Closures, Solutions and Season Plans

Some of you may have heard about the red snapper and grouper closure that has passed unfairly in the Atlantic waters from North Carolina to Key West from January 1s till April 31st for grouper and January 4 till July 4. This radical move is devastating to our industry and makes little sense to most who read about it. The RFA (Recreational Fishing Alliance) is leading the fight for angler’s rights and taking it to Washington DC on February 24. Anybody and everybody who cares about the future of recreational fishing, regardless of what type, should become a member of the RFA. Read more of what’s going on at their website at www.joinrfa.org. We plan to join the march on our nation’s capital on February 24 and hope you will do the same. This is a pivoting point in our nation where we must stand up to fight against overreaching government officials who are representing special interest instead of the people’s interest.

Fortunately for us, Key West offers one of the most diverse fisheries in the world, so there are many types of fisheries still available to us until April. We are looking forward to, and planning on making the most of what makes Key West so famous. This list doesn’t include everything we have to offer but rather a few highlights and interests. If snapper and grouper is what makes you tick, then plan on either fishing for mutton snapper or one of several deep drop species of grouper, tilefish, rudderfish, and rose fish. Otherwise plan on…………

Year round Daytime Swordfish - These beautiful fish offer perhaps one of our most interesting types of fishing that Key West has to offer. Found in depths of over 3,000ft, these fish live in a world totally alien to anything we humans get to observe from the surface. We use Daiwa’s Dendo electric/conventional combination outfits to catch these monsters of the deep, weighing 75-over 600lbs, are great on the grill I might add. Everyone should come try this at least once in their life.

January-April Pelagic species such as Sailfish, Wahoo, Blackfin Tuna, Bonita, Little Tunny, King Mackerel, and others. These types of fishing offer rod bending, reel screaming action that is sure to leave memories one won’t forget. There are as many styles of fishing for them as there are species and one thing is for sure; you won’t go hungry at the end of the day.



January-April Shark fishing on the Flats and Back Country. If you want to make your heart beat a little faster try watching one of these beasts steam up the scent line of your barracuda and inhale your puny orange fly. Hammerhead sharks, Bull sharks, Lemon sharks, Blacktip sharks and Tiger sharks are our most common species here. They’re caught on Fly tackle, spin tackle, plug, and convetional tackle before releasing them for another day.

March-June Tarpon and Permit from Key West Harbor to reefs and wrecks to the flats and backcountry. Whether you’re an avid fly fisherman or just like to fish period, we can make it happen like you have never dreamed. Key West and the Marquesas are world renowned when it comes to these kinds of fishing.




January-April Cobia and wreck fishing the Gulf of Mexico. What more can we say; good fishing and good eating. With jigs , live bait, and plenty of chum it’s nonstop action at every stop of the way.







April-May Bonita and Blackfin Tuna behind the shrimp boats. There is no other fishing in the world that will give an angler more action than this. Ask anyone who’s joined us on one of these trips and they will tell you, wow!!!
May-August Dolphin and Marlin summer time madness!

Don’t forget red snapper and grouper will resume on May 1st and will book up quickly this year as there aren’t as many dates to go around as there used to be. Call now 305-294-4456 or email us at delphfishing@aol.com or check out our website at www.delphfishingcharters.com.