We are moving into the fall season here in Key West. The water is starting to cool down a little and fish are moving in from deeper water. The weather has been pretty good over the last few days and it looks like we should have a good stretch ahead of us. Light winds will make boating comfortable but it usually slows the fishing.

This time of year I usually anchor, chum and fish the entire water column.  Look for fish on your fishfinder anywhere along drops from 60 to 100 feet. Once you locate some activity anchor well above it and get the chum flowing.  I usually give the chum a little while to get going before dropping in any lines. I usually rig up 4 rods while waiting and that is about enough time to turn the water on.  Once the chum gets back and down deeper you will start to see more activity. Once things are heating up I will drop a couple of baits to the bottom and work a couple in the higher section of the water column behind the boat. Depending on the current you can use different weight Yellowtail Jigs to get the bait as far out and down as you need. Go with 2 different jigs and baits until you find out where and what they are looking for that day. Usually a 1/8 oz lead head hook with a strip of Squid or Ballyhoo. Once you figure out how far back the bigger fish are holding you should be able to catch a limit of Yellowtail Snapper in no time.

Bottom fishing is a little less technical….Just drop a live Pinfish to the bottom and wait. You should start to find Grouper and big Mutton Snapper working the bottom along drops in 80-100 feet. For the Grouper you can use a 6 foot 50 pound Flourocarbon leader but I would double the length and go down to 30 pound test for Mutton Snapper. Small Pinfish and strips of Ballyhoo or Bonito work great for both species.

Offshore we should see a fall run of Dolphin. Although it is not as productive and long as the spring run you can find some nice fish close to the reef. I usually find some nice size fish in the 120-200 foot depth while looking for sailfish. Blackfin Tuna and Kingfish will be in the same areas as well. Wahoo start to move into the area with the cooler weather. Look for fish along the edge of the bar and in 120-150 foot depths. A ballyhoo/lure combination on a downrigger trolled about 30 feet deep will catch fish. Wahoo are fast and good at throwing the hook so keep the boat moving forward without slowing down and reel like crazy. I have lost most Wahoo right at the side of the boat a foot away from the reach of the gaff.

If the wind picks up or you don’t want to venture out too far in a smaller boat the patch reefs that are scattered in Hawk Channel are great structure to fish. Anchor upcurrent and start chumming. Work a variety of baits along the bottom. You should find Red Grouper, Black Grouper, Gag Grouper, Mutton Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Porgies and Sharks. Small spoons or surface plugs will draw in Cero and Spanish Mackerel. I usually drop back some anchor line a few times until I am right at the edge of the patch reef before I pick up and move to another.  It is best to work a patch and as soon as it slows pick up and move to another. I find the bite starts off hot then starts to slow after a while.
The Gulf should start to come into its own this month. With the cooler water the bottom algae will start to die off and you will find all the wrecks and rockpiles starting to attract Grouper, Mutton Snapper, Kingfish, Sharks and Cobia.

Capt. Chris Lembo
Incognito Charters
(305) 304-0093
http://www.incognitolighttackle.com
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