...and fortunately, it's just been a bit busy. Doing a fair amount of fishing this past week, and we've got another big week coming up.
We're catching a lot of Yellowtail Snappers these days, along with a smattering of Mutton and Mangrove Snappers and Grouper, including a 80 lb. Jewfish we released last week, and a bunch of nice Kingfish.
We caught two sailfish yesterday, which was great, only it was a couple of days late for a woman's sailfish tournament we fished on Wednesday, when we struck out on the sails as we missed our only two sail bites of the day. It only took two fish to win the tournament, though.
We've been fishing a lot with our kites lately, and it's led to some amazing top water bites. During the Sailfish Tournament, Greg shouted, "Slammer coming on the right short." (A nice sized Dolphin is often referred to as a "Slammer" or a "Gaffer," I'm quickly learning) I look over at the bait only to see the Dolphin thirty feet away. It swam another 20 feet toward the bait before shooting 4 feet out of the water and flying the last 10 feet to crash directly down on the bait. It was very cool to see. Hopefully just a precursor more exciting things to come.
There's definitely a lot to look forward to coming up. Sounds like a group of good friends will be down the third week in March, which I'm looking forward to, then off to the Bahamas for six or seven weeks at the end of March through mid-May. There's even rumors of TV episode being shot on our boat for a couple of days while we're there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Would be too much fun.
Hope all's well with everyone out there.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Sheesh It's Kind of Cold...
And the fishing is so so.
But when we warm back up, the snapper and grouper should get pretty good, along with a few straggling sails.
I'm really excited for the Bahamas, though. Come on March!!!
But when we warm back up, the snapper and grouper should get pretty good, along with a few straggling sails.
I'm really excited for the Bahamas, though. Come on March!!!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Taking a Beating for the Sail
Saturday morning we headed out to what could only have been described as a marginally fishable day at best. A cold front came through the night before, and we were facing 50 degree temps and 28-35 mile an hour winds.
Sure, people fish those conditions all over, be when weather like that comes through here, the fish clamp down, bait retreats from their normal homes, and tackle crashes around the cabin with every wave.
We had a couple of MIT students with us, and we went out and attempted to get bait, with no luck. So we turned to our kites which we had bait penned up for, but even with the specially designed "high wind" kites, it wasn't meant to be. Greg put the first kite up, and when he attempted to reel it back into make an adjustment to it, the wind snapped it off the 60 lb mono, and the kite crashed to the water. Fortunately we were able to recover it, but the kite option was gone.
We headed back again to a patch, where our angler caught a couple of small grouper on a jig, but the bait fish, which had been plentiful, didn't show up for breakfast. Everyone then agreed that it was time to go in, and we'd see if the afternoon brought any better weather.
Greg and I did some kite repairs from about 10am-12pm and the angler returned to about 10 knots less wind and a bit warmer temps, so we decided to head out and give it a go with the kites again.
Turned out for the best, as the skies were totally clear, temps hit the mid 60s, and the wind really eased up. Seemed almost remarkable how the day had changed from morning to afternoon. We landed a nice sail of about 65 pounds which I got into the boat for photos, and all were happy.
I had today off, so I was planning to go out last night, but my body had different ideas. After a burger and a couple of cocktails with Greg in the early evening, I headed home and proceeded to sleep for 12 hours. I think I needed it.
Heading up to Miami to a buddy's place to watch the game tonight. Hope everyone out there enjoys it.
Sure, people fish those conditions all over, be when weather like that comes through here, the fish clamp down, bait retreats from their normal homes, and tackle crashes around the cabin with every wave.
We had a couple of MIT students with us, and we went out and attempted to get bait, with no luck. So we turned to our kites which we had bait penned up for, but even with the specially designed "high wind" kites, it wasn't meant to be. Greg put the first kite up, and when he attempted to reel it back into make an adjustment to it, the wind snapped it off the 60 lb mono, and the kite crashed to the water. Fortunately we were able to recover it, but the kite option was gone.
We headed back again to a patch, where our angler caught a couple of small grouper on a jig, but the bait fish, which had been plentiful, didn't show up for breakfast. Everyone then agreed that it was time to go in, and we'd see if the afternoon brought any better weather.
Greg and I did some kite repairs from about 10am-12pm and the angler returned to about 10 knots less wind and a bit warmer temps, so we decided to head out and give it a go with the kites again.
Turned out for the best, as the skies were totally clear, temps hit the mid 60s, and the wind really eased up. Seemed almost remarkable how the day had changed from morning to afternoon. We landed a nice sail of about 65 pounds which I got into the boat for photos, and all were happy.
I had today off, so I was planning to go out last night, but my body had different ideas. After a burger and a couple of cocktails with Greg in the early evening, I headed home and proceeded to sleep for 12 hours. I think I needed it.
Heading up to Miami to a buddy's place to watch the game tonight. Hope everyone out there enjoys it.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Some Nice Little Honey Buns in South Florida
Kind of switched gears fishing yesterday and focused on Yellowtail Snappers. Caught about a dozen, along with a couple of nice King Mackerels. Threw at a Sailfish as well, but he was just behind a giant school of Pilchards, so he'd probably been eating for a while.
Greg and I went to play golf today. Did my usual steady but decent blah round with a few total blow ups. Shot 88. Nice public course, though. Miccosukee, I believe.
After, we were driving down the road past the airport on our way to a tackle shop, a little 4 door Acura wagon pulls past us. Greg says, "Damn, that car is full of honey buns."
I'm thinking to myself, "Sweet, a car full of women, let's take a look."
Greg gets back up next to the car, and the back seat was literally packed full of sweet tasty treats.
Dammit.
Greg and I went to play golf today. Did my usual steady but decent blah round with a few total blow ups. Shot 88. Nice public course, though. Miccosukee, I believe.
After, we were driving down the road past the airport on our way to a tackle shop, a little 4 door Acura wagon pulls past us. Greg says, "Damn, that car is full of honey buns."
I'm thinking to myself, "Sweet, a car full of women, let's take a look."
Greg gets back up next to the car, and the back seat was literally packed full of sweet tasty treats.
Dammit.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Weekend Recap; 5 Days in the Keys Sounds Like a Weekend, Right?
Friday's tourney fishing was a good day. Was a charity tournament benefiting a small university in South Florida. Had seven sails come up and eat and raised a few others. We caught and released 3, which was good for third in the tournament. We had a good shot at winning, but it just wasn't meant to be for us that day. Four won the tournament.
Saturday we had a charter that didn't show from Ft. Lauderdale. But hey, wake up at 6 am on a Saturday, get to the boat at 6:30. Prepare everything for the trip, only to have Capt. Greg get a call at 7:05 telling him that they were still in FLL, they overslept, and were really sorry. Well, at least I had a nice sit down breakfast and was back in bed at 9 for a nice nap, right?
The time off also gave me the chance to call and check on my friend Mr. Walton who was in the hospital recovering from heart valve surgery. He still sounded a bit weak, but his doctors were assuring him that he was doing well and on the road to recovery, which is great news. They broke the mold when they made Mr. Walton, so the docs better keep him well.
We did end up heading out in the skiff a bit later on Saturday afternoon to try to catch some bait to freeze for the Bahamas, but unfortunately, no such luck.
Sunday (Happy Birthday Mama!!) we were booked for a half day with two gentlemen who turned out to be down from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. One was also a former Delta pilot, so we spent the morning listening to some flying stories in the wake of the recent Hudson River landing, and of course exchanged some notes on about our favorite local restaurants in WS.
Caught three sails on four bites that morning, so a nice day. Then celebrated with a pleasant evening out on the town.
Monday was another off day. Well, off in the sense that we weren't booked, but spent the latter half of the morning at the boat tidying up a bit. Capt Greg booked us for a half day on Tuesday so we went out in the skiff in the afternoon trying to find some Threadfins to use as Kite baits, but they weren't really biting, so we only ended up with four. We then went down to the local park where there's a golf cage set up and I gave Greg a quick lesson.
We headed back to the boat after that and went out fishing for Goggle Eyes, which are night feeders. While preparing to head out, I ran into the people we booked earlier in the day to fish on Tuesday. When I asked how their day went, they informed me that the went down to Key West for the afternoon and decided that they might as well get married. They'd been planning on Vegas or Sonoma, when they decided, hey, why not the beach in Key West. Turns out Tuesday would be my first ever Honeymoon charter.
Anyhow, Greg and I ended up catching about fifty Goggle Eyes. While we were out, I decided that I'd take out my SPOT device (personal satellite transmitter with OK, Help, and 911 modes) and give it a spin since I hadn't used it in a couple of months. I wanted to mark some of our positions so that I could take a look later where we were on Google Earth since the typical landmarks weren't visible. Night is funny like that.
About 15 minutes after I transmitted the second location, though, we saw flares go up, and then Coast Guard and Police Boats as well as a search and rescue helicopter were all working an area a few miles to the west of us. I got freaked out that I pressed a button other than the OK button. I double-checked the device and all looked normal. Turns out there was a boat that was indeed sinking down the way. Not sure of the outcome of that, but admittedly was relieved that I hadn't erroneously started an incident.
Anyhow, the fishing today was slower than it had been in the past few days. I didn't have my best day by any stretch, but it turned out OK. About 4 foot seas and variable gusty winds wreaked havoc with our kites and it was a bit frustrating. Fortunately, towards the end of the half day charter we hooked up to a nice dolphin and then about a 75 pound sail which we released at the boat, our newlyweds' first, so a good end to an otherwise rocky day for me.
Tomorrow will be a maintenance day again, and maybe some golf in the afternoon. It also happens to be my parent's anniversary, so Happy Anniversary to you both. 37, right? I love you both very much and am sorry I won't be there to share it with you.
Hope everyone out there is well and keeping warm.
EDIT: Oh, and here's a photo of me landing a sail for Mike from NJ last weekend. It was his first.
Saturday we had a charter that didn't show from Ft. Lauderdale. But hey, wake up at 6 am on a Saturday, get to the boat at 6:30. Prepare everything for the trip, only to have Capt. Greg get a call at 7:05 telling him that they were still in FLL, they overslept, and were really sorry. Well, at least I had a nice sit down breakfast and was back in bed at 9 for a nice nap, right?
The time off also gave me the chance to call and check on my friend Mr. Walton who was in the hospital recovering from heart valve surgery. He still sounded a bit weak, but his doctors were assuring him that he was doing well and on the road to recovery, which is great news. They broke the mold when they made Mr. Walton, so the docs better keep him well.
We did end up heading out in the skiff a bit later on Saturday afternoon to try to catch some bait to freeze for the Bahamas, but unfortunately, no such luck.
Sunday (Happy Birthday Mama!!) we were booked for a half day with two gentlemen who turned out to be down from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. One was also a former Delta pilot, so we spent the morning listening to some flying stories in the wake of the recent Hudson River landing, and of course exchanged some notes on about our favorite local restaurants in WS.
Caught three sails on four bites that morning, so a nice day. Then celebrated with a pleasant evening out on the town.
Monday was another off day. Well, off in the sense that we weren't booked, but spent the latter half of the morning at the boat tidying up a bit. Capt Greg booked us for a half day on Tuesday so we went out in the skiff in the afternoon trying to find some Threadfins to use as Kite baits, but they weren't really biting, so we only ended up with four. We then went down to the local park where there's a golf cage set up and I gave Greg a quick lesson.
We headed back to the boat after that and went out fishing for Goggle Eyes, which are night feeders. While preparing to head out, I ran into the people we booked earlier in the day to fish on Tuesday. When I asked how their day went, they informed me that the went down to Key West for the afternoon and decided that they might as well get married. They'd been planning on Vegas or Sonoma, when they decided, hey, why not the beach in Key West. Turns out Tuesday would be my first ever Honeymoon charter.
Anyhow, Greg and I ended up catching about fifty Goggle Eyes. While we were out, I decided that I'd take out my SPOT device (personal satellite transmitter with OK, Help, and 911 modes) and give it a spin since I hadn't used it in a couple of months. I wanted to mark some of our positions so that I could take a look later where we were on Google Earth since the typical landmarks weren't visible. Night is funny like that.
About 15 minutes after I transmitted the second location, though, we saw flares go up, and then Coast Guard and Police Boats as well as a search and rescue helicopter were all working an area a few miles to the west of us. I got freaked out that I pressed a button other than the OK button. I double-checked the device and all looked normal. Turns out there was a boat that was indeed sinking down the way. Not sure of the outcome of that, but admittedly was relieved that I hadn't erroneously started an incident.
Anyhow, the fishing today was slower than it had been in the past few days. I didn't have my best day by any stretch, but it turned out OK. About 4 foot seas and variable gusty winds wreaked havoc with our kites and it was a bit frustrating. Fortunately, towards the end of the half day charter we hooked up to a nice dolphin and then about a 75 pound sail which we released at the boat, our newlyweds' first, so a good end to an otherwise rocky day for me.
Tomorrow will be a maintenance day again, and maybe some golf in the afternoon. It also happens to be my parent's anniversary, so Happy Anniversary to you both. 37, right? I love you both very much and am sorry I won't be there to share it with you.
Hope everyone out there is well and keeping warm.
EDIT: Oh, and here's a photo of me landing a sail for Mike from NJ last weekend. It was his first.
Friday, January 23, 2009
January 22, 2009
Caught a couple of sails today.
Pretty ho-hum actually.
Tourney tomorrow, and my rooommate Drew with be fishing with us.
Back country meets offshore. Should be lots of fun.
Odds are I'll be giving golf lessons part of the time.
Pretty ho-hum actually.
Tourney tomorrow, and my rooommate Drew with be fishing with us.
Back country meets offshore. Should be lots of fun.
Odds are I'll be giving golf lessons part of the time.
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