Holy Mola
Capt. David Ide
April 3, 2008
Fort Lauderdale - Saltwater Fishing Report
Holy Mola!
Spring is here and in full effect. These past two weeks of March fishing in Fort Lauderdale have been unbelievable, literally. Along with soaring Sailfish and schools of Mahi-Mahi, we caught two very rare fish offshore, a 400 lb. Mola Mola (known as a Sunfish to locals) and a huge Blue Marlin.
Right now is prime time for wreck fishing. It has been red hot with trophy size Golden Amberjacks, Cobias, Groupers and Barracudas. A Bomber size Bonito and an 80 Shimano Tiagra is all that's necessary.
Cobias are getting pretty comfortable here in Fort Lauderdale, we've seen several along the beach hanging out with the rays. Monday morning a couple from Michigan took home a few fresh filets of Cobia along with a great smoked fish dip recipe.
The Sailfish bite is still thick and should be going off until the end of April. Flying those kites high in 120-180 feet of water with live goggs totally turns them on.
Ellen and her two kids from Texas sure picked the right afternoon to go deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale. We ran to about 350 feet of water off of Fort Lauderdale, put three bloody king fish heads out, one on the bottom, one in the middle, and one on the top. Two hours later, we got a bite on the middle bait, and the fish fell off. We switched to Plan B and put out all fresh bait. Within ten minutes, the bottom bait bent over, hard. Ellen's son Christian hopped right into the fighting chair and batteled this monster for over an hour, not knowing what he was in for. I quickly came off the bridge to wire this large animal. I got a hold of the liter, not knowing what I was in for. With the way it was fighting, my mate Jeff and I had no idea what it could've been. All of a sudden a silhouette appears behind the boat, looking sort of like a big disk. We couldn't believe we caught a Mola Mola, and either could Christian. We've heard of only one other Mola Mola being caught about 20 years ago. It was honestly one of the coolest fish I've ever caught and seen up close and personal.
FACT: The ocean sunfish, or Mola Mola, is the heaviest bony fish in the world. The species is native to tropical and temperate waters around the globe. It resembles a fish head without a tail, and its main body is flattened laterally. Sunfish can be as tall as they are long, when their dorsal and anal fins are extended. Sunfish live on a diet that consists mainly of jellyfish. As this diet is nutritionally poor, they consume large amounts in order to develop and maintain their great bulk.
March 21, 2008
Friday afternoon conditions were perfect for kite fishing. We ran just a few miles north and popped up two kites with live goggs in 150 feet of water. The wind was blowing from the east on a nice bluewater edge. Within two hours of patiently waiting for a bite, we got ourselves in on some real action. The left short came tight, and the fish ran away from the boat. Captain Paul backed down hard and fast. Captain David grabbed the liter. The fish jumped 10 feet and we couldn't believe our eyes, it was a Blue Marlin. Two and half hours at war with this pelagic species and many grabs at the liter, the fish ran into shallow water across the Port Everglades chanel. The Port Pilot boat tried to run our line over once and didn't get it. He came around the boat again and ran within 100 feet of the transom and cut our line. However, when you touch the liter it still counts as a release. It was truly an experience of a lifetime and a rare occasion of of Fort Lauderdale.
Tight Lines,
Captain David Ide
Fort Lauderdale Fishing Forecast:
Sailfish bite should keep up until the end of April. Mahi-Mahi are starting to come through thick. Game Sharks are moving through and will put up a great offshore challenge for the next few months.
Target Species:
Dolphin, wahoo, sharks, snapper, grouper, sailfish, swordfish
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