January Key Largo Fishing Report Backcountry

It’s been extremely warm here and that’s lead to some ‘spring time style’ fishing in key largo in january.  We’ve been putting the big rods out for things like sharks, sawfish, tarpon, and cobia.  The last several trips we landed big tarpon, yesterday we boated 2.  I don’t think it will last forever as we have another cold front bearing down on us tomorrow night.  But it’s been fun for the last couple weeks.  Other than that, I’ve been fishing the gulf of mexico a lot.  With the high southeasterly winds the backcountry has been fairly mudded up and with the higher water temps, most the usual winter time areas are much more of a pick of fish rather than finding good numbers where you can sit and mash ’em. Though a few days a couple weeks ago we did boat a few good snook and reds the couple days we fished back there. Though we’ve been hanging the chum bag in the gulf much more lately and getting lots of spanish mackerel, big ladyfish, snapper, trout, jacks, and occasional pompano.  Also on the ocean side on the calmer days the patch reefs have still been alive with porgy, hogfish, snapper, and grouper.  After the next front I’m sure the backcountry redfish, black drum, snook, and sheepshead fishing should get a little more consistent.  The wind should swing north and drop the water temperature a bit.  Though February is right around the corner and that is typically when I start tarpon fishing a lot, the last couple years it’s been worth a try most days, and on the right day it can be dang good fishing!  Gimme a call and let’s get you out in the water for a key largo fishing charter.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk