Sugarloaf Key

[cbaker77]

I am camping at Sugarloaf Key first week of march and bringin the boat hopefully for some offshore fishing. I have done a decent amount of fishing there but never been offshore and I want to tangle with some blackfins and maybe a sailfish if I am lucky. Is there a certain area where I should focus my efforts?

[Logan9581]

Head out past American Shoal with some live bait. For the Blackfins, look for the birds. The sails, if they are still there, will be right off the reef edge. Fly a kite and hang the livies off it. Something I always do while sailfishing is put a bait down about 75 feet. Sometimes we will get a hit on the down bait, then the fish will come to the surface and the rest of the school will come up with it.

I think Deep C trolls for sails, he might be able to give you some insite into that.

[cbaker77]

Thanks! What is the most effective bait? I have always been able to catch ballyhoo and blue runners but never any pilchards. Any insight as to where I can catch some?

[Logan9581]

Ballyhoo and small runners will work for sails. Check around markers for the pilchards. Sabiki them or bring your heavy castnet.

[cbaker77]

cool. Thanks a lot!

[saltshaker30]

You can bet the sails will still be there, last year we were slaying down there until late April.

Follow Logans lead and you will do fine out there. Do not over think it; use live bait on the edge down there.

Good luck

I am camping at Sugarloaf Key first week of march and bringin the boat hopefully for some offshore fishing. I have done a decent amount of fishing there but never been offshore and I want to tangle with some blackfins and maybe a sailfish if I am lucky. Is there a certain area where I should focus my efforts?

[cbaker77]

Now I am all fired up and have to wait two months to go. Thanks! When rigging live baits for sailfish is it better to bridle the bait or just use a live bait hook through the nostrils? DO you slow troll or drift?

[Logan9581]

When rigging live baits for sailfish is it better to bridle the bait or just use a live bait hook through the nostrils? DO you slow troll or drift?

Big Baits, bridle them. Smaller ones (pilchards) just hook them on. If you are flying them from the kite, put the hook/bridle through the shoulders. I always used floss tied in little loops for my bridles but I have seen a lot of people lately using rubberbands. Might want to give that a try. Casting bait, through the nose.
As to the drift/slow troll, that depends on what kind of boat you are fishing from. If you are in a centerconsole, just drift. Sportfish type boat, you will need to keep the bow into the wind so the kite stays behind the boat and doesn't get tangled in the rigging.

[saltshaker30]

Rigging a live Ballyhoo is like cutting butter.
Take a short shank live bait hook or circle.

Put the point threw the inside of it mouth going down.
Then parallel the shank to its bill, then take 1/2 of a copper wire and spiral it around the hook and the bill(maybe 6 or 7 wraps). That sucker will slow troll for hours

Now I am all fired up and have to wait two months to go. Thanks! When rigging live baits for sailfish is it better to bridle the bait or just use a live bait hook through the nostrils? DO you slow troll or drift?