Greetings from Key West!

Hi I’m Capt Charles Donney and here’s a little bit of what’s going on down here at the end of the road in Key West.

Offshore has been on fire with winter time dolphin hitting the dock. Guys have been trolling out a little farther (250-400ft) finding nice fish, not lots of them but teenagers and a few pushing mid 30’s. Right off the reef edge the tuna and sails have been really good over the deeper wrecks and rock piles (150-250ft). Both trolling and live baiting have been catching quality fish.

All year long the reef produces some great snapper catches. Bring lots of chum for the yellow-tail and you should be able to pull them up off the bottom. Watch for kingfish and barracuda to steal a few. You’ll get your shots at mutton snapper and grouper on the bottom just remember the grouper have to go back. We can’t keep any till May 1 in the south Atlantic or any state waters.

Winter is cobia season in the Gulf down here. Look around some of the larger wrecks and towers north of Key West to swim up to the boat. Also permit, barracudas, kingfish and big sharks. These wrecks should also be holding great snappers to keep you busy till the cobia show themselves.

The guys fishing the flats and channels north and west of Key West are already starting to see smaller schools of tarpon. With the great bonefish and permit fishing the chances of a grand slam early this season are real good. Even the windier days on the flats, sight fishing the sharks and barracudas will keep your heart racing.

Bait is a big thing as we all know. Lots of different live bait options in the keys. Pinfish and ballyhoo are a staple in every live well but if you can net a well full of pilchards, it will spark up the fishing where ever you’re at. As always, watch the weather and pick your days. If you’re chartering, trust your captain, no one wants you on fish more than him. The fishing is only going to get better as we move forward into spring.

Thanks for taking the time to read a little, keep you hooks sharp and rods bent