Yellowtail and Mutton snapper Islamorada

[Capt Sal]

Great fishing for snapper and great weather.Seems like every trip gets better.Everyone has got a limit every trip.Nice muttons showing up and real nice yellowtail with some 22 to 26'.Cobia just starting and following the rays.They like live grunts.Reminds me of live lining for bass in NJ.There are some mahi and a few wahoo also.

[Capt Joe]

that looks like a muttonette!

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Capt Joe

that looks like a muttonette!

Not a monster but it was good eating.The other ones that we could not stop on 10lb. floro were bigger and they still are lol. When we get the bite going hot and heavy you can go up to 20lb. floro and that is heavy enough to stop the bigger fish.When it is too windy to get out we catch mangrove snapper in the canal 20ft. from my back door.The water here is so clean and tropical you have to use light line.Today is Gulf Stream Park!

[Reel Class]

26" yellowtail?!?!!!

Monster!

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Reel Class

26" yellowtail?!?!!!

Monster!

That is a big one but not the average by any strecch of the imagination.Everyday is different as with all fishing.Some days they are 14' to 16' and other days we get a nice mix with 20'' to 22'' yellowtails accoording to how much current.The mangrove snappers are averaging 2-3lbs on the reef.There are some mahi showing also.March is a different month with more cobia and and wahoo.We are doing most of the trips on a 21'cc and some on my friends down easter.Simple and close,perfect for me.

[Captain Jim]

I am glad to hear you had a great time. I have been fishing out of Marathon this past month and have had a out standing time. I have not caught the large yellow tail that you talk about but they are fun to catch. On the way out of the keys Friday with lots of memorys of great fishing.

[Capt Joe]

Sal,
Nothing like mutton snapper fishing in 10-20 feet of water. Did some of that in the Sea of Abaco over the years. They are sneaky, shifty, hard to please but when they pick up a bait (specially on 10-15 lb test) there is nothing like the way they haul ass!!!!
Noticed that fishing over there...lots of bites, runoffs, emptied reels on lite line but eventually had to go to 30+ lb test to land one, especially 10 or 12 pounders.
Love that fishing!!!

[Chico]

I have been fishing offshore Venice, Fla. and this has been the best year for yellowtails up here, both in quantity and size, yes we have landed a 22 to 24" yellowtail on every trip this year! Also some HUGE lane snappers, as well as ALL the vermillions you want to clean!! Going on a 24hr overniter for snapper this Friday evening out of Ft Meyers, should be a blast!! We have also had a good showing of cobia offshore, hope they are still there.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Chico

I have been fishing offshore Venice, Fla. and this has been the best year for yellowtails up here, both in quantity and size, yes we have landed a 22 to 24" yellowtail on every trip this year! Also some HUGE lane snappers, as well as ALL the vermillions you want to clean!! Going on a 24hr overniter for snapper this Friday evening out of Ft Meyers, should be a blast!! We have also had a good showing of cobia offshore, hope they are still there.

Same here.If you fish the shallow patches you catch small yellowtail snapper.We fish in 70' -80' off the reef.Some days we catch large and some days med.The cobia are starting to show as well as some mahi.If you want, there are blackfin tuna on the hump 12 miles away.They are fun.From 5lbs to 20lbs and they fight well.Just nice to be here and enjoy the warm sun and fish close and simple.