Middle Keys Fishing Reports

[PhishingPhanatic]

I am going up their Saturday into Sunday I hope I can get decent shark bait. I need to catch a tiger or a t head so I can die a happy man

I highly doubt you will catch a Tiger Shark off the Keys bridge.

It has happened, someone got one on 7 Mile earlier this year.

[bolo]

I am going up their Saturday into Sunday I hope I can get decent shark bait. I need to catch a tiger or a t head so I can die a happy man

I highly doubt you will catch a Tiger Shark off the Keys bridge.

It has happened, someone got one on 7 Mile earlier this year.

That is a first. Congrats to the guy who caught it.

[PhishingPhanatic]

They used to be more common, I have seen old pictures of some big tigers caught from both Ch 2 and Bahia Honda. There are tons of them at the Islamorada and Marathon Humps, so it stands to reason that they would come in closer to shore at some points, sea turtles are one of their favorite foods.

[bolo]

I guess we know what bait to use.

[Lomax aka ZEBCO]

It has happened, someone got one on 7 Mile earlier this year.

I have seen several off 7 mile in the past,.. the part you can't get to.

[permitchaser]

That is a first. Congrats to the guy who caught it. [/quote]



Lui caught one a few years ago,not sure if was on 7 milles tho.

[Swordslayer71]

After fishing the keys from may-sept every year for the past 5 years I finally caught my first tiger, and within a week of a buddy of mine catching his too. Granted we were on a boat, but the point is that we'll just say we were VERY shallow( 7 ft), and VERY close to dry land(could hit it with a well thrown baseball). His was in the 7ft class and mine was around 12ft. They are notoriously a deepwater species, but they are there, and shallow in some places. We were targeting blacktips/spinners, and we got a weird real heavy bite, that stayed deep with no jumps. Never saw the fish until it was boatside(vis was maybe a ft. real cloudy), saw the stripes and had a hear attack. Came to the boat in 15 minutes, I touched it and it went bezerk and we had to fight it another 45 minutes before releasing it.

[Frogfish101]

Pics? where at were you fishing?

[bolo]

Pictures?

[Swordslayer71]

This isn't a current report, happened mid-july, I was just adding to the fact that tigers from land in the keys is a feasible goal. The only picture I have is blurry, I wasn't sure what it was but was expecting the usual blacktip/spinner which we take pictures with at the boat, so I was focused on a tailrope more than a camera.

[fixed80]

its okay if you dont have any pictures of the shark. if you did it just brings more life into the report which everyone hopes for. and yes you are right about them coming close to land.
they can come into bays as well and even the estuaries also.

[cudaking305]

Fished Sunday at channel 2 great day too be out water was too clear. Cudas were allover the place i counted over three hundred. But sadly had the nurse curse with the sharks. the whole reason i went there is to shark fish but every single bait not even shark bait got a nurse on it. Tons of groupers too i counted over 30 caught for me little blacks.p got a few of the cudas to hit but couldn't land them. Saw the most beautiful thing ever the though two 20lb permit just sitting by the piling i wish i had a crab. Lots of grunts out. Not much bait only one ballyhoo school came by and cudas were all over them managed to snag a few. Saw alot of macks keep on hooking them but they were leader shy so got cut alot but did manage one on the spoon and then the cuda cut the spoon off. Saw some tarpon but they didn't eat great day too be out not hot not cold. Planning to make another trip pretty soon so hopefully have good luck with the sharks then.

Tight Lines

[PhishingPhanatic]

Nice report. Crabs are like an AMEX card, never leave home (especially down to the Keys) without them.

[nmpfly]

Managed to get out there on Saturday morning. Set up at about 8:00 on Ch 5. Walked all the way to the end and stayed there the whole day. At first pretty windy and then it died down. Weather wise, very nice!! As told by PP mangrove snapper all over the pilons. Caught about 20 all about 10". Didn't keep any. Also grouper managed to hook up with about 8, but all about 17", all went back. Did get a awesome hit using a live blue runner that had caught with a subiki rig. He played with me for about 20 minutes untill he decided to go home. Never got to see what it was because he was far and couldn't bring him in. My guess is that he was a large tarpon because he never swaved side to side like a shark does when they run out. All I know he took about 200 yds. of my line. left me with only ahalf of spool of line. It was fun, and I had afew fans routing for me to try and land him, but didn't happen. On the way home I saw that Ch 2 was packed, never seen so many people there at one time. Did managed to speak to FWC officer that came by to check, (very nice person) told me that the bite was good on long key bridge, well til next time, whenever that will be!!

[PhishingPhanatic]

Thanks for the report.

[Jordan]

Sitting at channel 5 right now..tons of bluefish and a few ladyfish..one shark run that didn't stick..no permit but soakin crabs.

[TeEnAnGlerPro213]

Sitting at channel 5 right now..tons of bluefish and a few ladyfish..one shark run that didn't stick..no permit but soakin crabs.

good luck guys

[bolo]

Remember to float the shark bait fresh. Cut the tail and let them bleed out. Float the bait out to the reef and you will get hit.

[Jordan]

I have a live bluefish with the tail cut out right now..currents under the driving bridge at the moment

[bolo]

I have a live bluefish with the tail cut out right now..currents under the driving bridge at the moment

What's the deal? Report?

[permitchaser]

I have a live bluefish with the tail cut out right now..currents under the driving bridge at the moment

when it change to the other side should be better .will be hard to catch one due to pillons meaning line breaking JORDAN pm send .

[PhishingPhanatic]

I have a live bluefish with the tail cut out right now..currents under the driving bridge at the moment

when it change to the other side should be better .will be hard to catch one due to pillons meaning line breaking JORDAN pm send .

I've never had much problem catching sharks under the driving bridge at Channel 5, those pilings are very far apart, and if you move left or right, you can get a good angle on the shark. The biggest problem at Ch 5 this time of year is the lobster trap bouys.

[permitchaser]

I have a live bluefish with the tail cut out right now..currents under the driving bridge at the moment

when it change to the other side should be better .will be hard to catch one due to pillons meaning line breaking JORDAN pm send .

I've never had much problem catching sharks under the driving bridge at Channel 5, those pilings are very far apart, and if you move left or right, you can get a good angle on the shark. The biggest problem at Ch 5 this time of year is the lobster trap bouys.

IF MR Hammer shows up moe ? or a 300 plus bull

[bolo]

IF MR Hammer shows up moe ? or a 300 plus bull

Never had a issue with Mr. Bull. We use Accurate 80W with heavy braid.

[bolo]

I have a live bluefish with the tail cut out right now..currents under the driving bridge at the moment

when it change to the other side should be better .will be hard to catch one due to pillons meaning line breaking JORDAN pm send .

I've never had much problem catching sharks under the driving bridge at Channel 5, those pilings are very far apart, and if you move left or right, you can get a good angle on the shark. The biggest problem at Ch 5 this time of year is the lobster trap bouys.

Our biggest sharks caught was on the Atlantic side. I find it much more difficult fighting the shark on the Gulf side on Long Key.

[Jordan]

Fished channel 5 from 11am yesterday to 11am today..

Almost every bottom bait got a bluefish or cut off by a bluefish.

No muttons, no grovers.

Soaked crabs the entire time, no permit.

Shark bite was ridiculously slow. I floated live bluefish with their tails cut into the current with nothing, even a bonnethead with the tail cut didn't get touched. Only run was on a ladyfish but shark only mouthed it.

What a dead bite.

[PhishingPhanatic]

These cold water temps shut down all kid of bites good report though...................

I've learned through lots of trial and error, and too many freezing cold nights on the bridges, not to waste the money on a trip to the Keys during or right after a cold front. Sorry the catching wasn't better for you guys. I bet the bite will be decent by the middle of next week, if this warm-up we are having continues.

[bolo]

These cold water temps shut down all kid of bites good report though...................

I've learned through lots of trial and error, and too many freezing cold nights on the bridges, not to waste the money on a trip to the Keys during or right after a cold front. Sorry the catching wasn't better for you guys. I bet the bite will be decent by the middle of next week, if this warm-up we are having continues.

I told you several times not to fish during those cold fronts. But NO.