Key West Catch of the Week - August 4, 2014
As July gave way to the beginning of August, this past week has proved highly entertaining with all of the remarkable catches we've been seeing. A large number of our boats reported back each day with exciting stories to tell of huge catches. In all of the brilliant catches this week, there is one that has risen to the top and earned its place as our Catch of the Week. Terry, Jon, Andrew and Kent of Florida were able to haul in a Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel and 2 Blue Fin Tuna, each of which weighed in at around 25-50 pounds. It's safe to say that all 4 anglers involved were immensely satisfied with the enormous haul they brought in when Key West deep sea fishing.
The Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel and Blue Fin Tuna all prove difficult to catch once hooked, so these anglers must have been at the top of their game. The first of these, the Kingfish, is a type of Mackerel that resides within the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean, though primarily in the areas surrounding Key West. It is often referred to as a King Mackerel and is similar in look to the Spanish Mackerel. These fish can range anywhere from 25 to 100 pounds and are a particularly delicious species that can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as frying, broiling or baking. As they tend to thrive in water temperatures that range from 80-85 degrees, the recent weather conditions in Key West prove perfect for them and is likely part of the reason why Terry, Jon, Andrew and Kent were able to snag one.
The Spanish Mackerel is exceedingly similar to that of the Kingfish, as both are largely silver in color and have dorsal fins, though the Spanish Mackerel has a green back that helps to identify it. These feisty fish often swim in shallow waters, though they can be found even when Key West deep sea fishing. They are a particularly carnivorous species of fish that feed on a wide range of smaller fishes.
The Blue Fin Tuna is a rather large type of tuna. While they can be found at sizes ranging from 10-70 pounds, they are one of the larger species of fish that can be found in the waters of Key West, sometimes growing to a monstrous size of well over 900 pounds. Their bodies are large and of a dark blue color, identified primarily by their unique pectoral fins.
The recent weather has provided fantastic fishing conditions for each of these 3 species, as the warm temperatures of high 80's and largely sunny weather, save for spots of light rain, have helped to facilitate the feeding nature of these fish, allowing Terry, Jon, Andrew and Kent ample opportunity to maximize their fishing potential, which they pulled off fantastically by hauling in these 4 fish. Drop by Key West today to see if you have what it takes to reel in our next Catch of the Week.