JUST THE TIPS

WHAT’S BITING AS WE HEAD INTO JUNE

Summer is here, at least it sure feels that way. Let’s be honest: It’s hot as hell! Summer means mahi here in the Keys, or at least it should. About two weeks ago there was a large body of fish coming through, which was promising. Lots of small ones, but plenty of keepers and few nice ones were mixed in. Then it was as if someone turned the switch off. They seemed gone for about a week.

Anglers can compete for cash prizes and benefit a worthy cause during the Key West Association of Realtors’ Charity Fishing Tournament scheduled Friday and Saturday, June 30 and July 1, in the waters around the island city and the Lower Florida Keys.

Target species are mahimahi or dolphin fish, wahoo and tuna. Cash prizes await the boat teams that catch the heaviest individual fish in each of the three species categories. All scoring is based on the weight of a single fish.

Plans call for the tournament to kick off with a party and captains meeting beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, June 30. The event takes place at the Perry Hotel & Marina, 7001 Shrimp Road on Stock Island, the official headquarters for tournament events.

Fishing will take place from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 1. Anglers must bring their catches to the weigh station at the Perry’s marina between 4 and 5:30 p.m.

The tournament dinner and awards presentation will follow Saturday’s fishing.

The early entry fee is $450 per boat team and enables up to six anglers to compete.

Tournament proceeds will benefit Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe (FIRM). A local grassroots nonprofit organization, FIRM works toward fair, equitable and affordable property insurance for homeowners and business owners in the Keys.

Tournament information and registration are at kwarfishing.com

— Contributed is the owner and operator of Noreaster Sport Fishing in Marathon. A Massachusetts native, Nick fished for bluefin tuna and striped bass before moving to the Keys in 2005.

It’s been very calm and hot every day, and there has been little to no current inshore and offshore. I started seeing pictures of huge mahi catches in the Carolinas and got nervous that they might have passed us by entirely, which did happen a few years ago. But I received a promising offshore report last week. The current was rolling, and there were some bunches of nice-sized dolphin out there from 650 feet to the wall, or as far as you want to go.

As usual, look for birds, floaters and weed lines. Small live baits on 30- and 40-pound leader will get you the picky bites once you find a pack. The return of the current also prompted the tuna around the humps to fire back up and start hitting small trolling lures and jigs.

Keep your eyes peeled out there for a big blue apex predator too. This is the time of year you’re most likely to encounter a blue marlin. I’ve heard of many being seen and a few being caught out here in the last week or two. Spending some time trolling the big stuff or live baiting a mahi or tuna just might pay off.

When the current was slow and the mahi were scarce, a lot of us turned to the electric reel for action and table fare. Look for blue line tilefish in 500 to 700 feet, snowy grouper in 650 to 950, queen snapper in 650 to 800, and rosefish, barrelfish and golden tiles in 900 to 1,200. (All of these are excellent eating.)

The reef bite for yellowtail has been tough as the water has been clear and not moving, but the big black groupers have still been biting. Don’t be afraid to drop a BIG bait on some HEAVY tackle to try to land one. You’ll need it, as they pull incredibly hard heading back to their house to break you off. At least half of the larger groupers I catch have at least one other hook and line in their mouths from someone else.

Start checking some patch reefs for mangrove snappers that are starting to head out of the bay, too. If it’s clear, lighten up to 20-pound fluoro to get the bites. Go get ’em!

To book a trip with Noreaster Sportfishing, text Capt. Nick at 508-769-4189 or visit noreastersportfishing.com.