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Dec 20How to set up a Kite Line- Clip Spacing
How to set up a Kite Line- Making Kite Marks Any serious fisherman in south Florida is going to be flying kites this winter for sailfish. This technique can also be deadly on tuna as well. If you have any intention of kite fishing, you’ll have to make a kite line. The basic kite line uses three different “marks” used to stagger three kite clips. This is established by having different size holes in each of the kite clips, each corresponding to a mark on the kite line.What do you mean by a “mark”??? The mark can be a swivel or a floss mark made with wax floss tied in a series of half hitches. The marks are designed so they are slightly larger than the hole in the kite clip. As the kite is sent away from the boat, the mark on the line leaves the reel and catches the kite clip. Most fishermen use a 3-clip system and refer to ...
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Dec 20Rigging Bonito Strip Baits
Making Bonita Strips for Trolling: Bonito strips are deadly tools that can bring life to a troll spread. Tough and versatile by nature, these wiggly morsels work just as well up top as they do behind a planer. Whether you are trolling or live baiting, the goal while fishing is to shoot for the most natural presentation possible. Bonito strips behind a seawitch or feather can be irresistible to a variety of species as they rip through the water column. The first step in prepping for bonito strips is the obvious: catch bonito. Bonito are ravenous little fish that can be caught on the edge from 80-200 feet of water almost year round. We catch bonito while live baiting and trolling. Bait preparation and management is crucial while charter fishing so we make sure that every bonito we catch makes it into the box and eventually our freezer. The Little Tunny or “bonita” are widely regarded as a trash fish because they are poor table fare. ...
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Dec 18Understanding the Gulf Stream
Understanding the Gulf Stream and How it Affects Fishing in South Florida The Gulf Stream is the main driving force behind our fishery in South Florida. If you drive east out of Miami, eventually you will hit the Gulf Stream and move to the north. An often over looked aspect of the Gulf Stream is that subtle changes can make or break your day of fishing. Bearing of the Gulf Stream About 18 miles offshore of Miami are a series of seamounts and valleys in 1,000-2,000 feet of water that are often referred to as the sword grounds. The Gulf Stream is almost always moving to the north offshore but the angle of the current does vary. On some days, the current is pushing hard inshore. I have seen the current move at about 350 degrees, a touch to the west of north. On other days, I have seen it move at about 20 degrees. When fishing a mile long drift, this 30-degree variation can have major consequences when trying to line up ...
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Dec 5Sailfishing in Ballyhoo Showers
Sunny With A Chance Of Showers Fall and early winter in Miami gives way to a unique fishery. With sailfish beginning to make their way south toward Miami, we are presented with a variety of opportunities to target these fish. The first and more traditional method is kite fishing. No need to go into detail here; there are enough articles on kite fishing to keep you reading for days. Another fishery that not many as many anglers get to experience are known as "ballyhoo showers." Ballyhoo usually begin to infest our waters during fall and the predators are close behind. Ballyhoo are excellent bait fish and serve as a huge part of the diets for everything from Mahi-Mahi to sailfish. When ballyhoo really get thick off Miami and Ocean Reef, game fish will sometimes follows them into the shallows during their gluttonous pursuit. I have seen sailfish and even dolphin fish as shallow as 15 feet chasing schools of bait. Ballyhoo showers make a compelling case for the old ...
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Nov 30November Fishing Report
November Fishing Report: Looking to get out on the water this weekend? Check out what we’ve been catching off Miami to maximize your success. The fall fishing has gotten off to a slow start, with the usual migrations of blackfin tuna, mackerel, and sailfish a little behind schedule. Don’t fear, there is still plenty of action to be found offshore if you’re willing to switch up tactics. The live bait kite fishing has been slower than to be expected, even when the optimal conditions of blue water and north current are present over the reef. Trolling has been more productive than live baiting, especially in the shallower depths. The migrations of baitfish such as ballyhoo, sardines and herring are finally starting to arrive. Predatory fish know this and are moving in shallow to capitalize on the abundance of bait. Keep an eye out for showers of ballyhoo on the oceanside flats and patch reefs. It’s not uncommon to ...
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Nov 21Basic Kite Fishing Rig
Here are some tips and tricks to help you advance the basic kite fishing rig. First, let’s start with the basic rig.It consists of a kite leader, snap swivel, lead, cork and o-ring. If you’re new to kite fishing, the objective of kite fishing is rather simple: to fish live bait on the surface in the stealthiest way possible. Kite Fishing allows you to keep the mainline out of the water, and fish your bait right on the water’s surface. The stainless o-ring at the top of the kite rig attaches to a tension release clip on the kite line. The cork or float is used as a visual indicator, not like a fresh water bobber. Lead is used to prevent the bait from coming out of the water.Wind pressure on the main line will blow small baits out the water on high wind days. Lastly, the snap swivel allows for rapid changing of leaders. This is the ...
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Nov 7Wreck Fishing Rig for Grouper and Amberjack
Wreck Fishing Rig for Grouper and Amberjack Where to fish: Looking for a grouper or amberjack to bring to the dinner table? Plenty of anglers try tackling big bottom dwelling fish with poor results. Modern marine electronics make secret spots a thing of the past. Shipwrecks, ledges and rock piles are marked on modern GPS chart plotters. There are also plenty of resources online if you’re willing to do the homework. These are the places you’ll want to fish to catch big Amberjacks, Grouper, Cobia, African Pompano, Snapper and other structure seeking fish. Shipwrecks are see more fishing pressure, and fish are getting smarter as a result. Don’t make the figurative mistake of bringing a knife to a gun fight when looking to catch big amberjack or grouper off a ship wreck. These fish will try and get back into the structure, whether it's a coral head, rock ledge, or shipwreck. Here's a great site, FloridaGoFishing lists wrecks in Florida by ...
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Oct 22Fishfinder Rig for Mutton Snapper
One of the most widely used bottom fishing rigs is the versatile fish finder rig. It can be adapted for both inshore and offshore fishing and for a variety of different species. It’s an easy rig to tie, making it a favorite for anglers. The rig consists of a weight attached to the main line followed by a swivel. An egg sinker placed on the mainline allows fish to pull line without pulling the weight of the lead. This allows game fish a swim off with the bait and swallow it before the angler sets the hook. There are sinker sliders available on the market, and they allow you to attach different sinker types through the use of a snap.Sinker sliders are ideal for surf fishing, when a pyramid type sinker is preferred over an egg sinker. They also provide a convenient attachment point for quick lead changes. Leader selection: When fishing from a boat for snapper or grouper, it’...
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Oct 11October and November Fishing Report
October is a bit of a transition month off Miami with conditions changing by the day. With the tail end of dolphin season upon us, the answer to a successful trip doesn't necessarily involve punching it way offshore. In fact, some of the best fishing during October usually takes place from the edge in 100 feet of water out to 1,000 feet.A variety of factors influence where and how we fish during fall. With the summer doldrums coming to an end, we are often met with moderate east and northeast winds during the fall. In addition to an onshore flow of wind, there is usually an influx of bait on the reef in the form during this time of year. Ballyhoo, mullet, and spanish sardines, begin to amass in serious numbers and there are no shortage of predators in hot pursuit. Fishing Bait Showers Nearshore With more wind and moe bait, dolphin, tuna, kingfish, and more can all be caught shallower than 500 feet during fall. On many days, we even see ...
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Oct 8Tips for Catching Golden Tilefish
Tips for Catching Golden Tilefish Off the coast of Miami, golden tilefish commonly dwell in waters ranging from 500-900 feet. They range the length of the US eastern seaboard and have been found as deep as 1,500 feet. Golden tiles look for areas with soft bottom such as clay. They make conical shaped burrows and guard them against invaders. Catching tilefish involves dropping a heavily weighted rig to the bottom with squid or fresh cut bait. The preferred rig for goldens is a “lay down rig”. This type of rig opposed to a chicken rig consists of 2 weights, with a heavier lead close to the main line and another at the end. This allows the rig to drag across the bottom, kicking up sediment along its path. Be sure to attach a high quality deep drop light to help attract fish. Catching Golden Tilefish We chose to fish or rigs on electric combos with 80 pound braid, although it’s possible to go to lighter braided lines and hand ...
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Oct 1Chicken Rigs for Snapper and Grouper
Deep Drop Rig for Snapper - Chicken Rig A quick and easy bottom rig to tie is the chicken rig. The rig itself consists of multiple hooks with your lead on the bottom. It presents your bait vertically in the water column, great for schooling fish suspended near the bottom. We often use them to target vermillion snapper and yellow eye snapper off Miami. My first introduction to chicken rigs was fishing for flounder off NJ. Off NJ we would tie primarily double hook rigs, spaced closer together and with longer loops. Chicken rigs work great for catching bait too, the Japanese sabiki rig is essential to anglers here in south Florida. Sabikis are essentially a miniature chicken rig. The rig itself can be used in numerous different applications and fisheries. For snapper fishing off Miami try making your rigs from 30-50 lb mono or flouro. I prefer 4 or 5 hook rigs with the hooks spaced around 3 feet apart. Dropper loop knots ...
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Sep 24Mullet Run Snook Rigs
Mullet Run Snook RigsLate summer and early fall brings about the annual mullet migration. From the Carolinas to south Florida, millions of black and silver mullet migrate down the coastline and then offshore to spawn. This massive migration is quite the spectacle to see and provides excellent opportunities for fisherman on land and at sea. Mullet are a favorite forage for snook and they are both found in brackish backwaters and tributaries. When the two species collide in massive numbers, you’ll want to be in on the action. Acre size bait schools come under attack at all hours of the day, usually peaking around the sunrise and sunset. There are a couple different ways to target snook during the mullet run, so let’s examine some different tactics and the rigs you’ll need to maximize your success. Surf Fishing: One of my personal favorite ways to target snook is on the beach during the mullet run. The bait is usually ...
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Sep 18Wreck Fishing Charters Miami
Shipwrecks off Miami With a big population and easy access to the water, there can be quite the crowd of fisherman offshore of Miami on any given day. Highly migratory species such as dolphin, tuna, and sailfish aren’t usually victims to local overfishing. Stocks of pelagic species can be adversely affected by commercial fishing, but the local recreational fishing pressure does little to suppress these fisheries as a whole. Bottom fish are a different story. Benthic species (bottom fish) are less migratory and don’t grow as quickly as large pelagic fish. As a result, they can be seriously affected by over fishing. Miami has a multitude of different reefs and wrecks (both natural and artificial). These wrecks create great ecosystems for baitfish and their predators to search for both food and protection. Ranging from as shallow as 25 feet to as deep as 450 feet, and running from North Miami to Key Largo, the shipwrecks off Miami are as diverse as they are abundant. The plus ...
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Sep 10Planer Fishing For Wahoo
Wahoo, A Crowd Favorite Read the Article and Buy what you need below Before reading into wahoo fishing with planers, I recommend checking out the article written about Planer Fishing Fundamentals. The rigs and techniques have some definite similarities so it helps to cover the basics. In addition, feel free to check out our species write-up on Wahoo.Unlike kingfish, wahoo have very distinct color patterns. These fish have neon blue backs and white stripes. I truly believe they have better camouflage than almost any fish. When you are bringing them to the boat they blend seamlessly into dark blue water. Until they end up on their sides and you see stripes, wahoo are tough to make out in the water. The color pattern on wahoo is important to consider because like all fish, they have a distinct niche for which they are adapted. Wahoo blend in best with dark blue water. As a result we often look for blue water and current when we are targeting wahoo. The Gulf ...
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Sep 4Live Baiting Mahi
If you’re out fishing this weekend and looking to find a school of mahi-mahi, don’t make one of these top 5 mistakes. Here are a few tips which can help you catch your limit! Avoid these 5 mistakes: 1. No live bait: Although it’s not a requirement to catch dorado, sometimes the largest fish can be shy, weary of both the boat and artificial lures. A couple scoops of live bait will often mean the difference in going home a hero or a zero. Other boats have flagged us down or called us in on a school of mahi because they had no bait and the fish wouldn’t eat lures. In my experience one of the best mahi baits you can get is a small blue runner. They can be caught on sabiki rigs under large sargassum patches, and these hardy fish are irresistible to mahi. Pilchards, ballyhoo, cigar minnows and others can also make great baits. If you prefer to use artificial lures, bucktail ...
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Aug 31September Fishing in Miami
The kids are back in school but summer is by no means over. This summer has produced consistent fishing and we expect that September will be no different. Fall is definitely around the corner, but now is still a great time for dolphin fishing. In addition to mahi-mahi, kingfish, wahoo, blackfin tuna, and more are on the edge. Half Day Fishing Charters During Summer Fishing during the summer is usually productive if you are in the right place at the right time. On half day trips, we are usually limited to about a 10 mile range offshore. On some half days, we bolt offshore and look for dolphin. The decision to whether or not we run offshore is usually dependent on the weather as well as the fishing during the days prior. Dolphin fishing can be time consuming as you cover ground trying to find concentrations of fish. During half days we have a limited window so it's go big or go home if we target dolphin. If ...
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Aug 28Planer Fishing for Kingfish
Kingfish at a Glance Kingfish are always a welcomed gamefish while fishing in tropical waters. They fight hard and are great to eat. Kings are present in South Florida year round with bigger fish around during the cooler months. We catch kings every month of the year using a variety of techniques. You can find more information on kingfish here: Kingfish Species Information When you look at the anatomy of a kingfish you will notice distinct characteristics that are evident for all fish in the mackerel family. With long slender bodies, these fish are designed for bursts of speed. King mackerel lack the stamina of tuna and billfish but they are excellent hunters. They have razor sharp teeth and "slash" baits while they are hunting. This approach usually cuts their prey in half, killing it instantly. If baits are near the surface kings will sometimes "air out" on the bite. I have seen kings jump as high as 15 feet out of the water on kite baits. ...
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Aug 16Planer Fishing Basics
Traditional Trolling Spreads Trolling is a very old, effective technique for targeting a variety of gamefish. Employed in every corner of the world, this technique has proven effective for everything from small mouth bass to grander marlin. The theme is simple, move forward at any speed and put some lures or baits behind the boat. Lures and baits vary; everything from 1” jigs to 20lb skipping tuna may end up in the spread depending on the species of fish you are targeting. Regardless of what ends up behind the boat, the concept remains the same; cover ground with baits on the surface hoping for a bite. Trolling is one of the many techniques we incorporate during our miami fishing charters. Unfortunately, conventional trolling spreads may have multiple lines behind the boat but surface baits still only cover a small percentage of the water column. Some people argue that the boat is a great teaser. Fish “raise” from the depths to investigate commotion on the surface. I think the ...
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Jul 10Fishing During July in Miami
July Fishing Miami July is the middle of summer for us in South Florida. As far as the weather is concerned, we can usually expect calm seas during most of our trips. During the "summer doldrums," we are often graced with high pressure, calm winds, and warm weather. Usually the seas are two feet or less. There is almost always rain in the forecast but this weather is usually isolated. Thunderstorms usually flare up in the afternoons during summer. These systems usually form over the Everglades and on most days we don't even see any rain offshore. We get questions about the rain during summer on a regular basis but it is rarely an issue. Overall, summertime is a great time of year to get out with the family. With calm seas and great fishing, summertime fishing in Miami is hard to beat. A Typical Summer Fishing Trip Wreck Fishing On an average trip during the summertime we usually run straight offshore. We sometimes make a quick ...
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May 23Fish Species During June in Miami
Fish Species During June in Miami Summer fishing is upon us! We have had a great assortment of fish offshore. Depending on the conditions we have had shots at sailfish, mahi-mahi, kingfish, grouper, blackfin tuna, amberjack, and more. I'll do a quick breakdown of some of the different species we can expect this time of year. I'm going to talk about blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, and amberjack. Feel free to check out the links for other fish we expect this time of year such as sailfish and kingfish, on our target species page. Blackfin Tuna Fishing Miami One of our favorite fish to target this time of year are blackfin tuna. This time of year, blackfin averaging 20-30lbs migrate along our coast. These fish are most easily targetted in the early morning and afternoon during low light conditions. They prefer feeding on live bait fished off the kite or with light leader on a flat line. We usually catch our tuna while kite fishing in 120-200 feet ...
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