05-30-2005, 07:17 PM
YES!! They have finally shown up. I'm talking about dolphin (mahi-mahi). It has taken them a while to get here, but now you can expect to find some when you invest your time and gas to make the run offshore. Once again, as like last year, we are finding them within a reasonable distance offshore. Don't get caught up in the need to run out 20 miles. Most all the fish are in the 7 - 12 mile range. Find some type of structure or working birds and chances are good that you'll find the fish.
In on the reef, it continues to be hit and miss. Go out on a day when there is north current and you'll get your shots. Find no current or south current and it could be a tough day. If you're searching for blackfin tuna, then persistence is the key. Fish the late afternoon up till sunset and you'll get your reward. It could take a trip or two, however, it will happen if you're persistent.
Inshore, the tarpon fishing remains very good. They're feeding on crabs and have been quite reliable about turning on during the dusk period and after dark. Throw in the fact that the BIG fish are around and you've got the combination for a long drawn out battle that could have you pulling them up from the bottom in the deep water of the main channel.
Wednesday (5/25) evening Dennis Duley and his friend David flew into Miami from Upper Marlboro, MD at 5:15 PM. At 7 PM, we pulled away from the dock at Spinnaker Marina to do some tarpon fishing. True to form, when we got in to the late dusk period, Dennis hooked up and the battle started. The fish took the tour of the south side of Government Cut before making its way to the deep water of the main channel. Once in the channel, the fish hugged the bottom as it swam in with the incoming tide. It was a back and forth battle for well over an hour before we released the fish in front of the ferry boat dock on MacArthur Causeway. To say the least, Dennis was tired, exhausted, and extremely impressed with how strong his 120# tarpon was. We made the run back out and put out the lines again. This time it was David's turn, and it didn't take to long. His fish dumped 3/4's of the spool of line on its first run. The fish swam south into the rocky area and we worked hard to get caught up with the fish. Just when we thought we were making progress, the fish would take off on another long run and we started the process of gaining line all over again. The fish finally found a rock pile and wrapped us around it and broke the line.
Saturday (5/28) morning, Jose Sarraga from San Juan, Puerto Rico and his son had dolphin dinner on their minds. At 7 miles out from Haulover, I arrived in the area where friends Larry and Bruce on Lady Lo had found some large turtle grass patches that were holding fish. Nose hooked pilchards that we slow trolled soon had dolphin on our lines and the fun began. We caught 8, kept 6 for dinner, released 2 and had several others throw the hook. With enough dolphin, we ran back in to the reef only to find dirty green water with south current and no fish. We worked 3 different areas from the Cuban Hole north and didn't even have a bait get nervous.
Saturday (5/28) evening, Ed Roy from Michigan took some time off from a business trip/vacation to get in some tarpon fishing. The fish showed us some mercy this evening by sending in their smaller brothers and sisters. Our first fish (80 pounds) was the big fish of the evening. The fish was trying hard to get to the main channel, but Ed worked harder to keep the fish from getting there. We released the fish about 100' before it would have gone over the edge into the deep water. On the next drift, the tarpon jumped almost immediately and threw the hook. The third fish hit just as I started to wind in the bait to set up another drift. This 40 pound fish put on a great jumping show very close to the boat and had us both shouting with excitement. The fourth fish of the evening was a 50 pound fish that put on another wonderful show for us. Final total was 3 for 4 tarpon and one extremely happy angler.
Sunday (5/29) evening, Luis Carmona and his brothers Steven and Jesse were spending some quality time together prior to Steven heading overseas for a year with the Air Force. The tarpon were rolling around all over the area and it would only be a matter of time before the pulling would begin. The first hit came on the first drift. The rod bent over very weakly and as soon as we turned the handle, the hook popped out and the crab was gone. Several drifts later, we watched a big swirl and saw the rod twitch. No hook up and the bait was alive and kicking like crazy. Finally, a tarpon hit in the standard manner and made two huge jumps before starting a slow but steady fight. The south side tour began. Steven soon tired out and Luis took over. He soon tired out and Jesse took his turn. Now the fish made its way to the main channel. It moved offshore with the outgoing tide to just before the second red marker before deciding to head to the north. As each angler got tired, the rod was passed over to the next brother to keep everyone semi fresh. The fish soon tired of the north side and headed back to the main channel. It continued offshore and by the time we released the 100 pound fish, we were almost to the turn in the Government Cut channel and the brothers had taken 4 complete turns on the fish. That was one mean and ornery fish. Sandwiches for everyone and beverage to wash them down and everyone was now ready for round two. On the second drift, the crab that Steven's son Joseph had picked out got hit. This time, Luis started the battle and the fish headed straight south like a freight train. It turned west and we soon found ourselves in the very shallow water of the reef area to the south of Fisher Island. We had the official catch and Jesse now was taking his turn. The 120# fish made a tremendous totally out of the water jump and the threw the hook. It flew straight back at us and luckily it hit no one. Good luck Steven on your overseas assignment and THANKS for helping make our country a safe place to live.
There is still time to get in on the tarpon action so don't miss out on it. The dolphin action is heating up and the fillets are very tasty, so give me a call and lets get out there and do some fishing.
Captain Dave Kostyo
Knot Nancy Fishing Charters
305 620-5896 Charter
305 965-9454 Cell
www.knotnancy.com
nkostyo@bellsouth.net
[signature]
In on the reef, it continues to be hit and miss. Go out on a day when there is north current and you'll get your shots. Find no current or south current and it could be a tough day. If you're searching for blackfin tuna, then persistence is the key. Fish the late afternoon up till sunset and you'll get your reward. It could take a trip or two, however, it will happen if you're persistent.
Inshore, the tarpon fishing remains very good. They're feeding on crabs and have been quite reliable about turning on during the dusk period and after dark. Throw in the fact that the BIG fish are around and you've got the combination for a long drawn out battle that could have you pulling them up from the bottom in the deep water of the main channel.
Wednesday (5/25) evening Dennis Duley and his friend David flew into Miami from Upper Marlboro, MD at 5:15 PM. At 7 PM, we pulled away from the dock at Spinnaker Marina to do some tarpon fishing. True to form, when we got in to the late dusk period, Dennis hooked up and the battle started. The fish took the tour of the south side of Government Cut before making its way to the deep water of the main channel. Once in the channel, the fish hugged the bottom as it swam in with the incoming tide. It was a back and forth battle for well over an hour before we released the fish in front of the ferry boat dock on MacArthur Causeway. To say the least, Dennis was tired, exhausted, and extremely impressed with how strong his 120# tarpon was. We made the run back out and put out the lines again. This time it was David's turn, and it didn't take to long. His fish dumped 3/4's of the spool of line on its first run. The fish swam south into the rocky area and we worked hard to get caught up with the fish. Just when we thought we were making progress, the fish would take off on another long run and we started the process of gaining line all over again. The fish finally found a rock pile and wrapped us around it and broke the line.
Saturday (5/28) morning, Jose Sarraga from San Juan, Puerto Rico and his son had dolphin dinner on their minds. At 7 miles out from Haulover, I arrived in the area where friends Larry and Bruce on Lady Lo had found some large turtle grass patches that were holding fish. Nose hooked pilchards that we slow trolled soon had dolphin on our lines and the fun began. We caught 8, kept 6 for dinner, released 2 and had several others throw the hook. With enough dolphin, we ran back in to the reef only to find dirty green water with south current and no fish. We worked 3 different areas from the Cuban Hole north and didn't even have a bait get nervous.
Saturday (5/28) evening, Ed Roy from Michigan took some time off from a business trip/vacation to get in some tarpon fishing. The fish showed us some mercy this evening by sending in their smaller brothers and sisters. Our first fish (80 pounds) was the big fish of the evening. The fish was trying hard to get to the main channel, but Ed worked harder to keep the fish from getting there. We released the fish about 100' before it would have gone over the edge into the deep water. On the next drift, the tarpon jumped almost immediately and threw the hook. The third fish hit just as I started to wind in the bait to set up another drift. This 40 pound fish put on a great jumping show very close to the boat and had us both shouting with excitement. The fourth fish of the evening was a 50 pound fish that put on another wonderful show for us. Final total was 3 for 4 tarpon and one extremely happy angler.
Sunday (5/29) evening, Luis Carmona and his brothers Steven and Jesse were spending some quality time together prior to Steven heading overseas for a year with the Air Force. The tarpon were rolling around all over the area and it would only be a matter of time before the pulling would begin. The first hit came on the first drift. The rod bent over very weakly and as soon as we turned the handle, the hook popped out and the crab was gone. Several drifts later, we watched a big swirl and saw the rod twitch. No hook up and the bait was alive and kicking like crazy. Finally, a tarpon hit in the standard manner and made two huge jumps before starting a slow but steady fight. The south side tour began. Steven soon tired out and Luis took over. He soon tired out and Jesse took his turn. Now the fish made its way to the main channel. It moved offshore with the outgoing tide to just before the second red marker before deciding to head to the north. As each angler got tired, the rod was passed over to the next brother to keep everyone semi fresh. The fish soon tired of the north side and headed back to the main channel. It continued offshore and by the time we released the 100 pound fish, we were almost to the turn in the Government Cut channel and the brothers had taken 4 complete turns on the fish. That was one mean and ornery fish. Sandwiches for everyone and beverage to wash them down and everyone was now ready for round two. On the second drift, the crab that Steven's son Joseph had picked out got hit. This time, Luis started the battle and the fish headed straight south like a freight train. It turned west and we soon found ourselves in the very shallow water of the reef area to the south of Fisher Island. We had the official catch and Jesse now was taking his turn. The 120# fish made a tremendous totally out of the water jump and the threw the hook. It flew straight back at us and luckily it hit no one. Good luck Steven on your overseas assignment and THANKS for helping make our country a safe place to live.
There is still time to get in on the tarpon action so don't miss out on it. The dolphin action is heating up and the fillets are very tasty, so give me a call and lets get out there and do some fishing.
Captain Dave Kostyo
Knot Nancy Fishing Charters
305 620-5896 Charter
305 965-9454 Cell
www.knotnancy.com
nkostyo@bellsouth.net
[signature]