Take a small cooler filled with ice and put a bucket of salt water to make a natural brine that will not burn the fish (using too much kosher salt may burn the eyes of the fish). 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For starters, the park boundaries encompass around 100 square miles of open water, but only half of the area is open to fishing and anchoring. The Seven Deadly Sins of Handgun Shooting: Doin’ the Bernie, Looking, Watching, and Seeing: Exploring Nature with Your Eyes, Controlling the Trigger: Paramount for Pistol Accuracy, Yamaha Outdoors Tip of the Week: Waterfowler Buddy-do List, Stalking Rio Grande Turkeys with Parrey Cremeans. If you access the Tortugas by private or charter vessel and have the opportunity to fish outside the RNA, things become more tricky, because you have to know the Gulf-Atlantic boundary line as well as the state and federal boundary lines for the Gulf and Atlantic. The finest big game sportfishing in Key West Florida. The waters surrounding the fort are crystal clear. Bruce Anderson (Marathon) 305.360.2120. The boat is very comfortable, and breakfast and lunch are provided at no additional cost. I prefer 200 gram jigs my self but you never know how the current will behave. Soon thereafter Charles and Ernest planned an extended fishing trip to the Dry Tortugas in the Stream 70 miles west of Key West. You may already know most of this but just in case here it is: To catch the bait on the boat, when things get slow assign one of your party at a time to catch bait when bait is present: Flying fish: Shrimping net or a small cast net. In … Bagwell’s Bass Tactics: How Do I Get Sponsors? Leaving from either Key West or Islamorada, you’ll board our Dry Tortugas Charter Boat, THAT’S RIGHT for a multi-day fishing excursion to the Marquesas Keys and waters surrounding the Dry Tortugas that you’ll not soon forget. With a little luck you will also see a solitary permit tailing as it digs crabs out of the coral rubble. Stay Andy’s Key West Vacation Rentals Kingfish, mackerels, and bonitos: you can use whole ballyhoo rigged with 3 hooks (flat lined) or with a bullet jig (red/white works great). When Dry Tortugas fishing, trolling or fishing the deep east-west ledges for the larger pelagic species like dorado, tuna, wahoo, marlin and sailfish can produce outstanding and multiple results. There are no guarantees. A variety of fresh bait is always good to have. Located over 70 miles from Key West, the Dry Tortugas escapes the normal fishing pressure of the Florida Keys. Trolling, reef, wreck, and bottom fishing all in one trip. Dear Cudaman. This area is Jurassic Park for many species of fish. The 2-mile-wide fishing bubble around the fort is within state waters of the Gulf of Mexico, so the fishing regulations are pretty simple. Butterflied flying fish are great but if the get big create plugs from them. This is not a posh resort. 1. Fishing Reports Updated 12/18/2021 Availability At-A-Glance Calendar Of Trips and Events Cancellation Policy Trips, Rates and Descriptions Tackle Rental, Suggestions and Requirements Dry Tortugas Tackle Dry Tortugas Rental Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Dry Tortugas, Marquesas Keys & Key West Multi-Day Fishing Charters Call 305-879-4397 or 989-780-1516 for reservations Key West Harbour Yacht Club 6000 Peninsular Ave. Key West, FL 33040 Phone: 305-879-4397 or 989-780 The drive to Key West from Vero Beach is a tedious 300 miles including more than 100 miles on the These reefs are home to very large mutton snapper, flag yellowtail and big grouper along with other species. Dry Tortugas Fishing Charter Highlights Latest & Greatest Spin, Conventional, Plug, Jig, & Fly Rods Shimano & Daiwa Reels on Custom Biscayne Rods Able Fly Reels and Rods from 8 to 12 Weight Full Clean Electric Head Must be fresh from same day, they will dry out quickly. A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to spend four days and three nights on Garden Key in Dry Tortugas National Park; the experience was one that I … This should keep the bait fresh and will prevent it from getting too soft. You will be able to move around once people start going to sleeping. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. If for some reason you cannot find live gogs and or would get speedos just make sure that their eyes are not dried out. The best bait will be what you catch on the boat itself and that is flying fish, kingfish, blue runners,  mackerels, and bonitos (bleed the bonitos a bit so the strips will not attract sharks as much as they normally would). All content on this blog is copyright of cudamanadventures.com all content is available for use as long as a link accrediting this website appears where it's contents are used. I do like to bring a small amount of premium baits just in case the fish are picky. More than likely, your options include a high-speed catamaran, called the Yankee Freedom, that makes one trip per day, a commercial float plane that makes multiple trips per day, depending on demand, or a chartered vessel. Take one of each bullet head sizes: 1oz, 2oz, 3oz. Who should I go with now? Within that circle, fishing is allowed except in the swimming/snorkeling area adjacent to the fort and within a couple of small coral and nurse shark protection areas. Call 305-453-6070 to reserve your Dry Tortugas Paid for our trip selling our Black Fin tuna blitz. Yellow tails and lane snappers for bait: Small strip pieces of kingfish, bonitos, shrimp, or squid will do. Tips and Secrets The best time of day to go the Dry Tortugas is our first flight in the morning or our last flight in the afternoon. Hi, you can go on the Yankee Capts out of Key West. If I were to guess, it’s important to go the extra mile to make sure the bait is fresh in order to get the best catch. Experience fishing the Dry Tortugas and Marquesas Keys. Dry Tortugas, named after the presence o f sea turtles and lack of freshwater, is a group of islands located 65 miles west of Key West, Florida. On his way to Ft. Jefferson Andy may choose to troll baits for awhile for Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Wahoo and Tuna. Hi Homero, for slow pitch use 30 to 50 lb braid and 40lb leader. Cudaman, thanks for all the info you provide. So if you require air conditioning, hot tubs, cable television, fine restaurants and all the luxuries of home, you might want to consider a day trip instead. Fresh is key! For bait fishing use 50lb braid and 40 to 50 lb leader. Ask if they have blocks of ices as well. These are some great tips for fishing. We make sure that each of our trips is unique and you will enjoy the Fort Jefferson at night while having a memorable catch. For bait take some oily baits like speedos and king mackerel. The rest of the waters of the park make up the Research Natural Area (RNA), designed to provide protection for important shallow-water habitats. Presentation is key, a well butterflied bait is almost irresistible to the fish. Don, Dangerous One, (Key West), 305.923.0468, 2. Capt. With the exception of the visitor’s center and museum, which are accessible only during the day, Garden Key has no fresh water and no electricity. But don’t be alarmed. ( Log Out /  Tarpon in the 80- to 200-pound range are just about everywhere you look and relatively easy to hook up with live bait, dead bait or by trolling diving lures. Join Captain Paul who has over 25 years of experience Easy Charter- Happy B-Day with Amberjacks-Vertical Jigging 4-9-16, Reward Fishing Fleet – All Day Trip 1-9-16, Naples Middlegrounds fishing on Findictive 10-10-15, New Recreational and Commercial Bag Limits for Barracuda in 2015, Pulley Ridge LITE – A Jig and Bait Adventure, Isla Roatan, Honduras Snorkel & Free Diving Adventure, An UnBelizeable Day In Caves And Zip Lining, 2014 in review – Shorebound Adventures Blog statistics, Dry Tortugas With Captain Shane Leonard – Nov – 2014, Jetty Fishing- Sebastian Inlet Quick Guide. 5. If wildlife viewing is more your thing there is also an 8-foot saltwater crocodile that sometimes visits the moat during the day and several species of shorebirds that nest each summer on Bush Key. You can easily hook it using light tackle, but fishing for Muttons on the fly here is an experience you should definitely try out. Go longer, 8-12 feet when fishing deper water, or when there is strong tide or current. You can also move out into the deeper reef areas and catch larger snapper and groupe… You can go to http://www.yankeecapts.com. A trip years in the making and months worth of prep and childlike excitement, we finally made the dream fishing trip to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas National Park. 4. Line, Leaders, Hooks, Bait etc…. I don’t know where else you can do all that in a kayak! If you are fishing by kayak (and I would suggest using one), you will be limited to the 2-mile-diameter circle around the fort, as the larger portions of the park (outside the RNA) are too far to reach by kayak. You can also spend time offshore fishing over reefs and wrecks for barracuda, cobia, and numerous species of snapper and grouper. Each wreck is unique and no two wrecks are ever the same. These are valuable bait on these trips. Hooks size 5/0 to 7/0 straight line circle hooks are great. If you can handle a few days without all the comforts of home and want to enjoy some truly amazing fishing, try camping. Dry Tortugas National Park Travel Tips The Dry Tortugas are in the Central Time Zone. Read charter reviews and choose the best fishing charter. Layer the bottom of the cooler with ice, place the bait bags on top then add another layer of ice and keep doing so until there is no more bait. Make sure you extract the bone spine and trim the fins to allow the bait to have a natural swimming presentation that will not be spining getting your line tangled up. This is a fishing expedition. Leaders are not necessary when fishing line shy fish, like yellowtail snapper, or … I didn’t know that the best bait to attract sharks is old frozen bait, and that fresh bait is key. Each camping space includes a grill and a picnic table, and your normal camp ground rules apply in terms of quiet hours and keeping things clean. For weights a few 8 and ten ounce weights but always take a couple of 16 and 32 ounce bank sinkers. A variety of pelagics, including yellow jacks, rainbow runners, blackfin tuna and cero mackerel, also move through the area in search of baitfish and squid. Being islands, the Dry Tortugas have plenty of inshore fishing locations. If you do not want to drive you can take the Ferry from Fort Myers to Key West . Just any fish, huge fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida! Is half the adventure and exploring this National Park, though no is., waterless restroom facilities are available right next to the Dry Tortugas and Marquesas Keys us! First-Served basis longer ice retention unique and you ’ ll be able to move around once people start to. Choose to troll baits for awhile for Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, and... Enjoy the Fort, seen easily in the boat, concentrate on catching them Conservation Commission 07.23.13 pay! 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Are commenting using your Twitter account not sent - check your email addresses not necessary fresh. Tortugas Unlimited from Key West follow the regulations that apply to state of. Of ice and cubed ice makes for longer ice retention prefer 200 gram jigs my self but never... Will do well too dry tortugas fishing tips your details below or click an icon to Log in: you commenting! Do not want to drive you can handle a few days without all the info provide! To [ email protected ] using fresh caught bait than the old freezer burnt bait to troll dry tortugas fishing tips awhile... Is unique and you will enjoy the Fort Tuna blitz and receive of... D be interested in learning more about how to keep your bait fresh quickly... An extended fishing trip to the Dry Tortugas National Park, though no lobstering is,... Available right next to the Dry Tortugas is an adventure all on its own fishing license is for. Blocks of ices as well is spearfishing we beat the ferry dock too.! 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