Hi, this is Capt. Chuck Butler with Charter Boat SeaClusion, operating out of Key West Oceanside Marina, where we offer a variety of different fishing charters aboard my forty-six foot Bertram sportfish “SeaClusion”. Well the New Year is on us with more strange, weird and downright ridiculous rules and regulations – Happy New Year! The good news is that there are plenty of really nice fish out here waiting to be caught. The winter season is in full swing and Kingfish are one of the top fish in January.	They call them smokers because of what they can do to your reel, not because they are so tasty smoked. Kings are found along the reef and over wrecks and rocks. The Gulf is really hot but with a two per person limit that gets to be a long trip for not many fish. Their cousins Spanish and Cero Mackerel are abundant on the reef chasing schools of Ballyhoo. Trolling dead Ballyhoo requires a stinger hook or as I prefer rigging the single hook to exit the body at the rear of the bait. This is a little tricky, but a rigging needle and tying the bait to the wire is quick and easy with a little practice. It also catches Mackerel instead of getting bit off.
Key West Report! 1/18/2012 | Mickey's Guide Service Fishing Reports We had beautiful weather for a day on the water and a great bite to go along with it. We had repeat customer Jim Whalen on the boat today and he always brings ... www.mickeysfishing.com/Reports/.../key-west-report-118201...

Sailfish, especially juveniles are on the reef and near the edge of the reef. Bait schools are obvious with birds and bait showers. Look for this action to come and go fast. The sails will be on bait for ten to fifteen minutes and then they are gone. They move on as the baits get too scattered and look for easier pickings.

And no discussion of offshore fishing in Key West is complete without talking about Tuna. Whether chumming with live pilchards, trolling dead or live baits Blackfin Tuna are being caught. They prefer early morning, late afternoon, and cloudy days for surface bites. During midday when you mark a school use vertical jigs to pick up these tasty fish. 
On the full moon (the 9th) if the weather is reasonably calm, and the water is clean and blue Wahoo should be hot again. This month the bite was good just did not last. The Vandenberg was particularly hot with free divers mixing it up with trolling boats . They really should put up flags. Also coming into the full moon is an excellent time for Swordfish. The fishing at night is solid with most being just legal and a surprise once in a while in the 250 plus class. With calm evening breezes I will be there. Well good luck and Happy New Year.

The tides are right and the fish are plentiful.

Nice Permit

The boys here at Dream Catcher Charters have been unleashing it on the flats. All this week we have had some exceptional catches of tarpon, permit and bonefish fishing the flats here in Key West.

Capt. Sparky Cahill yesterday was two tarpon, two bones lots of fun fish during the hunt for the permit on a six hour trip.

Wednesday I was on a trip that was about 4 hours long and we jumped a tarpon on fly, caught two permit on live bait then jumped another tarpon later in the morning. Fun times Capt. Kyle yesterday was out on a 6 hour and managed two tarpon, two permit and missed the bonefish.

So, as you can tell. Epic conditions here in Key West for fishing the flats.

We have some openings for you to get out with us and have a blast next week. Just call 1-888-362-3474 and speak to Island Genn. she will help you with all your Key West needs.

Check out "DreamCatcherCharters" Key West fishing charters