All summer, the mahi bite has been hit or miss. It’ll turn on and be really good for three or four days, then shut off just as fast. That’s exactly why fishing with an experienced crew matters so much. Even when the mahi aren’t biting, our captains know where else to go to find fish! They’ll work the hump for blackfin tuna, deep drop for delicious and somewhat rarely caught species, or shift to the reef and wrecks, so our clients can still go home with a great catch even when the mahi aren’t cooperating that day.
What’s Been Affecting the Mahi Bite
A few things we’ve seen this year that we believe affected the mahi bite are the very warm water and an abundance of seaweed, both of which made fishing challenging. At the beginning of the month, the mahi were pushed way offshore, 30-plus miles out, which makes it nearly impossible to reach the fish on anything less than a full day. The seaweed was another factor, making trolling at the hump for blackfin tuna nearly impossible.
In the last week or so, we’ve had some wind, and it seems to have shaken things up. Between the wind and rain, the water temperature has cooled down a bit, and the mahi have responded much better. The fishing has been a lot stronger than it was, and we’re glad to see it!
Two Boats, Two Game Plans, One Great Day
Last week we had a large party that split between our two bigger boats. The Captain Marty Lewis aboard the Main One shot offshore while Captain Alex Lewis aboard the Main Attraction worked the reef and wrecks. Both trips were highly successful with different species. Captain Marty secured a rack full of mahi, blackfin tuna, and a queen snapper.
Captain Alex put his group on a bunch of yellowtail snapper and still had time to hook a few mahi of their own. That’s the beauty of running multiple boats: we can cover more water and let everyone in the group look for the fish the way they want!
Rolling with the Weather
The following day we had a 10-hour extended swordfish trip with Mark Easton, who wanted to target queen snapper and swordfish. The forecast turned out to be significantly wrong, with more wind in the morning than predicted, so Captain Marty took his time working out.
Captain Marty stopped to catch some mahi along the way and dropped for queen snapper and tilefish. Once the seas calmed down, he made his way to the sword grounds to start his drifts. A sword wasn’t landed this time, but they had two bites and a boatload of groceries heading home. That’s the kind of day that shows why flexibility matters out here!
Reef in the Morning, Mahi in the Afternoon
When the wind picked up again, the offshore fishing got even better. We met Richard and his crew, who started their day on the reef catching yellowtail snapper, then went offshore for mahi. They got what they came for! We vacuum sealed their catch and shipped it home, so they could enjoy Florida Keys fish at their own table.
Mini Season Is Almost Here
As we head into the end of July, we’re staying busy with charters and getting ready for Mini Lobster Season. The two-day sport season takes place the last Wednesday and Thursday of July and brings large crowds to Marathon. We’re excited, as next week we have a good amount of fishing charters and bullynetting trips on the books. We pray for good weather for all, and a safe and successful mini season.
If you’d like to get in on the action, whether it’s mahi, reef fishing, or a bullynetting trip for lobster, give us a call at (305) 289-0071 or visit our contact page. We’d love to fish with you and your family!
