Help fishing Gulf Side near Vaca Cut

[Perchguy]

I will be going to Marathon in April and am looking for some advice for fishing gulf side. I went last year in early April and had good success fishing the reef when conditions allowed but didn't fair so well on the Gulf side. Anyone have any advice? Will be fishing with my wife and 3 kids so I am trying to avoid a long run. Not really concerned about what type of fish we catch, just looking to put a bend in the rod.

[Alley Cat]

I will also be in Marathon during April maybe we can get together we will have two boats 25' Grady and a 19' Twin Vee. Bamboo is only about 4 miles from Vaca cut and is good area for Mangrove Snappers and Spanish macs.

[Reel Relief]

I am down in Marathon for three plus months including April. There are a number of places to fish out back, but they are five to seven miles out near Monkey and Bluefish banks. Spanish are easy and keeper Mangrove and Trout can be had as well.

The 7 Mile Bridge is good for Tarpon in April if you have the bait. We also catch alot of Sharkes there as well. I have a 2660 Sailfish, light Blue with the name on it " Reel Relief" so look for me and hook up.

[Perchguy]

Is there anything to be caught in front of Vaca Cut in mid April? The current roars through the cut itself but I was thinking of the oceanside near the flat that is is out in front of it. Thinking about options if the wind is kicking up. Last year on a windy day I anchored and chummed a couple hundred yards offshore from the entrance to the canal going into KCB where we were staying and hooked 2 huge fish that the kids managed to loose before we saw them. Sharks I am guessing. Caught a handful of ladyfish also. Wondering if the area in front of the cut will yield same or hopefully more action if the wind is blowing. Don't really care what we catch but looking to put a bend in the rods for the kids.

[Alley Cat]

On two occasions last year I seen large Jack Crevalles caught just to the gulf side of the Vaca Cut bridge. I have not fished there myself.

[Al B]

Dang, seems like there'll be a gang of us down there. I haven't decided between Marathon and Islamorada yet (usually stay @ Ventura Yacht Club in Islamorada). I'm headed down with Ellen and Ryland (8YO). If we can get some E wind, I'm going to Tarpon fish, otherwise, it'll probably be the reef. If you're interested in a "ho", drop me a message.

[guanacay]

Hey Perchguy - it's Aquasport190 from the other forum. Yeah, I'm hitting all the Florida sites. The colder it gets up here, the more I daydream about my vacation.

I forget whether I mentioned this in the other threads, but look for the Steel Pile on the fishing charts. All kinds of fish there. You will definitely get a bend in the rod here.

I never had too much luck on the ocean side of the cut. Once you get outside the main channel, it gets shallow quick. We caught a bunch of small trash fish a few years ago. Guys do hook tarpon there, they fish on the edge.

[Perchguy]

Any thoughts on the gulf side of the cut? If I recall the water was around 8-10 feet deep as you left the cut. Seems if you were the right distance out, the current would be reasonable and maybe there would be some fish to be caught. Any issues with anchoring at Steel Pile? The name sounds like it would be a great place to lose your anchor. Temp was -12 F when I left for work this morning. Can't wait to head south!

[guanacay]

The Gulf side of the cut, as in still in the cut but north of the bridge? I hear guys catch snook in those mangroves and I'm sure there are snapper. The Gulf on the other side is turtle grass. Probably catch a lot of pinfish and maybe some other junk. If you head NNE from green marker 13 on the Gulf side of the cut, there's a bank about 3 miles out that you may do OK on. I would go the extra few mile and hit Bamboo Banks or the Steel Pile.

The Steel Pile (also known as Cable Wreck by some) is kind of small. You can drop the anchor 25 yards up current and be in clean bottom, far from the structure. Once you're stuck, just let out enough anchor line to be over the wreck or just upcurrent from it.

I'm not really sure what it even is. It's in about 8 feet of water. On a clear water day, you can see something down there, but not really make it out. Some day I'll have to put goggles on and check it out.

[guanacay]

One other thing that the kids might appreciate: there are usually a lot of remoras at the Steel Pile. Kids get a kick out of them. They're not bad fighters either. Also, the chance of hooking a big nurse shark is excellent. Big hunk of meat on the bottom will get you on this guy.

[Perchguy]

Ya, I was thinking of the going under the bridge and heading gulf side just far enough that the current gets down to a reasonable speed but still enough current that there would be fish around. I tried that bank last year (about 3 miles out) and just found pinfish. I heard that gulf fishing last year in March was poor due to the cold winter though so it may be better on that bank this year. As long as its not too windy though, I will try either bamboo or steel pile I think. Just trying to come up with a plan for if its windy. Unless its really windy, the boat would have no problem getting to bamboo or steel pile but the kids (6,8, and 10) aren't big fans of bumpy rides, especially the 6 yo. Temp this morning at my house was -22 F. Conch Fever is killing me!

[guanacay]

Wind is always a fun-killer. You spend a year marking spots off on the charts, entering waypoints in the GPS and planning your big trip. You get down there and you can't do any of it.

If you can get down to the 7 Mile Bridge on a windy day, that could be a trip saver. We have caught barracuda, snapper, grouper, grunts, sharks and jacks there in the Spring. It's probably about a 5 mile run from Vaca Cut, but you can stay on the lee side and it won't be too bad. If you can't get out very far on either side, try the mangroves that are on the left as you head towards the Gulf. Anchor and chum. You may get some interesting stuff.

Bamboo Banks is pretty good fishing if you can make it out there. I hope you do. Another place you could try that's out of the wind it near Stirrup Key. Follow the Gulf towards the 7 Mile Bridge and it's about halfway down. There's a nice deep hole there with a decent ledge. We actually snorkeled there several years ago and saw a nice amount of fish.

-22 is rough. We were down to about -1 last night. We had a couple days where it got up to 35 or so last week and then it got cold again. Now we have deep snnow with a layer of ice on top. I can walk across the top for a while, then a sink in every few steps. No fun. Even got the snowmobile stuck a few times.

When your snowmobile is stuck, you really know you need to go somewhere warm. :)