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4-5-08 Fishing report
by Capt Dave Navarro 5050 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, Florida 33050.  (305) 743-6139
Email: worldclassan@comcast.net -- www.worldclassangler.com

Offshore Report:
Can you believe it's already May? Wow, what a fast year! It seems that we were just talking about sailfish, kingfish, and mackerel coming into local waters. Now, with the exception of the sailfish, most of the others are on their way out.

Biggest news in Town!!
It's tarpon time!
The 42 nd Annual Marathon International Tarpon Tournament. May is when the tarpon & dolphin fishing gets as hot as the weather. From all of the early indications, this year will not be any different.

The evening bite has been real good this week from reports of anglers that are practicing for the upcoming tournaments. The 42 nd Annual Marathon International Tarpon Tournament is Thursday through Saturday and the 32 nd Annual Ladies Tarpon Tournament is next Friday and Saturday. Both events are open to any interested angler, (of course, the qualification for the Ladies Event is obvious.)

Both events are fishing for tarpon in the evenings on either 12 or 30-pound test line with higher points for the lighter line. Both are all-release on the tarpon with many other prizes for other species that happen to get captured. (You know snapper, grouper, and boyfriends.) There's still time to enter the tournaments so stop in and see me if you would like information on either. These events have gained a reputation and a new motto........ ‘Don't just hear the rumors, Be one!'

The snapper run to the ocean looks like it has just begun. Look for area channels and passes to be full of big mangrove snapper headed to the reef for their annual spawn. If you find a school at a bank or channel, hit them quick. They may not be there in a day or two. They are on a mission to get to the reef. (If you only had one chance a year, would you miss it?) Live shrimp or pinfish will get their attention as they are putting on the pounds on the way out. In a few weeks, the reef will be alive with them but for now, you should be looking along their path. Some of them are well over 5 pounds. The offshore fishing has turned it up a notch in the past week with numerous dolphin moving into local waters. Many of the fish have been scattered inside of the Gulf Stream, which has averaged from 9 to 14 miles beyond the reef. Some nice catches have been well into the stream in areas from 18 to 25 miles from shore. I am starting to hear of a few large fish over 30 pounds taken lately. Look for the numbers to only improve for the next several weeks. High speed lures have been the ticket for covering ground to find these scattered fish such as the Billy Baits and others.

 

May also marks the normal beginning of our rainy season and for those of us on land, we know that it is needed. But when we go fishing, an afternoon thunderstorm can be something that is best avoided. May and June are known for cloud formations with numerous waterspouts and frequent lightning.

 

Having some knowledge of when they may be forming as well as where and how fast they are going is a valuable thing. The summer is a fantastic time to fish in the Keys but there are these storms to deal with.

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Being offshore in particular is not a good place to be caught in one of these storms especially if you are in a smaller boat. Using the available tools to know what is going on with the weather is invaluable in the summer here. Bayside of the islands is an area that gets pounded most afternoons if the storms that form over the Western Glades venture south. Keeping an eye on the sky and an ear to the weather radio is your best bet to stay safe and comfortable.

We will not be having a free fishing seminar this week due to the overrun with the kick off evening of the 42 nd Annual Marathon International Tarpon Tournament kicking off this Thursday.

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Tight Lines,

Captain Dave

Captain Dave Navarro is a lifelong resident of Marathon, Owner of the World Class Angler in Marathon and captain of the charter boat, "Dave's Dream".

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