 |
Miami, Florida - Offshore
Capt. Mark Houghtaling
September 19, 2000
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
A surprising number of Dolphin are still available offshore. Anglers hunting for floating debris are finding school size Dolphin under boards and the occasional bird. Petral birds are few and far between this time of the year. However, there have been plenty of Frigate birds around to help you locate the action. The Dolphin have been found from 400 to 1200 feet of water. The Frigate birds have not only been on top of Dolphin, they have been attacking schools of Sardines moving down our coast this time of the year. Along with the birds are schools of Sailfish that have been “balling” the bait and attacking them in a frenzy. If you happen to seen a flock of Frigate birds above the water, they are probably hovering over a school of Sardines waiting for them to come to the surface. When they do finally break the water, there just may be a school of Sails or Arctic Bonita attacking them. You can move very close to school without disturbing them. They are preoccupied with their feeding frenzy to be bothered by any boats. In fact, we had a school of Sardines along with four Sailfish under our boat that gave us the most unbelievable sight of our lives. The Sails would rush through the school of bait grabbing whatever bait they could, and then retreat to the outside of the school. A shower of fish scales would sparkle around the school from the attack of the Sailfish. A live Pilchard or Sardine tossed into this mess resulted in an instant hook-up. If you didn’t hook a Sail, you would hook a Bonito. Look for this action in the same depths as the Dolphin. I have only heard this action off the Miami area. There are still occasional Kingfish being caught off the Government Cut area. Early mornings have been best. There have also been a few Mutton Snapper and Yellowtail when the current is good along the edge. Large schools of Pilchards are inside of Biscayne Bay. While leaving Matheson Hammock Park and Marina we saw many schools of Pilchards in-between the Park and Stiltsville. We could have overfilled our baitwells.
NOTE: Don’t park in the boat trailer parking lot of Matheson Hammock unless you have a trailer hooked to your car. My clients received a parking ticket when they parked out in the middle of the lot with only the front line of parking filled up. They have one small sign stating “parking for vehicles with trailers only,” standing on the outside of the parking lot. You can park in the overflow lot adjacent to the boat trailer lot. Dade County follows the letter of the law, common sense is not an option.
“Ladies Let’s Go Fishing” announces a seminar extravaganza in Islamorada, Fl. Keys. This award-winning saltwater fishing seminar series for women, hosted by Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and presented by Mercury Outboards, will be held on September 23and the 24th. The weekend event offers a Friday evening welcome party at the Worldwide Sportsman, seminar at the Lorelei on Saturday, and a full day of fishing out of Whale Harbor on Sunday. The two day event teaches women the basic fishing techniques at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The seminar concludes with a fish filet class. Marsha Bierman will be the keynote speaker. For more information call Betty Bauman at 954-475-9068.
The first leg of the Bahamas Wahoo Championship Series will begin on November 7th-11th at the Bimini Big Game Club in the Bahamas. Other events will be held at the Lucayan Marina Village December 5-9, The Walkers Cay Resort January 16-20,and The Abaco Beach Resort February 6-10th. These will be Wahoo only Tournaments. Fish three out of four days. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, in an effort to develop a wintertime fisheries in the Bahamas, invites competitors to enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the Bahamas Out Islands during the winter months. For more information call 305-234-7386
On Thursday nights, from 7pm to 8pm, at the Old Cutler Raw Bar, South Dixie Highway and SW 184 Street, come listen to “Fishing South Florida Style”. This is an hour long live radio show hosted by Mike Pace, Captain Rob Fordyce, Captain Marty Locke, and Captain Mark Houghtaling. Offshore and inshore fishing topics are covered during the live radio broadcast, and you can pick up a few tips from the radio hosts after the show. You can also catch the show on Thunder Country 100.3 FM.
Captain Mark Houghtaling wants to hear from you. Send him your latest catches and pictures to15920 SW 85 Ave. Miami, Fla. 33157, or E-Mail him at [email protected]. Capt Mark also has a charter fishing service ,you can call him at 305-253-1151 or check out his web page at http://www.magicfin.com
For free safe boating and personal watercraft classes call the Coast Guard Auxiliary at 305-820-8411, or the United States Power Squadron at 305-238-4807
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
