Keys Fish Journal

SAILFISH SEASON IS NOW STRONG

"Migrating Fish Active/Fluke and Dolphin junping!... Zane Gray Fishing Column by Capt. Cuba*

Check the thermals on the walls off Islamorada for the Big Dolphin...

The Keys Fish Journal welcomes comments/articles from our readers...

send to editor@ KeyWestRegister.com

Save Our Billfish! ... Billfish are an important recreational species, and most anglers

have adopted a catch-and-release ethic. However, recent studies indicate that white marlin caught on J-hooks are less likely to survive release than previously thought. To reduce this post-release mortality and to comply with international obligations, the NOAA Fisheries Service is proposing regulations to: implement ICCAT's 250 blue marlin landings limit, prohibit white marlin landings for five years, and limit billfish tournaments to the use of circle hooks with natural bait and natural/artificial bait combinations, but allow J-hooks with artificial bait.

click Yachtsman's Guide to the Bahamas"Superb!"

"Yachtsman's Guide to the Bahamas! & 13th Ed. Yachtsman's Guide to the Virgin Islands... finest authoritative

resources for all cruising these Caribbean regions!"-- KWR ...Updated and published annually since 1950 with the

endorsement and sponsorship of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. Nearly 500 pages chocked full of useful island

boating information including detailed tips on how to cross the Gulf Stream, where to stay, and what to do. Includes

sketch charts, aerial and ground photographs, and detailed information... Key West Register's 'Research Affiliate' the

Bahamas Institute (.com) always has this book down below in the chart room for the 'Joan Marie' during all Bahamas

research expeditions as well as the 'Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands' which is a "Must Have" for Expert Mariners!

Key West Register has not found better guides for those cruising or those just wanting wonderful reading! Click icons!

- The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) announced that the Atlantic white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus), a billfish that lives in the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean, does not warrant listing as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

NOTABLE IGFA EVENTS FOR THE ANGLER!

Annual IGFA Auction & Banquet at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL, USA. IGFA’s biggest fundraising event of the year with hundreds of silent and live auction items up for bid. Featured this year will be renowned marine artist, conservationist and marine biologist, Dr. Guy Harvey who is also an IGFA Trustee and long time auction supporter. Harvey has promised a special piece to commemorate the milestone. additional information please contact Ms. Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or LArico@igfa.org

NOAA Fisheries has established a new "Watch List"

of potentially at-risk species called the

"Species of Concern"Species of Concern List Under the Endangered Species Act..

Common name	Genus Species	Family	Added to List	Population or Area of Concern
Marine Mammals
Beluga Whale	Delphinapterus leucas	Monodontidae	1988	AK (Cook Inlet population)
Fishes
Dusky Shark	Carcharhinus obscurus	Carcharhinidae	1997	Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico; Pacific
Sand Tiger Shark	Odontaspis taurus	Odontaspididae	1997	Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico
Night Shark	Carcharinus signatus	Carcharhinidae	1997	Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico
Largetooth Sawfish	Pristis pristis	Pristidae	1988	Noth and South America - tropical and subtropical waters
Barndoor Skate	Raja laevis	Rajidae	1999	Cape Hatteras, NC to Newfoundland, Canada
Thorny Skate	Raja radiata	Rajidae	2004	Atlantic-West Greenland to NY
Atlantic Sturgeon	Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus	Acipenseridae	1988	North America, Atlantic coastal waters
Green Sturgeon	Acipenser medirostris	Acipenseridae	2003	Pacific-northern DPS (including coastal spawning populations from the Eel River north, to the Klamath and Rogue rivers) and southern DPS (includes Sacramento River spawning population); anadromous.
Alabama Shad	Alosa alabamae	Clupeidae	1997	AL, FL, anadromous
Coho Salmon	Oncorhynchus kisutch	Salmonidae	1997	Pacific, anadromous. Puget Sound/Strait of Georgia, Southwest WA, Lower Columbia River, and OR Coast ESUs
Steelhead Trout	Oncorhynchus mykiss	Salmonidae	1997	Pacific, anadromous. OR Coast ESU
Chinook Salmon	Oncorhynchus tshawytscha	Salmonidae	1997	Pacific, Central Valley, fall and late fall-run ESU
Atlantic Salmon	Salmo salar	Salmonidae	1997	Atlantic, anadromous. Kennebec River, Tunk Stream, Penobscot River, and St. Croix River DPSs
Rainbow Smelt	Osmerus mordax	Osmeridae	2004	Atlantic-Labrador to NJ; anadromous.
Cusk	Brosme brosme	Gadidae	2004	Atlantic-Gulf of Maine.
Pacific Hake	Merluccius productus	Gadidae	1999	Georgia Basin
Mangrove Rivulus	Rivulus marmoratus	Aplocheilidae	1997	FL, estuarine
Saltmarsh Topminnow	Fundulus jenkinsi	Cyprinodontidae	1991	TX, LA, MS, AL, FL
Key Silverside	Menidia conchorum	Atherinidae	1991	Florida Keys
Opposum Pipefish	Microphis brachyurus lineatus	Syngnathidae	1991	Florida, Indian River Lagoon
Striped Croaker	Bairdiella sanctaeluciae	Sciaenidae	1991	Atlantic-FL, Antilles and Caribbean from Costa Rica to Guyana.
Humphead Wrasse	Cheilinus undulatus	Labridae	2004	Indo-Pacific-Red Sea to the Tuamotus, north to the Ryukyus, east to Wake Islands, south to New Caledonia, throughout Micronesia; includes U.S. territories of Guam and American Samoa.
Bumphead Parrotfish	Bolbometopon muricatum	Scaridae	2004	Indo-Pacific-Red Sea and East Africa to the Line Islands and Samoa; north to Yaeyama, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia; Paulau, Caroline, Mariana in Micronesia; in U.S. it occurs in Guam, American Samoa, CNMI and the Pacific Remote Island Areas (Wake Islands).
Atlantic wolffish	Anarhichas lupus	Anarhichadidae	2004	Atlantic-Georges Bank and western Gulf of Maine.
White Marlin	Tetrapturus albidus	Istiophoridae	2002	Atlantic.
Cowcod	Sebastes levis	Scorpaenidae	2004	Pacific-Central OR to central Baja California and Guadalupe Island, Mexico.
Bocaccio	Sebastes paucispinis	Scorpaenidae	1999	Pacific, CA to OR
Atlantic Halibut	Hippoglossus hippoglossus	Pleuronectidae	2004	Atlantic-Labrador to southern New England.
Speckled Hind	Epinephelus drummondhayi	Serranidae	1997	NC to Gulf of Mexico
Goliath Grouper	Epinephelus itijara	Serranidae	1991	NC southward to Gulf of Mexico
Warsaw Grouper	Epinephelus nigritus	Serranidae	1997	MA to Gulf of Mexico
Nassau Grouper	Epinephelus striatus	Serranidae	1991	NC southward to Gulf of Mexico
Brachiopods
Inarticulate Brachiopod	Lingula reevii	Lingulidae	2004	Pacific-Hawaii, only Kaneohe Bay.
Mollusks
Pink Abalone	Haliotis corrugata	Haliotidae	2004	Pacific-Point Conception, CA, to Bahia de Tortuga, Baja California.
Black Abalone	Haliotes cracherodii	Haliotidae	1999	OR, CA, Baja CA
Green Abalone	Haliotis fulgens	Haliotidae	2004	Pacific-Point Conception, CA, to Bahia Magdalena, Baja California.
Pinto Abalone	Haliotis kamtschatkana	Haliotidae	2004	Pacific-Sitka, AK, to Point Conception, CA.
Anthozoans (corals)
Elkhorn Coral	Acropora palmata	Acroporidae	1991	western Atlantic; Caribbean
Staghorn Coral	Acropora cervicornis	Acroporidae	1991	western Atlantic; Caribbean
Hawaiian Reef Coral	Montipora dilitata	Acroporidae	2004	Pacific-Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay, Midway atoll, and Maro Reef).
Ivory Bush Coral	Oculina varicosa	Oculinidae	1991	Atlantic-West Indies, Bermuda, NC, FL, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean.

- Lobsters in the Florida Keys are contracting unfamliar disease. "Key West Institutes Research Group is now in the Bahamas looking for the any migration of the disease to those waters as well as the waters to the North of Cuba. This disease seems to be targeting lobsters that are not of the size that Bahamas fishermen usually catch-no similiar cases have occurred in The Bahamas, "because we have not seen any evidence of it" said Dr. King of the Key West Institute. KWI estimates that the virus has infected over10 per cent of the baby lobsters in the Keys. In most cases, the virus seems to be infecting lobsters that are less than six months old, not yet at reproduction stage, and smaller than three inches. Studies have shown that dead cells build up in the infected lobster's blood, turning it from its normal clear amber hue to white. Those lobsters infected lose the ability to eat, stop grooming and, as a result, grow a coat of algae. After 30 to 90 days, the disease kills them.

CUBA AND KEYS

HEMINGWAY FISHING TOURNAMENT - home of Club Náutico Internacional Hemingway de Cuba (Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba) and its founder and commodore, José Miguel Díaz Escrich...Ernest Hemingway" International Marlin Fishing Tournament. email yachtclub@cnih.mh.cyt.cu

Pilar in Cuba

The Authority in the Keys / Caribe Area

Zane Gray Fishing Column by Capt. Cuba

Fishing the offshore waters near the bottom continues to produce some red and gag grouper using cut cigar minnows, mullet and squid for bait. The keeper ratio of about 15 grouper caught to one keeper in the box still holds strong. In late winter, before warming water brings redfish, snook and bonefish up onto the flats, barracuda provide exciting fishing, particularly because they are underrated as game fish by many anglers. Even better, an angler in pursuit of barracuda can fish undisturbed by crowds. The biggest reason probably that people in the Keys and those who fish there a lot underrate them is they're not the toughest fish to get, They make fast strikes, they make fast runs and they run the line off the reel. Catching barracuda doesn't require as accurate a cast as is needed for more finicky bonefish or snook. But fishing for them is good training for going after those more glamorous fish on the flats. Target barracuda in the late winter, when other fish still are in deep water. Use a lure "tube" bait that imitates a needlefish, a popular food for barracuda in shallow water--- with a No. 2 treble hook on a strand of No. 10 wire and inserts a 4/O or 5/O treble hook about two-thirds of the way forward. Feed the wire through the tubing, the eye of the forward hook and a one-eighth-ounce egg sinker, then push into the front of the tube. The weight makes the lure easier to cast. The key to using the lure is speed. Barracudas do like a fast-moving target, but there's always exceptions in fishing.

Starting off with a fast retrieve is recommended, and cranking the reel fast usually works well. If it doesn't, a jigging technique can be used to agitate the fish into striking. It is important to keep good pressure on a fish and to keep your tackle out in front of you. Here you have leverage at all angles. It's so important to face your fish. This way you can generate force if you need to with your rod - Keep facing the fish- keep your eyes on him and pay attention to what he's doing. The closer the fish gets to the boat, the more carefully it must be worked. If the barracuda wants to swim left - get the rod tip down low and pull from the right. They don't like that, it will turn the fish. It's a good way to control the head of the gamefish. If you get into a position where you cannot control his head, you could be in for a lot of problems. It's especially true with tarpon, barracuda and bigger fish, especially around the boat. Pay attention to each fish, react to each fish differently, some that run a lot, some want to jump, each is a little different. It's important to beat the fish from one side of the boat to the other. They are so fast that you need to watch that they don't jump in on you.

partner

CAPTAIN CUBA/KEYS FISH JOURNAL'S FLY FISHING GUIDE

SPECIES ROD WEIGHT LINE TYPE POUND SIZE TIPPET

TARPON	10-12	F-I-S	50-80 FOR MEDIUM
BARRACUDA	8-10	F	#4-6 SINGLE WIRE
DOLPHIN	8-12	F-I-S	50 MONO FOR LARGE
COBIA	10	F-I-S	50 MONO

F-I-S REFERS TO LINE FLOATING-INTERMEDIATE-SINKING

@ WWW.EYW.US

KEYS BRIDGES: Jewfish Creek - Key Largo Cut - Tavernier Creek- Snake Creek - Whale Harbor-Tea Table - Relief Tea Table - Indian Key - Fill Lignumvitae - Channel 2 - Channel 5 - Long Key -Tom's Harbor Cut - Tom's Harbor Vaca Cut - Seven Mile - Little Duck/ Mo. Missouri/Ohio - Ohio/Bahia Honda Bahia Honda - Spanish Harbor - North Pine - South Pine - Torch Key - Torch-Ramrod - Niles Channel - Kemp's Channel - Bow Channel - Park North Harris - Harris Gap - Harris Lower - Sugarloaf - Saddlebunch 2 - Saddlebunch 3 - Saddlebunch 4 - Saddlebunch 5 - Shark Channel - Rockland Channel - Boca Chica - Stock Island - Key West

KEYS FISH JOURNAL "morning catch in fishing news"Ô 1952

-- NOTABLE FISHING TOURNAMENTS APPROVED BY KF J / KEYS FISH JOURNAL

All area codes 305 unless specified ...Dates for 2023

Jan. 22-24, 2023Key West Institute's 'Catch for a Cure Sailfish Tourney' funds donated to a KW charity chairman@keywestinstitute.com

Febraury 26-28,'23Oceansafe.org Billfish Annual Catch & Release Tournament' For Schools' contact 509.0100

May 30,2023 Sharkfest.com's "Shark Fly" Classic in Key West contact Capt.. Charly contact research@sharkfest.com

July - Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament July 21-24 keywestmarlin.com 305.292.2710

December 18-20, 2023 Oceansafe.org Second Annual Catch And Release Tournament' contact 509.0100 Stock Island

WEIRD-SHOTSä

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Key West Institute Commemorative Medallion "Caring for Sustainable Resources"

Medallion created by Internationally awarded Wildlife Artist Mr. Dave Cusenza of the Pacific Northwest

Medallion $99.95 postage paid Florida Residents add sales tax

OCEANSAFE.ORG Ocean Safe Registryä

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Florida Record Saltwater Fish Catches / All Tackle)

barracuda 1949 islamorada 67lb

bonefish 1977 islamorada 15lb 6oz

mako shark 1962 palm beach 911lb 12oz

tiger shark 1981 pensacola 1,065lb

blue marlin 1985 destin 980lb 8oz

hammerhead shark 1982 sarasota 991lb

swordfish 1978 key largo 612lb 12oz

atlantic sailfish 1996 boca raton 116lb 10oz

tarpon is 243 pounds, set Feb. 17, 1975, by Gus Bell, fishing at Key West

“ If David catches this fish he'll have

something inside of him for all his life and it will make everything else easier.”

Keys Fish Journal Tournament / Invitational

2024/2025 Season Rate

catch and release program Schedule: contact us Three days 7800usd

All rates are per-person, double occupancy, unless noted otherwise. FISHING PACKAGES: in BAHAMAS

A deposit of $2500 per angler is required within 10 days of the reservation request. The balance is due 90 days prior to the scheduled arrival at the accomadations. A refund of the $1500 deposit less a handling fee of $275 per person will be returned provided written notice of cancellation is received by the accomadation at least 60 days prior to scheduled arrival. Cancellation between 30 and 60 days prior to scheduled arrival will result in no refund of the $1500 deposit. There will be no refunds for "no shows" or cancellation received less than 30 days prior to scheduled arrival.