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Miami, Florida - Offshore
Capt. Mark Houghtaling
June 6, 2004
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
Considering the time of year, dolphin action has been just OK. Nothing to write home about, but Ill write about it here. This weekend, during the Kiwanis Club Tournament, held out of the OC’s Raw Bar, not many fish were weighed in. However the fish that did hit the scales was very impressive. A 59 lb. bull, a 45 pound and a 40 pound fish led the pack. A few fish in the 20 pound range and the rest were small schoolies. That’s the problem….there have been no schoolies. This time of year we should be swimming in small school size dolphin but they’re just not here yet. I spoke with one angler and he said they had plenty of schoolies off Tennessee light south of Islamorada. They will eventually make it up here; we’ll just have to wait.
During the last full moon the bottom bite was decent. On the “Magic Fingers” during one outing we caught two muttons, a 20 lb black grouper, a 25 lb African Pompano, and a 50 lb Amberjack. We lost quite a few other fish in the bottom. We then ran offshore and found nothing. There have been reports of Permit being caught on some of the shallow wrecks during the last moon. This will probably be the last time we see them on the wrecks before they head inshore.
Night time fishing for swordfish is excellent. Weather conditions are perfect for drifting for the fish. Most fish have been small in the 60 pound class but a great fight none-the-less. Look for great nighttime reef fishing for mangrove snapper and yellowtail. The drop off in 60 to 80 feet of water off Elliot Key and North Key Largo will be your best bet.
Just a note….The “Magic Fingers” has been sold and will be leaving the driveway June 23rd. Not to worry though… a new one is on the way, and I should be back in business in September with a new 31 ft Contender. In the meantime, I have built up an awesome 16 foot flats boat and I will now be a bi angler (going both ways, inshore & offshore). I started my guiding career on the flats…this should be fun. Stay hooked!
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