help?? please

[Backwoods123]

hey everyone whats going on, im new to the forum, ive been down to the keys the past 5 weekends in a row and ive been going home with my limit of big grovers everytime, and a few permit.... but my favorite fish to catch is muttons, and i havent been having any luck with them at all... i us to tear them up at the 7 mile all the time but now its closed, so if anybody can give me and info on what bridges i can have a good chance at some muttons it would be greatly appreciated.

[PhishingPhanatic]

Welcome..it is a little too early yet for muttons to be here with any regularity, the water needs to warm a little more. Any bridge with deep channels holds them, Channel 2 is always a good bet. Give it another month or 2 and there should be more of them...I haven't gotten any this year either and I have been fishing in spots that I usually do well for them.

[Backwoods123]

well i was with my buddy last sunday fishing channel 2 and he got one 18 inches and i had a good run on a butterflied grunt, that i believe was a mutton... but never came tight.. i use to fish the 7 mile and get 4 or 5 muttons a day keepers anytime of year but now they closed it so i only chance it at night there... but i go down atleast 3 times a month sometimes 4 and i get my limit of grovers to easy so i wanna get some muttons in the mix, ive herd channel 2, 5 and long key are good for muttons.... have u ever fished the new side of 7 mile?? i always see people walk all the way to the end,, it looks pretty deep back there...

[fishnfool73]

It has been a bad year so far for muttons in the Keys whether from boats or from land.

[PhishingPhanatic]

It has been a bad year so far for muttons in the Keys whether from boats or from land.

Last year was the same way from the bridges, I didn't get any muttons until June or so...but then I did pretty well for them throughout the summer. I think these bad cold fronts we have had the past 2 winters are chasing them further offshore until the water really warms up.

All of those bridges you mentioned Backwoods hold muttons at times. By the "new" side of 7 Mile, I'm assuming you mean the south side? If you fish there, make sure you scout out a spot during the day, otherwise you may be set up in 2 feet of water if you get there during the night.

[Backwoods123]

ya man the south side is what im talking about i notices that just about that whole bridge is a shallow flatt... but i know all the way towards the end it drops off pretty good, thats usually were i see the people fishing is alll the way at the very end.. it looks pretty deep... im jjust a little hesitant to try it, but i guess ill never know til i fish it... my trip got cancelled, for tomorrow so ima be down next sunday monday and tuesday.. hopefully i can find them

[skyzdalymit71]

How long has the seven mile been closed. Is that temp or permanant?

[Backwoods123]

its been closed for atleast 3 years now... and its permanint from what i hear... you can walk on it and everything just says no fishing.

[PhishingPhanatic]

its been closed for atleast 3 years now... and its permanint from what i hear... you can walk on it and everything just says no fishing.

Yep, the state decided it was "structurally unsound" to fish on, funny that it is still safe enough to keep open for pedestrians though.

[skyzdalymit71]

Thats funny you can still walk on it but you cant fish on it. That sounds like its a little fishy to me. lol!!!! They just dont want the fisherman to interfere with the walkers and have that fish smell on their sneakers. Anyway thats how long its been since i fished that bridge it sure was great there at times back in the days.

[Green Tide]

right now the state is talking of closing it to everything and pigeon key lost its funding for water shuttle service for visitors.
the museum is scrambling for other sources for cash.
i think you could sneak out there at night for short amounts of time, esp on weekdays