Light Tackle Fishing
The Florida Keys stretch some 100 miles out into the ocean and have oceans all around them and there’s fish everywhere. Keys such as Islamorada have built an enviable reputation for world-class sport but Key West wins the prize as the top spot simply for the huge selection of species swimming around the island. Florida Keys fishing attracts anglers from around the world and for very good reasons.
With inshore tarpon fishing and sharks, reef fishing for snapper and grouper plus offshore fishing for sailfish, dolphin, kingfish, wahoo and countless other species, it’s a fisherman’s paradise. With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, there’s no excuse for having a poor day’s fishing whatever the weather gods can throw at you.
You’ll find a number of offshore boats working out of Key West, our first love is light tackle fishing. If you’re not a keen angler you will be wondering what we are referring to, so let’s start with a quick explanation. The offshore boats tend to be larger with a greater degree of luxury such as air conditioned lounges bunks and showers. They motor around the ocean towing a variety of lures behind the boat and once a fish is hooked the designated fisher sits in the fighting chair to bring the fish to the boat. A light tackle boat is somewhat smaller, normally around 26 – 30 ft long, with an open deck and no creature comforts such as bunks or saloons. Normally powered by a pair of powerful outboard motors, they roar around at impressive speeds which allows them to reach fishing spots many miles from the harbor at Key West. Each person on the boat is armed with a rod and reel, and when a bite is detected it is up to the angler to strike and reel in the fish unaided. The offshore boats will normally operate in at least 200 ft of water whereas the light tackle boats are at home fishing anything between 20 feet deep for sharks around the harbour to two or three hundred feet deep offshore whilst searching for sailfish.
Now don’t get the wrong impression of light tackle fishing, it’s equally suitable for beginner or expert. All of the skippers are very helpful and they will do their very best to make sure that you have a great fishing experience, and hopefully a fish or two to take home with you or have prepared at one of the local seafood restaurants. All of the light tackle boats have a large selection of top quality tackle for you to use if you don’t have your own gear. All that’s required from you for a great day’s fishing is food and drink, sunglasses, a hat and plenty of sunscreen.
Our next articles will describe in greater detail a day fishing for tarpon, tuna, sailfish or grouper, but for the time being we’d urge you to get out there and catch some of our plentiful fish.
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