12/31/17 End of the year Offshore/Reef Fishing report for Islamorada

It's hard to believe this is my last fishing report for 2017! It's been a crazy year but we're still here and ready to do some serious fishing in 2018! Christmas week was jamming with people in town fishing and staying at our motel/houseboats. The sailfish bite was very steady last week with almost all of the boats having shots each trip. The bite slowed down for a lot of the boats the last few days, but if you hit them right you can still have a great day. Yesterday the Bn'M had 6 sailfish releases and the Fearless had 4, while other boats fished all day without ever seeing one. Today the Indigenous had 3 releases, a couple boats had 2, a couple had 1 and a couple didn't have any luck. This is prime time for sailfish and we will see both good and bad days throughout the winter. You just have to be patient and give it a solid effort every trip! 

 

We've seen some a mixutre of other fish the last couple weeks including a few wahoo, a decent number of kingfish, a few blackfin tuna, grouper, and snapper. Unfortunately shallow water grouper season closes January 1st throughout April, but it was nice to see some reds and black this month. There was a couple schools of cobia found but it should only get better as we get more into winter. The Miss Islamorada party boat is back in action and had a great first week. They caught the usual bottom fish and even had 6 suprise bonefish one day! Give the marina office a call to get on the list for the party boat which leaves at 9:30 am almost every day of the week. 

 

Way offshore The swordfish bite was very good all of mid to late December. On the Broad Minded we had 30 swordfish over our last 10 trips! We let go a lot of fish in the 40 - 100 lb range, and kept some in the 100 - 230 lb range. Cindy got her her first and second ever swordfish including a nice 231 lber! A couple days ago the Bn'M and Indigenous each had 2 fish, but the bite slowed down the last couple days as we approach the full moon. The catch 22 missed a few fish their last trip and the Bn'M missed one fish today. The swordfish bite is hard to predict but if they are on your bucket list Islamorada is as good as place as any! 

 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 to set up your next Islamorada fishing trip! Remember we have a motel and houseboats for accommodations if you want to stay close to the action. "Galley Girls" cafe opens up January 1st so you'll be able to get breakfasts and lunch at the marina 7 days a week now! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk