2/29/16 End of February offshore fishing report

We had an extra day to fish in February this month and a few boats cashed in on it! The weather finally calmed down some this afternoon and a couple of boats put the time in searching for cobia and it paid off! There was a few 40 - 50 lbers and some 15 - 30 lbers, as well as some small ones. Cobia fishing takes extreme patience as the boats search for schools of them following stingrays inside the reef, but if you are fortunate enough to find a school it can be super exciting pitching baits at them.

There has been a few sailfish around each day, but they too have taken patience to get your shots at. Making your bites count has been the difference between the slow days and the succesful days. There's been a few king mackerel on both the reef and the wrecks as well as couple african pompano.

Bottom fishing has produced yellowtail snapper, a few mutton and mangrove snapper, lane snapper, porgy, and some grouper (which must be released till May 1st). Further offshore the amberjacks are showing up on the humps in good numbers and there's some big sharks around too. The "football" blackfin tuna are also out there if you make the run.

If you like deep dropping (bottom fishing in 300 - 500' of water) there has been a couple yellowedge grouper caught (which is the only species we can keep right now), as well as some yelloweye snapper, rose porgy, and vermillion snapper.

It looks like we are going to have some beautiful weather the next few days so give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 if you'd like to try your luck offshore fishing in Islamorada. This weeks fishing report brought to you by Yeti. 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk