Okay people, here we go again with our latest edition of the Florida Key Fishing Report.

What's hot? Really, do we need to ask? The fishing has been off the hook down here. As usual, it's not so much the quality of the fishing, but the weather that is the concern. And as many of you know, we had our first minor Tropical Storm of the year blow thru here this past weekend. Really, just a blip in the path of another fishing adventure.

I'll start off by telling you that everything that you'd expect to be hitting is hitting, and really hitting hard. We managed to make it out there a couple of times since I last reported and talked with a number of people and the reports are all good.

I won't spend much time talking about the Dolphin bite, except to say "come and get em"! If you want your limit, it's no problem. I would actually say that you need to do a little more homework if you're not catching fish! They are hitting anywhere from just off the reef out to the other end of the gulfstream and the numbers are great. If you want to take in your limit I reccommend getting into the waters of the stream (check the current report for exact location) because they are really packed in there. We've seen some really good weedline formation just a quarter of a mile into the stream and that's the area that you should target. You can troll just about anything that you like, but I always go to the Billy Baits as my mainstay. Try the Turbo Slammers in Dolphin shades for the schoolies but if you want to hit the bigun's don't go out there without a few Double Cavitators in the same color scheme.

Something I hear over and over again from our vacationers is that they got out into the 600's and caught a few fish. Answers like, "they were scattered", "couldn't find weeds and birds", to any number of other answers. Here's your solution! If you're inside of the big drop at around 700, the fishing may be slow at times, look for the birds and don't waste much time in areas where you don't see any activity. I highly reccommend, even for you smaller boaters to keep a keen eye on the weather synopsis and plan your trip accordingly. It's well worth the wait. I don't need to say more.

Problem #2, "nothing but schoolie size fish"! Try doing the weave pattern in and off the weeds. Get that boat out there about a hundred or more yards and slowly crank her back in to the formation. You'll eventually come to realize that this is a better way to target the substantial fish. Remember a couple of key factors; number 1 the larger Mahi travel solo or in pairs and prefer to stay outside the commotion but will travel in time to time for a quick meal. Number two, they sometimes get a little deeper than you may expect so don't be afraid to try some altenative tactics to reach them. It is absolutely neccessary that you still cover ground while you're at it though. Or of course you can try to bring them in to you, but this doesn't always work.

I like to fill up on a few schoolies and then change it up a bit. Diversify your spread a little, get down a little deeper, try trolling some ballyhoo a little slower, try some Magnum's, try a little more speed with some larger artificials, just change it up. Your fishing is going to slow, but you've already had a good day. Remember that this is what makes you a fisherman and separates you from someone who occasionally catches fish.

The stories of the week come one from myself and one from a customer at my 320 13th Street. Charles is staying over at 320 and has a Son who is evidently quite a fisherman. He is quite well read I'm told as well, and believes in getting his schooling from every available source whenever possible. I personally reccommend South Florida Sportfishing Magazine, www.sfsfmag.com . They rule the local market down here. Before I get off on a tangent.... His Son argued about laying out these big red and white trolling lures (I am guessing Doorknob's or aliens etc.,) that Charles wanted to give a shot. Of course, experience sometimes prevails and they brought in a couple of very nice Mahi in the middle of the 600 dead zone. Don't ever get complacent, please! Learn to expect the unexpected; but remember to also trust your instincts.

A few days before this, we had the Key Colony Vacation Rentals own "fine time" out there for a morning of fun. After boating about 30 in a couple hours of trolling Turbo Slammers, we headed home for the dock. Starting off slow we dragged a few rigged 'hoo for the first three or so miles and missed out on a nice Sailfish which we had lost sight of before we got closer. After this dissappointment, we rigged on some high speed lures, and put it in gear at about 14 knots (the most that conditions would allow). Don't ever believe that this is too fast!!!!!!! We have caught a number of very nice fish at speeds much higher than this, and on this day we lost a Monster Wahoo on a large Double Cavitator by Billy Baits.