"OFF LIMITS" 6/25/10

Chasing Tails

"Off Limits" 6/13/2010

One of those trips where stuff just doesn't go exactly as planned but even though I dropped my Flip Video Cam in the water first thing in the morning , then the boat had issues with the new exhaust system, then the bait was scarce, then we had a busted drive shaft, then we had a long ride back from Triumph Reef courtesy of Sea Tow. We still caught Fish, we still had a great time, and we were still better off than being stuck in an office somewhere working. Thanks to Linette for getting all the footage on her Cam.

Enjoy the video...

Fishing Video (Tavernier Tails) 6/11/10

Here is my latest Video, I hope you like it.

Mutton Run 5-27-10 The Video

Mutton Run 5 / 27,28 / 2010

Those of you that follow my blog are already aware that every year when the Moon gets full in May my friends and I make a pilgrimage to Key West to catch the treasured Mutton Snapper. This year was one of the best we’ve ever had; I hope you enjoy the narrative and the pictures.

We made reservation more than 2 months before the event planning for this day, and finally it had arrived; so on the morning of May 27th (the very day of the full Moon) two of my best friends and I set out for Key West where our good friend and captain of the “Why Knot” Juan Estevez was already waiting for us. We arrived around 2PM, checked into the hotel, dropped off our minor baggage and headed for the marina.

We unloaded our Tackle and set out briskly to get on the water. Our first destination would be to pull the pin fish Trap Juan had laid out earlier that morning to secure some live bait for our quarry. I’ve told you guys before but that little Pin Fish trap I put my friends onto works wonders, and when we brought it on board it was loaded.

So we had everything we needed; now we just had to settle on a target and put the rods in the water. We arrived at the spot Juan had in mind and there was not much current, we tried the spot for a while but after some time with idle rods we pulled anchor and ran just another mile or so to try a different spot.

Right away the reel screamed and we thought we were on the fish, but as the spool ran down we all new it was not the tell tale battle created by the Mutton, but by something larger and significantly more powerful. It was Alex that had managed to hook the fish, and he was in for a battle he'll never forgets.

The fish ran him around the boat at least twice trying desperately to break off, but the experienced angler was up to the challenge.  Nearly 20 minutes later the fish was nearing the boat and we now realized what it was, it was “Sushi”, well not yet but it soon would be. 

A few more patient minutes of angling finally got the monster Black Fin Tuna broadside and Juan applied and expert Gaff and brought the fish on the boat. Just so you know the Black fin was landed on 12lb test with a light action snapper rod, it was a great exhibition of angling by Alex to land such a fish given the circumstances. Anyway, Black Fin was not our target, but that type of fish is always a welcomed catch.

It was not long before the next reel screamed with drag being drawn from the spool, and this fight was indicative that we might be on our first Mutton snapper. Indeed that was the bounty, and for the next several hours the four of us were engaged in some of the finest fishing to be had anywhere in the world. We lost a few fish as always happens, but we managed to get 22 Mutton Snapper on the boat, and a rather large Yellow tail that ate a good size Pin Fish.

The next Day our target had changed to a different type of snapper, and the run would be a little further, Juan brought his Father in Law (a rookie who turned out to be up to the task) along for his maiden voyage and we had our crew . We set out early, around 7AM, picked up the Bait pen which was once again loaded and made our way some 20 miles off shore to a yellowtail honey hole that Juan discovered. There was not much current, never a good sign when Yellowtailing, but we had no choice but to adapt and do the best we could. The bite was non existent for nearly 2 hours before the first Tail hit the deck, but we knew we’d have to find a way to work them up near the boat with the slack current. After hours of chumming and sand balling, and just before we were ready to call it quits we decided to give it another 15 minutes; then suddenly started to see some action, and were hopeful the bite had finally turned on.

I was (as always) wearing my polarized glasses, and I caught a glimpse of what I was sure was Yellowtail in the Chum slick. My mates thought I was hallucinating since the bite was sporadic at best, but vision is still something that works very well for me. Just seconds after my friends told me I was seeing things, three of the four rods bent over with aggressive fish on the end.  Indeed the Yellowtail had moved in and soon they were mounting the boat at an increasing pace; they were coming on board so fast that we started to count them to assure we did not go over the snapper aggregate limit.  It took not much more that an hour to catch the 50 Yellow Tail we were allotted once the bite turned on, and soon we were picking up anchor and heading back to land.

Over all we had a spectacular weekend, in fact I don’t know how it could have been much better; I think the pictures speak for themselves.  If you are into fishing, I highly recommend targeting the Mutton when you get a chance, and fishing in Key West is a dream for any angler.  The only downside is that I have to wait an entire year to do it again, I already have the Full Moon of May 2011 circled on my calendar and I will be there again to fight and hopefully land the cherished Mutton Snapper.

Looks Good!

Monster Black Fin

How you like Sushi?

Work'em Juan

Coming Up

On the Surface

Feels like a nice one

Beautiful Fish

O! Yeah!!!

How you like my Mutton?

1 - 2 Barbeque

Check this out

Just 6 Mutton to cover the top of a 150 Gal cooler

Cinco Estaca

Can you tell I had a great time?

One of the pretiest things you'll ever see

Runnin at Sunset

Nice Tail H-Town

Not a lot can be better than fishig with Friends

Check out the Bounty

All Footage was taken with this Flip HD ultra video Camera, including the pictures which I use my Mac to create stills, and the underwater footage for which I have an underwater housing made specially for the Flip HD Ultra.  I highly recomend this little device, and if you buy it on my site I get comission from Amazon and it does not cost you any extra.  BTW, you will not find the Flip HD Ultra Video Camera cheaper anywhere than on Amazon.com, they retail for $200 or more in the stores.