Captain Parkes Blog: Key West, Islamorada, Florida Fishing Reports

…We gaffed a 40 lb Cobia into the boat for pictures and dinner!

40lb. Cobia aboard The Big Bite 3

We had a great day fishing off the reef the other day. A couple from the UK were out on the Big Bite 3. They had never been Deep Sea Fishing on the Ocean side before this trip. We chummed up a large assortment of different fish on a day when the water was crystal clear and the fish were biting. After boating Parrot fish, Speedos, Blue Runners and a nice mess of Yellowtail Snapper we spotted a large Cobia moving in and out of the Chum line in the back of the boat. The Cobia ate one of the Yellowtail on its way up from the bottom just as we prepared a bait to catch it. After we put the bait out on a balloon it took about a half hour later when the balloon started to dance across the water. Twenty minutes later we gaffed a 40 lb Cobia into the boat for pictures and dinner! Come on down to the Big Bite 3 at Smugglers Cove for a great day on the water on the Big Bite!

We scored with the Blackfin Tuna fishing off the Islamorada

We had two days of fishing this week already. Strong wind out of east and southeast. Blew some warm water back into the Keys. On Monday we scored with the Blackfin Tuna fishing off the Islamorada reef trolling an assortment of feathers and daisy chains on down planners. We will use these more often this year – they are very effective. There were also some large Mahi blown in with the wind but we did not connect. Sailfish are still a no show and it looks like whatever winter we had down here is over. On Wednesday we anchored up on the reef – threw allot of chum in the water and scored big with the yellow tail and one very large Barracuda that stole a number of good sized yellow tail leaving us just the heads before he was caught on the Big Bite. The picture is on the website. We expect the Mahi bite to pick up in earnest any day when the wind blows out of the east or southeast for the rest of the season. So come on down and fish with us on the Big Bite out of Smugglers Cove in Islamorada.

The fishing has been opportunistic

We have been very busy over the last couple of weeks since the New Year holiday. The fishing has been opportunistic. With the exception of a couple of days and a cold front or two we have not had much of a winter in the Keys this year. Temps between 68 and 81 degrees most days. When it blows out of the east/southeast hard for a couple of days the Mahi fishing has been very good just off the reef to 7 miles out. When a cold front blows through with wind out of the North hard for a day or two the local sailfish are aggressive. I do not believe the big migration of sailfish are down here yet – they seem to be up north still. But when we get a day or two of NE wind it is very good just with whats’ here already. This will only get better over the next month and a half. The Yellow Tail fishing has been very good in water deeper than 70ft. Blackfin Tuna fishing has been improving by the week and Wahoo are being caught on the reef. So put that snow shovel down and come fish on the Big Bite in Islamorada.

We are running a very inexpensive weekend package with Smugglers Cove to include room, fishing and entree for groups up to six. Check it out on the home page.

A perfect day for people from up north but not a great day for sailfish…

Last weekend the Sail-fishing was slow on Friday so for the charter that we had on the next day we decided to go offshore to troll up some tuna to start the day. The wind had switched to the east/southeast and it was expected to go to 80 degrees plus. A perfect day for people from up north but not a great day for sailfish. In addition the two folks that got on the Big Bite that morning were friends of the owner of Smugglers Cove where I keep the boat and I was informed that they had spent two days on a charter boat in Mexico recently and had not caught a thing. After driving around for a couple of hours it was apparent that it was too slow for my liking our chances. Just when I started to worry I spotted a stick that was about 15ft long floating in the water. We had picked up live bait so we pitched a cigar minnow to the stick and promptly hooked up with Mahi! Two hours later and yet another stick close to the first one we had eight nice Mahi in the boat. At one pm we headed back to the reef and put some nice Yellow Tail snapper in the fish box. A typical day in Islamorada Fishing offshore on the Big Bite!

Over 20 Sailfish over the two day weekend

Between Saturday and Sunday of this past week we threw baits to over 20 sailfish over the two days. Two fish ate the baits which led to two releases. The Sails were in water between 120ft and 40ft of water. They were feeding on Ballyhoo, sardines and cigar minnows. Sight casting to sails over bait balls is lots of action. On many occasions the fish that ate our baits were not sails. Sometimes we were tight on everything from Blackfin Tuna, Mahi, Bonita, AJs, and of course all manner of Kingfish and other toothy fish. The action is non stop and lots of excitement and fun. So give us a call and book a trip with the Big Bite working out of Smugglers Cove in Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

Last week we had everything from Mahi, Cobia, Blackfin Tuna, Kingfish, Bonita, and large Yellow Tail Snapper in the Boat

Last week we had everything from Mahi, Cobia, Blackfin Tuna, Kingfish, Bonita, and large Yellow Tail Snapper in the Boat. We had three misses on Sailfish but we are confident our luck will improve this week in this department. Aside from catching a number of Mahi within five miles from the reef – the best catch of the week was a 50lb plus Cobia that showed up in the back of the boat while we were Kite Fishing for Sails. The Yellow Tail snapper were very willing to bite and we loaded up with some great fillets to be taken home by the Anglers. The weather could not be better for great fishing with the wind blowing out of the SE in the coming week. So come on down to the Keys and fish with us out of Islamorada at Smugglers Cove at mile marker 83. Great Hotel, great Fishing and a great resturant to finish up the day with a drink and your catch on the grill!

Catch some big fish off of Islamorada in the Florida Keys

We are catching lots of fish! Blackfin Tuna, Mahi and the occasional Wahoo. We are catching them on the edge of the gulf stream. Some days that is in 450ft of water and some days that is 700 ft of water. But find the gulf stream and stick on it. When they come up into the boat they are full of 2 to 3 inch mahi. That’s right they are eating there own. It also means that they are breeding here in the gulf stream. Given how fast these fish grow they cannot be more than a couple of days old before becoming a meal. If we find a frigate bird it is a guarantee that we will catch something when the boat is under the bird. Lastly, it has been very windy and out in the deep water the waves can rock us a bit so we recommend that you take some Bonine (for motion sickness) when coming out to fish because these are the best days to fish! This has not been the typical flat com days where we look for weed lines and diving birds. So give us a call today, the Big Bite 3 will help you catch some big fish off of Islamorada in the Florida Keys!

Captain Bill Barnaby with a huge 50lb. Barracuda caught aboard The Big Bite 3

50lb. Great Barracuda aboard The Big Bite 3

Captain Bill Barnaby with a huge 50 lb Great Barracuda caught on the Big Bite 3 of a deep reef, while targeting large monsters with vivacious teeth.

Captain Richard Parkes owner/operator of the Big Bite had promised me a big fish with shoulders and he came through within 3 minutes of fishing.

My compliments to a veteran and proven Marlin tournament Champion, seems he can catch everything and sure knows the waters.

This is the time of the year when Mahi are migrating out of the Gulf of Mexico and moving up the east coast

This is the time of the year when Mahi are migrating out of the Gulf of Mexico and moving up the east coast. They can be found anywhere from the reef to the center of the Gulf Stream 25 miles off shore. Strong east winds push these fish closer inshore. Best days to hook up are when the wind blows out of the South East or East. Slow days are when it blows out of the west or south west. I have no clue as to why this is the case but that is the way it is. If we were to create the best sport fish possible – we could do no better than the Mahi that swims in the water today. They fight, jump and dive right up to the time we get them in the boat. They grow to over 90lbs – 30 to 40 lb fish are not uncommon. They taste as good as any fish that can be caught on hook and line. Lastly – they are the fastest growing fish we know of. They will grow from one inch to over 30lbs in one year. Thats right – one year! I have read this in many different articles over many years. Over the years we have caught a number of these fish on baits as large as the fish themselves! Some appetite! When you get to the Keys to fish on the Big Bite this time of year we can almost count on catching enough for a great fish dinner.

On the way out to fish for the day we share with the customers what to look for in, above and on the water

On the way out to fish for the day we share with the customers what to look for in, above and on the water. Above the water – any bird flying, hovering or diving. Birds we are interested in come in two flavors – large frigate birds that follow and hover over large fish that will push a flying fish into the air so they can swoop down and get it before the fish does. These birds almost always pay off. They appear large and black in the sky with a 3 to 5ft wing span. They will follow a large fish or school of fish for hours waiting for there time to swoop down. The second bird of interest is a small bird that flyies very fast and is living on the scraps left behind after a large fish eats a small fish. These Terns are very reliable if they are hovering and dropping into the water to eat. They can be found on weed lines or patches of weed. On the water we are looking for weed lines and floating wood or just about anything that has been in the water for long. If there is small bait fish around stay there the fish cannot be far away. Lastly in the water Turtles are a great sourse of fish. They tend to stay around the Turtles and always deserve a pass or two with the lures. This time of year they are coming on shore at night to lay eggs so it is not uncommon to see them offshore. We have seen one or two every triup we have made in the last couple of weeks. So this is what to look for when out fishing off Islamorada on the Big Bite!

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