Mid May. Almost all of the boats have been having decent catches, and then each day there has been a couple spectacular ones mixed in. There's been some mahi at a reasonable distance the last few days, and today the pretty work caught about 10 mahi in the morning, and then decided to hit the reef for a couple hours after that. We can't always do that, but early in the season (April and May), sometimes allows us too if the mahi aren't at extreme distances, (further out in the gulf stream). Anyhow, on the reef they caught a handful of yellowtail snapper and then a pair of black grouper, including a big 28 lber! On the Bn'M we stayed on the reef since the winds were blowing and we didn't want to get too beat up, and we managed to catch our limit of 30 yelllowtail snappers, a 10 lb black grouper, and then went out a few miles and caught a handful of nice vermillion snapper. Before it was over though we found some frigate birds and knocked off 4 nice mahis, including this beatiful 35 lb bull. The Fearless had around 15 mahi and then stopped on the way home and caught a handful of yellowtail snapper to mix things up, and the Reel McCoy had a handful of mahi today and released a sailfish, and they were all nicer fish. Some of the boats found big schoolies of smaller fish, "Schoolies", while others founds less numbers, but bigger size. Yesterday the Reel McCoy had a great catch of Mahi, including 11 fish from 12 - 35 lbs, and then some schoolies to go along with them. The Relentless had a 40 lb bull and 7 or 8 other fish and the Pretty work had a handful of mahi, all nice size up to 20 lbs. The Catch 22 caught around 20 mahi, schoolies, and then on the way home hooked a mystery fish. It was rough weather, and high seas, but the angler toughed it out and caught an unusual catch for Islamorada! It was a 70 lb yellowfin tuna! It's the first one we've seen caught here in a few years, but it goes to show you that you never know what you will catch while Islamorada Fishing! Yesterday the Gold Digger also had a limit of yellowtail snapper and a keeper black and gag grouper on a morning 1/2 day charter. The Gon Fishin had 20 mahi as well, including a few gaffers in the 10 - 15 lb range. I'd expect to see some more mahi the next few days, as well as grouper and snapper. The sailfish have really thinned out, but there's always a chance at one! There has been a few permit around lately as well, but they haven't been swarming. Here's a nice one caught and released aboard the Relentless a few days ago!

Capt. Nick Stanczyk