Keys 4/9-16

[Upnorth]

Appreciate all the info you guys post. As an out of stater, I live vicariously through your stories and pictures in the winter months.

Made the annual trip 4/9-16. First few days the fishing was on fire and the shrimping was slow. Last few days the shrimping was incredible for size and numbers, and the fishing slowed - probably due to the huge amount of bait in the water.

Ended up 3/14 on tarpon - pretty bad batting average but the odd's are stacked in the tarpons favor. Biggest landed was around 60lbs. Snapper bite was consistent - and average size was good. Agree that shrimp get numbers but bait fish get size. Noticed when I missed bites that the bait almost always had a chunk missing from the stomach - maybe need to start tyring to hook the bait there? Got two bonus snook in the 7-9 lbs. range and a couple jacks. Went off shore one day and got skunked - couldn't find any weed lines to fish and were kind of fishing blind.

I'll try to post some pictures once I figure out how to save them in a smaller file size.

Thanks again for the great site.

[james380]

Thanks for the report. Try using photobucket.

[PhishingPhanatic]

Thanks for the report. When your bait comes back missing the stomach, it is usually crabs...that is the first part they eat.