how to catch sailfish in the florida keys

how to catch sailfish in the florida keys

Famed Florida Keys resident, author and angler, Ernest Hemingway, can be seen photographed with his prized sailfish catch off Key West in 1940. Most of the activity occurs between Fort Pierce and Key West. google_ad_height = 90; ... Download The Top 10 Sportfish of the Florida Keys (and When to Catch Them!) There’s a few different ways we go fishing for sailfish in the Florida Keys. However, if you can see the hook and you have control of the fish you can remove it. 3) The Florida Keys; The Florida keys has sailfish action up and down its coast with the World Sailfish Championship taking place in Key West every year. Look for experienced charter captains who specialize in deep sea fishing Key Largo or Islamorada. After the fish eats the bait, wait 3 to 4 seconds, close the bail, and start winding steady when catching sailfish in Islamorada. While the number of sailfish brought to Florida Keys docks has significantly dropped in recent decades due to an evolving environmental ethic, actually boating and killing a … Many people do more damage to the fish trying to remove the hook then letting the saltwater and air rust the hook out. You can contact Bud N' Mary's at 1-800-742-7945 or e-mail us: bnmfm@budnmarys.com. This is in contrast to sailfish and marlin where catch and release is commonly practiced. The favorite and most effective way of Key West deep sea fishing charters is using live bait. Since Atlantic sailfish are thought to be the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds of 67 mph, you want a reel with a capacity of at least 300 yards of line. Bring a couple blocks of frozen chum and a fine mesh chum bag. Book your trip with us and get a full day trip for only $1000. You’ll want to focus your attention on the edge of the reef off Islamorada. The best Sailfishing in Florida is primarily found in Atlantic waters, especially in the Keys and along the state’s southeast coast. Want your shot at catching a sailfish of your own? Slow trolling live ballyhoo is one very effective way for catching sailfish in the Florida Keys. There’s always a few lobster and crab traps out on the Reef during sailfish season, so keep your eyes out so you don’t get tangled in them. There are plenty of spots to go trolling in Florida offshore. The Florida Keys stretches 150 miles from North Key Largo to Key West and as you drive from one end to the other, you will cross 42 bridges. There is also a great dive shop, boat rentals, motel, boat storage, transient dockage, and tackle store. The vast majority of these bridges offer the angler-on-foot a good opportunity to catch many of the gamefish we have in the Florida Keys. Dave! Thanks to our catch-and-release ethic, as well as other conservation initiatives, the sailfish population's numbers seem to be higher than at any time in recorded history. Most of our Islamorada sailfish will be in 75’ – 175’ of water. On the drift or slow trolling are the choice of most, this depends on the sea conditions of the day. Fishing for Sailfish in Key West, Florida can be caught using a variety of techniques. There’s a few different ways we go fishing for sailfish in the Florida Keys. They crushed the newest record of 70 releases that everyone thought would stand for years. google_ad_client = "pub-8927719727425204"; Get the FREE Ebook! When fishing Florida Keys sailfish are caught in the Gulf stream off the Atlantic coast all year long. All our guides are local Key West Fishing Captains, Fishing for Lady Fish in Key West Florida. For reservations book online or contact us at (877) 885-5397 for more information. Live bait is the key to catching sailfish in Islamorada. We catch sailfish a few different ways; including slow trolling live bait, sight fishing, as well as kite fishing. You can find artificial dredges from a variety of bait companies that will all have realistic baitfish presentations. I prefer 15 … Found a better price online? You can either cast net or hook and line them. When the Ballyhoo are located on the shallow reefs, Sailfish are known to chase this delectable treat no matter what the depth. Sailfish travel in and out of the cuts in the reef throughout the day, so the likelihood of an encounter by sitting on the edge or looking around in the sand is good. These include Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico, and the Gulf Stream. In fact, our prices are up to 56% Cheaper*, Fish Key West Guides is the #1 Fishing Charter Concierge in Key West. Now you’re one step closer to Sailfish fishing in Islamorada! You’re also going to want a piece of copper wire attached to the foot of your spinning reel, about 3-inches long. When asked what makes the Keys renowned for this type of fishing, especially when sailfish are often taken in bally­hoo schools off the ­beaches of South Florida, Ross cites the sheer abundance of ballyhoo in the Keys during winter, the more expansive … today and get the most out of your next Florida Keys fishing trip! They need time to come out of the fish’s stomach to set in the corner of the sailfish’s mouth. When Florida Keys Sailfish Fishing, I typically fish 3 to 4 rods, with 2 in the out riggers and 1 or 2 on the flat lines. Now is the time of year to get out and give this … - Terry Gibson. As one of the most acrobatic fish in the sea, a Sailfish can jump up to 20 times throughout a fight, and on Key West light tackle fishing, this is quite an accomplishment to land this fish. Fishing for swordfish is also likely one of the most challenging fishing trips you can include on your Florida Keys vacation. Equipment Used to Catch Sailfish in Key West Some of the best Sailfish fishing in Key West is done with the Shimano Trinidad 30. You'll typically fish along the … Live bait trolling for sailfish in Islamorda, FL with Capt. Being able to catch Sailfish in Key West is the dream every angler has when considering what Key West Fishing Charters to book. The Sailfish is one of the most sought after sport fish in the world. The first thing you are going to want is a set of spinning rods (3 to 4). Thinking of catching other bait fish types? When it comes to sailfish fishing Florida winter months are better. The ballyhoo should swim up in the chum and work their way towards the chum bag. This will help ensure the lines stay straight behind the boat, reducing tangles. The first thing you are going to want is a set of spinning rods (3 to 4). We offer high-class sailfish charters on the DirtyBoat in Islamorada. To set up a chum line, string the bait on a short loop cable clipped to a trap float. After you have your rods and boat, you are going to need live bait. /* 728x90, created 1/13/11 */ Charter Info. google_ad_slot = "3683909777"; Make sure you don’t over crowd your bait wells with too much live bait, a good rule of thumb for ballyhoo is 1 - 1.5 fish per gallon (so a 30 gallon well would hold 30 – 45 live baits comfortably). Gather some barracuda to use as shark bait; they’re easy enough to catch on an incoming tide. Part 1. Most of the time it’s a safer bet just to cut the leader as close to the hook as possible and leave in the fishes mouth. If you hook 1 fish be ready for more! One of the seasons I most look forward to in Florida is sailfish season. Getting to the sailfish is largely a matter of timing—either timing a good bite, or putting in the time to catch scattered fish. We'll Price Match It. Don’t use bait that has red spots around the nose or has missing scales. Handle your bait as least as possible. You can also drift a little bit, but be careful not to let all the lines get tangled. //-->, Bud N' Mary's Florida Keys Fishing Marina. When you set your rods out you want to fish with the bails open, making a bend in the copper wire by the reel to hold your line. Ballyhoo live on almost every reef in the Florida Keys, as well as many grass patches. Jimmy Nelson & Fishing with Luiza. Another 3 miles out, the deeper reef edge begins in 45 to 60 feet, and it is there that some of the best fishing in the Keys can be found. The best time for shark fishing is in the morning. Located in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, it can be caught off of the coast of Key West Florida the entire year. The second leg of the three-event Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship series, the 27th annual Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament, is scheduled Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 19-21, in Islamorada. The single day catch record for the Florida Keys of 70 sailfish caught and released set on April 12th by the Main Attraction crew was broken 10 days later on April 22nd 2020 by team Vice Versa Fishing Team with 76 sailfish released in a single day. Our sailfish usually show up in October and stay through April. At the eye of the hook I also attach a 2-inch piece of copper wire. I prefer 15 lb monofilament line on a medium action 7’ rod. I look for bait in 15’ – 30’ of water typically. If you are driving through an area and see Ballyhoo swimming by: slow down, set the anchor out, and put the chum bag in the water. If you hook a sailfish watch your other baits because many times there’s more than 1 fish back there. We will be posting fishing related events, catches, media publications, and overall news concerning Bud N' Mary's here, so keep tuned in! Everything is a top catch in the Florida Keys. That combined with year-round warm weather and a relaxing tropical setting makes the Keys a great place to vacation. When you get the sailfish by the boat grab the leader and take a few pictures of the fish in the water. In Marathon, Florida our fishing vessels reach depths of 250ft only 10 miles offshore. You can also use any of the fish you caught previously – including dolphin and blackfin carcasses. In the Florida Keys, we fish them under bridges and in the shallows depending on what the tides are doing. It is important to use the friskiest of the bait you catch. Catch a sailfish in the blue waters of the Florida Keys, the same ocean fished by Hemingway. The 46-foot Hatteras is roomy, handles the seas well, and provides a tournament style rigged vessel with dual 75 gallon live wells fed by a sea chest containing duel 1500 gallon per hour pumps. To prove it we are matching all online pricing on the tours we offer. These southern seas offer quick access to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, along with a couple of other perks which make for prime Sailfish … The Sailfish range from 25 ft of water out to 2000 ft, depending on the location of the bait fish. Don’t yank back to set a circle hook! 11601 … Sinking a line anywhere in these waters will yield some great results, as the area is rich both in species and numbers. Just about everything that swims in the ocean eats ballyhoo, and they are plentiful, especially throughout the Florida Keys. We have been doing this with live bait since 1975 and that has been the most productive method of sailfishing. written by Evan Anderson . All our guides are local Key West is the catch ( no pun intended ) – Google are! The friskiest of the most challenging fishing trips you can contact Bud N ' Mary 's at 1-800-742-7945 or us... Line anywhere in these waters will yield some great results, as the sailfish is! 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