    
Capt. Jim Barlett (Beast_charters)
New member
Username: Beast_charters
Post Number: 23
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:23 pm: | |
Is the fishing good here in South Florida? You be the judge! Mother Nature lowers the boom on us here and almost turns us from Capt. Heroes to Capt. Zeroes.
Yesterday I took out a father and son for an attempt at their first Sailfish catch. The day started off on the wrong side of the bed when I was awakened by my wife's shriek "Oh my God, I overslept!" The truth of it was that she had overslept by 1 hour but I was only 15 minutes behind. I hustled and regained those minutes and everything was on an even keel again as I headed for the dock. As I was loading the boat I realized I left my thermos of coffee sitting on the Harley in the garage. CRAP! Being a major coffee drinker I wondered, do I have time to make it home and back? Not wanting to risk it I waited for Mark and Ben. Well they arrived 30 minutes late, so I would've had plenty of time to make the coffee run but didn't want to chance it. I cast off the lines and pumped them full of adrenalin with the coming day. Conditions were so-so. Winds were huffing at around 15-20 knots out of the SE and they were calling for 4-6' seas laying back in the afternoon to 2-4'. It has been blowing hard for about 5 days out of the East.
The run down the Bay was uneventful and smooth. We rounded the headpin at Caesars Creek and headed South towards Key Largo on the ocean side. "Doesn't look too bad" I said as we're cruising the short 5 miles to my favorite bait patch. As we pulled out of Hawks Channel and into the shallower patches, the water stood higher and higher. We were looking at 4-6' water and the patch is only in 15' of water. I put out a block of chum and began cutting the bait. We waited, and waited, the water looked like creamed pea soup and the bait is not showing up for the party. I called Jerry on the "Palowan" who was down at the other end of the patch and he said he had been there an hour and no signs of bait. "Palowan" pulled anchor and headed for the "bent stake" patch. I couldn't believe the Ballyhoo were not showing on my end where I have been crushing them time and time again. I heard Jerry telling someone in Ocean Reef that he was seeing a few baits at bent stake but not coming close enough to even try to catch. I decided to try it to the north, because I noticed running down that the water got rougher the farther South I ran. I ran up towards Pacific to another patch I use in these cases. We waited and waited and then as I added the next 7# block of chum we saw one or two Ballyhoo. What in the world is going on? I took a chance and pulled up to run right to Pacific light where I had seen 'hoo by the thousands running home from a night of Swordfishing not too long ago. There was some cleaner water in that area and I saw them darting from the boat as we were slowly running. I found a spot and this time I anchored right there. The occasional glimpse of bally's and 1 in the livewell. Not Good. Now I am telling them I have 1 more block of chum and here it goes. The morning was almost gone. "If we don't get bait, you get a free boat ride" I told them. This has NEVER happened to me before. Tough yes, but none, no!! I pulled anchor and hunted the 'hoo down again in about 18' of water and dropped the anchor for my final attempt. About 15 minutes later the seas started to lay back, the water cleared some more, and we started seeing some Chubs, then some juvenile Yellowtail, and then more and more 'Hoo started to show. They still won't eat. What did I do to deserve this? BAM, like someone threw a switch, they turned on to feed mode and we were catching them on every cast. I even got them in close enough for a throw of the net and got 18 in the net so we had close to 4 dozen and it was 12:30. I wiped my brow and was thankful for the deodorant because I was sweating bullets.
Let's get out there, quick. We busted out the short 1/2 mile to the deeper water in 135' and started to setup. I was attempting to bait the 4th line when the right rigger went off. Ben (the kid) took the rod and I saw it starting to bend and then go slack. "Take this one!" I said as the flat line tripped off. Once again, no hookup. Well at least we were fishing and not looking for bait. I hung there for about another 1/2 hour when I heard "Palowan" (Jerry) telling someone he didn't start fishing until about 12:30 and already had 2 releases. We decided to make the 15 minute run south to the "53" and try and cash in on some action ourselves. Four boats were there working a beautiful rip in 130'. All the bites were in 135-140'. I wonder why, not! All we could do is watch as they caught a few more, so I decided to pull out the downrigger. I kept waiting my turn in the group, politely, jockeying for position in the rip. There it is and I made my move. Bam zoom! The downrigger misses a strike and then quickly after resetting it produces a "snake" King of about 8 lbs. I put on a HORSE ballyhoo, dropping the bait 50' below the surface. About 30 seconds go by and KAPOW, the reel is smokin'. Ben on this one again and it is beating him up. Look! A Sailfish is chasing a free bait 50' from the boat. I pitched a bait to him as he was disappearing but it was too late. Maybe not. I yelled to Mark to grab the flat line on the other side because it tripped and line was paying out. He flipped the bail and we are hooked up on each side of the boat. Ben worked his fish to the boat and I gaffed his tired King Mackerel that weighed in at 34.9 lb. Now I have Mark on a fish and it is dogging him deep. Quick Ben, grab the rigger and get him. Now I have Mark and Ben hooked up and with that thought both fish take to the sky. Double header Sailfish is what I'm talkin' 'bout. We landed both fish and the guys each have their first Sailfish under their belts. Missing 2 more Sails when Ben got another attempt which he calls a 1/2 catch because the leader parted 50' from the tip. Done Deal!
We fished late because I wanted to make up for the late start and crappy bait conditions and mostly because the bite was on! The sun was setting as we pulled lines and headed for home. We raised 7 Sails with 2 releases, 2 Kingfish and a few peanut Dolphin. Mark was extremely happy. He loved The BEAST (compliments to WorldCat) and said it was a pleasure to fish with me. He made that point clear when he gave me a very generous tip for my determination and 100% effort. Another satisfied customer of Beast Fishing Charters.
Capt. Jim
305-233-9996
www.beastcharters.com
beastcharters@aol.com |
