Southbound Blog
What’s biting and the random ramblings of a local boat Captain.
Fishing with Vikings
We have had good conditions for fishing the last 4-5 days, but not good conditions for the fishermen. The current has been in close and running hard to the east while the wind has been blowing 15-20mph out of the east. This means the waves are big and the boat does...
Boat Yard Blues
Every boat owner has to deal with the Boat Yard Blues. Charter boats such as mine or any "working" boat usually go every year or two. It's never fun. When you are a boat owner, always feels good to get your boat fixed up. There is always a sense of accomplishment...
Summer in the Keys is starting early
Summer in the Keys usually starts right at the beginning of June. I know the "official" first day of Summer is June 21st. Usually, it is dry and not so humid until the beginning of June. But this year, Summer in the Keys is starting early. Being in the tropics, and...
Key West Wildlife March 24th, 2019
I know how lucky I am to be able to make a living on the tropical waters of Key West, Florida. Many people only see some of the things I see by watching the discovery channel. After doing this for 30+ yrs and I still get a thrill out of the Key West wildlife I get to...
March 12, 2019
This was the view while sitting in a tree stand on the last morning of my hunting trip this week. Just sitting there in the woods and watching the world wake up was fantastic. It's been dry up there, so the bugs were not an issue. The temperature was in the 60's so it...
March 3rd, 2019
Weather has been beautiful all week. Beautiful blue water, calm seas and warm temperatures, (a littel too warm for this early), but fishing has been a bit tough. There are still a few Mahi offshore, but most days one of two boats get a few and the rest of the boats...
February 18, 2019
Sometimes it's not about what you catch. Sometimes just being out there is worth the "price of admission" I realize, people book me to go out and catch fish and I am always trying to give my customers what they want, But yesterday, We hooked the first Blue Marlin I've...
Feburary 16, 2019
The only thing that has been consistant with the fishing lately is that it is changing every day! One day we have warm SE wind and we catch some Dolphin, (mahi-mahi). The next day the wind is out of the north and cold. Seems like we don't get more than a day or two of...
No fishing for a couple days
January 8th-10th, 2019 No fishing for a couple days Took a quick trip to my hunting camp up in Glades County. Saw a lot of hogs and hit 2, but lost the trail and did not recover either. Hate to shoot something and not use it, but fortunately, a dead hog is good for...
December 14, 2018
December 14, 2018 While much of coastal Florida had to deal with a severe Red Tide earlier this year. Key West got lucky and never saw any sign of it. We’ve had Red Tide scares before, but in my 30+ years on the water, it has never gotten this far South....
Remembering a Friend
December 2018 This has been a tough year in many ways. Hurricane Irma scared the hell out of me but left me unscathed for the most part. The worst "losses" I had this past year was the loss of friends. Just after Hurricane Irma, I received a call informing me another...
Hunting Adventure
November 7, 2018 I've been in and out of town a lot the last few weeks. Just got back from a father-son weekend at the hunting camp with some of the kids my wife and I have been sitting for the last few years. They're growing fast and it was time to take them on an...