DUCK KEY
Capt. Tom at HAWKS CAY RESORT & MARINA reports the waters are a perfect, 81 degrees, with winds from 5 to 10 mph. one day and 20 to 30 mph., the next. The 2009 World Sailfish Championship, started this week in Key West Florida, and on the very first day of the tournament 225 Sailfish were caught and released. As you may have guessed sailfishing is at it,s peak.

Catches of 15 to 20 Sails a day are not uncommon. Captains from all over the Keys are scoring big catches giving their clients the thrill of a lifetime. The Blackfin Tuna are bending rods on the Marathon hump, taking live (pilchards) to 30 lbs. There are lots of large schools of Dolphin ( mahi mahi ) with fish to 15lbs. But some monster; mahi mahi are being taken by fishing under swimming sea turtles to 40lbs. Capt. Scott Meyer from the TV’s Saltwater Experience crew reported the bone fish hunting is still doing well; there are pods of bones all over the flats. When the wind lay down, there were some excellent days with catches of up to 13 fish a day to 10 lbs. Also on the flats and backcountry schools of 15 to 40 lb. juvenile Tarpon are supplying great action taking shrimp, crabs, and pilchards, but D.O.A C.A.L shad and jerk baits are accounting for most of the damage.

Big Tarpon are hot and hungry taking mullet, Storm wildeye jigs and big shad plugs under the bridges to 150 lbs. Cobia made a decent showing with fish to 50 lbs. The reef is holding its own with good numbers of yellowtail snappers 2 to 4 lbs. mutton snapper to 14lbs. the occasional keeper Grouper. There are plenty of grunts, porgies, lane and mangrove snappers to keep everyone happy. For Florida Keys fishing updates, e-mail Capt. Tom at
hawkscayfishing@aol.com. For charter info, call Hawks Cay Marina at 1 305 743 9000