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Mar 19Running a Charter Business
It was 2011 when I started Double Threat Charters while attending the University of Miami. These were economically uncertain times with fuel reaching exceeding $4 a gallon and the economy still recovering from a recession. Our goal was to offer both deep sea and inshore fishing charters with a motto that “No Fish is Safe.” By targeting anything from the flats to the Gulf Stream, we wanted to be a one stop shop for customers to knock species off their bucket list. Where to Start? When I looked at other charter businesses It was dreadfully apparent that I was under-gunned financially and in terms of experience. I grew up fishing in Miami but never worked on a charter boat prior to starting this business. Fortunately, I had blind determination and a strategy that is important to small businesses. I wanted to keep our overhead low and focus on marketing so we could get customers through the door. My partner at the time, John Prahl owned his own flats boat ...
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Mar 18Still Open for Spring Fishing
Yes, We're Still Open! There is no better time to get outdoors for a private fishing charter. Our boat is thoroughly cleaned between every trip and our crew is healthy. The fishing is stellar this time of year with sailfish, blackfin tuna, kingfish, and more. A private fishing charter to catch dinner is an example of social distancing at its finest. Spring Fishing in Miami Spring fishing during March, April, and May is the best time of year for quality and quantity of fish. The sailfish are still around in numbers along with a variety of meatfish ranging from mahi to cobia moving along the edge. In addition, wreck fishing should be heating up during the next few months with amberjack, grouper, african pompano and more. One of our favorites, permit will also be staging to spawn shortly. There is no better thrill than catching permit on light tackle. With blistering runs and multiple hookups being the norm, permit fishing is icing on the cake while fishing during ...
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Feb 26Best Time of Year to Fish Miami
I get this question a lot and to be honest, we have great fishing year round. The answer is rather subjective because your definition of great fishing may largely depend on your preference. For some people, catching 60 dolphin on a warm summer day is the trip of a lifetime. Others might want to knock billfish off their bucket list and could care less for meat. Personally, I love catching billfish and the by-catch while kite fishing always keeps things exciting. If I had to pick 2 months of the year to fish, March and April would be my top choice. Flags symbolize the number of sailfish released during a trip. This is one of many double digit days we have had during spring. Springtime off Miami Spring is a stellar time of year with a great mix of variety, quality, and quantity of fish. We definitely have slower days when the current is lighter than expected or the wind direction is less than favorable but overall spring time can be ...
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Jan 18Wintertime Kite Fishing
Kitefishing For Sailfish I get the question every day... What do you catch this time of year? Winter in Miami is a great time of year with short runs and a lot of diversity. We predominantly target sailfish during the winter but luckily kitefishing is an approach that involves live bait and light tackle. Unlike trolling for other billfish such as marlin that require big lures with heavy tackle, kite fishing is a light tackle proposition. What is Kite Fishing? Kite fishing involves using a kite to suspend baits on or near the surface. Our boat is custom built for this technique so we use electric reels to fly 2 kites simultaneously behind the boat. On the line tethered to the kite we have clips that we use to attach the rods we use to actually fight the fish. We use 20lb class conventional reels with 6 foot rods for kite fishing and like to fish 6 baits at a time on the surface. When a fish eats the bait, the clip pops, ...
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Oct 28Monster Swordfish in Miami
It's not always the fish you catch that make memories. More often than not, the fight itself is what sticks with you. We've caught plenty of swordfish up to about 400 lbs, bluefin tuna to 700lbs, blue marlin to 400lbs, giant sharks, and more. Our list of "impressive catches" is pretty extensive. Either way, the list of epic losses is probably just as long. I've had plenty of epic fights during my career fishing. Some have ended with the fish of a lifetime in the boat and many have ended with fish stories. Before even talking about our recent catch, let me talk about a few fights that didn't go our way. Below you'll find our top 5 most epic losses. 500+ Pound Swordfish- This was an epic fight back in 2012. We hooked the fish toward the end of our trip and proceeded to fight the thing until it was close to sunrise. The fish jumped 5 times but we just couldn't get a clear ...
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Sep 1Marine Weather Forecasting Miami
Marine Weather Miami I've spent 20 years fishing off of Miami. When I started fishing, NOAA radio was the real deal. They also had a phone number where you could call in and get a marine forecast. "Deerfield Beach to Key Largo out to 20 NM." Eventually you could dial up your internet and check the observation. Fowey Rocks was always the most important observation station. The other anemometers were either too far inland or had some type of obstruction. Photo by Steve Dougherty Forecast vs. Observation There are two important elements when it comes to anticipating the weather for your day on the water. The first obviously is the weather forecast. NOAA was always very helpful but never very precise. Back when I was a "weekend warrior," I would check the forecast and always wake up early and check the winds at Fowey. There would often be a major discrepancy. You could have 10-15 knot winds in the forecast but Fowey might read 25 knots at ...
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Aug 31September and October Fishing Forecast
Great late season dolphin fishing The dolphin fishing went through a serious lull in July. We were definitely catching a few dolphin on average but it wasn't red hot by any means. Fortunately the dolphin season seems to be finishing stronger than it started. We have had quite a few limits toward the end of August and caught plenty of fish in the 20-40lb range. This was a great summer for "slammer" dolphin for us. We have been putting a decent number of bigger fish on the docks. Blue Marlin off Miami! Blue marlin are a rare occurrence while fishing off Miami. We usually see a few each summer and we had one customer lucky enough to catch a 200lb class blue during the last week of August. You really never know what you're going to catch out there and this fish was a welcomed surprise. The fish came up on a hookless daisy chain teaser before switching over to a ballyhoo. Kris nailed the ...
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Aug 26Hooker Electric Reviews
Electric Reels Hooker Electric came into the market as a small local business trying to engineer a solution to the growing demand for electric reels. Daytime swordfishing specifically created a demand for fast reels with high line capacity. Lindgren-Pitman initially dominated this space because their larger models (especially the S-1200) were already designed for commercial deep dropping. Although reliable, these reels were expensive and a bit sluggish. I would never doubt the efficiency and versatility of the S-1200 but a growing demand for deep drop reels left room on the market for some competition. Electronics Driven Deep Dropping Era I would argue that braided line and the recreational availability of high-quality depth sounders played a more significant role in the development of deep drop fisheries than electric reels alone. I was born in 1993 and in my short lifetime I have seen the advancement in depth sounders. The average recreational sounder 15 years ago 500khz and could barely read bottom in 1,000 feet. With the advancement in sounders came they ...
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May 1Tips for Dealing with Summer Crowds
1. When headed east on a summer day, it helps to leave a trail of bread crumbs or tortilla chips on the surface. Seagulls can’t resist a fresh Tostito and the flock of birds you leave in your wake are sure to keep the fleet of morons busy. 2. Have a friend drive their car into the water at the nearest boat ramp. It may seem a bit rash but stunts like this slow down the revolving door of idiots entering the water on a calm summer day. Don’t worry, your insurance company should cover most of the damage. Be sure to wear a life vest and never fasten your seatbelt if you plan on dunking your car at the ramp. 3. If you have a lot of followers on Instagram or even consider yourself a “micro-influencer,” it helps to post incorrect fishing reports during the week. To adequately confuse weekend warriors, make sure you lie about depth, target species, and any other relevant details. 4. If you ...
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Jun 13Dolphin Fishing Miami
Dolphin Fishing Charters Miami Summertime means mahi-mayhem in Miami. Dolphin go by a number of names just to make sure people are adequately confused. Dolphin are actually dolphin-fish. These fish grow quickly and congregate in large schools offshore especially during the summer. To be clear, we are not out there trying to kill Flipper. Dolphin-fish are fish, not porpoises. We do not kill mammals. The scientific name for dolphin is Coryphaena hippurus. The Hawaiian name for dolphin is mahi-mahi which means "very strong." In Latin America, these fish are often referred to as Dorado. In the southeast United States, we usually call them dolphin or mahi. Dolphin Fishing off Miami is a year round affair but summer is definitely the best time. Below you'll see a picture of a fine specimen. Difference between Bull and Cow Dolphin Mahi-mahi are one one of the few species of fish that have distinct characteristics based on gender. Male dolphin have square heads like the one pictured above. Cows on ...
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May 1May Fishing on Fire
April Fishing Recap April was a stellar month for sailfish. We spent most of the month live baiting with the kites which yielded an average of 3 sailfish per trip. We had 8 days where we caught more than 10 sailfish per trip. Our best day yielded 24 sailfish out of 30 bites which is red hot. The sails were a bit late this year but we'll take it! The sailfish bite should continue to be decent all the way until June. Wreck Fishing during May Wreck fishing has been pretty solid. May is probably the best time of year to wreck fish overall. Amberjack frequent most of the deeper shipwrecks accompanied by a few grouper for which the season just opened. In addition, the permit spawn continues on the shallower wrecks until about mid May. Permit fishing is only really possible on a full day but these fish are definitely worth the chase! Permit are a catch and release fishery. These fish are picky and only really like to eat live crabs. Pound ...
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Feb 17Live Chumming for Sailfish and Tuna
Live Chumming Techniques Live chumming is a technique so effective it has been outlawed in almost every major tournament around the world. The technique is simple in theory: catch a ton of bait and throw it overboard while fishing. Proper technique however is an art. Just like any technique live chumming takes practice and preparation to master. Livewell Space and Boat Rigging The first and most important aspect of live chumming is livewell space and rigging. If you intend on live chumming for the day, you better have at least 50 gallons of livewell space. On our boat we actually have 2 75 gallon live wells. We often leave one well stocked with handpicked kite baits such as threadfin herring and goggle eye. The second livewell is where we'll put the chummers if we can catch them. Some boats have 3 or more livewells. For this technique the more livewell space, the better. For equipment we like to use 14 foot cast nets that range from 21-28 lbs. These big nets take a lot of ...
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Jan 22Kite Fishing Charters Miami
Kite Fishing on the Edge January and February are a great time of year off Miami. South Florida is unique because it is one of the few sections of coastline in the continental United States where we have a short run to the fishing grounds. Just 5 miles off Miami's coast is an area we call "the edge." During winter most of the fish are concentrated on this drop off in 100-300 feet of water. Unlike summertime where we often run 10-20 miles offshore, we have the luxury of catching bigger fish closer to shore during the winter. With this being said, half and 3/4 day trips are more than adequate this time of year. A good day of kite fishing starts with having a livewell full of frisky live baits. Here at Double Threat Charters, we take our bait fish very seriously! We have 8 bait pens around the boat which we try to keep stocked with the best bait time or money can buy. In our slip we ...
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Dec 20Ultimate Wind-on Planer Rig
The Ultimate Wind-on Planer Rig What to Buy and How to Make it Planer fishing is a tried and true method for trolling baits deep in the water column. Many anglers utilize planers to troll for mackerel and wahoo, but few are rigging the planers so that they can be quickly detached from the leader. Here’s a better way to planer fish, and this method can also be used for trolling leads. Why use a detachable planer? A detachable planer allows you to reel the leader and fish all the way up to the rod tip. It eliminates the necessity to hand line the fish up to the boat. This is a major benefit, especially when dealing with larger fish like big mackerel or wahoo. The drag pressure applied to a fish with the reel is far more consistent than the pressure you apply pulling a fish in by hand. You can easily pull too hard by hand and pull a ...
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Dec 20History of Tuna Towers
Tuna Towers: A Modern History In the highly competitive world of offshore sport fishing, the tuna tower is just as much a status symbol as it is a necessity for those who strive to be a cut above their fellow anglers. It wasn’t until the mid 20th century that the tuna tower made it way onto the fishing scene. The tuna tower started as a crudely constructed viewing platform, fashioned with both rudimentary construction skills and supplies. They resembled more of a sailboat crow’s nest often, made with two by four lumber and just big enough to support one person. The evolution of the modern tuna tower occurred as a result of tuna fishing off Cat Cay in the Bahamas. Each year, the migratory bluefin tuna pass through the shallow reefs off Cat Cay, attracting big game anglers looking to sight fish these giants. The first bluefin tournament in Cat was held in 1939. The strip of sand adjacent Cat ...
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Dec 20Patience while Saltwater Fishing
Is Patience a Virtue? Patience and Attitude Patience and temperament are two different qualities. I think all captains benefit from remaining calm and controlling their tempers. Yelling, stomping, complaining, and making excuses do not equate to more fish in the boat. All it does is add stress without a result-oriented approach. Some of the best captains I know are well tempered but many of them are relatively impatient. Off of South Florida we have a wide variety of species we target. If your goal is to put your customers on fish, you can’t rely on one technique year round. Remaining positive and putting forth effort is important but it will only get you so far. Manage Expectations The first and most important aspect of entertaining guests while fishing is understanding and managing expectations. When I get a phone call for a trip, I like to be honest and clear about what’s biting, what is in season, how the fishing has been, etc. If someone calls me and ...
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Dec 20Top Trolling Rigs for Mahi
Trolling rigs for Mahi There are a wide variety of trolling lures on the market. Which ones actually catch fish, and which ones are designed just to catch fisherman? Here are a few of our favorite rigs to pull when we’re targeting mahi. 1. Skirted artificial lures: These types of lures are widely available and catch a variety of fish beyond just mahi. Often times they are rigged and ready to go out of the package. We prefer the smaller sized lures, in the 4-6” range. Colors like a combination blue and white mimic flying fish, a favorite forage of dorado. Pink is also a color that seems to get a lot of bites in the spread. Some of our favorites include the R&R Mahi Magnet which can be found here https://randrtackle.com/collections/mahi-magnets. Feathers fished out of the outriggers and close to the boat will run or skip across the surface and remain relatively free of weeds. Try to position a new lure at different ...
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Dec 20Fishing Line Maintenance
Fishing Line Maintenance We run nearly 300 fishing charters per year. This puts an insane demand on our tackle, our boat, and obviously our fishing line. We have tricks to maintain and maximize the life of all of our equipment and our fishing line is no different. Here are a few tips to make sure you get long life out of your fishing line and avoid losing quality fish due to negligence. 1. Check your guides! Always monitor the condition of the guides on your rods. This is important for both spinning rods and conventional rods. Even the smallest groove or chip in a fishing guide can instantly chafe or break your mainline. Check your guides before and after every trip and be sure to avoid bad habits such as putting rods on the deck, reeling hooks into the rod tip, or placing hooks or lures onto the part of the guides where the line touches. 2. Check your clips! Kite clips and outrigger clips can be major culprits when it comes ...
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Dec 20Boat Maneuvering While Sight Fishing
Pick a Spread or Have no Spread At all Boat maneuvering is a crucial component of successful sight fishing. The first step in sight fishing is determining what type of spread (if any) you should have behind the boat. When dolphin fishing for example, we usually troll 4 baits out of the riggers while looking for schools of fish. If we are seeing a lot of fish or there is an excessive amount of seaweed for example, I might make the decision to have no baits behind the boat whatsoever (this is ill advised unless your boat has a tuna tower). The benefits of committing to sight fishing exclusively is that you are always ready when you see fish rather than adjusting a trolling spread that may be less effective. I usually reserve sight fishing exclusively for good conditions. Lighting, fish behavior, sea-state, and more all contribute to that decision. If you are looking for cobia on stingrays in the sand, it is usually best to have your rods ready and ...
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Dec 20Sight Fishing for Sailfish, Mahi, and More
Preparation and Presentation for Sight Fishing Sight fishing is a common technique used for many species worldwide. This is a technique we incorporate into almost any Deep Sea Fishing Trip The best way for me to breakdown sight fishing is into different categories. The first step is having the correct rig and bait, which falls under the category of preparation. The second step is boat maneuvering. The third step is presentation, which is basically casting and bait selection. The fourth step and sometimes the most important one is fish behavior/ mood. This can make or break your day. Always Be Prepared The first step when sight fishing is preparation. This is an area that you have the most control over even if you lack experience. Always have multiple rods rigged and ready. If you are fishing from a flats boat, this may only be 1 or 2 rods. One may have 20lb fluorocarbon leader, 10lb braid, and a live shrimp on the end. Bonefish might be the main target but never ...
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