Florida Keys Charterboat Fishing, Islamorada Fishing Charters,Key Largo Fishing Charter,Florida Key

New Florida Keys Fishin Affliction Tavernier Based Guide Show Set to Air

2013-01-24T06:53:00.001-05:00

Hey All,

Watch for us as regular guests this season on "Florida Keys Fishin' Affliction" The cameras will be rolling on specific charters, just tell us your OK with being on T.V. Check out the article below and good fishing!

Capt. Ryan
www.floridakeysfishin.com
305-619-2126

BY JOSH GORE Free Press Staff

jgore@keysnews.com

TAVERNIER -- There's a fishing affliction in the Upper Keys -- at least enough for a local tackle shop and a backcountry guide to begin their own cable television show called "Florida Keys Fishin' Affliction."
About three months ago, Dave and Chris Wiles, owners of Chris' Bait and Tackle Shop, and Capt. Troy Mell of Reel Mell-o began pursuing the idea after a marina customer mentioned having a similar show in Nashville.
After signing on sponsors, learning how to operate camera equipment and securing a spot on the air, the show has become a reality.
The first program will air at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, on WEYW Channel 19, with a rebroadcast set for 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The group has signed a one-year agreement with a one-year option to renew.
The broadcast can be viewed in the South Florida media market from Key West to Fort Lauderdale, reaching a potential 2.5 million viewers.

In the show, Dave Wiles is nicknamed "The Big Hammer" from his adventurous bout with a 12-foot hammerhead shark, while Mell goes by "The Big Easy" for his calmness and patience with inexperienced anglers.
Chris Wiles will be offering simple seafood recipes on the show.
"This isn't just a fishing show," Dave said.
Chris has hundreds of cookbooks and thousands of recipes. Even so, she is asking viewers to submit recipes that might be presented on air.
"It's pretty simple stuff," she said. "It's quick and easy dishes for people on the go."

Plans for the show include 52 different 30-minute episodes airing twice a week. Part of the show feature a reality theme, including video taken of tourists fishing, as long as they agree to it.
Dave said word of the new show is already luring interested sponsors from throughout the southeast

"Most of what I'm doing all day long is answering the telephone," he said.
Each show will be taped about a week before air time. And realism will be key.
"If we go out and there's 20-knot winds and we aren't catching anything, then that's what's going to be on the show," Mell said.
After the show airs on cable, episodes will be uploaded to AT T U-verse and to YouTube. The show is also supported by local fishing guides including Capt. Skip Bradeen and Capt. Matt Bellinger
For more information, visit www.floridakeysfishinaffliction.com or like them on Facebook.

Fl-Keys Charterboat Fishing Report; Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Blackfin Tuna and Winter/Spring Rates

2013-01-13T08:07:00.002-05:00

Florida Keys

Are we having a winter? Over the past couple weeks the wahoo fishing has been on fire! Up and down the reef from Key Largo to Key West the wahoo have been chewing, but with "summer class" weedlines & southeast wind we chose to chase Mahi Mahi & Blackfin Tuna over the holiday season. The Blackfin Tuna bite has been red hot for us early in the morning and late in the day. Multiple hook ups and screaming tuna drags!

Check out the photos from our recent Mahi Mahi fishing trips (aka dolphin fishing trips) on our webpage: www.floridakeysfishin.com

In my opinion there is no better way to end a very successful day of offshore fishing in the Florida Keys than eating freshly caught Blackfin Tuna sashimi style while telling fish stories over an ice cold beverage shared with friends and family. Each Blackfin tuna, I fillet sashimi style for my clients. The local chefs absolutely love preparing fresh Black Fin Tuna loin straight off the boat for their customers. It is easy to prepare so most of my clients who staying at a resort or local hotel with a kitchen just cook it on their own or have it shipped back home.

"Wicked Tuna" Seared Blackfin Tuna served Sashimi Style

Using a sharp knife cut the wahoo fillets into manageable size loins. Cover the loins with your favorite spice rub or sesame seeds. Coat a large pan with vegetable oil or peanut oil. This will prevent the Blackfin Tuna loin from sticking to the pan. Sear the Blackfin Tuna loin over low to moderate heat until the outside Blackfin Tuna flesh is just slightly cooked. Take your time, it is very important not to over cook Blackfin Tuna.. The inner Blackfin Tuna meat should be slightly rare. When done, remove the Blackfin Tuna loins from the pan and chill them the fridge. After the Blackfin Tuna loin has chilled, bring out your inner sashimi chef and slice the loins into thin pieces. Serve with wasabi and soy sauce.

Unlike other charterboats in the fleet, on windy days we give our customers the option of fishing the Gulf of Mexico. If your are prone to seasickness, then fishing the Gulf is for you. This time of year we are catching mackerals, mangrove snappers, sharks, seatrout, grouper, cobias, and tripletails. Save hundreds of dollars by fishing aboard the "Good Karma" this winter/spring. Below are our current Florida Keys Charterboat rates.

Winter 2013

Florida Keys Fishing Rates
Gratuities are not included in the rates

We allow up to max. of 4 People

Full Day (8.5 Hours) $625.00

Offshore Trolling Dolphin, Kingfish, Tuna & Wahoo / Reef /Gulf of Mexico

3/4 Day (6.5 Hours) $550.00
Offshore Trolling Dolphin, Kingfish, Tuna & Wahoo/Reef /Gulf of Mexico

*1/2 Day (4.5 Hours) $450.00
*Nearshore Patch Reefs, Deep Reefline, Wreck, Florida Bay
We do not target Sailfish, Wahoo, Dolphin, or Tuna on this Trip

2-Day Fishing Vacation Package

$1025.00
Day 1: 8 Hours
Day 2: 6 Hours

Captains Favorite

Offshore and Reef Combo

$550.00

6.5 Hours

Offshore Dolphin, Tuna, Wahoo Trolling & Reef

Tarpon AM/Dolphin PM TripsComing Soon
Contact us for details

Evening Shark & Snapper TripsContact us for Details and Availability

4 hours
$425.00

1.5 Hour Sunset Cruise

1-6 People
$150.00

3 Hour Ecotour
$300.00

Capt. Ryan
www.floridakeysfishin.com

Florida Keys Fishing Report: October 24th

2012-10-24T10:37:00.002-04:00

This week we are looking at 20-30 knot winds from the East/Northeast through Sunday. After the wind lays down I am anticipating a push of sailfish & mahi mahi, not to mention a red hot snapper bite. Last week we had a red hot bite Blackfin tuna, just off the reef in 150ft.

After catching the blackfins we returned the reef for some Yellowtail and Mutton Snapper fishing.

As cold fronts cool the waters in the north, we begin seeing dolphin(mahi mahi), sailfish, kingfish, blackfin tuna, & wahoo return on a southerly migration chasing baitfish such as ballyhoo, back to the warm water of the Florida Keys. On the southerly migrations the fish tend to stay closer to the western edge of the Gulf Stream & are in tight along the Florida Keys reef line. The dolphin (mahi mahi) we catch in the fall & winter months seem to be bigger & more aggressive.

The snapper and grouper fishing on the shallow patch reefs really turns on in the winter months. You will experience various types fishing as we are targeting everything from Wahoo to Yellowtail Snapper, not to mention getting a shot at catching an Atlantic Sailfish.

Our fall/winter fishing styles and techniques are dictated by many different conditions – including: wind direction, water temperature, ocean currents, water color and most importantly, what fish are actually in season. Below are are Fall/Winter Rates

Full Day: $625.00

3/4 Day: $550.00

1/2 Day: $450.00

If you are looking to do some fishing in the Florida Keys this fall or winter give me a call at 305-619-2126. Visit our webpage at www.floridakeysfishin.com or email me at ryan@floridakeysfishin.com.

Tight Lines,

Capt. Ryan

www.floridakeysfishin.com

Florida Keys Weekly Fishing Report; June 10 2012

2012-06-17T11:54:00.000-04:00

Florida Keys Weekly Fishing Report
Key Largo, Tavernier, and Islamorada

I have to laugh when I read reputable Florida Keys fishing reports for Islamorada, Tavernier & Key Largo saying that the offshore dolphin (mahi mahi) fishing in the Florida Keys is “excellent” right now (cut & past reports from last year) when actually the “local” Florida Keys offshore dolphin fishing report is actually“day by day” or “here today & gone tomorrow”. We did have strong east/southeast wind that pushed a nice wave of dolphin into a feeding frenzy last week; the guys who fished early last week gaffed a few nice 20-45 lb. dolphin (mahi mahi). For a decent catch of dolphin(mahi mahi) head out to 800-1000ft.

Over the Rail & Into the Pail

The bigger gaffers/slammers are being found on lone pieces of debris off of Caloosa Cove Resort down by mile marker 73. Fuel up & make the trip south, if you don’t have tower, put your crew on “magical debris” watch.

A Summer Floirda Keys King with Craig, Kade & Chase

While at a local tackle shop last Friday evening I spoke with guy who caught a 52 lb Bull Dolphin (mahi mahi) off Marathon in 250 ft. last weekend. He pulled out his phone, showed me a picture, and then told me his fish tale. The guy explained that they had been trolling for 6 hours without a bite and just before calling it quits his buddy spotted a small piece of bamboo that was holding the 52 lb. fish. Best of all they caught the fish on a 12 lb. spinning outfit pulling an antique Billybait lure. The fish had awesome color & was truly a trophy.

No plans to fish until later this week, we have a strong northeast wind that will keep us at the dock for a few days, so until the next report get those baits out & wait it out!

Capt. Ryan

www.floridakeysfishin.com

305-619-2126

Florida Keys Fishing Report; May 24, 2012 Dolphin Fishing is Heating Up in the Florida Keys

2012-05-24T10:56:00.002-04:00

Florida Keys Fishing Report; May 24, 2012 Dolphin Fishing is Heating Up in the Florida Keys

I was planning to work on my webpage (www.floridakeysfishin.com) last Saturday, but I awoke to “the voices” at 2:00 AM telling me to go fishing, so I got up and started rigged baits. Most boats were running out 20 miles, but after looking at my log from last year, we decided to fish an area where we found dolphin (mahi-mahi) last year off Key Largo almost a year to date just off the reef.

As we cleared the creek, I happened to forget it was the Coconuts Dolphin Tournament. The Atlantic Ocean looked like the Boats Direct USA sales center in Key Largo, Florida.

Shortly after we set the spread, a nice 23lb. bull dolphin (mahi-mahi) crashed the flat line. As we were fighting the fish the weather took a turn for the worse, however we managed to gaff the fish. His colors set against the water spout filled black sky. We caught a couple smaller dolphin (mahi mahi) then called it quits for the day.

On Monday the weather cleared up and conditions were right for a Florida Keys offshore dolphin (mahi-mahi) fishing trip. We decided to fish late in the afternoon into the early evening rather than go early. For “Good Karma” we went dolphin fishing with the attitude of taking one big fish for dinner, and then pull the lines and head for home.

The fishing gods have liked this that attitude of late, because within less than 2 hours of lines in the water; the right rigger was crashed by a 28lb. bull dolphin (mahi-mahi) in the same area we caught the 23lb. bull dolphin (mahi-mahi) 2 days earlier.

So I kept my promise to the fishing gods & pulled the lines, headed back to port for an ice cold beer and fresh dolphin for dinner. As the sun was setting we snapped this shot of him.

We will be also adding 2 new dolphin fishing weapons to the spread this Saturday; they arrived in the mail yesterday, and let’s just say these “weapons” traveled along ways to get to the Florida Keys so I hope they cover their shipping costs.

If you are looking to do some offshore dolphin fishing in the Florida Keys this summer give me call directly at 305-619-2126. We offer affordable offshore fishing charters for those looking to get out the water in the Florida Keys.

Have a good memorial day weekend and be safe. Until next week, get those "baits out and wait it out".

Capt. Ryan

www.floridakeysfishin.com

305-619-2126

Florida Keys Offshore/Reef Fishing Report May 17th 2012

2012-05-17T09:07:00.001-04:00

Florida Keys Offshore Fishing Report
May 17, 2012

Wahoo’s, blackfin tunas, mutton snappers, flag yellowtails and a few dolphin (mahi-mahi) were caught aboard the Good Karma in the Florida Keys this past week off offshore & on the edge of the reef. For the weekend fishing teams looking for the green and gold (dolphin) they are around, but are not here in the numbers that we like to see. If you have a full tank of fuel, good seas, a patient crew, fresh bait (not store bought) then you may eventually find them, but you better coach your crew on finding debris, looking for weeds and not falling asleep. It can happen any day now; so get those baits out & wait it out. I really hope it happens for you this weekend. If does, send me your pictures, so I can post them!

This past week my clients brought aboard some really “Good Karma”. These guys just wanted to bend the rod and catch fish, so rather than spend from dawn till dust chasing dolphin we decided to fish an area I save for full moon phases and early spring fishing just off the reef.

Eric "The Viking" 2 for 2 on Wahoo

Travis got into the "Yellowtail Zone"

My crew was rewarded with an outstanding “supermoon” catch of Florida Keys wahoo, blackfin tuna (enough to feed small army), mutton snapper and big flag yellowtail snappers.

The Florida Keys Muttons Snappers are eating!

A good time was had by all catching blackfin tuna.

More big Flags!

Eric with a rare Florida Keys Wahoo Double Header

Good Eating

We will be taking a few days off to give the boat a spa treatment, add a couple of “new” weapons to the lure arsenal and catch fresh bait. Good luck out there this weekend.

If you are planning a vacation or a weekend get away to Florida Keys this summer and want to go offshore or reef fishing give me call at 305-619-2126 or email ryan@floridakeysfishin.com

Capt.Ryan

www.floridakeysfishin.com

Florida Keys Fishing Report May 11th

2012-05-11T20:33:00.003-04:00

Not much time to post a report. Stay tuned for more pictures from this past week.

Friday May 11th.

2- Muttons
2- 35lb Wahoo
& big Yellotail(3-5lb)

Capt. Ryan
www.floridakeysfishin.com

2012-04-29T12:17:00.001-04:00

April 29th Upper Keys Florida Keys Fishing Report from Captain Ryan

The reef fishing is heating up down here in the Florida Keys. Our Florida Keys delicious tasting Yellowtail Snappers are chewing along the reef. & we should see the Mutton Snappers start biting aggressively on the full moon in May.

This bite should continue on until early fall. Don’t forget grouper season opens on May 1^st. If you would like to do a Mutton Snapper/Grouper trip just give me a call at 305-619-2126.

We have had some very good day’s offshore fishing for Mahi Mahi (dolphin) & Blackfin Tuna.

The weather has been a little bit unpredictable and so has the fishing. We are finding fish in 300-500 ft; if you find that “magic piece of debris” you might be in business.

With the weather improving later this week we look for the Mahi Mahi bite to heat up. If hunting for a trophy fish, May, is a good month to hunt.

On a recent 6.5 hour Offshore/Reef fishing trip we hooked Bull Dolphin pushing 60 lbs on the troll. This fish was big. We fought the fish for over an hour when the hook pulled on our customer. Our angler was saddened by the loss, but I was not about to give her time to grieve. 5 minutes later we put her on a nice fish that she hooked and landed. We then headed back into the reef to catch a few nice jumbo Yellowtail Snappers on the reef at sunset.

This was her first time ever fishing in the Atlantic Ocean and she will have a fish story that she will remember for a lifetime.

The Islamorada humps have turned into a “parking lot war” of late with guys chasing 10-15 lb class Blackfin Tuna, bigger fish taking live bait. Between the boats live baiting, flying kites, trolling and speed jigging, it’s a mess out there especially on the weekends. It won’t be long until we see a reality show called “Wicked Florida Keys Hump Drama” debut on the National Geographic Channel. The following is an excerpt from an article published in September 2007 in Saltwater Sportsman, titled “Hump Etiquette.

“When the humps are crowded, a little courtesy goes a long way. When approaching an area where many boats are fishing, try to determine which way they're trolling. If everyone trolls in the same direction, it makes life easier.

When approaching diving birds and busting fish, don't run right into the activity. Instead, circle wide, so your baits are pulled into the frenzy, but your boat doesn't put the fish down. And don't ever cut behind a boat that's actively fishing. Trolled baits are often fished very far back, and live-baiters often have a stream of baits well behind the boat as chum, hoping that the fish will rise.

Before fishing, it's a good idea to explore the underwater structure with your depthsounder to get a feel for the topography. By getting to know it a little better, and seeing where the various schools of fish are holding, you can hone your technique without charging around blindly, as too many skippers do.

- John Brownlee

The smaller schools of Mahi Mahi bring are bringing with it big Wahoo & the “Man in the Blue Coat”, the Blue Marlin. In April 2011 we hooked up with our first big Marlin in 600 ft. he ate a school size dolphin we hooked on light tackle. The fight was short lived, but the image of that amazing fish dancing on the water will be forever etched our mind. . Word of advice, leave “no tuna bird or scattered weed unturned”

The fishing only gets better from here on out. If you looking to book an affordable Florida Keys charter boat fishing trip, feel free to give me a call at 305-619-2126 or email ryan@floridakeysfishin.com

Florida Keys Swordfishing on the Decline?

2012-04-24T08:14:00.000-04:00

Florida Keys Swordfish pioneer worried about fishery decline

Published by Keysnews.com on April 18, 2012

A reluctant advocate for caution, Stanczyk offered up that he might just be jealous because it wasn't he who caught those two huge fish in the past month.

But he added that his goal at the beginning was to develop daytime fishing for swordfish as another viable option in South Florida's sportfishing suite. Now he's concerned the achievement will be short-lived.

"What I'm worried about is that our discovery may ultimately lead to their disappearance again," he said.

Richard Stanczyk helped pioneer and popularize daytime fishing for swordfish in Florida over the past decade. Now, with swordfish very much on people's minds, the owner of Islamorada's Bud n' Mary's Marina says he's concerned that the sport's growing popularity could cause their numbers to plummet, as in the late 1970s.

"They are definitely going down. There is no doubt about that," Stanczyk told the Free Press last week.

Caught on Rod & Reel

Bud n' Mary's Marina

Islamorada

October 2011

Swordfish made National News

Recreational fishing for swordfish in the Florida Keys has received a burst of publicity over the past month due to two exceedingly large catches, both brought up in daylight. The first fish, weighing 520 pounds, was landed off Islamorada on March 25. Barely a week later, a Marathon-based charter brought in a 683-pound swordfish, the largest ever recorded in the state of Florida.

The catches, while celebrated by many as spectacular, also raised eyebrows, in part because they were both made on electric reel. That assistance meant that the International Game Fish Association didn't put the 683-pound swordfish into the record books for Florida. The largest IGFA-legal Florida swordfish, weighing 612 pounds, was boated using a manual reel in 1978.

"Our organization was founded on sportfishing by man, not by machine," Jack Vitek, IGFA's world record coordinator, said last week. "IGFA would not recognize fish caught on electric reel simply because it removes the sporting aspect away from fishing. It's no longer a man or woman catching a fish."

The use of electric reels wasn't what Stanczyk and friend Vic Gaspeny had in mind in 2003 when they first began hunting for swordfish in the depths of the ocean during the daytime. But then again, the duo might not have foreseen how successful they'd be, and how quickly daytime swordfish fishing would catch on once they went public with their techniques in a 2007 Sport Fishing Magazine article.

Prior to the 1970s, very few anglers went after swordfish in Florida's waters. But by the end of the decade the discovery that the meaty fish could be caught consistently at night a few hundred feet below the surface had changed everything. Anglers hit the Florida Straits in hordes with longlines, quickly depleting the fishery.

By 2000 the problem had gotten bad enough that the National Marine Fisheries Service banned longline fishing off the Florida Coast. The change led to a rebound of Atlantic swordfish populations. In 2010 NOAA's Fisheries Service removed swordfish from its list of species undergoing overfishing.

Back in 2003, with swordfish populations on the rise, Stanczyk and Gaspeny decided to start hunting for them during the day. But they weren't looking for them near the surface, as nighttime anglers do. Instead, they were testing a theory put forth by Venezuelan angler Ruben Jaen, who speculated that in daylight swordfish retreat to the ocean floor, some 1,400 to 1,800 feet below the surface.

Jaen turned out to be correct. Stanczyk and Gaspeny caught a swordfish during their first deepwater hunt in January 2003, Gaspeny wrote in a 2010 article published in the IGFA's World Record Game Fishes almanac.

And it got even better from there. From September 2006 through October 2007, the duo, joined by Stanczyk's brother Scott, Stanczyk's two sons and a few others, caught at least one swordfish on 53 consecutive trips. All of the catches were on a manual reel.

But they weren't just catching a lot of fish, said Stanczyk. They were also catching big fish -- on average twice as big as the swordfish he had caught closer to the surface through the years.

After the 2007 magazine article, anglers around South Florida got in on the act. Today, numerous advertisements for daytime swordfish charters can be found with a simple Google search.

Gaspeny estimates that on a nice summer day there are probably 300 boats on the water from Pompano Beach south, dropping their lines deep for swordfish. Stanczyk says 50 such charters can be found on the waters off the Keys on an average day.

In addition, swordfish are harvested commercially, though commercial fishermen still tend to target the surface using the buoy fishing technique, in which several lines are dropped off a strategically-placed buoy.

Stanczyk himself continues to fish for swordfish. In fact, his Bud n' Mary's website still advertises swordfish charters.

"Daytime fish average around 100 lbs. but we catch plenty over the 200-lb. mark as well. So if you've ever dreamt of catching a big swordfish, you might want to consider giving it a try here at Bud n' Mary's Marina," the site says.

It was a customer of charter guide Kenny Spaulding, who fishes out of Bud n' Mary's, who caught the 520-pound swordfish last month.

Nevertheless, Stanczyk, the pioneer, is worried about the sport's future.

Though populations are still regarded as healthy, both he and Gaspeny say that swordfish are already harder to catch than they were nine years ago when they first started hunting them during the day.

"We're not going to catch them 50 trips in a row anymore," Gaspeny said last week.

Because anglers are catching much bigger fish than they do closer to the surface, the strain on the breeding population could be further amplified.

That's one reason why Stanczyk is setting his sights on electric reels, which make it easier to pull massive fighting fish up from depths that would dwarf the Empire State Building. It's not uncommon for anglers to take two hours to land a swordfish once they have it on the hook.

"Maybe not using electric reels, that would definitely take a lot of strain off the swordfish population," Stanczyk said.

Published by

BY ROBERT SILK Free Press Staff

FLORIDA KEYS --

Florida Keys Fishing Report

2012-04-22T12:42:00.001-04:00

Florida Keys Fishing Report from Captain Ryan
The dolphin (mahi mahi) fishing was red hot last week off Key Largo, Tavernier, & Islamorada here in the Florida Keys and we took adavatage of it. Friday morning I got on fish first thing. We went 6 for 6 on Dolphin and added a bonus Blackfin tuna to the fish box after only 3.5 hours fishing time before heading back to the dock for lunch.

"Good Karma" was dressed and ready to go by 5:00 AM

I still have couple of dates open in May for offshore dolphin fishing.

To book a deep sea fishing trip with us in Florida Keys, contact Captain Ryan at (305) 619-2126 or email us at ryan@floridakeysfishin.com.

If you reach our voicemail, then we are more than likely out fishing. Please leave us a your name, phone number and a brief message. We will return your call as soon as possible.

Key Largo, Tavernier and Islamorada Fishing & Lodging Special

2012-04-10T11:48:00.003-04:00

Florida Keys Fishing Charterboat, Islamorada Fishing Charters,Key Largo Fishing Charter,Florida Keys Fishing Trips

Sportfishing & Reef
6.5 Hours

Sportfishing
(Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and Tuna)
&
Light Tackle Reef Fishing
$550.00

Key Largo Lodging Packaging Special
$99.00 per Night
(tax not included)

To book a deep sea fishing trip with us in Florida Keys, contact Captain Ryan at (305) 619-2126 or email us at ryan@floridakeysfishin.com. If you reach our voicemail, then we are more than likely out fishing. Please leave us a your name, phone number and a brief message. We will return your call as soon as possible.

2012-04-10T11:19:00.002-04:00

Florida Keys Fishing Charterboat, Islamorada Fishing Charters,Key Largo Fishing Charter,Florida Keys Fishing Trips

Florida Keys Spring Break Vacation Fishing Special

2012-03-01T09:52:00.000-05:00

Spring Break in the Florida Keys Fishing Special

6 Hour Private Boat Deepsea Fishing Trip

$475.00

This trip is truely a "rod bending experience" in the Florida Keys, one not to be missed. Just 3-5 miles from shore we will either fish the shallow patch reefs in 15-50 feet or 60-130 feet mid-size reefs. Depending the time of year, we will target our amazing tasting Florida Keys yellowtail snapper along with grouper, mangrove snappers, mutton snappers, mackerel, cobia and big sharks.

The cost of the trip includes boat fuel, bait, chum, ice, tackle, rod/reels, fish cleaning, & fishing instruction. Food & drinks are not included.

To book a deep sea fishing trip with us in Florida Keys, contact Captain Ryan at (305) 619-2126 or email us at ryan@floridakeysfishin.com. If you reach our voicemail, then we are more than likely out fishing. Please leave us a your name, phone number and a brief message. We will return your call as soon as possible

Florida Keys Fishing Spot soon to be Marine Sanctuary

2012-02-12T11:35:00.000-05:00

Snapper Ledge protection is fast-tracked

A push to give a popular Upper Keys dive spot called Snapper Ledge more protection could gain support from a federal fishery agency.

Snapper Ledge, a shallow reef off Tavernier, could be declared a protected marine zone by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Many Upper Keys divers, spearheaded by underwater photographer Stephen Frink, describe Snapper Ledge as a vibrant reef with diverse fish life, yet it is not designated as Sanctuary Preservation Area under the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

As of this week, 3,036 people had signed an online petition to change the Snapper Ledge status to a no-take zone. Efforts have been going on since 2008.

Amending Keys sanctuary rules to add a new Sanctuary Preservation Area involves reports and hearings that could take until 2015 at the earliest, sanctuary officials say.

“We’ve had requests from constituents to get it done more quickly, so in August we asked the South Atlantic Council to look into it,” said David Makepeace, an Upper Keys marine educator who serves on the Sanctuary Advisory Council.

“Much to my surprise, they said they would look into it,” Makepeace said. “Frankly, I did not expect this much action this soon.”

At a 4 p.m. Monday meeting at the Hilton Key Largo Resort at mile marker 97, the South Atlantic Council will take general comments on several issues, including whether the agency should begin working on a marine-protected zone for Snapper Ledge. A final decision would be months away.

“Personally, I support it,” Makepeace said. “I don’t want to create a precedent for using spot-zoning based on individual needs, but the Snapper Ledge situation and concerns are somewhat unique.”

Also Monday, the council also will review a proposal to establish 56 areas in Keys waters around protected elkhorn and staghorn corals where lobster-trap fishing would be banned.

The zones as proposed came out of talks between the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association, the Keys Sanctuary and local marine-conservation groups.

“We’re on board for almost of the zones, except for three,” FKCFA Executive Director Bill Kelly said. “We’re asking them to them to shrink those or break them into two or more zones to cover a smaller area.”

Those three include a large area off Newfound Harbor in the Lower Keys, one off Davis Reef near Long Key, and one inside Carysfort Reef off Key Largo.

“Fishermen are all in favor of protecting the coral but these three zones include a lot of ground where there is no [branching coral],” he said.

The South Atlantic Council also is considering creating new rules that could limit the use of powerhead fishing — using a spear that uses a shotgun shell to take large fish, or create a special permit for powerhead fishing.

For information on the proposed rules, go to www.safmc.net. No action will be taken at Monday’s meeting, but officials will explain various proposals and take comments.

Article source: http://www.keysnet.com/2012/01/25/416399/snapper-ledge-protection-is-fast.html

Florida Keys Fishing and Weather

2012-02-03T14:35:00.000-05:00

When a new visitor to the Keys looks out the over the Atlantic Ocean on windy day it may look like calm day, but actually looks can be very deceiving.

With the naked eye, a person cannot see the 4-8 ft waves from shore in the Florida Keys Why is this? Our reef is 4 mile boat ride from Key Largo. The reef absorbs the hard pounding waves generated by offshore winds.

The weather channel reports are pretty accurate this time of year when it comes to predicting high wind conditions in the Florida Keys Marine forecast. Below is the best advice I can give people about booking a fishing trip, snorkeling or diving trip when it comes to the winter wind.

When I am planning fishing trip here are the websites I monitor:

www.noaa.com

www.wundergroundweather

www.windguru.com

Despite the winter winds we've had some awesome fishing on the shallower reefs. We have brought home nice catches of Yellowtail Snapper along with cero mackerel & king fish. The high winds out the east improve the sailfish bite however we don’t typically target sailfish. But when we hook on, its bonus for our crew. We catch & release all sailfish.

Below is picture of Gene, Judy, & their son Devon. Gene & Judy celebrated their wedding anniversary and Gene’s birthday aboard “Good Karma” last Saturday. We had an excellent day on the water fishing for Yellowtail Snapper.

Have a great weekend!

Capt. Ryan

Visiting Key Largo & Islamorada in the Florida Keys? Book an Ecotour with Us

2012-01-12T09:08:00.000-05:00

Another January full moon as come and gone and we’re one day closer to the 2012 Doomsday party. Like Jimmy Buffet says, “I don’t know where I am gonna go when the volcano blows!”

People often ask me what else there is to do in Key Largo and Islamorada aside from fishing. I suggest booking an affordable ecotour or sunset cruise with us. There is no better way than to see the authentic nature of the Florida Keys than from our boat as we cruise through the mangrove fields in Florida Bay off Key Largo and Islamorada. It’s a great way to decompress after a long journey to the Keys. You can relax with family and friends before starting your vacation.

The Florida Keys has four major marine ecosystems: mangroves, coral reefs, delicate sea grass beds and sponge bed. You will find photo opportunities everywhere you look. These tours are unique and you never know what you may see.

If you are into bird watching, then the Florida Keys is the place, so don’t forget to bring along your binoculars.

During the ecotour there is a good chance you will spot a dolphin, sea turtle or a Florida Manatee along the way.

As most already know, the Florida Keysis famous for its sunsets. There are photo opportunities everywhere you look.

Don’t forget your boat drinks and boat music. We can play them for you on our surround sound marine stereo system. We will even bring a couple fishing rods along if you wish to catch a few fish for dinner that night.

If you are planning on visiting Key Largo or Islamorada in the Florida Keys and are interested in learning more about our customized Florida Keys ecotours & sunset cruises please contact us today at 305-619-2126 or email us ryan@floridakeysfishin.com

How to Make Wahoo Sashimi

2012-01-05T16:33:00.000-05:00

After reading the forum posts on Florida Sportsman.com today I was pleased to see how well other South East Florida and FL Keys recreational fishing teams, charter boats captains and guides have been doing offshore fishing for wahoo in Key Largo & Islamorda. In my opinion there is no better way to end a very successful day of offshore fishing in the Florida Keys than eating freshly caught wahoo or tuna sashimi style while enjoying ice cold beer and wine with friends and family.

View from Home Port after a Great Day of Off-Shore Fishing for Wahoo in the Florida Keys

Seared Wahoo served Sashimi Style

Using a sharp knife cut the wahoo fillets into manageable size loins. Cover the loins with your favorite spice rub or sesame seeds. Coat a large pan with vegetable oil or peanut oil. This will prevent the wahoo loin from sticking to the pan. Sear the wahoo loin over low to moderate heat until the outside wahoo flesh is just slightly cooked. Take your time, it is very important not to over cook wahoo. The inner wahoo meat should be slightly rare. When done, remove wahoo loins from the pan and chill them the fridge. After the wahoo loin has chilled, bring out your inner sashimi chef and slice the loins into thin pieces. Serve with wasabi and soy sauce. Don’t forget the wine or the beer.

Cheers & Wahoooo!

Capt. Ryan

www.floridakeysfishin.com

FL Keys Fishing Jan 3rd Fishing Report:Cold Front and Hot Sailfish Bite!

2012-01-03T19:07:00.000-05:00

Our first passing cold front in the Florida Keys may have cooled down the weather, but it did not cool down the fishing.

Those that fished this morning were kept warm by the hot Sailfish bite! Multiple sailfish releases were reported today.

We will start our 2012 fishing season later this week targeting our favorite fish- wahoo. These great tasting fish are typically caught around the January full moon in depths between 75ft-250 ft off the Florida Keys reef line.

Leaving the dock at first light & having lines in the water at sunrise works well for us. Sometimes we sleep in then capitalize on the early/late afternoon bite.

If you are are looking to go fishing in the Florida Keys this winter or spring, contact us today for booking information ryan@floridakeysfishin.com or give us a call at 305-619-2126.

Capt Ryan

Florida Keys "Good Karma" Fishing

2011-12-28T17:42:00.000-05:00

Greetings from the Florida Keys!

We hope everyone had a very good Christmas and are enjoying the holidays. We had amazing weather over Christmas, so Melinda & I decided to go offshore fishing. During the fishing trip we were discussing what we should name our new charter fishing boat.

"Good Karma"

Several names came up during the course of the fishing trip, however when the name “Good Karma” was tossed out as a possibility the Florida Keys fishing Gods must have liked the name, because it was fish on! We reeled in a nice blackfin tuna for dockside sushi ashing down with some beers and it was final.... “Good Karma.”

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

Capt. Ryan

Florida Keys Fishing Trips Available in 2012

2011-12-09T19:17:00.000-05:00

Season Greetings from the Florida Keys!

I am are very pleased to announce that our Florida Keys charter boat fishing business will open in January 2012. Check out our new website at www.floridakeysfishin.com. We have already begun taking trip reservations for 2012.

Our fishing boat is a 2008 2360 Sailfish powered by a Yamaha 250 HP 4 Stroke motor. The boat is very fast and gets us to the best fishing spots quickly so we can maximize our fishing time. To learn more about our new fishing boat click here.

Just this past week we had an amazing day of fishing just off the Islamorada, FL. We don’t call Islamorada the “Fishing Capital of the World” for nothing!

Before calling it quits, like all good fisherman, I decided to try "one more spot". This “one more spot” rewarded us with 50 lb. Wahoo!

One my absolute favorite fishing spots in the Florida Keys is locally known as "The Humps". "The Humps" is a 50 mile stretch from Key Largo to Marathon. The 4 Humps (under water mountains) rise above the sea floor creating the perfect fishing grounds for wahoo, amberjack, dolphin (mahi-mahi) billfish, and one my all time favorites, tuna. Check out the "Hump" map.

Help us spread the word about our afforable Florida Keys fishing trips through your blog network or as we call it the Keys the "coconut telegraph".

For information about booking a trip with us in 2012 visit www.floridakeysfishin or click here. A Florida Keys fishing trip sure does make for the perfect Christmas present for any man, woman or child that loves fishing.

Happy Holidays!

Capt. Ryan

Frozen Tundra Drink Recipe Wins Key Largo Chamber Contest

2011-11-23T15:51:00.000-05:00

When I first read "Flager's Rusty Spike" drink recipe, which recently won the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce's 30th Annual Cookoff as best winter/fall friendly drink, I had to laugh.

"Flager's Rusty Spike"

This is one drink that would taste a lot better while drinking it from an old styrofoam cup or from a flask during:

A Green Bay Packer game in the winter.
Ice Fishing on Lake Minnetonka.
Watching a winter parade in downtown Minneapolis in the sub-artic winter temperatures with no socks on. (Like I did on my 1st date with my wife...)

I have only listed few, but could go on and on. Almost all true born and raised Wisconsites and Minnesotans have been using the ingredients in this drink recipe to ease the pain of cabin fever brought on each winter for years, maybe even centuries (laughing).

If you are searching for drink recipes this holiday or find yourself at an outdoor festival in the ice cold, make the most of it and give this one a try. I can almost guarantee you one heck of a holiday party when you serve this cocktail to your guests.

INGREDIENTS
1 oz Warm Apple Cider
1 oz Goldschlager Cinnamon Schnapps
1 oz Laird’s Applejack Brandy
Brown Cinnamon Sugar

DIRECTIONS
Combine apple cider, Goldschlager Cinnamon Schnapps, and Laird’s Applejack Brandy in a glass. Stir ingredients and then add brown cinnamon sugar as a garnish.

Have a Happy Thanksgivng and see you all after the holiday weekend with some big news!

Cheers!

Captain Ryan

NASA Trains for Asterioid Visit in Key West-Pres. Obama Worried? Not a Joke

2011-11-08T17:00:00.000-05:00

Is President Obama worried about an asteriod colliding with the earth in 2012? Check out this article,

NASA, seeking place to train for asteroid visit, picks Key West
By Cammy Clark | Miami Herald

KEY LARGO, Fla. — At 60 feet below the ocean’s surface, alongside coral, fish and a curious goliath grouper, NASA astronauts and scientists spent seven days testing battery-powered jet packs, booms with magnets, robotic arms on one-man subs and other ways to function in zero gravity.

The Florida Keys underwater world is helping NASA prepare for humankind’s first trip to an asteroid.
“It would be the first time that human beings have left the Earth/moon system and started to explore the solar system, to explore Mars and beyond,” said NASA asteroid expert Paul Abell. “That’s a very exciting prospect for us.”

Such an endeavor will take billions of dollars and years of effort to learn the unknowns and conquer the challenges and risks. But Abell, based out of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, said the ambitious program is worthwhile for many reasons, including this biggie: planet defense.

“Twenty percent of near-Earth asteroids are considered potentially hazardous,” Abell said. “Dinosaurs were wiped out by a big asteroid impact 65 million years ago. We don’t know when or where it will happen again, but it will happen again, and it would be nice to be prepared for that event.”

An small sub acts as a space rover moving an astronaut in the waters off Key Largo, Florida. The program, part of NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) is meant to test equipment and man's reactions for a human rendezvous with an asteroid.

While the goal date to send astronauts to a near-Earth asteroid is more than a decade down the road at 2025, to boldly go where no man or woman has gone before starts with baby steps — of which some were just taken in Key Largo.

About 70 people — including NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, who recently returned from six months at the International Space Station — were in the Keys recently for the 15th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations, known as NEEMO. The underwater missions simulate the harsh and confined human conditions of space. Six of the crew live at the Aquarius underwater laboratory, a 400-square-foot habitat that rests on the seabottom about 3.5 miles offshore and has been providing lodging and life support for underwater scientists since 1993.

It was the first NEEMO mission dedicated to asteroids, where the lack of gravity causes many challenges that lunar missions don’t have, starting with the inability to simply land a space vehicle on the rotating surface.

“And you can’t just chip off a piece of rock that you want to analyze and put it in your pocket like you can on the moon,” added Steve Chappell, NEEMO’s Deputy Mission Manager. “On an asteroid, it would fly away.” In real missions, things can go wrong. And they did. The meticulously planned 13 days of operations were delayed three days by thunderstorms and cut short Oct. 26 due to the threat of Hurricane Rina.

The crew that lived at the habitat needed 15 hours of decompression time and support staff needed several days to clean up the work site.

Despite losing about half the mission, NEEMO Project Manager Bill Todd said much was learned about what works and doesn’t work — knowledge that will help the program make progress.

Before Rina was a threat, Todd sat on a dock near NASA’s Mobile Mission Control, which arrived from Kennedy Space Center, talking about the uniqueness of this mission.

“Going to an asteroid is really in its infancy,” he said. “Going to the moon was a huge challenge, and this is an even bigger challenge. But it’s fun and rewarding trying to figure out how we would do it.”

In April 2010, the behind-schedule Constellation program was scrapped just months before the last shuttle flight. In tough economic times, President Barack Obama redirected NASA to use limited resources to focus on going further into space. Some saw it as bold, while others saw it as leading to the end of the United States’ leadership in space.

Obama tried to counter the criticism by setting specific deadlines, calling for the manned mission to a near-Earth asteroid by 2025. If all went according to plan, then it would be off to Mars, with a human mission to orbit the red planet by the mid-2030s followed by a manned Mars landing that the 50-year-old president has said he expects to see in his lifetime.

Exploration of asteroids, which orbit the sun but are too small to be considered planets, are important for scientists beyond planetary defense. “They are the leftover building blocks, pristine material, that contain all the secrets of how the solar system was formed,” Abell said.

Some asteroids are rich in water and organic material. Scientists would like to figure out how to mine those resources for life support and rocket fuel.

“Asteroids could be like supply depots in space waiting for you on your way to Mars,” Abell said.
And when it comes to planetary defense from asteroids heading for Earth, humans should not rely on last-minute heroics of blowing it up, as was the case in the blockbuster movie Armageddon.
“I certainly would not want to be sent to an asteroid to blow myself up,” Abell said.

Instead, he said humans should learn how to deflect them from Earth. And since asteroids can be solid metal or rubble piles, like big bags of sand, different strategies are required for different kinds.
In September, NASA unveiled plans for a super rocket called the Space Launch System that will be made to take astronauts to deep-space destinations millions of miles away.

Also in September, NASA held its first simulation of a human mission to a near-Earth asteroid in northern Arizona during its 14th Desert Research and Technology Studies campaign called D-RATS.

They used the extreme conditions of the Black Point Lava Flow in northern elevations to test vehicles that could hover just off the surface of an asteroid. They were equipped with a 13-foot long robot arm that could support an astronaut.

No one extreme environment on Earth can simulate exactly what the situation would be like on an asteroid. The necessary vehicles and equipment would be ruined in salt water.
But the marine world outside of Aquarius is especially good for astronauts and scientists to simulate zero gravity. They do this by becoming neutrally buoyant and not using flippers.

NEEMO 15’s mission was to test general concepts and equipment and conduct tasks that would be simple on Earth but tricky on an asteroid: anchoring, moving from point A to point B, communicating with a 50-second delay and collecting scientific samples.

The six-person submersed crew, which included astronauts from the United States, Japan and Canada and an expert on planetary exploration at Cornell University, quickly discovered that getting around without gravity was difficult. So was trying to perform a task, such as chipping a rock, without being stable.
Walker, commander of the NEEMO mission, learned spacewalks on an asteroid differ from dealing with a lack of gravity at the space station. An asteroid does not come with handholds spaced to correspond with a person’s reach or manmade interfaces to connect with foot restraints.
NASA needs to come up with innovative exploration techniques, some of which the NEEMO crew was testing.

Speaking from Aquarius on day 5 of the mission, Walker said they have learned that different techniques are good for different things. “To move a long distance, jet packs to fly from here to there are good,” she said. “But jet packs are not stable when arriving at a destination. We need some way of anchoring at a site.”

One way is using a boom — a long, rigid telescopic pole — with heavy magnets. While the aquanauts had to move “like an inch worm,” it worked.
As far as how to anchor a space vehicle to an asteroid, one wild concept is to wrap some kind of rope around the entire mass like a lasso. “The International Space Station is about 100 meters and the asteroid size we’re talking about going to is about maybe the same size,” Abell said.

The NEEMO mission also used two DeepWorker submersibles. They basically are small, one-man submarines that simulate the kind of Space Exploration Vehicle that may someday be used to explore the surface of an asteroid.

“Whenever we plan to send astronauts anywhere we send robotic spacecraft ahead of them to look for potential dangerous places or hazards,” Abell said.

During NEEMO, an astronaut was tethered by his feet to a robotic arm of the sub for scientific asteroid exploration, using coral and fish to represent rock and other materials found in space. They complete four days of these operations, as well as six spacewalks and a day of scientific research inside the habitat.

Todd said it’s important to have the astronauts, the ultimate end-users, be involved early in the process to provide their input of what works and doesn’t work.
Walker, the astronaut who had the rare opportunity to view Earth from the International Space Station, said the experience underwater also has been fascinating.

“You look out the window and have fish look back at you,” she said. “We also have a big grouper that likes to hang out and come out at night.”

Florida Keys Seafood Vodka Red Sauce

2011-11-08T11:59:00.000-05:00

Cooking in the Florida Keys is all about keeping it simple. If you take anything away from this post today, please remember this “Let the flavors from the earth & sea speak for themselves in the kitchen”.

A Sunset View from our Patio

Below is a simple vodka red sauce recipe. This sauce works well when mixed with fresh lobster bites or Key West Pink shrimp.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter

1 onion, diced
1 cup vodka
2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
1 pint heavy cream

Directions

In a sauce pan over medium heat, sauté onion in butter until slightly brown and soft. Pour in vodka and let cook for 10-20 minutes. Mix in crushed tomatoes and cook for 30 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and cook for another 30 minutes.

Stop by my fresh seafood market here<<<

Cheers!

Ryan

Toast his Memory-Inventor of the "Rum Runner" RIP

2011-11-02T09:08:00.000-04:00

Sad to report that the inventor of the world famous boat drink, the “Rum Runner”, Tiki John moved on to another heavenly gig in the sky.

Rum Runner

Rum Runners

Back in the late 50’s at the Holiday Isle Resort’s Tiki Bar, located in Islamorada, Florida, Tiki John invented this world famous drink. Local Florida Keys legend has it that the resort was overstocked with rum and other liquors so they had to drink up the excess inventory before a new shipment arrived. Hence a new drink was born. They named it after the mafia rum runners who smuggled booze into the United States during the prohibition era.

To toast his memory I gathered up all the proper ingredients for making a “Rum Runner”.

Ingredients:

Two cups ice
1 oz pineapple juice
1 oz orange juice
1 oz blackberry liqueur
1 oz banana liqueur
1 oz light rum
1 oz dark rum or aged rum
Splash grenadine
Optional: one ounce of Bacardi 151 to float on top
Orange slice (optional)

To make by the gallon use 24oz of each ingredient.

To Mix:

Blended:

Fill your blender with the ice
Add all of the liquid ingredients
Blend the contents until smooth
Pour into a Hurricane glass and garnish with an orange slice
Add the 151 floater!
Or...

On the Rocks:

Fill glass with ice. Add the liquid contents. Pour the 151 in the straw or on the top. This is my favorite way to enjoy the Rum Runner. Enjoy!

No Hurricane glass available, no problem. Anything that will hold liquid will work!

(Speaking of hurricanes, check out this "High Octane Hurricane" drink recipe!)

Beware! With about 4 to 5 oz of alcohol per drink, your actions tonight could make you legendary tomorrow!

And to top of the toast- “A legend never dies” -Jimmy Buffet

Cheers to Tiki John!

Ryan

NASCAR Fans: Jimmy Johnson Racing II Jet Crash Key West Airport

2011-11-01T08:18:00.000-04:00

Jimmy Johnson Racing II Jet Crash Key West Airport

ESPN: A small jet carrying the owner of NASCAR's top team and his wife has crash landed in Key West.

Officials say the Gulfstream 150 aircraft carrying Rick and Linda Hendrick ran off the runway Monday at 7:45 p.m.

Officials say the Gulfstream 150 aircraft carrying Rick and Linda Hendrick ran off the runway Monday at 7:45 p.m. The Hendricks, a pilot and co-pilot were taken to Lower Keys Medical Center. Two have minor injuries, though it was not clear who. The National Transportation Safety Board was notified and will be investigating the incident.

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