 |
Miami - Haulover to Fowey Light
Capt. Dean Panos
February 25, 2002
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
2/25/02
Fishing last week was a bit on the slow side. Even though we caught sailfish every day last week, with the exception of one day, we didn’t get many shots at them during each day. Dolphin fishing was good one day and off the next. Kingfish have been biting better and should continue to improve.
All that turned around on Sunday as the cold front went through. We caught 3 out of 6 sailfish, a few decent size dolphin and quite a few bonitas. The conditions improved on Sunday with bluish water moving in to the top of the reef. The edge, although not deep blue, was sitting in around 110 ft off of Key Biscayne. As you went north, and as the day went on, the edge moved out.
We put the first kite bait in the water and were setting out the second bait, when a sailfish showed up and devoured the first bait. As we scrambled to go after the sailfish, the second bait got nervous and a second sailfish charged that bait, but failed to eat it. Perhaps the boat moving towards the bait as we were chasing the first fish may have spooked the second one. As the day progressed we ended up catching 3 out of 6 sailfish, and I saw at least 5 other sailfish either tailing down sea or coming up to the kite baits, but not eating.
One thing worth mentioning is the use of circle hooks and sailfish. Since early November and since almost every major billfish tournament in South Florida is requiring the mandatory use of circle hooks, I have switched over to exclusive use of circle hooks while sailfishing. Not only has my hook up ratio gone up, but also the sailfish are released in better condition and are more active during the fight.
Last Friday, we were fishing almost exclusively for food fish, mainly kingfish. Staying a bit shallower, using wire tracers and standard J-hooks, we caught some kingfish but also caught a sailfish. As in the years past while fishing with J-hooks, the sailfish was gut hooked and was bleeding slightly when boat side. What impressed me the most was how much less the sailfish fought and how many fewer jumps we got out of him, when compared to sailfish caught on circle hooks. The circle hooks I use are Eagle Claw 2004 EL. Give them a try. If fished properly (no hook setting with circle hooks) your hook up ratio should not suffer and may actually improve, but the sailfish will be much more active during the fight, and will be released in great condition. The intent of the circle hook is to slide across soft tissue such as their stomachs and the top of the mouth cavity, and instead find a bony structure, like the corner of their mouth, and latch into that. Sailfish are a great fish on light tackle and we should do everything possible to allow for a healthier release.
Tight Lines
Capt. Dean Panos
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
