Fall is here and winter fishing is on its way! After a great spring of catching tarpon and summer mahi-mahi, snapper fishing the much looked forward to winter fishing is on its way! One of the unique things about the islamorada Florida keys area is the change of season that brings different species of fish to the area. We don’t have the best of one thing but we do have a little of everything, this is what makes the Islamorada area so inviting. Easy to get to from anywhere in the country with something for everyone when it comes to fishing. As it starts to cool off in the north, fish start traveling! In the backcountry ( Everglades National Park ) the redfish and black drum start moving their way south. Some of our biggest fish are caught in the winter months, the colder it is up north the more fish show up in the channels and creeks making for a fun day of multiple species in one spot! Live shrimp is always the bait of choice for winter fishing in the backcountry. Kite fishing with live bait for Sailfish is always on the top of the list when it comes to winter fishing. The sailfish migration along the reefs edge from November through April can be a lot of fun. By putting kites out with live bait ( google eyes, blue runners, cigar minnows, pilchards, thread fins and ballyhoo ) you create a picket fence. The kites have a lead in the corner on opposite sides making the kite go right and left, this makes the baits go out to the sides of the boat instead of straight back making your spread wider and covers more ground when the conditions are right. Some days we use kites and some days we do controlled drifts in specific areas, both work great! Patch fishing heats up in the winter months with the cold fronts. Patches are shallow reefs with rocks, sea fans and sponges. When it blows out of the north the shrimp get pushed out of the shallow bays and through the bridges, all kinds of species stage on the shallow reefs enjoying the shrimp run. This type of fishing is great for fast action and some good fun for everyone! With our center console boat we do just about everything, it all depends on the weather. Jeff Beeler