Fish The Reef For Meat

Head to the Reef For the Meat out of Key West

Yellowtail snapper, kisses, jordan, key west, Everyone loves Yellowtail snappers. Even Capt. Jordan of Dream Catcher Charters

August 26th 2019 – Nothing beats the summer for the best weather offshore reef fishing Key West and this year is no different. With the weather in the tropics tossing little effect at us this year in comparison to years past we have been enjoying some epic conditions for fishing the reef all summer long. As we approach Labor Day weekend it looks as though nothing will change.

Red Grouper, filet fish, grouper, filet table, fishing, Key West
I love me some red grouper. Longer trips produce nice grouper catches on the reef here in Key West. Check out our Fried Grouper Recipe.

Fishing Report

The last few weeks have been pretty good for Key West reef fishing. With the weather being super stable and the fish being available that’s a nice combination. Now add fewer boats to the list of ingredients and makes for an incredible day offshore at the reef and a feeling of having it all to yourself.

Snappers are the most popular fish we have been seeing come from the reef as of late. Large mangrove snappers, mutton snappers with large yellowtail snappers in the shallower reefs are filling the box of ice making some nice table fare for folks that venture out with our Key West fishing guides. Add yellow-eye snappers to the mix front the deeper reefs and things get super tasty.

Most of the trips we have had lately have been 4 or 6 hours in length so not a huge number of grouper have been caught with our Key West fishing guides focused on the snapper bite. Grouper fishing tends to be better further to the West of Key West requiring a full 8 hour day. A great time of the year for a grouper fishing trip with some large red grouper and mutton snappers being caught.

Tactics For Yellowtails

Bring Chum, light rods (10-20lb) and boxes of fresh chum with a chum bag.. Find your fish.. Use the bottom machine to locate the larger schools on the reef between 35-110 ft. Anchor just far enough up from them to have your chum be most effective in their face down current. Put the chum in the chum bag, tie it off, drop over and wait.. Use light leader (less than 15lb) and anything from squid to bonito chunks for bait. small jigs or 1 – 1/0 hooks.. Catch…. Sharks will be there so don’t delay bringing fish to the boat. The more you feed the sharks, the worse they will be.

Fishing Forecast

The weather from what I see looks to be staying just like it is through the forecast period. We do have a tropical system that I think will affect the East Coast of Florida or Eastern Seaboard this weekend but our weather looks like it will be just perfect for some reef fishing. We do have a Super Moon phase this weekend that will bring a load of flow in and out of the reef firing up the Snapper bite even more.

Here at Dream Catcher Charters we are coming into the slow season. Kids are going back to school, football season has started and folks are getting things ready for winter and hunting season up North. A great time to visit Key West for the lower room rates and fewer crowds and To go fishing.

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To Learn More About Key West Fishing Or To Book A Fishing Trip.. 
Call Us.. 1-305-292-7212

Text Us..
1-786-847-3808

Email Us info@dreamcatchercharters.com 

About Capt. Steven Lamp
Dr Catcher Is - Capt. Steven Lamp - Owner of Dream Catcher Charters is a veteran Key West fishing guide for flats fishing, deep sea fishing, wrecks and reef fishing, and fly fishing. An expert waterman and licensed captain since 1986. A Veteran of the United States Coast Guard Heavy Weather Search and Rescue, I.G.F.A. Certified Captain and Standing regional board member of The Florida Fishing Guides Association