3/15/15 Offshore Fishing Report for Mid March

The past week was a windy one here in Islamorada. However, the wind dropped down tremendously today and this coming week looks like gorgeous weather. The offshore fishing boats at the marina look like they'll be extremely busy this next week, as it's spring break and there's a lot of families in town. Quite a few boats ventured offshore in search of mahi the past week. Some of the boats did well, but a few days it was quite for them. It's definitely still early in the season to be counting on them every day, but some boats have had a couple of fish each trip, and a few days boats had as many as 20 or 30 mahi. Most have been "schoolies" in the 3 - 5 lb range, but there has been a few nice "slammers" over 20 lbs lately too.

3 nice mahi aboard the Bn'M II with Capt. Nick Stanczyk

Catch 22 with a pair of slammer mahi, some schoolies, and a few blackfin tuna

The Reel McCoy with a rack full of mahi, and a few deep drop fish including a snowy grouper and tilefish

Some boats have been fortunate to find floating debris, and in addition to the mahi around it there has been some wahoo under some of the debris as well. The wahoo on the debris have been from 5 - 20 lbs. On the humps the "football" size blackfin tuna have been showing up, as well as some back breaking amberjacks! The sharks are on the humps now too, and they are feasting on the spawning amberjacks. The deep dropping in 500' for tilefish and deep water grouper has been productive lately too.

monster 73.7 lb amerjack on the Redfish

Double header Ambjerack on the Bn'M II

The safest bet for action has still been fishing around the reef. There's been a great bite of yellowtail snapper (although it might get tougher when the water clears up with the calm wind conditions this coming week), a few mutton snapper, some mangrove snapper, cero mackerel, and some king mackerel.

big "smoker" king mackerel caught while fishing the patch reefs

The sailfish really thinned out the last 10 days, but there's been 1 fish released between the fleet each of the last 3 days. I'm sure at some poing this spring we'll have another bite of sails for a couple days, but I don't know when! I think the reef wil remain the best bet for consistent action, but if you don't mind taking a gamble for early season mahi and tuna that's an option. I know it's slammed busy here the next couple weeks, but give us a call in the office at 800 742 7945 and we'll try to get you out there to catch some fish of your own!

Tight Lines,

Capt. Nick Stanczyk