Double Threat Charters

Fishing Charters in the Florida Keys

2021-06-17

Just south of Miami you'll find a series of barrier islands that begin with Key Largo and run about 100 miles to Key West. Sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straights, this area serves up a unique fishery with an abundance of opportunities both inshore and offshore.

Bottom Fishing in the Floria Keys

Ok, I'll give it to them. The bottom fishing is better in the Keys, especially in Key West. Key West and the Dry Tortugas specifically host some of the best bottom fishing in the world. Mutton snapper, red snapper, black grouper, and red grouper are some of the many species they target in this area.

Fishing for Pelagics in the Florida Keys

Fishing for pelagics (migratory species such as sailfish, tuna, kingfish, etc) can be good in the Keys but I would argue the fishing is just as good in Miami. Sailfishing, in particular, is definitely better in Miami as we have more consistent north current. We fish the same stock for dolphin, kings, tuna, etc as well. The keys can have a great shower fishery for sailfish on bait balls. It also shines around the full moon for wahoo in the winter months. Another notable fishery is their swordfishing which is a bit more consistent year-round although the average fish may be smaller.

Things to do in the Keys

I would suggest staying in Miami and doing your charter with us but a drive through the keys is definitely worth the trip.

One of my favorite things to do in the Keys is visit Robbie's marina in Islamorada. Feeding the tarpon at Robbie's can be a great family activity and provide awesome photo opportunities.

If you want to spend the night in Islamorada before finishing the drive to Key West, I recommend looking at Cheeca Lodge & Spa if you want an awesome host.

Continue the Drive to Key West

Key West is worth spending a night at especially if you want to kick it at a local bar and listen to some live music. A lot of people go to the Hemingway House but this is pretty forgettable. Key West is really known for it's night life so if you're into that sort of thing, have at it and stay safe.

If you do choose to get on the water in Key West, reach out to Dibs on Bottom Adventures by searching them on Google.

Chub Cay Fishing Charters

2021-06-16

Chub Cay is an absolute paradise of The Bahamas. It hosts legendary diving and sportfishing year round with spring being peak time to target billfish and summer being ideal for dolphin and assorted bottom fish.

The Berry Islands and Chub Cay border "The Tongue of the Ocean" that hosts some of the deepest waters in the region.

A few notable places to fish in the area include "The Pocket" and "The Joulters."

Fishing in the Pocket

About 130 miles east southeast of Miami you'll find the pocket. This is arguably the best place in the world to catch a grand slam (3 or more species of billfish in one trip).

Late through early May is the best time to fish for billfish in the pocket, particurarly when there is a southeast wind. Sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, and more are all possibilities during this time of year.

Fishing in the Joulters

South of Chub, you'll find the Joulters and their accompanying underwater canyons and seamounts. This can be a great place to fish when you have less than ideal conditions in the pocket such as a north wind.

Fishing in Bimini, Bahamas

2021-05-21

Run 50 miles east from Miami and you'll find yourself in the territorial waters of the Bahamas. Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to South Florida and it has a rich history of sportfishing. Bimini has great bottom fishing for yellowtail snapper, grouper, mutton snapper, and more. There are no shortage of pelagics either with a great wahoo bite during the winter, excellent mahi fishing during summer, and billfish year round. One fish in particular, however, thrust Bimini into the international spotlight for sportfishing: giant bluefin tuna.

Bluefin Tuna Fishin in Bimini

Giant bluefin tuna make an annual migration to the Gulf where they spawn during late spring/early summer. On their way back north, they ride the current of the Gulf Stream which takes them right past Bimini. The sharp drop off near Cat Cay in particular is met by a shallow reef and sandy stretch of bottom. The Gulf Stream slams this section of water which pushes large pelagics close to the beach. When the conditions line up, especially near the peak of the migration around June 1st, Bluefin can be found travelling north in huge packs as shallow as 30 feet of water.

The bluefin fishery off Bimini is a seasonal occurrence but on the best days, thousands of bluefin can be seen tailing through the area. During the 50s and 60s, Bimini and Cat Cay became hot spots for bluefin tuna fishing. This fishery was influential to say the least. The phrase "tuna tower" was born from this fishery as captains and boat makers were driven to enhance their vantage point in an effort to find and catch more fish. Tuna towers quickly grew in popularity and eventually made their way into the mainstream the bluefin fishery definitely helped put them on the map.

The Bimini bluefin fishery peaked in the 50s and 60s before the fishery faced a sharp decline. The recreational pressure didn't help but the main cause of the decline in stocks was driven by commercial pressure around the world. The tuna fishing off Bimini is nothing like it used to be but they can still be seen and caught, especially during early June with a South wind.

Wahoo Fishing in Bimini

Wahoo fishing can be phenomenal in Bimini, especially near the full moon during winter. On calmer days, South Florida fishermen run across the Gulf Stream in droves looking to target these toothy predators. The best technique for targetting Bahamian wahoo is by high-speed trolling. Most boats use 2-4 rods (typically electric) and troll at about 13-16 knots. Multiple hookups aren't uncommon and if you time it right, double-digit catches aren't out of the question. Bimini isn't quite as consistent as Cay Sal bank to the south but it is convenient and the wahoo fishing can be world-class.

Marlin Fishing in Bimini

The blue marlin fishing in Bimini isn't as well known as some other destinations but it can be excellent. especially around the full moon in June and July. Bimini blue marlin can be caught as close as 3 miles from shore and many of these fish are size large. Bimini is a great location to troll artificials for bigger blues. You'll definitely need to put the time in but the results can be worth it.

Feel free to contact us if you would like to coordinate a trip to the Bahamas. We offer multiple day trips for repeat customers and if we can't accommodate you, we're more than happy to refer you to someone who can.