OFFSHORE
Cool weather has brought the tuna's sailfish and king mackerel to the keys for their annual migration. This off course means a lot more catching and a little less fishing, always good for customer relations.
Reef action is always out standing after a cold front, cero mackerel's yellowtail snapper, jacks a good bet.
Catching live pilchards is the key to both the blue water action and the reef; live chumming this time of year produces a great opportunity to use lures.

FLATS
If you like catching large barracudas this would be the time, the water is below 70 and the wind is out of the north. That makes it a little tuff to find bonefish and permit, a couple more days and the tempt will be up and hopefully he fish will return to the flats. Capt Tony Murphy. 305 293 1814

OFFSHORE

We had a cold front last week and it has finally brought some blackfin tuna and sailfish with It.
Although not hot and heavy yet, you defiantly have a shot right now. Later in the day seems to be working better, I think because of the full moon. Large cero mackerel and yellowtail are still a pretty good bet on the reef.
Cast netting live pilchards is defiantly the key. Red grouper action to the west will really start to pick up in the next week or so.

FLATS

We having some strong tides right now which is great for permit fishing.
They like to hang on the edges of the flat on the out going tide so they can pick off the crabs.
They are not shi about mudding on the incoming tide. Bonefish also like these tides the problem being the water is coming in and out fast, so the window of depth to see them is short.
Thanks for stopping bye.
Capt Tony Murphy

Offshore

Late summer fishing has defiantly been a little tuff, especially with the weather we have had. That said we did have some good weather last week, so quite a few boats were able to get out to the reef where they were rewarded with some large yellowtail snapper and some nice cero mackerels.
Blue water fishing remains slow with trolling boats making the most of a summer long bonito bite.
Tuna season is just a few weeks a way, the first cold front will push them in close to the reefs and wrecks around key west. I am looking forward to that!

Flats

Bonefish and permit have been quite plentiful this summer with timing being the key. Early morning incoming tides are the way to go, the colder water coming out of the gulf gives the fish a chance to jump up on the flat to feed. As the sun begins to heat the water on the flat up around the high 80s into the 90 degree mark bye afternoon you can expect to se very little in the way of fish. This will also improve in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for stopping bye. Captain Tony Murphy. 305 293 1814.

OFFSHORE
The sailfish run this year has not really materialize although we have been catching 2 or 3 a day that is pretty slow compared to past years, hopefully the next couple of weeks it will shape up. The kingfish are still hanging around I have heard of some 50lb fish being caught but mostly 12 to 20lbs has been the norm. Permit have shown up in their regular spawning grounds, it's a good opportunity for fly fisherman some who have spent years chasing permit on the flats to take some revenge. They are hungry and will eat just about anything that moves.
Large yellow tail are on the edge of what we call the bar, they are very challenging, as they will only eat light floro carbon leaders. Mutton snappers down deep will happily eat a live pilchard.
Red groupers are a sure thing if you have the right weather and can make a 35mile + run to the gulf. The same thing applies to the tunas behind the shrimp boats.
It's been a great year for chumming tarpon in the harbor although with the recent north wind it slowed up. But I am sure it will improve as soon as the wind comes from the southeast. Lots of option this time of year especially if you have a fast boat.
FLATS
We have had an algae bloom that has affected the flats to the north and east of Key West. It is improving on a daily bases in fact there are fish back there they are just hard to see in the dirty water
Luckily to the west has been free of algae Tarpon bonefish and a few permit are down that way. The permit will be few in the next couple of weeks as they move offshore to spawn.
Thanks for stopping bye
Capt Tony Murphy 305 293 1814

OFFSHORE

We Just finished our biggest tournament of the year. For the last 4 years the SKA Have come to key west and with the help of Murray marina and the hogs breath salon they have put together the largest tournament key west has seen. 125 boats most of them large center consoles with twin sometimes triple outboards from Texas to the Carolinas make the trip to key west to catch a big kingfish. But this year the top prize went to a local boat, keylimey with Capt. Tony Murphy at the helm, yes that's right me. The weather was perfect and so was my fishing we boated the 55.85 lb king on the first bait out on the first day. Its always better to be lucky than good. Anyway there are plenty of kingfish this time of year along with mackerels and yellowtails on the reef
The blue water has been on and off but we are hearing reports of large numbers of sailfish further up the keys so you can bet in the next couple of days they will show up here.

FLATS
It's been one of the best tarpon Januarys I can remember purely because it has been warmer than normal. Most of the fish have been poring in around Key West harbor. Plugs crabs fly's it has not seemed to matter, there's some happy flats guides out there this month. Lots of trout in the muds north of Key West are making for a nice plan B. God luck out there. Thanks for stopping bye.
Capt Tony Murphy.
305 293 1814

OFFSHORE.
Reef action is an under statement cero mackerels groupers and some nice kingfish are making for a great week of fishing even through we have had some of the coldest weather of the year. Catching bait has been difficult with the cold weather but live shrimp purchased at the marina has been working great, for both bottom bait and free lining back into the chum slick. The larger mackerels have been taking some top water lures witch makes for a nice visual. Mutton snappers in the deep water around the wrecks, fishing is only going to get better as the wind calms down.
FLATS
The flats fishing has been very tuff to cold and to windy, any flats trip I have had I have converted to my big boat. Although it looks like the next couple of days it will warm-up. Thanks for dropping bye. Capt Tony Murphy. 305 2931814

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