After 2 weeks of heavy winds, the fan was finally turned down to a more reasonable speed. Fishing in 25 - 30 knot winds is not fun for most everyone. As a result, I like many of my fellow guides, had to cancel numerous trips during that time frame. I was only able to reschedule a few of the lost trips. With all the east wind during that time, we've been licking our chops to get back out and catch the dolphin that just had to be pushed in closer to the coast.
On the first day when the wind calmed down, I was able to get out and do some fishing. On Sunday, June 3rd, Robert Bordlee and his son, Brett got to sample the South Florida fishing. The wind started out light and continued to pick up throughout the trip. It also switched directions from SSE/W and blew from 6 - 19 knots. Surprisingly, the blue/green edge was out rather deep at 240 feet. On our first drift, we had something small blow up on the long kite bait and kill the bait and not eat it. Then the same thing happened on our short kite bait. While moving back toward the edge, the downrigger produced a very very large barracuda that kept Brett busy for a while. After a quick picture, we released the fish. Some heavy chumming brought in a nice hammerhead shark that was going nuts trying to catch the chum baits. Just as it was zeroing in on one of our flatlines, the bait skipped at the surface and a gull picked it up and ripped it off our hook. At that point the shark lost interest and moved on. As we crossed the edge just south of the Twins, a flatline hooked up solid to a sailfish. Brett had his hands full with this very stubborn fish. Twice it dumped 3/4's of the 20# line off the spool. Both times Brett fought back and regained the line. We finally got the leader to touch the rod tip for a catch and Brett had his first Atlantic sailfish under his belt. It was now time to head inshore for some tarpon fishing. On the 4th drift, Robert got his chance to tangle with a large tarpon. Twice the fish made long runs away from the boat only to turn around and charge the boat. This had Robert reeling like crazy to try and keep up. During this time, the fish made 5 tremendous jumps as it headed toward the deep water of the main channel. Like most all large tarpon, it did make it to the deep water and then the real fight began. The fish ran back and forth across the Cut as it flowed in with the incoming tide. Brett was on the camera and got some nice shots and Robert kept the pressure up. The 110 pound tarpon was pulled along side for a final picture before I released the fish to fight again.
As I mentioned in the first part of this report, we expected the dolphin to be in close. The fish have been inside of 1000 feet on very scattered grass. There have not been to many birds helping with locating the schools. With only a few exceptions, the fish have been preferring slow trolled live baits over pitched live baits while drifting. The schools have also been on the move and not hanging around with their buddies to long.
That brings me up to date. Weekdays are available and the weekends are booked with just one Sunday open the remainder of June. If you can go during the week, there is less pressure and fewer boats, so give me a call and lets catch some fish.
Captain Dave Kostyo
Knot Nancy Fishing Charters
305 620-5896 Charter
305 965-9454 Cell
www.knotnancy.com
nkostyo@bellsouth.net