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Fishing Report for Northern Miami-Dade County
Capt. Dave Kostyo
March 25, 2003
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
Ted Sweeney, Jr. from Grosse Point Farms, MI was visiting his long time friend Scott Strawbridge in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. A fishing trip was in their schedule. They opted for an afternoon/evening trip so that they could fish both the offshore and inshore waters.
At 1:00 pm, we pulled out of Spinnaker Marina and headed to Government Cut to catch bait. Pilchards were scarce, however, herring were very cooperative. We headed to an area just south of the Cuban Hole in 180'. A strong north wind and strong north current had the seas kicked up to 4-6 feet with 6-8 foot swells as soon as we crossed the blue/green edge. Inside the edge, the seas were 3-5 feet. Within 5 minutes of putting out the first bait, Ted was hooked to an 8 pound dolphin. Scott looked over the side and saw a 10# bull dolphin swim up to the boat. He quickly reeled in his bait and hooked up this dolphin. We put Ted's fish in the boat and immediately saw another 8# dolphin swim up to the boat and Ted was hooked up again. Both of those fish made it to the fishbox and a dolphin fillet dinner was the discussion.
A run back south and the baits were put out in 200'. When the drift reached 125', Scott hooked up to a sailfish on a 12# spinning outfit. After numerous jumps and dumping about 80% of the line off the reel, the fish threw the hook with one last jump. Back out to 200', set out new baits, and this time Ted hooked a sailfish on a 20# outfit. We released the fish and once again set up in 200'. This time the strike took place in 150'. Scott hooked a dolphin and while we were putting it in the fishbox, Ted hooked and was fighting his second sailfish. While I was leadering the fish at boat side, it made about 8 jumps on the leader. One was directly at me. I jumped back just in time to feel only the tip of its bill touch my shirt about chest high. This fish definitely wanted no part of my pulling on him with the leader. We took several pictures in the water after it settled down and then sent it on its way. The last drift before going in to tarpon fish had Scott hooked up to a very hard pulling fish that fought like a bonito. The hook pulled near the boat before we could definitely be sure.
We ran in to Government Cut and set up a drift with 2 lines out. About half way through the drift, Scott hooked a tarpon that we caught and released. Next it was Ted's turn. A few drifts after it got dark, we had another strike and the fish threw the hook on its first jump. The last drift of the evening had Scott hooked up and the fish headed straight for Fisher Island. We got lots of good pictures of the 90# tarpon at boat side before releasing it. We all breathed a sigh of relief that the fish chose not to go to the deep water of the main ship channel.
To sum up the great afternoon/evening of fishing, Ted caught 2 dolphin, 2 sailfish, and missed a tarpon. Scott caught 2 dolphin, 2 tarpon, and missed a sailfish and bonito (?). The two friends are already planning another trip next time Ted makes it down to Ft. Lauderdale.
Captain Dave
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