Port Canaveral Offshore 07-03-11
Capt. Henry Hauch
July 4, 2011
Port Canaveral - Saltwater Fishing Report
With a motor glitch on the ride in the day before, I was able to fix the problem, but not till first thing in Sunday morning. As such we made a late start, at 8:00 am from Port Canaveral. With the problem fixed, and the boat running better than ever, we blasted out. First stop was at 8A for a quick pass dragging lines. With no boats there it was simply an oppurtunistic try. With no action, out deeper we went. This was not a trolling trip, but a Weather Buoy trip, where we pull lines from 120' to the 20 mile buoy and around the area a few hours, then head in to anchor up and reef fish.
We found Fliers at 120' like the day before, and set lines out. Many boats were in the area, so we worked the perimeter. after a half hour, drag peeled, for the first fish was on. A nice ariel display, and slowly working it in, a solo Bull. With no followers, we boated it, and re-deployed the line.
Another half hour or so, same area, another nice Mahi took the line. Again, same procedure, slow retrivel, with other lines adjusted around it hoping to get a second, but another solo fish. In the boat and back to fishing we went.
Another period of time went by with no action, so we worked towards the weather buoy. A very well pronounced north to south running rip was found with a hundred yard wide highway of glassy water, and weeds stacked nicely on the west edge. As we neared it, one line got hit, but not big fish. It was a fish however, and in it came. This was a Shark, and once in the boat the
angler got to hold one for the first time, despite having caught them before.
Into the Fish Highway" we went. A little quite a first, with several boats in the same area. First hit was apparently a Mahi from the look of it comming across the spread, but no hookup. We worked a circle around the area, and had a Sailfish bat at the bait, killing the ballyhoo, but never hooking up. Again
we continued to circle the area and this time our deep line was hit and run with, without a hookup. The site was real "Fishy", but we did not have anything to show for it. Finally with the deep naked ballyhoo redeployed, we passed the area again and it was Wahoo on. The angler who boated this fish was on the
rod each of the previous misses, so this was a good redemption! Only one more fish, a Cuda was caught here.
We had a rain shower bearing down on us, and had to decide to head north or south, and keep trolling, or hit the reef. Since this was not really a trolling trip, and each of the three guest had boated a nice fish, to the reef we went. The action
has been much the same on the reef's when hitting the bottom. Sea Bass everywhere. They caught several nice fat Black Sea Bass for the icebox, and likely a hundred that were too short. With several fish to clean we pulled anchor, made a few more drifts, and headed in. Typically from 8A to Port Canaveral we cross the
shoals with 6' or more of water. This trip we saw 2.5' at one point!
On a serious note, but with a happy ending. While at 8A fishing, a fishing boat, one that we had seen earlier called into the coast guard that it had found a cooler and floating debris from what appeared to have been a boat. Another call shortly later
from them stated that 3 people were taken onboard, safely, that were on this boat. It was aparently a 19' boat that had a major transom failure, and obviously not enough built in floatation. Having never heard a distress call it makes me question if they
had a VHF onboard. They told the Coast Guard that the had been in the water about 2 hours before the fishermen picked them up. It may have been a happy ending, but certainly stresses the need for safety gear. I always have an "Overboard Bag" with me when I go out, even if on someone elses boat. It has a portable, waterproof VHF, and GPS locator Beacon, drink and snacks. Its in a floating bag also. Such a kit on thisboat could have kept them from floating 2 hours in the water, wondering if someone
was going to find them. For less than the cost of gas they spent for the trip, they could have had that. In the end they were foritionate that a lot of boats were out, and ran across their debris field. This may have been a happy ending, but a little precaution could prevent what often ends in tragedy.
Captain Henry
ACME Ventures Fishing
321-794-7955
www.ACME-Ventures-Fishing.com
602 Glen Cheek Dr., Cae Canaveral
"Wile E Coyote"
Deep Sea Fishing Port Canaveral
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