04-14-2003, 04:09 PM
Wind, wind, and more wind. That's how the week started out. A cold front was slow in approaching and had the wind out of a westerly direction for several days. Higher seas resulted in a cancellation of only one trip. We changed our intended plans on two other days and motion sickness found its way on another trip.
In general, fishing the area from the Key Biscayne hotels north to the Twin Towers, it has been mostly kingfish and bonito. There has been a few sailfish and a blackfin tuna here and there. Inshore, the tarpon bit has mostly been late with an average of 3 strikes per evening. Here is the daily activities.
Monday evening (4/7) was a cancel.
Tuesday (4/8) was an afternoon/evening trip. Wind from the ESE/SE @ 7-19 mph had one angler feeling the effects of motion sickness. Fishing was a struggle offshore with a catch of one kingfish. Inshore, the tarpon cooperated by giving us 3 strikes, however, they didn't want to play for more than 1 or 2 jumps each before throwing the hook. They bit late and we had 2 strikes on crabs and 1 on shrimp.
Wednesday (4/9) was a 6 hour evening tarpon trip. The wind started in the south and switch to the west during the course of the evening while blowing @ 17-26 mph. We started out by catching a mangrove snapper, ladyfish, and blue runner. Finally, we got the tarpon we were looking for and Al Trudeau from Nashua, NH caught and released his first tarpon.
Thursday (4/10) Al was back again for another evening of tarpon fishing. Despite the west wind @ 19-28 mph, the water was calm and a sea anchor was necessary to slow down the drift. Al added to his tarpon total by catching 2 of the 3 fish we hooked.
Friday (4/11) the wind was WSW/WNW @ 14-28 mph. After catching bait, we started the day by putting out 1 blue runner and catching 1 - 20# barracuda. Then it was a quick run offshore where all our action came in the anchorage area in the 100-120' range. Eight bonito kept 2 anglers very busy. Add 2 kingfish and 1 houndfish and that rounded out the day trip.
Friday (4/11) evening tarpon was almost a carbon copy of Thursday evening's trip. The fish bit late like Thursday. The wind was west @ 16-24 mph. 2 for 3 tarpon and then they shut off.
Saturday (4/12) and we finally get a break from the wind. The direction swung from WNW all the way around to WSW and was calm to 10 mph. Most of the dolphin fishermen were disappointed and a few caught a couple. In on the reef, the kingfish action was consistent. There were a lot of fish in the high teens and 20 pound range a well as many small ones. I heard of one fish that was pushing 40. Mix in some bonito, and a sail here and there and the action while not hot, was OK. We caught 2 kings including one of 23#'s, had half a dozen baits chopped in half by small fish and caught 1 out of a 3 hit bonito attack.
Sunday (4/13) was another great weather day. It was very evident by the 100's of boats that were taking advantage of it after several weekends of windy weather. SE/SW wind from calm to 10 mph gave us almost flat seas. Jim and Roz Lefevre treated Roz's nephew Jim Lynch and his wife Michelle to a day of fishing. Our afternoon/evening trip started out with catching bait at Government Cut. With ample pilchards and herring, we went straight out front and started in 130'. Before I could put out the 2nd flatline, the downrigger popped and Jim Lynch caught a 6# kingfish. Baits back out and less than 5 minutes later, Michelle caught a 10# dolphin. We moved just north of the sea buoy after getting no further action. At 118' it was Roz's turn to catch an 8# kingfish. Next, Jim Lefevre missed several small fish. It was after this that things really started heating up. Michelle Lynch caught a 15# king, Jim Lynch caught one of 18#'s and finally just after sunset, Jim Lefevre caught one @ 20#'s. Time to go tarpon fishing. The first two drifts had us hooked up. The first one threw the hook on its second jump and we pulled the hook on the 2nd fish just 6 inches from the leader touching. The it went dead. The last drift of the evening was the charm. Jim Lefevre hooked up solid to a 90# fish that we landed and released. This evening, it was two fish on shrimp and one on a crab.
Coming up on April 22nd, is the 68th MET Booster Banquet and Auction. Cocktails start @ 5:30 pm with Dinner starting @ 7:00 pm. There will be Live and Silent Auctions, Guided and International fishing trips, Tackle, Jewelry, Art, Special items for Women and Kids and lots of SURPRISES. Tickets are $50 in advance and $75 at the door. Call 305 233-5535 for more info and to get your tickets. Hope to see lots of you there.
Captain Dave Kostyo
Knot Nancy Fishing Charters
305 620-5896 Charter
305 732-2628 Beeper
www.knotnancy.com
nkostyo@bellsouth.net
[signature]
In general, fishing the area from the Key Biscayne hotels north to the Twin Towers, it has been mostly kingfish and bonito. There has been a few sailfish and a blackfin tuna here and there. Inshore, the tarpon bit has mostly been late with an average of 3 strikes per evening. Here is the daily activities.
Monday evening (4/7) was a cancel.
Tuesday (4/8) was an afternoon/evening trip. Wind from the ESE/SE @ 7-19 mph had one angler feeling the effects of motion sickness. Fishing was a struggle offshore with a catch of one kingfish. Inshore, the tarpon cooperated by giving us 3 strikes, however, they didn't want to play for more than 1 or 2 jumps each before throwing the hook. They bit late and we had 2 strikes on crabs and 1 on shrimp.
Wednesday (4/9) was a 6 hour evening tarpon trip. The wind started in the south and switch to the west during the course of the evening while blowing @ 17-26 mph. We started out by catching a mangrove snapper, ladyfish, and blue runner. Finally, we got the tarpon we were looking for and Al Trudeau from Nashua, NH caught and released his first tarpon.
Thursday (4/10) Al was back again for another evening of tarpon fishing. Despite the west wind @ 19-28 mph, the water was calm and a sea anchor was necessary to slow down the drift. Al added to his tarpon total by catching 2 of the 3 fish we hooked.
Friday (4/11) the wind was WSW/WNW @ 14-28 mph. After catching bait, we started the day by putting out 1 blue runner and catching 1 - 20# barracuda. Then it was a quick run offshore where all our action came in the anchorage area in the 100-120' range. Eight bonito kept 2 anglers very busy. Add 2 kingfish and 1 houndfish and that rounded out the day trip.
Friday (4/11) evening tarpon was almost a carbon copy of Thursday evening's trip. The fish bit late like Thursday. The wind was west @ 16-24 mph. 2 for 3 tarpon and then they shut off.
Saturday (4/12) and we finally get a break from the wind. The direction swung from WNW all the way around to WSW and was calm to 10 mph. Most of the dolphin fishermen were disappointed and a few caught a couple. In on the reef, the kingfish action was consistent. There were a lot of fish in the high teens and 20 pound range a well as many small ones. I heard of one fish that was pushing 40. Mix in some bonito, and a sail here and there and the action while not hot, was OK. We caught 2 kings including one of 23#'s, had half a dozen baits chopped in half by small fish and caught 1 out of a 3 hit bonito attack.
Sunday (4/13) was another great weather day. It was very evident by the 100's of boats that were taking advantage of it after several weekends of windy weather. SE/SW wind from calm to 10 mph gave us almost flat seas. Jim and Roz Lefevre treated Roz's nephew Jim Lynch and his wife Michelle to a day of fishing. Our afternoon/evening trip started out with catching bait at Government Cut. With ample pilchards and herring, we went straight out front and started in 130'. Before I could put out the 2nd flatline, the downrigger popped and Jim Lynch caught a 6# kingfish. Baits back out and less than 5 minutes later, Michelle caught a 10# dolphin. We moved just north of the sea buoy after getting no further action. At 118' it was Roz's turn to catch an 8# kingfish. Next, Jim Lefevre missed several small fish. It was after this that things really started heating up. Michelle Lynch caught a 15# king, Jim Lynch caught one of 18#'s and finally just after sunset, Jim Lefevre caught one @ 20#'s. Time to go tarpon fishing. The first two drifts had us hooked up. The first one threw the hook on its second jump and we pulled the hook on the 2nd fish just 6 inches from the leader touching. The it went dead. The last drift of the evening was the charm. Jim Lefevre hooked up solid to a 90# fish that we landed and released. This evening, it was two fish on shrimp and one on a crab.
Coming up on April 22nd, is the 68th MET Booster Banquet and Auction. Cocktails start @ 5:30 pm with Dinner starting @ 7:00 pm. There will be Live and Silent Auctions, Guided and International fishing trips, Tackle, Jewelry, Art, Special items for Women and Kids and lots of SURPRISES. Tickets are $50 in advance and $75 at the door. Call 305 233-5535 for more info and to get your tickets. Hope to see lots of you there.
Captain Dave Kostyo
Knot Nancy Fishing Charters
305 620-5896 Charter
305 732-2628 Beeper
www.knotnancy.com
nkostyo@bellsouth.net
[signature]