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Upper Florida Keys & Islamorada
Capt. Izzy Donatiello
August 29, 2001
Islamorada - Saltwater Fishing Report
This week, 9/12, is why I fish in the keys. On Monday, I fished Andy Harman from the UK. He wanted to catch a Tarpon. We began the trip at 4:30 in the afternoon. We had a lot of action with rays, sharks cuda and big no-see-ems, but no silver guys. It was looking like Andy was not going to get a Tarpon. At about 9pm, Andy had a bite that felt different. It changed the bait, and 15 min. later his rod was bent over and a Tarpon was dancing on the line. 20 min. later a 80+ pounder was along side the boat.
On Friday the 17, I had john Baker and his son out for some Dorado fishing. We ran out 20 miles found some weed and trolled up a schoolie. The radio indicated that there was no activity further out so I headed back inshore. At 16 miles, I found a nice weedline. Trolling along it, we picked away on some fish. When we passed a beach ball; three lines went off. As we were fighting the fish; a school of fish followed them to the boat. The school stay around for almost a half hour before disappearing. We again trolled inshore at another weed line; we hooked up some more fish. All and all we came in with a nice catch of fish. No big ones but nice schoolies.
On Sunday, the 19th. I had John Goble and Bob Acheson out to try for some Dorado. We run out almost 20 miles before we saw any live at all. I trolled around some humps and picked away at some nice Blackfin tuna. They were eating small feathers and tubes. We had about a dozen and I moved further off in hopes of finding some Dorado. At 25 miles, there were birds hitting the water; a pass by them produced a Skipjack tuna. On our second pass, a large fish hit the right outrigger line and then the long center one. I seen it was a billfish, and waited for it to jump; but nothing. I backed down on the fish it came up and John indicated it was a Spearfish. Tension increased, as John began yelling he "wanted that fish." I wheeled the boat around and ran up on it. Finally, a beautiful Spearfish laid alone side the boat. I billed the fish and took it on broad for a quick picture and released it. I didn't know that John had already caught a Sailfish, White and Blue Marlin. This fish made four species of billfish he had caught. Quite an accomplishment.
In seven days, I was able to put my people on the most prized inshore fish a big TARPON and very unusual offshore species a SPEARFISH. I beats the 90 mile runs I had to made while fishing in New Jersey. And I slept in my own bed each night; people from up north know what I mean.
Izzy
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