04-30-2002, 10:22 PM
We have just gone through a full moon period and it definitely had an effect on the fishing both good and bad. Offshore, it was a day by day struggle. Inshore, the tarpon fishing has been GREAT!! Here is a day by day round up of reports starting with April 25th.<br><br>April 25<br>An afternoon/evening trip. Catching bait was a snap and we headed offshore with ample pilchards. A dolphin of 8#'s hit on the second drift. While everyone was admiring its beauty, the stern flatline took off and we were fight a sailfish. Stan Southward from Colorado Springs and his son, Brian from Miami took turns fighting the fish and it was released in short order. The next drift had us hooked up to a screamer of a fish that dumped about 3/4 of the line off a large 20# spinning outfit before the hook pulled. No more hits offshore and now for the evening portion of the trip. One drift, one hook up, and Stan caught and released his first tarpon, a 90 pounder. A second drift, a second hook up and his son Brian caught a released his first tarpon, a 100 pound fish. <br><br>April 26<br>The offshore struggles begin. The conditions could not have been better. Blue water, calm sea conditions, strong north current and a general lack of fish. Very late in the morning, we saw a group of flying fish scattering about 50 yards from us. A dolphin hit a flatline and promptly threw the hook on its first jump. The bow rod bent over slowly and then took off. A beautiful sailfish put on a great show and was released. While we were fighting the sail, a school of small dolphin swam by and we quickly caught and released 2 fish. All this action took place in about a 45 minute time frame and that was it for the day.<br>Back out for another evening of tarpon fishing. It started slow and got progressively better. A few drifts with no hits and a then it started. First it was a small undersized red grouper that we released. Then our shrimp got hit by a barracuda while I was winding it in. Another hook up and the fish made no jumps while heading straight for the main channel. Shahid Karim of Miami said he was thinking that he would have to go to the Keys to get his first permit. To our surprise, he could change his plans, because the fish turned out to be a 25# permit. Several quick pictures and we released the fish. The next drift and a crab got us a 100# tarpon that Shahid and his friend Sergio took turns on. They were both awe struck about the tarpon's size and strength and are looking forward to doing it again soon.<br><br>April 27<br>Another afternoon/evening trip with the offshore portion being a complete struggle and bust. The conditions were perfect again, however the fish were very uncooperative. The inshore tarpon portion was a completely different story. Brian Pazolka from Commerce Twp., Michigan not only caught his first tarpon, but his first saltwater fish. The 50# tarpon ate a shrimp and the whole story was recorded on video with lots of still camera shots also. Afterwards, there were lots of hi fives with he and his three friends. That was only the beginning. On our next drift, we hooked one of the most ornery fish I have had on in a long long time. Jason Clinton of Ft. Lauderdale was not going to give up on the fish for no reason. In the main channel, we had to deal with the usual hazards, including a very large cruise ship and almost every channel marker on both sides of the cut from the end of the jetties to the Coast Guard Base. We got the official catch (leader touches the rod tip) and the whole group took turns feeling the power of the 120# fish. Video till the batteries died and lots of still pictures and the fish was still fighting. At one point, it made a jump straight up out from under the boat. Finally the fight ended and the fish was released.<br><br>April 28<br>A half day morning trip. The wind had picked up to E @ 15-18 and once again everything looked perfect. Toward the end of the morning, the wind began to taper off. The kite produced all the action this day. A 10# skipjack tuna was the highlight of the trip.<br>Evening tarpon fishing was phenomenal. The fish landed, however, was something else. Let me explain. The second drift and a large and I mean large tarpon threw the hook on its first jump. Next, we had a double header on. One fish beat fins for the cut with us in hot pursuit. The other was lagging behind us, but heading in the direction of the cut. A sailboat heading in went between us and the second fish and cut our line. Nothing they could do about it with the strong incoming tide. We started working on the remaining fish and suddenly the line broke. After regrouping, we put out two more crabs and almost immediately hooked another double header. The two fish crossed and we lost one and finally released out first fish. We had three more single hits and landed two out of that group of three. The action was none stop all evening and when all was over and done, we ended up 3 for 8.<br><br>April 29<br>Stan and Brian Southward were back for another day of offshore fishing. We tried tarpon first thing in the morning with no success. We caught sardines and pilchards and started just north of the hotels on Key Biscayne. Blue water, a light north current and no wind had me slow trolling two flatline baits and one down rigger bait. The downrigger drew first action with a small amberjack. Next it was a flatline and a large bonito (little tunny). Moving out deeper, we came upon two turtles mating and hook a mystery fish that made a long run before the hook pulled. Moving back in shallower, the downrigger gave us action again with a remora. By this time, we had worked our way up to Government Cut. We missed a hookup on a flatline and I quickly changed to a fresher bait on the other flat. It worked and for the second time, Stan Southward was fighting a sailfish. After a 30 minute fight on a 15# plug outfit, the fish was released and it was time to head back in. The wind created by the moving boat was a welcome relief to everyone.<br>That brings us to another evening of tarpon fishing. We put out our crabs and drifted and then another drift and another. We got a strike before dark and the fish came up jumping immediately and threw the hook. The we drifted and it got dark. Then another drift and another and another. It was getting a bit frustrating, however we kept a positive attitude. Finally it paid off with a hook up, catch and release. The very next drift, we did it again and then the wind switched and could not make up its mind which direction it wanted to come from. The evening ended with a 2 for 3 total.<br><br>I'll be off the water for a few days and have openings in May. Now that we are past the full moon phase, the fishing should be picking up. So give me a call, lets book a trip and go catch some fish.<br><br>Captain Dave Kostyo<br>Knot Nancy Fishing Charters<br>305 620-5896 Charter<br>305 732-2628 Beeper<br>www.rnfl.com/knotnancy<br>nkostyo@bellsouth.net<br><br>