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Miami, Florida - Offshore
Capt. Mark Houghtaling
March 27, 2001
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
One week before the Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament and the
it seems the Sailfish are taking a nap. This could be good, because the
Tournament is being held April 5th through the 8th, which is a few days
before the full moon, and we want them well rested. Sailfishing should be red
hot for the event. However, this past week, Sailfishing was nothing to write
home about. A lack of current can be partly to blame. Anglers had a tough
time finding fish. In fact, fishing in general has been slow. Dolphin were
hard to come by. An occasional school would be found along the edge while
anglers were fishing for Sails but no consistent action yet. I say yet because
any day now Dolphin should start showing up in larger numbers and larger
sizes. The first announcement of steady action will come from the south out
of the Florida keys but that hasn’t happened yet. This week anglers found
huge mats of weed offshore from 300 to 600 feet with few Dolphin around.
If those weeds were present four weeks from now they would have been
loaded with Dolphin.
Bottom fishing has been fair. Best action was found in deeper water fishing
for Mutton Snapper from 100ft out to 200 feet of water. My anglers aboard
the “Magic Fingers” found two big fish this past week while fishing the
deeper wrecks. One fish was fifteen pounds and the other about twelve
pounds. They struck live Pilchards fished on the bottom. We read large
amounts of fish on the fish finder on almost all the wrecks and ledges, but
there was a lack of action. The Amberjack and Muttons were hitting but little
else.
Fisherman found an occasional Cobia on the wrecks and reported sightings
of schools of Cobia following Leatherback turtles. This can be a common
event this time of the year. Many anglers will hook a Cobia while fishing on
top of a wreck and be surprised when an entire school of Cobia will follow
the fish to the boat. Many anglers will mistake a Cobia for a Shark but don’t
be fooled. They make excellent table fare.
SHALLOW WATER FISHING EXPO
The Shallow Water Fishing Expo will be held this year on Saturday March
31, and Sunday April 1, at the Broward County Convention Center at 1950
Eisenhower Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale. This Expo will host a number of shallow
water experts, giving continuous seminars on techniques and tips on flats
fishing. There will be three full length casting ponds as well as over 150
vendors demonstrating their products relating to shallow water fishing. You
can receive a 32 page color program describing the events and highlights of
the show by calling 561-562-5069. Check out their web site which will also
list the menu of events at www.castlow.com Admission is $10.00 for adults
and kids 14 and under are free. Show hours are Saturday 9-5 and Sunday
10-5.
The 2001 Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament will be held from
April 5th to April 8th. Thursday, April 5th, will be the final registration and
kick-off party. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be fishing with dockside
parties each afternoon. Join the “Hooters” girls and sample chicken wings
during the weigh-in on Friday. For more information call 305-598-2525 or
log-on at www.miamibillfish.com .
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