5/25/17 Deep Sea fishing report for Islamorada

I didn't realize it had been 2 weeks since my last fishing report, but it's our "busy" season here and everyone has been fishing long days so the time has been flying by. The past week the mahi bite has been good overall. There was a couple slower days, but on average the boats are getting 12 - 20 fish per trip. A lot have been nice size "schoolies", which we haven't had to measure, with a few "gaffers", and a couple "slammers". Relentless had a bull pushing 40 lbs a couple days ago and the Bn'M had a 34 lber. Fingers crossed the mahi bite remains steady. 

We've been catching plenty of "football" blackfin tuna on the humps, and there's been a few big ones in the mix. The Warbird had one right at 30 lbs last week! We've seen some big amberjack on the humps, some of them over 70 lbs!!! On the edge of the reef there was a color change with some bigger blackfin tuna caught  and some late season sailfish. well. The color change/current edge lined up for two days and the Reel McCoy took advantage of it one afternoon and released 3 sailfish. A few other boats had a release or two as well. The bottom fish deep drop bite has been pretty steady with plenty of blueline tilefish, a couple snowy and yellowedge grouper, and a couple other species in the mix. The boats bottom fishing the reef have done very well on yellowtail snapper, with a few mutton snapper and still a few black grouper. There's also been some really nice permit on a couple of the wrecks. 

Way offshore I've been out on a handful of daytime swordfish trips. The bite overall has been a little hit and miss compared to last spring, getting fish on about half of our recent trips. However, we had an awesome trip a couple days ago and went 3 for 3 on broadbill swordfish! The biggest one was 192 lbs with a couple smaller ones. Most trips have yielded one bite, and if you catch that bite you have a great trip, if you miss your opportunity it's been slow. It is big game fishing and isn't for everyone, but if you want to roll the dice this is as good as place as any! 

Give the marina office a call if you want to get in on the fishing action at Bud n' Mary's Marina. 305 664 2461. We have lodging options available inlcuding houseboats and motel rooms right on property! 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk