Today I headed offshore solo out of Key Largo on what I can only describe as an absolutely scrumptious February day. The plan was simple: grab my pinfish trap, catch bait, find fish, and put something good in the box before sundown. The trap was a bust (even had to let a tiny sponge crab go), so I leaned on what I had and let the electronics do the talking. Once I got out there, the machine was full of life—so I slowed down, worked back and forth over the spot, and showed exactly what I’m looking for on the fish finder when I’m trying to decide if it’s worth dropping. I started jigging around 100 feet and immediately found mangrove snapper marks stacked on the bottom. I picked up a snapper and then got cut off on a better fish (that “should’ve used a bigger rod” lesson always shows up at the worst time). After burning time jigging and trying a deep drop with no payoff, I spotted a boat trolling in 300–400 feet and watched him put a tuna on deck through the binoculars—game on. I switched to trolling feathers and a deep-diving plug, and right before dark it paid off with two keeper blackfin tuna, including a heavier second fish around 250 feet. Fresh Keys sushi is officially on the menu.