Variety of Fish for Catch of the Week - July 9, 2014

Summer is in full swing, and Key West deep sea fishing is rising to the occasion while reaching new depths. While it has been said before, this week has truly produced some of the best fishing of the year. People currently reserving our fishing charters are not limiting themselves to one big catch-of-the-day. Instead five, six, or seven notable catches are common in one fishing trip. This week, we would like to recognize Florida natives: John, Eric, Anthony, and Butch. These skilled gentlemen managed to bag two Red Snappers, four Gag Groupers, and one Amberjack for the Key West catch of the week! John and his gang are from Jupiter, Florida, only a five-hour drive from our Key West deep sea fishing experience. Based on the abundance of fish they have caught, it is clear that the guys spent more time fishing on the local waters in Jupiter than at the clubs in nearby Miami.

Turning to the fish that the four Floridians caught, they offer a variety of interesting facts. Did you know that the Red Snapper, known as “Huachinango” or “Pargo” in Latin American Spanish, can live to be 57-years old? John, Eric, Anthony, and Butch may have encountered a fish with more life experience than any one of them! These trademark red-colored fish tend to stay close to the bottom of the sea, living in rocky bottoms or artificial reefs, such as offshore oil rigs and wrecked ships. It is no surprise that these fishermen caught two Red Snappers, as they tend to swim in large schools.

While the Gag Grouper is not known for its appealing appearance, as it is gray and muted in color, it is known to be quite tasty. These species of Groupers can grow quite large, with common weights ranging from 10-20 pounds. The record weight for a Gag Grouper is 80 pounds. One of the most fascinating facts about a Gag Grouper is that they are hermaphrodites, and the most aggressive female will lead the school, shifting into a male form as necessary. It fits that John and his friends caught four Gag Groupers, because they are bottom dwellers, swimming in the same areas as Red Snappers.

The Amberjack brings us to our last catch for this week. Amberjacks are readily found offshore in Florida. These fish have a very strong tie to wrecks and artificial reefs in water that is deeper than 60 feet. Due to the fact that all three fish are bottom-dwellers that have the possibility of inhabiting sunken wrecks, were the gentlemen close to a sunken ship when they made their catches? Amberjacks are an outgoing fish, as loud noise and lively bait does not bother them. This specific species can put up quite a fight as it is an extremely strong fish. Let’s congratulate John, Eric, Anthony, and Butch on fighting the good fight and managing to snag seven beautiful fish on one of our charters.

See if you are up for a fun and challenging Key West deep sea fishing experience by calling to book a charter during your next visit at +1 (877) 885-5397.