Capt. Tom Aiuto's HAWKS CAY RESORT fishing report from Duck Key 5/2/09 to 5/8/09

[Capt Tom Aiuto]

The waters are almost 80 degrees, with winds a pleasant 5 to 15 knots. Tarpon has invaded the waters around DUCK KEY this week. With impressive catches of exceptionally large Tarpon pushing the 200 lb mark. Most of the guides at the resort are exclusivey targeting Tarpon. And most fishing (2) trips a day, seven days a week.The morning Tarpon bite is red hot. The AM tide change is producing catches of 10 to 12 Tarpon a day to 200 lbs. while the PM tide change is only producing 3 to 5 Tarpon to 175 lbs. Most of the Tarpon are being taken under the bridges and in deep channels and cuts in close proximity to the flats, using (live mullet and crabs). Bonefish hunting is really really strong this week. Catches of 8 to 10 Bones a day to 10 lbs have been common. Brown bonefish jigs dressed with shrimp seems to be doing the trick. Sailfish are still bending rods offshore where 5 to 8 sails a day are common. Blackfin Tuna on the Marathon hump are doing well with 10 fish a day to 25 lbs. is a good day. Mahi Mahi are mostly schoolies to 15 lbs. with a few gaffers to 25 lbs. and a couple slammers to 40 lbs. The Shark bite is still pretty good with Lemons to 150 lbs. Blacktips to 95 lbs. and bulls to 275 lbs. accounting for most of the action. The Snook are around but not Cooperating. On Thursday Capt. Scott went to one of his favorit Snook spots and found over 100 Snook stacked up. He started pitching live pilchards on their noses with no luck. The only thing they would look at was the C.A.L. (night glow) by DOA. For Florida Keys updates, e-mail Capt Tom Aiuto at hawkscayfishing@aol.com. For charter info, call Hawks Cay Marina at 1-305-743-9000, option (2)

[Capt Tom Aiuto]

The waters are pushing the high 80's by late afternoon, with winds 5 to 10 knots, most days. The Gulf Stream is bringing its warm waters ever closer to Duck Key.This makes getting to our favorite fishing spot now just a short run away. With the warmer water came large numbers of pesty sharks to the area. Bull sharks have been particularly annoying. They have been ripping up many hooked fish on their way to the boat, making for frustrated and very angry anglers, especialy when its a 30 lb. Blackfin on the line. The offshore Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) bite has been very good with schoolies to 14 lbs. a good number of gaffers to 25lbs. and a few slammers to 72 lbs. The Blackfin Tuna have also been cooperating with Tuna to 30 lbs. Also this week 2 rare shortbilled spearfish were caught around the Marathon Hump. On the inshore the Tarpon bite has been hit or miss since the worm hatch is over. But there are still a fair number of large Tarpon bending rods under the bridges. Most of the Tarpon are inhaling live mullet and crabs on both the dawn and dusk tides to 165 lbs. The Permit have moved back inshore and making their presence felt. Live crabs and Hank Brown's Bonefish jigs dressed with shrimp are doing the trick to 20 lbs. The Shark bite is fantastic with Lemons to 160 lbs., Blacktip to 100 lbs. and Silkys to 80 lbs. accounting for most of the action. Sight-casting for these hard fighting species with light tackle or even fly-fishing equipment is a memory you will not soon forget. The reef has been very productive. There have been Yellowtail to 5 lbs. Mangrove to 6 lbs. Mutton to 20 lbs. and Lans snappers, Porgies, Grunts and a 30 lb. Black Grouper to end the week. For Florida Keys updates, e-mail Capt. Tom Aiuto at hawkscayfishing@aol.com. For charter info, call Hawks Cay Marina at 1-305-743-9000, option 2. Post a Comment, http://hawkscayresort.blogspot.com/