How I Catch Sailfish In The Florida Keys
Catching sailfish in the Florida Keys is one of the best parts of my job! I usually start catching sailfish on my charters in November and catch them as late as May the following year. Then, I change focus to Mahi and Tuna in the summer and fall.
But during those 6 months, I catch sailfish in various ways depending on the conditions. I will explain my multiple techniques in this article depending on the situation. I will also share what tends to work seasonally, but my approach to catching sailfish depends on the day’s conditions.
Catching Sailfish On The Reef (November-January)
When people think of sailfish, they think of Offshore fishing, and they are right. Offshore is generally how I target sailfish; however, it is important to know that it is possible to catch sailfish while fishing the reef! When I fish reef trips from September through May, I will fly a kite behind the boat if the wind is right. This keeps baits up near the surface and away from the lines we are drifting in our chumslick for yellowtail snapper and the bottom lines we use to catch mangrove snappers and grouper.
Those kite lines have helped my clients catch all sorts of fantastic fish, including wahoo, kingfish, mutton snapper, mahi, tuna, and, of course, sailfish! It may sound crazy, but offshore pelagic species go where the bait is, so they can get really close to shore here in the Keys. November, December, and January are the best months to catch sailfish while reef fishing.
If we hook a sailfish while on anchor, we can throw the anchor line and chase down the fish if need be. When the bait is around, anything is possible. Sometimes, I even catch sailfish dropping baits on sunken wrecks!
Catching Sailfish In The Sand (November-December)
For many people, November and December make them think about having time off and enjoying holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. But many of us charter captains in the Florida Keys have something else on the mind…sails in the sand!!! In early November, cooler winds begin to blow from the north, and massive schools of ballyhoos come through the bridges to the reef. This time of year, the Gulfstream current, a highway for sailfish, also moves closer to shore. When the bait shows up in full force, so do the sailfish who chase big schools of ballyhoo as they “shower” and “spray,” leaping out of the water for their lives. Large frigate birds are watching this happen and swooping down to get their share of ballyhoo.
When I see this happening, I race over to have my mate pitch a live ballyhoo to the sailfish on the prowl, and it’s usually game one! I only use fresh, lively ballyhoo that I caught that day with a cast net or hare hooked with a little shrimp and carefully dehooked into the well.
The quality of your bait matters, and while the net is a good way to get a bunch quickly, it also tends to beat them up, reducing their lifespan in the livewell. Whenever I can, I use a hare hook to catch them individually just to make the baits that much stronger and livelier. There are many ways to catch sailfish, but finding them in the sand with my tall tower is one of my favorite, most exciting ways!
Catching Sailfish On The Kite (January-March)
This is the bread and butter of Sailfishing in the Keys. When the wind cooperates, I head offshore where I think the sailfish are and set up two kites, each with three lines. This is sometimes just off the reef’s edge, as little as 130 feet of water! I fish every day, so I generally have an idea where to find them, but of course, fish have fins, so I need to know what to look for!
Sometimes, there are some great visual indicators for me, such as a color change line where the reef water meets the deep blue ocean water, and I might set up near that. Or I might see some frigate bird activity, a bait shower, or even a free-jumping sailfish. If I do, I’ll run over to that area and toss out a bait to have a look or fly kites to see if we can raise some fish in that area. My boat’s size can attract sailfish, and with my tall tower, I have the advantage of spotting them even when they are a little further down from the surface.
I make sure not to be stubborn; I will move if an area isn’t working. If I am not getting bites and see any positive sign of a sailfish elsewhere, I will pick up our lines and quickly move to the new area.
Catching Sailfish Using Sight (April-May)
Sight fishing for sailfish involves me spotting a sign of sailfish, running the boat to that area, and having my mate pitch a bait out. This sail fishing technique is most effective on clear, sunny days when sailfish are easier to see. It offers an alternative to kite fishing when the wind is too light or strong.
In April and May, sometimes the current will run in the opposite direction of the migrating sailfish, causing them to swim right on the surface. We call this a ‘tailing’ condition because the sailfish’s tails stick right out of the water, making them very easy to spot! On days like this, oftentimes, the winds are much too high to fly a kite anyways, and it usually isn’t needed since I can see the sailfish from my tower.
Some days during a tailing condition, if I find the right spot, I can stay in one place and have sailfish continually pass by the boat on either side while we frantically pitch baits at them! This is an entertaining way to fish for sailfish. Still, sometimes, the fish aren’t very interested in biting in these conditions because they are too busy traveling or have recently been released by another boat.
If the fish aren’t constantly swimming by the boat in a tailing condition, I need to hunt for them. Especially if they aren’t biting, Sightfishing allows me to quickly move from one sailfish to the next pitching baits until we get one to eat. This is a very exciting way to fish for them. When it works, you can rack up some big numbers!
These are just a few techniques that I use to catch sailfish, as I need to be ready for anything and react year-round if I see a sailfish. If you would like to go fishing with me and see if we can raise a few sailfish, book a trip online, or visit my contact page for more info.
Tight lines!🎣
Captain Ben Zdan
Ben O’fishal Sportfishing Charters
