March through September is prime time for mahi, blackfin tuna, wahoo and other pelagics. Mahi run 20–60 inches and 3–50 lbs, with the biggest early and late in the season, and in a hot season 35+ hookups a day is typical. We hunt, not just troll: birds, weed lines, sight-pitching live bait, rigged ballyhoo and chunks. We practice catch and release, and fillet and bag your keepers at the dock.

Sailfish season runs November through March. Captain Bunky starts at the reef edge 3–7 miles out, in 20–170 feet of water, running up to 20 miles along the reef to find them. We slow-troll and kite-fish live baits, or sight-fish and pitch to tailing packs, on light 12–30 lb tackle. Sails average 25–60 lbs, hit 65 mph, and are all released after photos. Full days give you the most shots.

Reef and wreck fishing is good year-round, 3–4 miles offshore in 35–200 feet of water. After catching live bait each morning, we drift, bottom-drop, kite-fish, troll and chum for snapper, grouper, cobia, kingfish, barracuda, African pompano, sharks, wahoo and even sailfish, with mahi and tuna mixing in over the winter. We practice catch and release, and fillet and bag your keepers at the dock. Bring a cooler!

The Keys are considered by many to be the best swordfishing in the world. Captain Bunky's 10-hour daytime deep-drop trip ($2,700) runs about 25 miles offshore to drift the Gulf Stream in 1,500–2,000 feet of water, using conventional and electric-assist reels. Swords bite year-round, but May–November is most consistent. It takes patience: some days you wait all day, others you get a bite every drop.