Southbound Blog
What’s biting and the random ramblings of a local boat Captain.
The Weather
The Weather is something you can’t control There are a lot of things that a Captain can control on a fishing trip. What kind of bait to use, when to leave, and when to return? What type of fish to target? How fast to troll or where to anchor and more. But the...
a LITTLE LOVE FOR THE BARRACUDA
One of the best-known fish caught in the Florida Keys is the Barracuda The Barracuda is a large, fast, aggressive, and, impressive predator in the water of the Florida Keys. Many an angler has had the thrill of hooking a big ‘Cuda, heard the drag scream as it...
33 years on the charter boat Southbound in Key West
They say “Time Flys when you are having Fun!” I am about halfway through my 33rd year in business with the Southbound, my charter fishing boat in Key West. Early June will mark the end of year 33 and, if God’s willing and the creek doesn’t...
Half day charter on the Reef
Yesterday, we had a very easy half-day charter on the Reef. I only had one customer fishing and it was an old high school classmate of mine. I hadn’t seen him in almost 50 years. He just wanted action and hopefully, some fish to take home to eat. The weather was...
Barracuda are Fast, Powerful and Fun Fish to Catch
Barracudas are Fast and Powerful fish and a very fun fish to Catch. A lot of people act “disappointed” when they hook a fish on the boat and it turns out to be a barracuda. They should not be. Barracuda are a fun fish to catch Barracudas can be quite...
The Weather is changing
The Weather is changing We are in a “Transitional” Time of year right now as the weather is changing from Sumer to, (what we call “Winter”). The offshore fishing for Mahi has slowed way down as the water is starting to cool down a bit and the...
The Road to the Florida Keys
The road to the Florida Keys will be opening on June 1st. There has been a roadblock in place for Southbound traffic since late March. Since then, if you were not a resident or homeowner or you worked in the Keys, you were not allowed in. Now, I have some serious...
I like being the early bird
When I bought the Southbound in 1992, most of the charter boats would leave the dock at 8 am. That is much later than boats in most areas. Key West has the advantage of being able to catch fish relatively close. I’ve caught Sailfish within 5 miles of the beach....
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Today the Southbound will remain in its slip. We work a lot. At times we will work 7,8 or even 14 days in a row. We don’t have weekends. Being a charter fishing boat owner/operator really is a dream job. I have said many times I know...
We need some cold weather
While most of the country is somewhat dreading the onset of winter and the cold weather it brings. I am actually looking forward to it. Fishing, or more accurately, catching fish can depend on the conditions. The fact that we tend to catch certain fish at certain...
A Day Off!
I have said many times that I know how lucky I am. Going fishing is a great job in a wonderful place. I get to go have fun with people and get paid for it. But I do have other things I need to do in my life that I can’t do on the boat. Every once in awhile, I...
The weather is changing
Most people around the country look forward to the first warm day of spring. The sun feels like a long lost friend warming your back after a long cold winter. You can go outside with out putting on a jacket and boots. in Key West, it is the exact opposite. We look...