Key West

[NCDrum]

Im going down to Key West the first week of May for a week and I'm taking my 20' Jones Brothers skiff. I have heard that the tarpon fishing will be great that time of year, but I was wondering how the fishing for dolphin and sailfish is in early May and are the fishing grounds close enough to reach safely with my boat? I have never been to the keys, so any other information that anyone has would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[reel fishy]

Yes the tarpon are around in May, try the sailboat anchorage NE of the Galleon Marina or in Key West Harbor. You will have to target one of the deeper fisheries unless you have a trolling motor or pushpole. Stock Island basin is known to have a few tarpon in it as well. There are also plenty of deep cuts through the flats west of Key West that are highways for tarpon, permit and other fish.

Yes you can catch mahi and sails in early May. That is a great month for mahi if the winds are right. It's pretty late in the season for amazing sailfish catches but there are always a few around. Try and drag something deep for wahoo while you are out there. The area around "End of the bar" is a great place to start. For sails think shallow, say 90'-250' of water would be a good general place. Mahi could be anywhere, but the edges with steep drops will concentrate the fish if the weedlines get hard to find. Other than that you could run out to the wall and drop for swords or pull big lures for a possible blue. Just be careful, pick your weather window wisely. Best of the rest would be sharks on the shallow banks, yellowtail at the "End of the bar", permit on the wrecks and amazing amberjack fishing on the deep wrecks.

I'll be in Marathon the first 3 weeks in May running a boat. If you need a report while you're down just shoot me a PM. Good luck with on your trip.