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Peacock Bass Fishing in Florida

Written by Capt. Noah on Tuesday, 23 April 2013. Posted in Fish Info

These tropical, freshwater fish belong to the genus Cichla of the Cichlidae family and they are natives of the Amazon River in South America. After being introduced into Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama, Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Peacock Bass are thriving in these warm waters. There are fifteen known Peacock Bass varieties and two are as yet unnamed. Anglers in Florida love targeting Peacock Bass and have great success.

The Speckled Peacock Bass is the largest, growing up to 100cm in length, and the Royal Peacock Bass is the smallest reaching a maximum length of 55cm. Most species of Peacock Bass have three wide vertical stripes on their bodies that tend to fade in late adulthood. In addition, there is a very distinctive, colorful spot on their tails that closely resemble the eye on a peacock’s tail feathers. On the forehead of all adult males is a very pronounced hump. Other physical characteristics vary according to species, habitat, individuals and stage of development. For example, some may display dark rosettes instead of stripes, have light speckles and stunning bright green, blue, orange and gold coloring.

These beautiful fish have been introduced into rivers, lakes and estuaries both intentionally and accidentally. Gatun Lake in Panama was populated with Peacock Bass when a flood caused a nearby breeder to lose some of his fry in the creek. In Florida, they were introduced in the hope of devastating populations of other non-native species that were wreaking havoc on the eco-systems. Now, they are being identified as problem pests themselves. Peacock Bass are unable to tolerate low water temperatures, which has prevented them from becoming abundant outside of Florida. Regardless of how Peacock Bass came to be where they are, sports fishing enthusiasts take full advantage of the opportunities they provide, being an incredibly popular game fish that attracts anglers from all over the world.

Fantastic fighters, Peacock Bass are also known as “Freshwater Bullies”. They are highly aggressive, ferocious hunters and often damage fishing gear during their strikes, sometimes completely destroying it. They are not shy and anglers delight in the battle they offer. Any Peacock Bass over 5lbs should not be grabbed by the lip. They are violent thrashers and you can easily drop them or injure yourself. Rather use a gripping tool with a safety strap around your wrist. Here is some information that can help you when Peacock Bass fishing in Florida:

Tackle for Peacock Bass

Fairly light spinning or baitcast tackle works extremely well for the smaller Butterfly Peacock Bass. The larger ones need sturdier 30lbs braided line. A thicker braid may be desired for insurance if casting large lures. A 25lbs fluorocarbon leader is a good idea, although maybe not entirely necessary. Greater abrasion resistance is never a bad idea and these fish are not line shy. Good quality rods and reels are a necessity.

Bait for Peacock Bass

As with Largemouth Bass, a variety of lures and baits can be used to catch Peacock Bass. Interestingly, they will not strike plastic worms or lizards, which are widely used by anglers for other bass species. Flies are used successfully when fly fishing and live bait works well depending on where you are. In the Amazon, this does not work because piranhas devour your bait within seconds. In Florida, Panama and elsewhere, small sardine-like fish give brilliant results.

Techniques for Peacock Bass

Fly fishing for these awesome fish is increasing in popularity, using convincing flies and lures such as poppers and large streamers. Here are a few lures that work exceptionally well and how to use them correctly:

  • Large topwater propeller lures are popular for the really big fish, particularly in the Amazon. Although you will have less strikes, Peacock Bass will literally explode the water when they go for it and this alone is worth giving up a few strikes. The rip-pause-rip method works best and the rips should be at least 2ft or 3ft so that you can throw up much spray.
  • Bucktail jigs are possibly the highest percentage lures for Peacock Bass. They work for big fish and smaller ones. This lure promises high action. Rip for a few feet before letting it sink slowly and repeat two or three times before reeling in.
  • Jerkbaits fished correctly can catch some nice Peacock Bass. Erratic fishing with quick jerks is the best way to use them. These work particularly well for Butterfly Peacock Bass in Hawaii, Panama and Florida
  • Zara spook type lures work in quiet areas where large propeller type lures may be too noisy for the fish.

Call today to book your Peacock Bass Fishing Charter in Florida and thrill in the fight.

Peacock Bass Fishing in Florida

Written by Capt. Noah on Tuesday, 23 April 2013. Posted in Fish Info

These tropical, freshwater fish belong to the genus Cichla of the Cichlidae family and they are natives of the Amazon River in South America. After being introduced into Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama, Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Peacock Bass are thriving in these warm waters. There are fifteen known Peacock Bass varieties and two are as yet unnamed. Anglers in Florida love targeting Peacock Bass and have great success.

The Speckled Peacock Bass is the largest, growing up to 100cm in length, and the Royal Peacock Bass is the smallest reaching a maximum length of 55cm. Most species of Peacock Bass have three wide vertical stripes on their bodies that tend to fade in late adulthood. In addition, there is a very distinctive, colorful spot on their tails that closely resemble the eye on a peacock’s tail feathers. On the forehead of all adult males is a very pronounced hump. Other physical characteristics vary according to species, habitat, individuals and stage of development. For example, some may display dark rosettes instead of stripes, have light speckles and stunning bright green, blue, orange and gold coloring.

These beautiful fish have been introduced into rivers, lakes and estuaries both intentionally and accidentally. Gatun Lake in Panama was populated with Peacock Bass when a flood caused a nearby breeder to lose some of his fry in the creek. In Florida, they were introduced in the hope of devastating populations of other non-native species that were wreaking havoc on the eco-systems. Now, they are being identified as problem pests themselves. Peacock Bass are unable to tolerate low water temperatures, which has prevented them from becoming abundant outside of Florida. Regardless of how Peacock Bass came to be where they are, sports fishing enthusiasts take full advantage of the opportunities they provide, being an incredibly popular game fish that attracts anglers from all over the world.

Fantastic fighters, Peacock Bass are also known as “Freshwater Bullies”. They are highly aggressive, ferocious hunters and often damage fishing gear during their strikes, sometimes completely destroying it. They are not shy and anglers delight in the battle they offer. Any Peacock Bass over 5lbs should not be grabbed by the lip. They are violent thrashers and you can easily drop them or injure yourself. Rather use a gripping tool with a safety strap around your wrist. Here is some information that can help you when Peacock Bass fishing in Florida:

Tackle for Peacock Bass

Fairly light spinning or baitcast tackle works extremely well for the smaller Butterfly Peacock Bass. The larger ones need sturdier 30lbs braided line. A thicker braid may be desired for insurance if casting large lures. A 25lbs fluorocarbon leader is a good idea, although maybe not entirely necessary. Greater abrasion resistance is never a bad idea and these fish are not line shy. Good quality rods and reels are a necessity.

Bait for Peacock Bass

As with Largemouth Bass, a variety of lures and baits can be used to catch Peacock Bass. Interestingly, they will not strike plastic worms or lizards, which are widely used by anglers for other bass species. Flies are used successfully when fly fishing and live bait works well depending on where you are. In the Amazon, this does not work because piranhas devour your bait within seconds. In Florida, Panama and elsewhere, small sardine-like fish give brilliant results.

Techniques for Peacock Bass

Fly fishing for these awesome fish is increasing in popularity, using convincing flies and lures such as poppers and large streamers. Here are a few lures that work exceptionally well and how to use them correctly:

  • Large topwater propeller lures are popular for the really big fish, particularly in the Amazon. Although you will have less strikes, Peacock Bass will literally explode the water when they go for it and this alone is worth giving up a few strikes. The rip-pause-rip method works best and the rips should be at least 2ft or 3ft so that you can throw up much spray.
  • Bucktail jigs are possibly the highest percentage lures for Peacock Bass. They work for big fish and smaller ones. This lure promises high action. Rip for a few feet before letting it sink slowly and repeat two or three times before reeling in.
  • Jerkbaits fished correctly can catch some nice Peacock Bass. Erratic fishing with quick jerks is the best way to use them. These work particularly well for Butterfly Peacock Bass in Hawaii, Panama and Florida
  • Zara spook type lures work in quiet areas where large propeller type lures may be too noisy for the fish.

Call today to book your Peacock Bass Fishing Charter in Florida and thrill in the fight.

Mutton Snapper Fishing in Florida

Written by Capt. Noah on Tuesday, 23 April 2013. Posted in Fish Info

The genus of Lutjanus of the Lutjanidae family of snapper fish, Mutton Snappers are mainly found in the Caribbean but are known to inhabit the waters from North Carolina to South America. Preferring coral reef structures where they find a high resource of prey and protective cover, they can be encountered over coralline bottoms in shallow waters around the Florida Keys.

In shallow waters, olive-tinted backs and red sides make them very colorful and easy to identify, but Mutton Snappers are often mistaken for red snappers in deeper waters. These beautiful fish are incredibly tasty and anglers consider them to be an extremely prized fish to catch. They are often caught as a “bycatch” when targeting other snapper species and grouper. Spear fishermen love to hunt Mutton Snapper but they prove rather difficult to catch this way as they do not allow close approaches.

Adult Mutton Snappers prefer their own company and tend toward solitariness. They can be found in small schools and there are many ways to bait them. Here is some information to help you when Mutton Snapper fishing in Florida:

Bait for Mutton Snapper

Commonly caught on both live and frozen shrimp, whole or cut squid, small crabs, minnows and smaller bait fish such as pinfish. They love fresh ballyhoo. Although they can be caught on artificial baits such as lures, they definitely bite better on live bait. At night, they can be coaxed to the surface with an irresistible chum slick and caught on a strip of clean cut bait. These fish are fussy and sloppy bait will not be taken. Red and white bucktail jigs and red and white nylon jigs can be used with fresh bait.

Tackle for Mutton Snapper

When compared to other snapper varieties, Mutton Snappers are far more exhilarating fighters and are harder to catch on light tackle. Medium light spinning tackle is ideal, with a monofilament line and a fluorocarbon leader that is invisible. These are intelligent fish and are easily spooked, which is why some anglers prefer to not use a leader at all. A 4/0 reel and a quality bottom rod, as well as a 5/0 standard hook or 7/0 circle hook is required, along with the necessary weights. Use only enough weight to get your bait to the fish. If possible, free line your bait without any weight. The less cumbersome and heavy your tackle, the better your results will be.

Where to find Mutton Snapper

During the daytime they can be found in deeper waters ranging between 50ft and 200ft or more in deep reef ridges, they can also be caught near the surface during night fishing excursions. As it grows dark, Mutton Snappers move into shallower waters, feeding in the grass flats and keeping close to structures in their search for prey.

Techniques for Mutton Snapper

Bottom-fishing is by far the preferred method for catching Mutton Snapper. Cast your line either straight down or free line your bait. At night, you can anchor on the edges of the flats and free line whole bait along the grass. Not many Mutton Snappers are caught this way, but when you catch one it is bound to be a massive fish.

Call today to book your Mutton Snapper Fishing Charter in Florida and battle them.

 

Largemouth Bass Fishing in Florida

Written by Capt. Noah on Tuesday, 23 April 2013. Posted in Fish Info

This freshwater fish belongs to the sunfish family and is native to North America. It is known by a large variety of names such as brown bass, black bass, widemouth bass, bigmouth, bucketmouth, green bass, green trout and others. The state fish for Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and it is the state freshwater fish of Florida. Anglers keenly seek Largemouth Bass in lakes and rivers throughout Florida because they are tremendous fighters and are immensely thrilling to catch.

Olive green in color, a Largemouth Bass has a number of black blotches that form a jagged stripe along their flanks. The bottom jaw is much extended, creating the effect of a severe overbite. The female is bigger than the male, depending on age and this species is the largest of all the black basses. They can reach lengths of 29in and weigh as much as 25lbs.

An adult Largemouth Bass will feed on smaller fish such as bluegill, snails, crayfish, frogs, snakes, bats, salamanders, as well as small water birds, mammals and even baby alligators. These fish have voracious appetites and will eat anything that they can manage including younger predator species. The less weed cover and the easier it is to catch prey, the bigger these fish will grow. Known to devastate prey populations to the point of starving or stunting themselves, they have acute senses that help them to locate their prey. Devoured in large numbers when juvenile, Largemouth Bass become apex predators as they mature.

Highly aggressive ambush predators, Largemouth Bass can be caught on practically anything. There are so many techniques that can be used successfully to catch these fish. Sports fishermen prefer using lures and they use a variety of them. These awesome fish will literally pounce on your lure out of sheer aggressiveness, even if they are not hungry. Their sole aim is to show you that they are boss. Here is some information that you can use when Largemouth Bass fishing in Florida:

Where to find Largemouth Bass

In America, California, Texas and Florida are where the biggest Largemouth Bass are found. It is challenging to catch them as they are heavily targeted and have become wise, but you will certainly catch smaller ones throughout the lakes and rivers of North America. Your best chance of landing a trophy Largemouth Bass is in Mexico’s Lake Baccarac and El Salto.

Tackle for Largemouth Bass

The tackle varies according to the technique that you use and where you are. In Mexico, for example, Largemouth Bass seem to fight harder and 30lbs braid with a 20lbs leader works better than the 6lbs test usually used in California. A high quality baitcasting rod coupled with good quality baitcasting reels and braided line is ideal. Spinning reels and rods are also excellent.

Techniques for Largemouth Bass

Drop shotting, plastic worms and lizards, senkos, swimbaits and live baits are the more common techniques used to catch Largemouth Bass. It is impossible to list all the methods that one can use because these fish can be caught in so many different ways. Below are a few examples to help you catch these inspiring fish:

  • Drop Shotting involves using the drop shot knot to suspend a small plastic lure above a weight. You can either cast it out or drop it down before jiggling it up and down and then laying it to rest. In order to feel the bite when it occurs, your line should remain taut. Although you do not usually catch huge fish with this technique, you do catch many of them.
  • Plastic worms and lizards are among the oldest and most effective lures to use. Use the lightest weight possible because these lures often attract bites while sinking and need to sink slowly. Once it reaches the bottom, allow it to sit there for awhile before slithering them a couple of feet and allowing them to settle again. If you come across rocks then gently inch it over the edge before letting it fall vertically down, because this is often when you will get strikes. Due to the fact that worms and lizards are soft, a Largemouth Bass will hold on to them longer instead of spitting them out quickly as they do with hard lures. Sometimes when you are retrieving quickly after you have allowed your worm to crawl for awhile, you will see fish chasing it. This is an indication that they are feeling more aggressive and can hit a faster retrieve. Slower retrieves are safer and more consistent however.
  • Senkos are possibly the easiest lures to use. There are a few ways to rig them and you can cast them out with weights where the water is deeper and none if shallow, and simply let them sink. If the line moves off then it means that a fish has taken it and you should reel in the slack and set the hook. Alternatively, you can lift it a few feet and let it sink again, repeating two or three times before reeling in. Largemouth Bass prefer senkos when they sink and sit, so resist the temptation to keep them too busy.
  • Swimbaits are becoming increasingly popular among sports anglers. Used in lakes that are stocked with trout, they are designed to resemble trout and are usually between 6in and 12in. There is a large variety of swimbaits. Some sink fast, others float and there are those that suspend. These lures tend to catch big Largemouth Bass, as opposed to many smaller ones. It may be tempting to resort to drop shots or other techniques that produce quicker results when you have been casting them for hours without a bite.
  • Live baits are readily eaten by Largemouth Bass, although many anglers prefer using artificial baits and lures. Big night crawlers, crayfish, crabs and shad work exceptionally well. Use as little weight as possible and set the hook immediately when you feel a bite. This will lessen the possibility of the hook getting stuck in the throat or stomach. Pinch the barbs on hooks to prevent damaging the fish too much if you wish to release them.

Call us to book your Largemouth Bass Fishing Charter in Florida and be awed.

 

Cobia Fishing in Florida

Written by Capt. Noah on Tuesday, 23 April 2013. Posted in Fish Info

The sole representative of the Rachycentridae family, Cobia is also known as black kingfish, black salmon, ling, lemonfish and crabeaters. These amazing fish are considered a delicious delicacy and they are warm water fish - found in tropical waters of the West and East Atlantic, the Caribbean and off the coast of India, Japan and Australia in the Indo-Pacific. Adaptable to both temperature and salinity, Cobia are solitary fish. They will congregate in wrecks, reefs, buoys, harbours and other structural objects and even enter estuaries and mangroves. This is where anglers love catching them in Florida.

Smooth and elongated bodies, broad and flat heads, small eyes and a slight overbite are distinct characteristics of Cobia. Bands of fibrous ‘teeth’ can be found on the jaws, tongue and roof of the mouth. Small scales are dark brown with a white underbelly and two darker brown horizontal bands on their flanks, which appear more visible during spawning. Often mistaken for small sharks because of their horizontal pectoral fins, Cobia will remain upright when boated. Their thrashing is vigorous and can be dangerous, especially their sharp spines on their first dorsal fin – of which there can be between six and nine of them. A maximum of two metres in length and no more than 150lbs in weight, these fish are large and have an exhilarating attitude.

Crabs, squid and other small fish make up the common diet of the Cobia. These awesome beasts have no problem with scavenging for scraps and will happily follow sharks, whales, manta rays and turtles for their wastage. Intensely curious, Cobia is not afraid of boats and is even known to follow caught fish and watch the action. Migrating in search of their preferred water temperatures, Cobia can be seen free swimming along the coasts but they winter in the Gulf of Mexico and our VIP Fishing Charters catch them during the colder months.

Cobia is among the most thrilling game fish for anglers to catch. They fight hard and never give up, even after they have been caught and boated. This is how you can be successful when Cobia fishing in Florida:

Bait for Cobia

Using live bait always produces a fantastic response from Cobia. Crabs, shrimps, small pinfish and skipjacks and other smaller fish always get their attention.

Techniques for Cobia

Cobia takes advantage of the comfort and high food sources found near large bottom structures. Simply bottom fishing near wrecks, reefs, rocks and ridges gives the most consistent results, but they can be caught free lining live bait and slow trolling as well.

  • Dropping your line straight down below the boat is ideal for catching Cobia. A fish finder rig is a good choice and it seldom gets hung up when using this method, which is why it is preferred by fishing charter captains.
  • A live bait rig is used by more serious anglers and involves using a long leader for the bait to move freely and an egg slider to keep the weight off your bait, which must appear completely natural when swimming through the water.
  • Slow trolling in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico works well because there are many artificial reefs, wrecks, ridges, ledges, rocks and other structural objects where Cobia can be found. By slow trolling around and over these obstacles an angler will usually get a solid bite from one of these fantastic predators.

Call now to book your Cobia Fishing Charter in Florida and experience their attitude.

 

Amberjack Fishing in Florida

Written by Capt. Noah on Tuesday, 23 April 2013. Posted in Fish Info

Found in reefs, wrecks and floating debris in tropical parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Amberjacks are also called “Reef Donkeys” and “Pez Fuerte” (which means “Strong Fish”). These fantastic predators are incredibly powerful and will give any angler a serious fight, making catching them particularly exciting. Not many anglers target the Amberjack but they are frequently caught by those trying to catch snappers and groupers, and one of these fish on your line is an awesome surprise indeed. Occasionally they come near the surface but are usually found near the ocean floor, where they delight anglers in Florida with their aggressive nature.

Belonging to the genus Seriola from the family Carangidae, Amberjacks fall into the same category as pompano. Amberjacks in these waters come in three varieties, although others can be found in different parts of the world. Here is some information to help you when Amberjack fishing in Florida:

  • Greater Amberjacks are the largest jacks. Dark stripes extend from their nose to the front of their dorsal fins and they do not usually exceed 40lbs in weight. They inhabit rocky reefs, wrecks and debris and can be caught in depths ranging between 20m and 75m.
  • Lesser Amberjacks have deeper bodies and bigger eyes than Greater Amberjacks. A dark band extends upwards from their eyes and their silver sides enhance their olive-green or brownish-black colours. Typically weighing less than 10lbs, these fish prefer deeper waters than other jack varieties. Anglers catch them in waters anywhere from 50m to 130m deep.
  • Banded Rudderfish are seldom identified by their name, being classified simply as Amberjacks. Often found following other animals or floating objects, these awesome fish are the second smallest amberjack and can be distinguished from the others by having a first dorsal fin. Juveniles are banded vertically, while adults have a raccoon-stripe by the eye and a gold stripe on their side.

Voracious predators, Amberjacks feed on shrimps, crustaceans, squid, smaller fish and silversides, but can be caught on lures and flies. Live bait is always best but they will readily bite on artificial baits without a problem. Here is some information on how to catch an Amberjack in Florida:

Tackle for Amberjacks

For large adults, conventional gear is ideal with 50lbs braid lines. An intelligent choice would be an Accurate BX2 or BX reel. You need to pull hard to ensure that they do not find safety behind objects such as rocks. Although not as good at bricking you in the rocks as snappers and groupers are, you still need to prevent them from doing so.

Lures for Amberjacks

Metal jigs are most attractive, the butterfly jig-type as well as the West Coast Iron such as the Salas 6X. Topwater lures such as poppers are ideal if they are near the surface.

Baits for Amberjacks

Not particular eaters, Amberjacks will bite any decent sized baitfish. Skipjack, pinfish and blue runner are perfect smaller fish. Live, cut or frozen works very well.

Techniques for Amberjacks

Although Amberjacks can be coaxed to the surface with chum, it is better to drop lures or bait near the ocean floor or at whatever depth they are swimming at.

Call us to book your Amberjack Fishing Charter in Florida and thrill in their strength.

 

 

Amazing Fish Shaped Cloud

Written by Capt. Noah on Thursday, 21 March 2013. Posted in Fishing Photos & Videos

Check out this awesome photo taken by VIP's own Captain Tommy on Texas Wireline in Pompano Beach, Florida. Is it a sign from the fishing gods, or what?!

 

Cloud shaped like a sailfish

Florida Fishing Calendar

Written by Capt. Noah on Tuesday, 22 January 2013.

Check out our new Florida Fishing Calendar. This table gives a general overview of Florida's fishing seasons and the likelihood of catching a certain type of fish. There's no substitute for expert, local knowledge, so if you're interested in a specific type of fish, location, or season, just give us a call or drop us an e-Mail and we'd be happy to answer your questions.

Guide: Bright green = great fishing. Yellow green = good fishing. Most fish can be found year round, but the colored parts of the calendar are best.

Species Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Amberjack                        
Cobia                        
Dolphin (Dorado, Mahi)                        
Grouper                        
Kingfish                        
Permit                        
Redfish                        
Sailfish                        
Sharks                        
Snapper (Yellowtail)                        
Snook                        
Swordfish                        
Tarpon                        
Tuna (Blackfin)                        
Wahoo                        

Blue Dolphin

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 06 November 2012. Posted in Fishing Reports

Blue Dolphin

Check out this cool blue bull dolphin caught off of Fort Lauderdale by Captain Doug Kelley!

Fort Lauderdale Bachelor Party Fishing

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 30 October 2012. Posted in Tourist Info

Fort Lauderdale Bachelor Party Fishing

Fort Lauderdale is a great bachelor party destination.  Fort Lauderdale offers all the attractions, restaurants, bars and clubs that Miami does but without all the hassle.  Fishing charters are a great option for a day time activity in between wild nights of partying.  With in a couple mile radius of downtown Fort Lauderdale you have everything you need for a long weekend.  Bachelor parties can walk or pay a small cab fare to access everything Fort Lauderdale has to offer.  I recommend booking a hotel a the W Fort Lauderdale.  There are two great bars located right on the premises.  The pool area has a great scene during the day and the beach is right across the street.  For dinner head to Las Olas Boulevard and choose from dozens of great restaurants.  After dinner you can walk downtown where there is a large selection of bars and clubs that get pretty busy on the weekend.  

After a long night of partying try not to waste the day away.  Book one of our fishing charters in Fort Lauderdale.  All of our bachelor party fishing charters allow BYOB, so bring some beers on board and will chill them on ice for the Bachelor.  Our captains and crew are super fun to spend the day with and most importantly they catch a ton of fish.  We can arrange multiple boats for larger bachelor parties.  We often put on a mini tournament between the two boats.  You can't go wrong with a little competition amongst friends.  After a long day of fishing we'll clean your fish at the dock and recommend some nice restaurants where you can enjoy your fresh catch!

Manny Ramirez Fishing Charter

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 30 October 2012. Posted in Miscellaneous

Manny Ramirez Fishing Charter

A couple of months ago we had the pleasure of taking out Manny Ramirez on one of our fishing charters.  VIP Fishing Charters books a lot of charters for celebrities including professional athletes.  Most of them want to be discreet and don't want us posting pictures of them.  Manny was nice enough to pose for picture with Captain Paul out of Miami.  Manny had a great day with friends and family on the boat and we look forward to taking him fishing again soon.

Ribbon Fish

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 30 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Ribbon Fish

Check out this cool ribbon fish caught today off Pompano Beach, FL.  Although these aren't the hardest fighting fish they might be one of the coolest.  Ribbon fish get their name from the similarity to a ribbon.  Very cool!

Gorgeous Wind Map

Written by Capt. Noah on Tuesday, 30 October 2012. Posted in Miscellaneous

Gorgeous Wind Map

This may look like a piece of modern art, but it's actually an experimental wind map designed by some clever folks over at hint.fm. By using live wind data from the National Digital Forecast Database, the map renders wind speed and wind direction. The screenshot above was taken the morning of Tuesday, October 30, 2012, the day after Hurricane Sandy made landfall in the northeastern United States.

I wish they had included sea surface wind, but this still gives a pretty good indication for what the coastal winds look like, which can be very helpful for fishing.

The map is showing west winds for South Florida which should help lay down the rough seas from the past week. We just had our first cold front in South Florida and you know what that means? Sailfish time. I'd recommend heading out on one of our charters in Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, or Miami.

Source: Hint.fm Wind Map

Sailfish Season

Written by Capt. Steve on Monday, 29 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

The first cold front of the season has rolled in and the sailfish are officially biting in South Florida.  Sailfish season generally starts in November.  Sailfish migrate south as the water and air temperatures drop.  You'll tend to start seeing a lot of kites being flown from the fishing boats.  Kite fishing is a technique used with live bait that works very effectively in South Florida.  Call or inquire online and will give you the latest sailfish season report.

Marathon Tarpon Fishing

Written by Capt. Steve on Wednesday, 24 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Marathon Tarpon Fishing

Tarpon fishing in Marathon is one of the most popular types of fishing in the Florida Keys.  In this photo Captain Doug is lifting the tarpon into the boat.  I don't know too many captains who have the strength or the courage to do this.  I've heard horror stories of putting tarpon into boats.  A tarpon can easily destroy everything on a boat with it's immense strength if he decides to starting flopping around.  On a normal tarpon fishing trip in Marathon we leave the tarpon in the water.  "Doug, what were you thinking?"

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