Here are some fishing reports from South Florida's primer fishing boat the Hooked Up. These reports cover the first half of Nov 2008. Enjoy the reports and feel free to give us a call with any questions you might have. (954) 764-4344 or Toll Free at (877)SEA-4344
It's finally Nov the First and we are done with our annual boat yard trip and now it's time to go back fishing. But not just back to fishing but back to sail fishing! Nov marks the begging of our sailfish season and I've got a good feeling about this year.
Our first trip back started out with Andres and his farther Cutter from Sweden. We started out doing a little trolling down the reef hoping to break the ice with a few kingfish or bonitos but much to our surprise they weren't biting but we did catch a few nice dolphin fish on the reef. Well needless to say we were happy about that and now that we had a few fish in the box we decided to try our luck at some live bait fishing for sailfish.
So we set out kites out with 4 live bait suspended from them and the trap was set. It didn't long till our first bite it wasn't a sailfish but it was a nice dolphin fish. We quickly got our baits right back out there and BAM there he was a sail fish was eating one of our baits. Andres wasted no time jumping in the chair and the fight was on. What a show this fish put on for us dancing all over the top of the water. After about 5 min of jumping around the fish settled down and Andr'a's started gaining line. It took about 15 min for him to reel him in to the boat side.
We managed to get the hook out of him and watched him swim away in good shape.
What a way to start out our sail fish season and we still had another trip to go out on today.
Thanks again Andreas and Cutter looking forward to fishing you guys again next year.
As we pulled into the dock we already had our afternoon trip there waiting on us. We had Woody Layla from Miramar Florida eager to get out there and try their luck.
We figured we would do the same as we had done in our morning trip so we started out trolling the reef. The kings still were not biting but we had heard of a nice weed line just outside the reef so we thought we'd take a look and see if there were any dolphin fish around. And man were there around we ended up catching a box full of dolphin fish and pretty nice ones to all between 6 and 10 pounders. It seemed we could do no wrong so we decided we had more than enough dolphin and it was now time to see if we could do it again with a sailfish. So once again we set out our kites and this time it took a little more waiting but after a while there he was eating one of our baits and once again BAM we were Hooked Up. Woody jumped in the chair and there fight was on.
This was a big sailfish and it took a good 20 min to finally get it boat side got the hook out of the fish got a quick measurement so they could have a replica mount made of their fish and watched him swim away. (WHAT A DAY)
Thanks again to everyone that fished with us today
NOV is here and so are the sails so give us a call and let's get you HOOKED UP
The rates on hotels are real low right now and we are 10 min from the airport. Heck you don't even need to rent a car the boat, hotels, restaurants and night clubs are all on the beach and next to where the boat is docked so come on down and be a part of our great sail fishing.
Captain Taco (877) SEA-4344
Nov 2, 2008
In today's world of marketing and info on the internet everyone seems to paint such a pretty picture and promises you the world. Well I've committed myself to being truthful and honest about our fishing trips. And let's face it there is a reason they call it fishing and not catching.
The last couple of days fishing have been on the slow side. Don't get me wrong I consider my crew on the Hooked Up the best fishing combination of Captain Greg Captain Jay Jay and myself the best crew down here in South Florida. We know what we are doing very well where to go how to do it but sometimes fishing can be slow. I attribute this to a few different factors one being current is key when we have a good north current you can bet we are going to catch fish also color of water good clean blue water is also key when it comes to sail fishing along with a host of other things.
One thing on my boat you can count on is that when fishing is a bit slow we WORK harder to find them.
Anyways that's enough of that today we had John from Dallas Texas out for a few hours of deep sea fishing. We started out trolling the reef but the kings just were not biting so we switched to live bait kite fishing. Our hopes were high because soon after we got our baits out we got Hooked Up with a sailfish but the fish was jumping all over the place and we ended up pulling the hooks. (RATS). So we got all the baits back out there and managed to catch 1 big barracuda. While it was a nice fish it was not the one we were after. All the same we all had a good time and John looking forward to fishing you again soon to make it up to you.
Captain Taco (954)764-4344 or toll free at (877) SEA-4344
Nov 7, 2008
Today we had Sal, Scott, Chad and Ryan all from Toronto Canada out for an afternoon of deep sea fishing off the coast of Fort Lauderdale.
We started out trolling the reef for king fish or bonitos or anything we could catch. We trolled down to North Miami without a single bite. So we decided to switch fishing from trolling to deep drops on a ship wreck and finally it paid off for us.
We started by trolling some small jigs for little bonitos and caught 1. We figured it was a start so we took our 1 little bonito and dropped him 225 feet down to a ship wreck where there was already another charter boat there trying to do the same. The second we got our bait to the bottom (BAM) we were Hooked Up. We pulled the fish away from the wreck Sal jumped in the chair and the fight was on. It took Sal a good 10 min but at last he pulled up a nice golden amber jack. At this point all the customers on the other charter boat were looking at us and then up at their captain wondering why they had not Hooked Up. Once we got done high fiving and celebrating our catch I called the other captain on the radio and told him we were going to make one more drop and if he had Hooked Up yet. He told me that they had not had a bite and if I wanted to come in again that was fine with him but they just were not biting. We had used the only bonito we had and all we had left were goggle eyes which are not the best bait for doing drops but what the heck we would give a shot all the same so we pulled in next to the other boat and bombs away down we went with our bait again. I don't know why the other boat was not getting any bits but once we hit the bottom our rod bent over and line started peeling of the reel (We were Hooked Up again). We pulled away from the wreck and this time Scott jumped in the chair and the fight was on It took Scott about 10 min and once again a nice golden amber jack popped up. While we were all high fiving again I noticed the other charter boat pick up his lines and took off.
Sorry about that Captain Geno next time you'll probably get the bite and I won't.
It may not have been the best day of fishing but it was a lot of fun for everyone on the Hooked Up.
Thanks again guys and we are looking forward to fishing you guys again Jan 16.
For a better look at the pictures go to my photo gallery#5
Captain Taco (954)764-4344
Nov 8, 2008
A couple of day ago I got a call from a Mike out of Michigan. As it turned out his daughter was getting married and her husband to be Chris was having his batcher party down here in
Sunny South Florida and Mike had been suminened down to join the boys down here. Mike did not want to spend all his time on his mini vacation in a bar just drinking so he figured if he chartered the boat the boys would not stay out late the night before due to the fishing trip the next day. (GOOD THINKING MIKE) So when Mike and Chris got to the boat they were joined by The BUD MAN TALKING TOM and by the brothers Geno and Chuck.
We caught some live bonitos and had to slow troll them just outside the reef. There was no current and fishing was slow. I was talking to a few of the other captains and it seemed no one was catching. After a couple of hours of slow trolling just outside the reef I decided to venture a little further off shore. And as it turned out it was the right thing to do. I saw a patch of sea weed out there so we headed right for it. As soon as we got to it I noticed that the dolphin fish were there. They were being a little finakee so what we did was I kept one of the live baits on a rod up on the fly bridge with me. Than 2 of the guys down stairs had rods with little jigs on them as we slow trolled past the weed patch the dolphin would come out and after my live bait. I would reel my live bait in toward the boat as the guys down in the pit would jig the jigs in front of the fish and they just could not resist it and they were just piling on the jigs. I don't know how many we caught but even Bud Man Talking Tom caught one you know they had to be biting. (LOL)
Thanks again guys for a great day of fishing and Mike looking forward to fishing with you in Jan 2008
It may not have been a great day for fishing but somehow we made it a great day for us.
Captain Taco (877) SEA-45344 Toll Free
Nov 13, 2008
Today we had some of our regular customers from Virginia Beach Mark, Mark and Karl. Both Marks had caught sailfish in the past but this time our goal was to catch Carl one. Well it is the right time of year the water looked clean enough but we had no current at all so I knew we were going to have to get a little lucky. So we set out our kites with live baits suspended from them and the trap was set. After a while we did get a bite but it was no sailfish this one was a dolphin fish which was fine with us these guys a fish fry planned for after our fishing trip. But all the same we knew that 1 dolphin was not going to take the pressure off of us so we got the baits right back out there and sure enough there he was. This fish came in hot on our right long kite bait and he was not leaving without something to eat. At last we were Hooked Up and this guy was putting on quite a show dancing all over the place.
Karl wasted no time jumping in the chair and the fight was on. It took Karl a good 20 min to finally get him to the boat. We got a couple of quick pictures and watched him swim away. Nice going Karl. We needed a little more dolphin fish to complete our trip and we got lucky and ended up catching them.
Mark, Mark and Karl thanks again and see you guys again in a couple of weeks.
Captain Taco (954)764-4344
Nov 14, 2008
Today we got to the boat with no trip for the morning but we did have an afternoon trip however one of the other charter boats in town called us and they needed a boat to take one of their trips out fishing for them and we jumped at the chance to get out there. As we arrived at their dock we were meat by Jen from Houston Texas, Bob from Boynton Beach Florida, mike from New Jersey and Ken from Atlanta Georgia.
We went right out front set out our kites out with live baits suspended from them and the trap was set.
It didn't take long before we had a sailfish looking to eat one of our baits. He chased it around for about 30 seconds till he finally got it and (BAM) we were Hooked Up. It was a little rough out there today and 2 of the 4 people on the boat were not feeling very well so Jen wasted no time jumping in the chair. Talk about one tough chick she really put it to this fish. It took about 20 min but she finally got the fish to the boat. We got the hook out of the fish and got some great pictures of the fish. (When Jen sends them to us we will post then) Way to go Jen. At this point 3 of the 4 people on the boat were not feeling good so we knew we were running out of time so we quickly got the baits right back out there. And it took no time till there was another fish tying to eat. This times not a sailfish but a nice dolphin fish. This time Bob jumped in the chair and the fight was on. It took Bob about 5 min to reel this one in and by the time he got his fish to the boat everyone was ready to call it a day. Everyone that is except Jen it took a little talking to by the other 3 to talk her into going in a little early. I guess it's true what they say they make them tougher in Texas. (LOL)
Once we got back to the dock our afternoon trip was ready to try their luck. But first let me back up a bit and tell you a bit about Michel and Peggy from Montreal Canada. Last year I had taken Michel out fishing with us on a shared charter and at one point on that trip we hooked into 2 sailfish at the same time. Which is great except a couple of thing were different about this fight? First of all Michel's turn was not up so he was watching the other 2 people fighting these fish and sec of all we Hooked Up right in the way of a US submarine and the little chase boats around the sub were telling us to cut the line and get out of the way. Just as we were about to cut the lines I guess the guys on the submarine seen what was going on and told the 2 chance boats to let us catch our fish they were having a ball watching this threw their binoculars. So Michel never did get a chance to catch a sailfish O and by the way we did catch both of them and after that Michel did get chance to fight a tarpon on our way in but it got away.
Having said all that Michel was taking no chances on not getting the rod when the big one got on this time.
Ok back to fishing today with Michel and his girlfriend Peggy we went right to kite fishing I knew what Michel wanted to catch a sail fish and conditionings were perfect for sailfish.
The only problem we were having was that the dolphin fish were eating all of our live baits as fast as we could put them out there. (Not A bad Problem to have) But at last there he was eating one of our kite baits a sailfish but not just a sailfish but this was a monster at least 90 inches and this one was putting on quite the show for us this thing was all over the place dancing on top of the water. It took a good 30 min till finally Michel got him next to the boat. WAY TO GO MICHEL finally got him. As a charter boat Captain I've got to say that it feels very nice going out there and catching a guy the fish of his dreams.
Michel and Peggy thanks again for a great afternoon of fishing and looking forward to fishing you again soon.
For some great photo shots go to www.tacohookedup.com Than click on photo gallery than go to photo gallery #5 We were have a ball and you'll know which pictures go with today's fishing !
Fishing seems to be getting better every day so give us a call and let's get you Hooked Up with the fish of your dream.
Captain Taco (954)764-4344
Nov 15, 2008
Today our day started out fishing with Myles from Pembroke Pines Florida for his 20 th birthday. He brought along his dad Jorge and his 4 close friends Winter, Tyler, Leo and Michael also all from South Florida.
We had no current and green water and I knew that it was going to be a tough day of fishing. And to top the tough fishing off his friend brought a LOT of beer and it was going fast. So we decided to just try to catch fish whatever we could put in the boat. So we trolled down the reef and it finally paid off for us we ended up catching some kingfish and one bonito. Did I mention that these guys brought a lot of beer along and they ran out of beer and then drank all mine. The good news was that Jorge came along and they had someone to drive them home.
Happy birthday Myles and good luck fishing tonight!
Once we got back to the dock we had our afternoon trip there waiting on us. Howard and his wife Linda from Atlanta Georgia. They really did not have anything special that they wanted to catch they were just looking to spend the afternoon on the water. Since we had a well full of live bait we decided to fish a little deeper than all the other boats were fishing with our live baits suspended from our kites and hope for the best. Did I mention that fishing was a bit on the slow side today? After we got both kites up in the air with all four baits suspended from them it was not even 2 min and we had a giant sailfish eating one of the baits. I turned around to check the 3 remaining baits while we were fighting the 1 sailfish and I noticed that I could only find 2 of them and the other one was taking line off the reel. I think Linda thought she was just going to be taking pictures but now she had to throw the camera down and help out with the second fish.
I could not believe this no one had caught anything nice today our baits were in the water 2 min and we had 2 nice fish on at the same time. We knew that Howard's fish was a sailfish but we had no idea what Linda on.
Linda's fish came in first and it turned out to be a very big black tip shark and then we got Howard's fish to the boat and this was a BIG sailfish I would guess that it was at least a 90 inch fish.
We got some great pictures of both fish and watched both of them swim away in good shape to fight another day. Now what do we do?? We had been fishing about 2 min and we had been fighting fish for the next 30 min I guess Howard and Linda thought this sort of thing happens all the time. (LOL)
But that was the last bite we had for the day but needless to say everyone was very happy with the catch including me and
Captain Greg.
For a better look at these pictures go to photo gallery #5.
Well that's all for the first half of Nov but just wait and see the second half is always better and then it's December and that's always a great month for sailfish so give us a call and come on down so we can help you get Hooked Up with the fish of a life time.
Captain Taco Toll Free (877) SEA-4344