No matter where you go in the Keys, the first thing you hear people talking about is the weather. Everyone seems convinced that we were in the midst of a record heat wave this summer and especially during the month of August. When I tell people I really don't think it's much hotter than when I was a kid growing up down here, I get stares of disbelief. A few have even suggested that I must be suffering from heat stroke.

I contacted Meteorologist Chip Kasper, Senior Forecaster, Marine Program, at the Key West NWS to find out why everyone was convinced we are experiencing such a dramatic increase in temperatures this summer. He provided some very interesting data and insight into this summer's "heat wave." For the of the month of August, Key West temperatures ran only 0.7 degrees above average.

However, when we factor in additional weather data, it becomes clear why the heat has felt so oppressive. Lighter winds and a significant increase in rain early in August have combined to elevate the over-all heat index. This has made our island paradise seem a lot hotter than it really is and convinced many people to believe that we are experiencing a historic record heat wave.

Chip also pointed out that lighter winds mean less mixing of the layers of ocean water. This situation ultimately allows the surface water to hold heat longer. For fishermen, hot temperatures and hot water tends to make fishing very challenging. Successful fishermen have to adapt their typical fishing tactics if they want to locate and catch these elusive fish as the water temperature rises.

One of the first things you may want to do is start fishing the entire water column. For those of you who like to troll, this will mean deploying a number of your baits deeper via a down-rigger(s) or planers. This can be a very successful method of eliciting a strike even when surface temperatures remain extremely hot. I try to place my baits just below a thermal. These thermo clines typically form near atmospheric pressure zones which occur every 33 feet in depth.

To accurately determine the depth you are trolling, you must remember that the reading on your down-rigger only reflects how much cable is out. You need to factor in "blow-back" for your down-rigger ball to determine how deep you are dragging your baits. True trolling depth will ultimately be affected by trolling speed, line diameter, ball weight size/cable diameter and bait weight/drag. Of course, trolling depth can quickly change as sea-weed collects on the down-rigger cable or fishing line.

Fishermen who prefer to anchor up and chum like crazy may also find fish slow to bite due to the summer doldrums. Try taking your chum bag off the back of the boat and adding some weights to see if it is more effective at different depths/temperatures. In high current conditions move it toward the front of the boat so you are actually fishing closer to the chum in the water column.

If you have the skill to safely venture out to sea at night, consider fishing on the reef after the sun goes down. This can be very productive and enjoyable. It allows you to get out of the blazing mid-day sun and makes the light wind conditions considerably more bearable.

For those of you chasing fish on the flats, hot water can keep many species off the flats most of the day. Pay close attention to your thermometer. Try to locate areas that are likely to have cool water rapidly flowing onto the flats with the in-coming tide. Typically, these more productive areas tend to be near the deeper channels which are located adjacent to quick drop-offs into the bay. I find fishing at dawn and dusk to be some of the best times to stalk fish on the flats, especially if the tides are cooperative.

As warm as it is right now, it is hard to believe that only six months ago we were experiencing an extended period of record cold weather in the Keys. It was so cold that fish were floating belly up, covering our islands with a pungent smell of scaly death. It seems like a vague dream that I had to put on cold weather gear (and shoes) just so I could go out on the boat and go fishing.

There is a reason this time of the year is known as "the dog days of summer." If you're looking for me, I will probably be sitting in the kiddie pool under my house with Cuda (my boat dog), waiting for the end of this oppressive heat.

Note: Chip Kasper recently relayed some very interesting data concerning Hurricane Earl. A buoy off Grand Turk Island recorded an average wave height of 49 feet! This means that 10 percent of the waves could actually be 62 feet high, and 1 percent may reach 82 feet. The maximum wave height possible could be as tall as 98 feet. He also noted that when past hurricanes have taken a path similar to Earl's, there has actually been a disruption in the flow of the Gulf Stream. As a result, those of us in the Keys may see an increase of as much as an additional foot above the predicted astrological tides levels.

Capt. Pete Peterson welcomes comments and suggestions sent to petersonventures@aol.com.