"Go Sailfishing" - Posted by Mike Bondurant @ 10:57 am EST
If you haven’t past by the charter boat docks or read the paper for the fishing report here’s the news, go sailfishing! The last week has been ideal from Palm Beach to Key Largo with boats getting multiple opportunities and lots of sailfish releases. Palm Beach has had reports of boats catching up to 25 fish in a day on live bait and Broward and Dade county reports were not far behind.

This is the time of year and the type of weather to allow major movements of pelagic species to take place. Beside sailfish, kingfish and bonita have been thick and the size of these fish is above average. Fishing for only 3 hours last week produced enough action to exhaust us. With only three people on board, we went through 3 dozen baits and every chance to catch fish was a multiple hook-up. We had two tripleheader sailfish shots, a school of bonita managed to cover every line at once (seven in all) an two double header kingfish kept three anglers busy catching and redeploying baits. These were the fish we saw and it happened during three drifts!

Bait gets to be a little tough as the water temperature drops. Noting bait patterns and movements will keep you from wasting valuable fishing time. Baits of choice are simple for me; if it is blowing offshore I like to slow troll live ballyhoo. If it’s an onshore wind, I use the kite and drift a combination of baits that may include goggle-eyes, pilchards, threadfin herrings, sardines or blue-runners. It truly is a matter of what you can find more than anything else.

Be ready for anything this time of year because so much is passing through South Florida’s offshore waters right now.

Enjoy your time on the water,

Mike & Jason

Friday, December 26, 2003

Spanish Mackerel - Posted by Jason Roe @ 10:41 am EST
Riding down A1A last week provided a welcome sight; seagulls, pelicans and frigate birds swooping down and crashing into the water in search of an easy meal. What causes this misfortune for the small baitfish and feast for the saltwater fowl? Spanish mackerel on their southbound trip during the winter months.

Each year about this time you can expect to find schools of fish along the Broward and Dade county coastlines as well as inside Biscayne Bay. Finding a school is pretty easy if you look for the birds and move up or down the coast in about 20 feet of water. Usually the fish will congregate along the reef line which is where the bait tends to hold up.

The only difficult part about fishing for spanish mackerel is the weather and its ability to be so unpredictable during the winter months. I like to fish a northwest wind just after a cold front has moved through the area. Because the wind is blowing offshore, twenty feet of water will be well protected from the wind and waves which have likely built up off shore. Be careful though for the wind direction to switch, sometimes with little warning. Wind gust of 20-25 MPH is not so bad from the northwest but it can be quite sloppy from the north and northeast, which isn’t so fun when you have the kids aboard.

Speaking of kids; this is probably one of the best ways to introduce young people to your sport. From six years to sixteen, most kids will love this fishery because it is usually consistent, the action is fast and it doesn’t require a ton of angling skill. I would qualify it as downright easy.

The tackle needed is simple:

Eight to twelve pound spinning gear
Assorted bucktail jigs and chrome spoons (I like Clarke Spoons the best. Size may vary)
Light wire to prevent cutoffs (No. 4 will work fine and is easy to twist)
Remember the swivel to prevent line twist
A few blocks of chum
And a sharp set of eyes for locating birds

Once you’ve found fish working an area you can either troll around the school or stop and set your anchor along the general path which you believe the fish to be heading. (However, make sure that you do not anchor your boat in a protected area along the reef. Your chart should denote these areas.) Getting the chum out will be important for your success so have the block in the mesh bag prior to stopping the boat. Casting jigs, spoons and lures should produce stikes. If they don’t, live bait such as pilchards and live shrimp may pay off.

This is really a great fishing trip for the family and spanish mackerel are ok on the table. Always check the bag limits as they change from time to time and be certain to have your fishing license(s) on board the boat.

Enjoy your time on the water,
Mike & Jason

Saturday, December 13, 2003

"Sailfishing, Get on it" - Posted by Mike Bondurant @ 12:13 pm EST
You’ve got the bait and you think you’re in the right location. It’s time to get the bite. Because if you ain’t catchin’, you’re only fishing and that upside down billfish flag means success.

Getting a nice spread of baits is most definitely the first order of business. Whether you intend on pulling baits from the riggers or using kites, properly positioning baits is going to make a difference. You need to make sure that the way that you have set the baits will allow each bait to swim properly and does not create an un-natural appearance. Sailfish will turn away from a bait when it’s pulled against its normal direction.

Once you have the baits set, pay attention. There will be the appearance of a large ink blot below your bait, a large boil of water around the bait, maybe the sickle like shape of a sailfish tail or the pronounced dorsal fin breaking the water as the sailfish corrals the helpless bait just prior to the bite. This is the time to get all of your spider senses in working order! A lot of things are about to happen and what actions you’ll take during the following 30 to 60 seconds will gauge success.

When the sailfish takes, for real, your tell-tale (either surveyors tape or fluorescent cork) is going to literally shoot down. Continue to drop back to the fish until you are certain that enough pressure will be available to snap the line from the outrigger or kite clip. Next reel like you mean it and make sure not to pack the line in the center of the real. Since we use circle hooks almost all the time, simply reeling in slack, keeping the rod low with the tip point at a 90 degree angle away from the fish will create the hook up. At that point it’s up to you to catch the fish, your crew to maintain the watch over the other baits and hope for that double or triple header.

Circle hooks should ensure a catch once the fish is hooked and taking line. Just don’t allow too much slack stay on the fish early to get that quick release.

Currently the fish are moving into the South Florida area in good numbers. Boats have gotten multiple shots outside of the Port of Palm Beach south to the Breakers Hotel. Boynton Beach has provided a number of fish as well. Off Ft Lauderdale fishing seems to be spotty as numbers push through. However, 8-15 pound dolphin and kingfish have kept anglers busy.

Miami and the Upper Keys are beginning to see the fish numbers that make this winter fishery one of the best in the world. Because of the variety and abundance of bait, local knowledge goes a long way. I would suggest a trip or two with a local guide to allow anyone to library some information for future trips. Ocean Reef is smack dab in the middle of this fishing area and there are some great light tackle guides that are available. A weekday charter may produce better action and information since the guide does not have to compete with the weekend warrior for fishing spots.

Until next time… Enjoy the water,

Mike & Jason

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Depths and Landmarks - Posted by Mike Bondurant @ 12:39 pm EST
Fishing along the South Florida Gold Coast can be difficult, especially for sailfish, only because of the amount of coastline and the way fish tend to push through the area makes it difficult to pinpoint location.

Over the years it seems that landmarks have served far more productive in locating fish than has a particular GPS number. When fish begin to bite, normally the charter boat captains will start to chatter on the VHF radio. Some great information can be found out but you have to be able to listen to the radio and pay attention to your baits at the same time. As a matter of note, I have a fishing buddy that is absolutely hopeless when it comes to managing these two skills simultaneously. Yet in his professional life he can tell you the date that IBM stock hit a hundred and what clients had the position in their portfolio on that day. To me, useless information! Pay attention to the radio while it’s on.

Back to the story at hand. Most charter captains will yap back and forth on the radio but some will actually mention depth and location (as it appears on land) of fish they have taken during that trip. A good time to pay attention: just before noon and just after 4 pm. Why? Because that’s when they are on the way back to the dock, they got a sailfish for the family from Minnesota, and they need a little air time to play the big catch up before the mate pops that golden question… You’re gonna mount this fish, right? Not that there’s anything wrong with mounting a fish, though I would rather it swims away for another day and another memory. (Hey, that’s an issue in and of itself)

As I said, listen for the location and the depth that fish have been biting on that day. Landmarks such and lighthouses, church spires, water towers and inlets are most common and since fishing most often takes place less than two miles offshore, all of these landmarks should be easy to spot. You may also want to purchase a fishing chart. Florida Sportsman makes great charts, they include good fishing areas which are noted and common landmarks to use as sight points. Oh yeah, they’re also waterproof.

Next remember that you will most likely be drifting to the north and getting pushed with the wind; either offshore or onshore. The northerly drift should not be as great an issue as the movement toward or away from the beach. Depth is a very, very important part of sailfishing and can be the difference in catching fish as well as being consistent with your catch.

On a responsibility note, take time to avoid other boats that are already fishing. Set up for a drift, whether under power or with a sea anchor far enough away so as not to disrupt another boat. Also, don’t run your boat up and down the line of fishing boats while everyone has the kites up. This ain’t NASCAR or some slalom ski course in Colorado! Either tuck inside a 100’ of water or outside, around 250’. Thanks…

Enjoy your time on the water,

Mike & Jason

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

South Florida Sailfish Part I - Posted by Jason Roe @ 4:55 pm EST
Sailfishing is probably one of the best fisheries for South Florida. It can be productive year ‘round and winter is probably the best time to target this species from Palm Beach to Monroe County. There are a few simple methods which one should follow in order to create success with time on the water being the most difficult to make up.

The first and most important part of successful sailfishing is catching and keeping bait. Though dead bait has yielded sailfish over the years, nothing can take the place of live bait for this billfish. Knowing how to catch, keep and rig live bait is what makes certain anglers more prolific when it comes to catching fish.

Baits of choice along the Goldcoast include ballyhoo, blue runners, mullet, goggle-eyes, tinker mackerel pilchards, threadfin herring, flying fish and sardines. Depending on the time of year, any one or all of these may be present. You simply must “match the hatch”! Find out which bait is most likely to be present, fill the bait well and go get ‘em. With many different bait rigs (I like sabikis) available on the market, you can usually find something pre-rigged that will work. I feel that Outdoor World in Ft. Lauderdale has the best selection of bait rigs and the prices are very competitive. There are different sizes and colors depending on the type and size of bait you’ll be targeting.

One thing which is a must on most of these sabiki rigs is a sinker. Try to use the most weight you can get away with when fishing for bait. Sixteen to thirty two ounces is a good idea when fishing for baits like blue-runners and goggle-eyes. This weight will keep the baits from swimming upward when hooked and causing your six dollar sabiki to become worthless.

I tend to think it is a good idea to have two or three rod and reel combinations with the single use of catching bait. Ten to fifteen foot rods with either spinning or conventional reels and synthetic line seem to be the way that most serious bait catchers are going. Smaller rods and reels can be used to catch herrings, pilchards and ballyhoo.

Cast nets are a great way to catch a lot of bait quickly. However, the net can really beat up bait and your use will have to be for that day. Ballyhoo and small pilchards will also get gilled in the net, which requires quite a bit of time after the cast to remove and discard the unusable baits.

A circular bait well and high flow bait pump is necessary to keep bait alive and frisky. A fifty gallon well will hold up to several dozen baits but only if you have good flow. A pump which sends 1000-2000 gallons per hour should work fine and restricting outflow from the pump to the well may create better circulation. Each boat is different in how the bait system is set up but be sure of two things, an effective pump and a clam shell pick up for when the boat is moving.

This information should get you started or encourage you to improve your current bait system or method. Next week we’ll talk about presentation.

Enjoy your time on the water, Mike & Jason

Simple Maintenance - Posted by Jason Roe @ 4:47 pm EST
Pardon the interruption with regards to stories and how to’s over the past weeks. We have been preparing for and fishing in the Annual Ft Lauderdale Billfish Tournament. Although our luck not quite the best, other boats fared well and the tournament was won by “Freedom” with 4000 points or 20 sailfish releases. With over 300 sailfish released during a two and a half day tournament, this was the most successful event in the 37 year history. Congratulations to all those that won!

Preparing for a tournament or just preparing for a day on the water is very similar. You need to check your tackle, bait, provisions, fuel/oil and most important, boat equipment.

Boat equipment can be broken down into two areas; essential needs boat, motor, trailer, etc… and non-essential needs such as bait pumps, coolers, depth finder and GPS system. I take for granted that most main systems will always be operational because of basic preventative maintenance service that we perform at the end of every trip. I top of the fuel tanks, fill the oil reservoirs, charge the batteries and run the bilge pumps after each trip. This removes a major hassle at the start of a fishing trip and ensures that the boat is ready to go if I receive a call (short notice) that the fish are biting.

As for the non-essential equipment, I try to keep at least one extra part for the items that tend to break or might leave you stranded. A spare propeller (or set if you have twins or triples) will really save the day and get you home in a jam. A spare hub if the hubs are replaceable. Extra lines and a spare anchor if you plan on bottom fishing is a good idea. A bilge pump or extra bait pump is a great idea to have on board. I usually pre-cut and crimp the wires for a quick change. A small box of spare reel parts and rod tip guides are good things to have handy (try to match your reels by manufacture because many parts may be interchangeable). A spool of monofilament line to reline a reel if you get spooled or feel the amount of line left after a break-off is inadequate.

Maintaining boats and motors is simple and not time consuming if you do a little bit after each trip. Everyone is usually exhausted at the end of a day on the water but the extra little effort will make the following trip more enjoyable. Almost forgotten but very important, if you take great care of your boat, when the time comes to sell it and move up to the next size people will pay for the care you’ve taken.

Reasonable people know that a boat is a horrible investment but it can bring a ton of joy. If I am buying a boat, I want to know that the owner enjoyed the boat and took good care of it. Missing screws, out of date fire extinguishers and a dirty bilge shows lack of maintenance and care. The thoughts that might cross my mind are; has this boat had any major damage that is being covered up, did the owner run the boat hard in rough seas, were the engines maintained per the manufacture’s direction? If I’m unsure, it’s off to see the next boat. Remember, Buyer Beware”.

Until the next time, enjoy the water,

Mike & Jason

Friday, November 07, 2003

Wahoo Three - Posted by Mike Bondurant @ 5:18 pm EST
Okay, it’s go time! The wahoo should get to snapping this weekend with the full moon and continue through the remainder of next week. The question for the folks fishing along Florida’s Gold Coast is going to be the weather. The last ten days has provided some heavy easterly winds, heavy rain and some choppy seas. However, for those that have made it out, the fishing has been pretty good.

Big dolphin have been beating up bait in fairly shallow water. That bait has included mullet on their annual migration and the action has been into 60 feet of water. With this heavy wind, over a prolonged period of time, fishing tends to get real good and fish will be found close to shore. Along with dolphin, large skipjacks (15-18 lbs) have been caught and a few, smaller blackfins have been mixed in with the skipjacks. Factoid: BIG wahoo love skipjack, blackfin tunas and bonita. With the exception of getting over to the Bahamas, this may be your best chance to get a nice fish this season. I think the chances are so outstanding that I would go out and target wahoo exclusively!

As mentioned in the previous weeks, trolling lures and spoons on a downrigger or with a cigar weight will catch fish and allow you to cover more area. Though with the conditions that we have experienced, a soon to be full moon and the right live bait present, I would try slow trolling or drifting for wahoo. Fish should be available from 80-300 feet of water. Try around the dirty water that creates a bloom outside of any inlet. Work your baits inside and out of the color change which should be prominent. Also, any inlet markers should receive a pass that are found outside a hundred feet of water.

Remember, sailfish, dolphin, tuna and kingfish will all be around in the same water so be prepared for anything. With so many boats fishing such a tight area of water depth, be cognoscente of other vessels. Please don’t troll close to a boat drifting and be aware of fishing kites that will be flying on the downwind side of a boat. If you’re fighting a fish and need to come close to another boat, a quick relay over the VHF will be appreciated and a good crew of anglers may be able to move their boat in order for you to capture you fish. Courtesy goes a long way and unfortunately is not always practiced on the water.

Hey, we got to go catch bait for Saturday morning and Jason’s already got the boat running. I’m out of here….

Until next week, enjoy your time on the water,

Mike & Jason

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Wahoo Too! - Posted by Mike Bondurant @ 6:16 pm EST
As the years pass and innovation improves techniques, wahoo have become a species which anglers can pursue with effectiveness. Having mentioned some methods that have proven successful in the past, I thought it would be a good time to go over just a few pieces of tackle that get fish in the box!

First and foremost is the size of the gear you intend on using. For live-baiting, one can get away with thirty pound test gear but trolling, especially high-speed, requires heavier terminal tackle and certain combinations of lures and leads.

High-speed trolling means that the boat is moving at somewhere between 9 and 18 knots. This sort of speed may be considered stressful on tackle but add Mr. Wahoo traveling in the opposite direction at 30 MPH and you better check the drag. For starters, 50-80 pound gear is almost a must along with 24, 32 or 50 ounces of lead. All lead weight should be cigar-like in shape and cable wire through the core is the best idea. Many an angler in the Bahamas has received back only a partial cigar weight after the force of a wahoo strike at 15 + knots. Add 30 feet of 300 pound mono for shock cord (ball-bearing swivel at both ends), your favorite lure and a little luck to get going.

Lure combinations are a matter of preference. Islander or bullet lureheads with a skirt is what many seasoned boats will pull. However, that depends on the speed you intend to fish. Different swimming lures manufactured by Mann’s and Moldcraft have been and will continue to get terrific results. Also the use of a planner (No. 48) or a downrigger brings results. I like to use a Z Wing on the downrigger and re-spool it with braided line v. the standard cable. It seems to reduce the humming noise that accompanies the cable.

According to Jon Brown at LMR Bait & Tackle in Ft. Lauderdale, when pulling lures as described above pay attention to color and combination of lures. This should include the depth and speed of the lures. “Lure color can change with the tide, so remember your colors. Classic colors of red/black and purple/black have always worked well but orange or blue/white take fish too. Hookset is equally important; double (two hooks) down and sharp will allow the lure to run straight and act as a keel.”

Jon also mentioned that it is imperative to have spare everything. Extra lure heads, lead weights, skirts and hooks will all be necessary when chasing wahoo. “Most of our customers will contact us with a request to outfit the boat for wahoo fishing. We provide everything rigged and ready to fish along with a box of extras. That way people don’t run out when the fishing gets hot.”

With the full moon coming in about two weeks it’s interesting to start hearing the reports. Chub Cay in the Bahamas had a good bite about a week ago and Bimini should start going off soon. Again, your best bet for information is to contact a tackle store near the area(s) you expect to fish. A good shop will be happy to provide some tackle information along with local knowledge about methods. Make ‘em earn your business but realize its still fishing and things change from day to day on the water. Ask a ‘few’ well thought out questions then listen. The last thing the guy in the South Florida tackle shop wants to hear is how you do it at home in New Jersey; it’s different here so just listen!

Enjoy the water,

Mike & Jason

To contact Jon at LMR in Ft Lauderdale call 800-780-0747 or on the Web at www.LMRTackle.com

Thursday, October 23, 2003

Who do Wahoo? You do. - Posted by Mike Bondurant @ 5:33 pm EST
When the spool on your Shimano TLD 50 Two Speed begins to go in reverse at somewhere between 4000 – 4500 RPMs you know what you got? Wahoo! In the upcoming months, South Florida anglers will have the opportunity to match up against one of the speediest gamefish of all. You’ll need stout tackle, a little know how, some luck and a filet knife with a bit of backbone.

Wahoo tends to be the one species which seems elusive for many anglers. More wahoo would be caught but light tackle and minimal preparation keeps success at a distance. Anyone that fishes for kingfish along the coast has probably experienced the event which I first described. However, all on board begin to hypothesis about what it was rather than, why it was what it was.

What does all this mean you ask? Start by asking yourself and your fishing buddies a few questions. What bait where we using (if you are using more than one type)? Was it a deep, mid-range or surface bait? Was it an all mono leader (got cut off) or did it have a wire trace? How deep is the bottom? Are we over any structure? What’s the moon phase? Are we near an inlet and is the tide going out? All these questions and more will make you a better fisherman and probably lead to a wahoo or two.

Why? Because almost any question related to fishing has been answered. Unfortunately, answered and proven are two different things all together. Bait is a simple one for most to answer (only a twelve pack can stunt a short term memory that bad). Depth is a very important question and can be controlled simply by staggering the baits through different ranges but always using the same rod, at the same depth and in the same rod holder. Over time this will help to control tangled lines and missed fish. A mono leader cut very clean (little or no abrasion) may be an indication of a missed wahoo strike. Sharks and barracuda tend to eat baits rather than strike and may leave 4-8 inches of nicks and abrasions. I noticed that wahoo tend to stay in clean water and prefer depths of 250 – 500 feet along the South Florida coast. This is not a hard & fast rule but only on days with a strong northwest wind will I get kingfish strikes deeper than 150’. A full or near full moon seems to work best and an outgoing tide around an inlet seems to increase your chances.

There are many different fishing methods that have proven deadly for capturing this prized speedster. I enjoy live baiting along South Florida but I know people who have had success with dead bait and artificials. If you’re trolling make sure to get your bait beellloooowww the surface. In many years of fishing I can remember only one day where we took fish on the surface but all of these fish where small. Downriggers, planners and cigar-weights can get your bait into the action. At that point almost any offering will lead to strikes, though some may out produce.

Next week I’ll give you some tips on bait selection, some tackle tips and sea states that might improve your catch. As we head into a new moon, time is on your side. Check your tackle; thirty pound test gear should be the minimum and the guys that catch ‘em for money use special rods and 80 class reels. Also give your local marina a phone call or stop by in person. The guy at the fuel dock sees almost every significant catch. A few minutes of dock talk and a fresh filet after a successful trip will give you an ally on the dock seven days a week. I always try to hook-up my boys at the Lauderdale Marina if we caught more than we can eat fresh.

Enjoy your time on the water,

Mike & Jason

Thursday, October 16, 2003

Fall Migration, Final Chapter - Posted by Mike Bondurant @ 6:32 pm EST
If an early morning ride down the beach does not get your heart pumping you must be in a hearse limousine. In the car and on a boat will provide one with an opportunity to see the natural spectacular which is the fall mullet migration.

According to Josh Brown, a local inshore guide; “October through March is the prime time to catch tarpon, however now is the time to catch fish from thirty to over a hundred pounds along the beach”.

Josh should know; he has been successfully guiding clients to big fish during the last several years. He employs several tactics that have proven successful from live baits to artificials, which can be important when bait becomes elusive.

Current conditions allow for a baitwell black with bait and a good bait pump should keep ‘em kickin’ all day or night. A few practice casts with the net will prepare you for mullet season but I’ve thrown my share of ‘tacos’ in the past and still found a bait reward. Remember to check the size of your castnet in certain local waters. Broward County has a maximum net size of 7 feet, which is much smaller than Palm Beach and Dade counties.

Other important factors to success include tides and moon phases. Josh likes to fish either tide but says it’s important to have the water moving. Certain areas will hold feeding fish during different tides and locating these fish and presenting the proper bait simply takes time and experience. “Inshore and coastal fishing in South Florida can be tough,” explains Josh. “But using a guide will give you a jump start to general locations and methods”. Josh also does not care for the full moon because fish have the tendency to feed all night.

Whether fishing from the beach, a bridge or your boat, the fall migration of mullet is a special treat that we are afforded each year at about this time. An excellent chance to include the entire family, mark you calendar for that early morning or late afternoon when the tides and moon are in-line. Finally, if you really want a “Jump Start” on a particular fishing method or style, contact a local guide. He will be able to put you on fish and add to your mental tackle box.

Enjoy every day on the water,

Mike & Jason

To charter an excellent guide, call Josh Brown 954-525-2592 local, outside the area 800-780-0747.