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Miami - Haulover to Fowey Light
Capt. Dean Panos
December 18, 2002
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
Double D Charters
12/16/02
Fishing on the edge has been productive. Again, same as last week, as long as you were in the right area. The dolphin fishing on the edge, between 300 and 100 foot of water has been very good. The dolphin have not been that big, mostly between 5 to 15 pounds, but they have been abundant. The bigger dolphin have been eating the gogs on the kite baits pretty well and the smaller fish on the flatlines with pilchards.
Sailfishing has been OK below Fowey Light. The edge has been a bit deep, but there have been a few sails caught on the deeper side of that edge. On Sunday, reports from Ocean Reef and Pacific Reef, indicated the edge was pushing in to about 130 ft., and that a sailfish bite was going on. Hopefully with that North current, it will push that blue water to us. This is typically the time of year that we experience a really good sailfish bite straight out of Miami. We will keep you posted on that as we have a few trips this week.
Finally, I was able to get a few swordfish trips done. We fished Thursday night and Saturday night. On Thursday night we reached the swordfish grounds. It had been a few weeks since my last sword trip and I was anxious to get fishing. As I was setting out my first bait, I started rigging my next bait, when the first rod just started ripping off line. It was in freespool since we were just letting it out, and my angler got to the rod, pushed it to strike and we had a nice fish on. After about 40 minutes we caught a 110 pound swordfish.
Saturday, during the day, it didn’t seem rough, as I was fishing all day, but once we got way into the Gulfstream, it was at least 6 – 8 foot. We fished for over 5 hours without a bite. Then at 11:00, the squid bait got nailed, and after 35 minutes we had a 70 pounder next to the boat. A few pictures later, we released that fish. What I didn’t mention, that while we were fighting the first fish, I still kept 2 rods out. Trying to spin the boat around in 8 foot seas is tricky, and I guess I didn’t pay enough attention to the other line. I ended breaking one of the other lines off on the prop, while we were fighting the 1st fish. After we released that 1st fish, I tilted up the motor, and the line was just around the prop. No big deal, I grabbed my long gaff, pulled in the line, and started pulling in my bait. I didn’t want all that line in the water, nor lose my Electra Lume light. After a few seconds, I told one of my anglers (happens to be a Captain in Venezuela), let just tie the line back on the rod, and reel in the line, instead of handlining it in. As he is tying the knot, I started getting a hit. He hurries up with the knot, the angler grabs the rod, and we have another swordfish on. Thirty minutes later and after a few pictures, we release another swordfish. Not exactly IGFA legal, but still another swordfish caught. We are heading out again tonight, so we’ll let you know what happens on the next report.
UPDATE 12/18/02
Swordfishing remains real strong. We went 2 –4 one night, and 2 – 5 last night. Last night we caught one at 80 pounds and a spunky 110 pounder that took 1 hour and 40 minutes to land. We lost one fish, no lie, over 300 pounds. It grabbed the deep bait as I was setting it down. Drag was smoking, so I put it up to full. With 20 pounds on the drag, she pulled line like butter. The reel (80 Wide International) was vibrating from the pull. I could hardly get the rod out of the holder, which I had to do, since the fish decided to go under the sea anchor. After we cleared that, the fish jumped twice. By the size of the fish against the moon, and by the hole it left in the water, it would not surprise me if the fish was over 400 pounds. Things then settled down, the angler was in the harness, we backed off on the drag, and after 30 minutes or so, the big fish won, as the hooks simply pulled. I guess that is what has us coming back. This time we will catch her. Going again the next few nights, so more updates.
Happy and Safe Holidays to All,
Capt. Dean Panos
(954)805-8231
P.S. Don’t forget, we have gift certificates for charters available for that someone special during the Holidays.
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