March is a great time of the year for fishing the Florida Keys! It’s the time of the year when you can get multiple species anywhere from near shore, on the reef, offshore, in the Gulf of Mexico and out to the Atlantic Ocean. View pics taken during my Marathon FL fishing charters to see for yourself the kind of fun you can have! Click the images to view full size & be sure to read the report beneath the fish pics!
Fishing The Bridges
Let’s start this report off with the bridges. As a mullet migration makes its way south, so do the Tarpon. Every day larger numbers of Tarpon are showing up nearshore on the bridges. The best time to target the Silver King is early in the morning or in the evenings as the sun sets. Also pouring under the bridges right now are good size mangrove snappers. They are making their way from the Gulfside Wrecks to start their spawn. This is a great time to target them as most of the fish that you will catch will be the big breeders.
Fishing The reef
Charters to the Marathon reef have been very productive, with anglers catching larger size yellowtail snapper. King fish can be had while fishing on the reef, too. As mentioned earlier the mangrove snappers are making their way out to the reef to start their spawn. Certain areas on the reef are producing very large numbers and large sizes of mangrove snappers as well. Large black and gag grouper are being caught on the reef as well but season remains closed until May 1. So as fun as they are to catch, you must release them unharmed.
Fishing The wrecks
The Wrecks have been either on or off this month. Mutton snapper, big grouper, King fish, African pompano, amberjack’s, Jack Crevelle, And Bonita are being caught on the Wrecks. Permit have been showing up on the wrecks and good numbers as well. Hooking a 30 to 40 pound permit on 20 pound test is a great time to be had. I have many customers that only look to target permit because of how well they fight and how good they taste.
Fishing Offshore
The offshore fishing in Marathon has been getting better and better by the day. With springtime dolphin showing up and blackfin tuna at the humps you’re sure not to go empty-handed after making the trip offshore. There haven’t been too many good weed lines or birds to be found offshore, but keep a close eye out and you can find and get into the dolphin. The last two weeks of March have been almost flat calm. The deep dropping from 600 foot to 1200 feet has also been loaded with fish. Catches of Queen snapper, tilefish, barrel fish, Rose fish, and snowy grouper have topped off the boxes by the end of the day.
Fishing The Gulf
Looking to hook into the biggest fish ever caught? Then look no further than the Wrecks in the gulf. With Goliath grouper being brought boat side in excess of 400 pounds and multiple species of very sporty sharks, the Gulf can be a fun packed day of fishing.
