I spoke with Lin at Key Largo Bait & Tackle, The Yellow Bait House, on Key Largo this morning. She was telling me that the snapper are spawning on near shore wrecks and reefs. Mangrove snapper are holding close to shore and will eat pinfish and shrimp. The Duane & Bibb wreck is loaded with mutton snapper and has quite a few yellowtail snapper. Lin was telling me that the secret to catching a lot of snapper is to chum,chum,chum, then drop a live pinfish into the chum slick to catch the mutton snapper, or a live shrimp to catch yellowtail snapper. Some small dolphin can be caught around weed lines in 250ft of water off of Key Largo. These are all 'peanut' and 'juvenile' dolphin. The larger fish are in 60ft of water from around Islamorada south with the largest dolphin being the farthest south. In the bay and back country, redfish,snook, tarpon and trout are all biting very well. The redfish are on oyster bars and under mangroves. shrimp and cut mullet or ladyfish are the best baits. Snook are around the small islands and will hit a small pinfish or shrimp. Some tarpon are still hanging out in the bay and will eat a pinfish. Trout have really turned on and are tearing up live shrimp fished under a Cajun Thunder Float. For more information contact;
Key Largo Bait & Tackle (Yellow Bait House)
305-451-0921
101741 Overseas Hwy
Key Largo, FL 33037
