Before I get started with the current fishing report, let me answer some of the questions that many of my friends and clients have been asking me about the new home that Nancy and I have purchased. YES, we closed on the home in late August. YES, we've both been very busy with doing the things that are necessary to make a new home livable. NO, we are not selling our current home and finally, NO I am not retiring from charter fishing in Miami. We have our long range goals set and are working toward it. With that said, let's get on to the fishing report.
Despite the very hot weather, the fishing has been very good for a variety of species. Some of them are probably not the glamour fish that anglers are looking for, however, they bend a rod, pull line, and can be a challenge to get boatside for a release. The key to getting in on the action is fishing early and covering the water column. Most all of the action has been in the 110 - 200 foot range. On some days the flatlines get the hits. On other days it's the downrigger and yet others it's the deep bottom rod. Put out all three types of rods while drifting and let the fish decide which level the action is going to take place at. The species we've been catching are bonito, kingfish, barracuda, amberjack, mutton snapper, sailfish, and spinner sharks.
Dave and his friends Kevin, Rodney, and Buck picked a gorgeous weather day for their fishing trip. The seas were calm with a wind from the E/SE at only 3 knots. We caught herring and pilchards at two different locations before heading out. We started with some slow trolling that produced action on the downrigger and flatlines in the form of two nice size kingfish. Setting up a drift to put the bottom rod down gave us more action with kingfish and bonito. A pesky remora got in on the action and a sailfish gave us a one jump thrill before throwing the hook. Despite the calm seas, the father and son team of the group experienced motion sickness and added to the chum line. They took a lot of ribbing from their two friends, however, each time one of them would chum, we'd have action from some species of fish.
John and Kevin King along with Tricia Aponte and Jules Mosiello did some anchor fishing on several wrecks between Key Biscayne and Haulover. Once again we had some very nice weather conditions with the wind from the NNW/S @ 0 - 9 knots and a north current. We had to work a bit for the herring we caught and the pilchards were almost non-existent when compared to the day before. We had action at every wreck that we anchored on. On the rod with braided line, we needed 1 pound of lead to hold bottom. On the rod with mono line, we needed 2 pounds of lead. Both rods saw plenty of action and everyone got to fight several fish. We had a few fish that out did us despite our best effort to get them headed up toward the surface. Putting out a surface rod saw action with a skyrocketing kingfish and a bonito. By the end of the trip, we had done battle with several barracuda and bonito, 3 amberjack, 2 mutton snapper, 1 large bluerunner, and a spinner shark.
Shorty and his friend Richard experienced some arm pulling, back breaking action on their half day trip. Most anglers would complain about pulling on bonitos all morning long. Not these two anglers. They couldn't get enough of it. Once we got the fish located, (120 - 150 feet) it was only a matter of minutes before several fish were hooked up. The bonito were schooled up like dolphin and all you had to do was pitch out a bait and hold on. At the end of the morning, I think their arms were about 6 inches longer.
Marshall and Robin Rosenberg treated their sons Marshall, Jr and Michael to several hours of fast and furious action on the patches. Cut squid was the bait and we had a south current. As soon as I put out the chum block, a variety of fish showed up. We used several different rigs and they all produced fish that included mangrove, lane, and yellowtail snapper, triggerfish, red grouper, bluerunners, goggle eyes, shark, common grunt, and blue striped grunt. Dad had a blast helping and encouraging his sons with every fish they caught and Mom got to sit back, watch, and enjoy the thrills her sons were having. How many fish we caught and released I couldn't say and it wasn't important to the boys anyways. The main thing was that they had constant action, they didn't want to stop, and the smiles on their faces was fantastic. Family fishing is great fun. If you haven't tried it you should.
Captain Dave Kostyo
Knot Nancy Fishing Charters
305 620-5896 Charter
305 965-9454 Cell
www.knotnancy.com
nkostyo@bellsouth.net