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Fishing Reports by Captain Dave Kostyo

Winter Sailfish Season Has Arrived! (11/17/2009)
[Miami,FL] The winter sailfish season arrived with the most recent cold front that passed through the South Florida area. That's the best news that most anglers have been waiting to hear after a long hot summer.
First Signs That Fall Fishing Has Arrived In Miami, FL (11/02/2009)
[Miami,FL] The first signs of Fall have arrived. By that I mean that we finally had a two day run of mullet in the Haulover area. The mullet were being harassed by numerous tarpon as they exploded in the large schools of bait.
Cooler Weather Means Winter Species Just Around The Corner (10/20/2009)
[Miami,FL] Finally!! We get a break from the HOT weather. Before the cold front passed through, the 100 - 200 foot zone was the place to get plenty of action with kingfish, AJ's, and small sharks.
Action Offshore Remains Consistent Despite Warm Water (10/05/2009)
[Miami,FL] If you're looking for plenty of action, it's been hard to beat the 100 - 200 foot depth range all along the South Florida coast. Yes, there has been a good improvement in offshore dolphin fishing, however, its still been inconsistent.
Summertime Action Off Miami, Florida (9/09/2009)
[Miami,FL] We'll start with dolphin (mahi-mahi) fishing. As everyone in this area knows, we've had a very poor season since the beginning of June. With that said, there is a bit of encouraging news. For the most consistent action, it's still fishing the 100 - 200 foot range for kingfish, bonito, barracuda, AJ's, and a few sailfish.
Beat The Heat By Fishing Deep (8/17/2009)
[Miami,FL] Surface water temperatures in the ocean have been between 88 - 91 degrees. In Biscayne Bay it's been even higher. With the temperatures this high, it calls for a change in technique to have a reasonable chance at a successful trip.
Best Bet Off Miami, FL - Kingfish & Bonito (7/26/2009)
[Miami,FL] The rod bending action for kingfish and bonito in the 110 - 150 foot range has and continues to be off the scale. Many times during a trip we are getting hit as the baits are being deployed and this happens numerous times during each trip.
Hot Kingfish and Bonito Action Off Miami Beach (7/09/2009)
[Miami,FL] Since my last report, we've done our fair share of fishing along with Knot Nancy going into Whitewater for new electronics and many new upgrades. In general, we are now into our summer fishing mode. The unusual thing about this summer so far is the numbers of days that we've had south, southwest, and west wind.
Dolphin, Tarpon, and Boat Upgrades (6/14/2009)
[Miami,FL] Ron Walker has caught a lot of tarpon, but never one that was at least 100 pounds or better. There have been plenty of fish that fit that category and that was our goal this evening.
Hot and Heavy Dolphin Action Off Miami, FL (6/10/2009)
[Miami,FL] Good dolphin fishing has finally arrived off the Miami area. There are large numbers of fish in the schools and they can be found through a wide range of depths and distances offshore.
Inshore or Offshore, The Fishing's GREAT!! (5/31/2009)
[Miami,FL] Take your pick of either offshore or inshore fishing. They are both producing many satisfying catches.
Hot Action Offshore/Inshore - Miami Beach (5/16/2009)
[Miami,FL] There is no better time to go fishing then now. Offshore the fishing is outstanding. Sailfish, kingfish, dolphin, blackfin tuna, and bonito will stretch your line and test your angling skills. Inshore, the tarpon are still hungry and willing to do battle with you both at the Inlets and in the Bay.
Action Off Miami Beach, FL Is Outstanding! (5/02/2009)
[Miami,FL] Dolphin, kingfish, and sailfish with some blackfin tuna beginning to show up are the main offshore species to be found. They are hitting everything from the kite, to flatlines, to downrigger, and the bottom rod. This is also the time of year when you'll have your best shot at catching a large dolphin.
Miami, FL Report Both Offshore & Inshore (4/30/2009)
[Miami,FL] The fish have been very cooperative both offshore and inshore. The main players are sailfish, kingfish, dolphin, bonito, and tarpon.
Springtime Fishing is GREAT Offshore and Inshore (4/15/2009)
[Miami,FL] It's Spring time so whether you like to fish offshore or inshore, pick your place and there are plenty of fish to be caught. Lets start with the offshore first.
If It's To Windy, You Can Still Go Tarpon Fishing (4/05/2009)
[Miami,FL] The saying "March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb" definitely applied this March. During the windy conditions, I even had to reschedule several tarpon trips as the 25 knot plus winds made it almost impossible to fish either side of the jetties along the beach safely. The Bay, however, was very fishable as the various structures surrounding the northern portion of the bay did a great job of knocking down the wind.
And The Tarpon Fishing Keeps On Getting Better!! (3/19/2009)
[Miami,FL] I know it sounds like a broken record, however, what a great broken record it is. Tarpon, tarpon, and more tarpon and the bite seems to just keep getting better. The shrimp have been running as soon as it gets dark.
More GREAT Tarpon Action Aboard Knot Nancy (3/14/2009)
[Miami,FL] It's more tarpon action with an offshore trip thrown in. We had a few days just after the full moon when the tarpon played a bit of hide and seek, but the 3rd day after the full moon that changed and they're back to giving many people lots of thrills and angling excitement.
RED HOT Tarpon Action!! (3/04/2009)
[Miami,FL] Tarpon, tarpon, and more tarpon!! By the way, did I mention that tarpon fishing has been outstanding. Just wanted to make sure that you understand that tarpon fishing has been red hot.
Despite The Cold Weather, Tarpon Action Is RED HOT!! (2/05/2009)
[Miami,FL] Yet another cold front has made its way through South Florida. This one packed the coldest punch so far this winter. As soon as the sun set, both the air and water temperatures started dropping drastically. The strong NW winds at 20 - 24 knots have kept the shrimp running and the tarpon bite remains OUTSTANDING.
Red Hot Tarpon Action With The Passing Cold Fronts (1/31/2009)
[Miami,FL] Tarpon fishing has been excellent. If you're willing to dress warm for the cold weather or give up a little sleep it has been OUTSTANDING.
Hot and Heavy Tarpon and Sailfish Action!! (1/19/2009)
[Miami,FL] The action has been hot and heavy both offshore and inshore. Offshore, the main attraction has been sailfish. Move inshore and tarpon has remained steady.
Tarpon Action Is Fast And Furious! (1/10/2009)
[Miami,FL] The New Year has started off on a very positive note with tarpon being the most reliable catch. The action has been hot and furious on every evening that I’ve fished.
HOT Tarpon Action In Full Swing!! (12/31/2008)
[Miami,FL] Now for the OUTSTANDING news. Tarpon fishing is red hot in the winter time spots. Live shrimp is the ticket and there are plenty of fish and they are hungry and eager to please.
South Florida Winter Fishing Season In Full Swing (12/13/2008)
[Miami,FL] Last night, we had another successful evening of tarpon fishing at the Inlet. Not only did we catch tarpon, we saw then rolling, marked them on the recorder, and watched one jump completely out of the water as it exploded on shrimp that it was feeding on. And yes, we also saw shrimp moving in the water.
Action Off Miami Beach (11/30/2008)
[Miami,FL] The offshore scene has been seeing its ups and downs. On days when there is wind blowing, the fishing has been very good. On days when the wind is calm or very light, the fish are spreading out and it takes a lot of searching and some luck to put together a decent catch.
It's Time To Go Fishing!! (11/18/2008)
[Miami,FL] Its been quite a while since my last report. To sum it up very quickly, fishing has been outstanding despite the lack of north current. Sailfish, dolphin, and swordfish are being caught on a regular basis. My favorite fish, the tarpon, are already feeding along the beach and in the Bay.
Good Fall Fishing Continues (10/15/2008)
[Miami,FL] With everything that has been going on with the economy, it's time to give our minds a rest, relieve some stress and participate in much more pleasant things. The first thing that comes to mind is FISHING!! The fish don't care about the economy and they've been willing and eager to please.
Time For Some Fall Fishing (10/01/2008)
[Miami,FL] It's been a while since my last report. Between the Tropical Storms, Hurricanes, the economy, back to school, etc., there have not seemed to be to many people interested in fishing. This is quite a shame as the fishing has been quite good. Lets talk about what you've been missing.
Before and After Storms The Fishing Is Good (9/07/2008)
[Miami,FL] We are now having a very busy hurricane season. If you took advantage of the good weather before and after the storms, you've been rewarded with some good fishing.
Hot Dolphin Action Offshore, Kings and AJ's On The Reef (8/15/2008)
[Miami,FL] Here's a quick run down on what's been happening this week aboard Knot Nancy. Dolphin fishing has been HOT. When there is good north current on the reef, the kingfish and AJ action is outstanding.
It's Summertime - That Means Kingfish and Dolphin (8/01/2008)
[Miami,FL] It's summertime and that means fish early or late and watch for the afternoon thunderstorms. It's also the time of year when the downrigger and bottom rod will out produce the flatlines on most trips.
The Choice is Yours, Offshore or Inshore, The Fishing is GREAT!! (7/06/2008)
[Miami,FL] The last part of June and the beginning of July has seen excellent fishing both offshore and inshore. If you fish the waters in the 100 - 250 foot range its been bonito, kingfish, amberjack, and an occasional blackfin tuna or sailfish. Move further out in the 800 - 1000 foot range and the dolphin fishing has been very rewarding. Inshore, the tarpon have remained very consistent.
Mixed Bag Offshore, Consistent Tarpon Action Inshore (6/23/2008)
[Miami,FL] The good news is that legal size dolphin have finally shown up in good numbers in our area. Meanwhile, back in closer, it's been a mixed bag of bonito, kingfish, some blackfin tuna, and sailfish. Inshore at Government Cut, the tarpon action has still remained consistent.
Hot Afternoon/Evening Action!! (6/08/2008)
[Miami,FL] The action offshore for sailfish, kingfish, bonito, blackfin tuna, and an occasional dolphin remains good. Meanwhile, inshore for tarpon, the action has been very consistent.
Offshore Or Inshore, The Fishing Is EXCELLENT!! (5/27/2008)
[Miami,FL] Since my last report, it's been nothing but WOW fishing. Offshore the sailfish, kingfish, and bonito have kept many anglers busy. Throw in an excellent run of blackfin tuna just for good measure and the offshore angler could hardly ask for anything better. Move back inshore and the tarpon fishing has been outstanding with many many fish over the 100 pound mark.
Pick Your Area, Offshore Or Inshore, The Fishing Is Good (5/15/2008)
[Miami,FL] Sailfish, kingfish, a few dolphin, bonito, and plenty of tarpon have given us steady action. The weather has run the gamut from no wind to as high as 19 knots. North current and blue water accounts for the good offshore action.
Good Action Offshore and Inshore (5/01/2008)
[Miami,FL] It's time once again to get caught up with the fishing report. Since my last report it has been almost none stop fishing each day with just a few exceptions. Most of the days we've had good blue water and north current. It's been dolphin, kings, sailfish, and blackfin tuna, with bonito getting in on the action too.
Springtime Fishing Off Miami, Florida (3/30/2008)
[Miami,FL] Since my last report, we've seen the north current off Miami continue to be strong and then die off to little or no current. While we had to good north current, the fishing was very good to outstanding. When the current died, the action has been hard to come by and persistence has paid off with getting the fish to strike.
Springtime Action Heating Up!! (3/18/2008)
[Miami,FL] Spring is in the air. Sailfishing continues to be outstanding in the 100 - 130 foot range. Kingfish are starting to make their appearance after a very disappointing winter and are being found in 100 - 115 feet. Dolphin are coming through in the 200 - 400 foot range. Finally the blackfin tuna in various sizes have made a showing in depths of 140 - 400 feet.
Hot Tarpon Action Heated UP!! (3/05/2008)
[Miami,FL] The tarpon season has finally kicked into gear like it should be for this time of year. The fish are feeding both in the Bay and at Government Cut. The ones at the Cut are of the large variety in the 90+ class.
HOT! HOT! HOT! Sailfishing (2/26/2008)
[Miami,FL] EXCELLENT sailfishing is the only way to describe it. On some days it's been off the wall. We've had a strong north current with blue water. The sails are being caught all along the South Florida coast mainly in the 90 - 110 foot range.
Good Fishing and Family Fun (2/13/2008)
[Miami,FL] Throughout this range of wind conditions, the one constant has been that there have been sailfish on most every trip. Throw in some dolphin ranging from schoolie size up to 30 pounds and a sprinkling of kingfish and the fishing has been good. Besides the fish mentioned above, we've had visits from mutton snapper, bonito, barracuda and a 6 foot hammerhead shark.
Good Action Off Miami, FL Continues (2/03/2008)
[Miami,FL] Both the offshore and inshore fishing continues to be good. Fair numbers of dolphin have shown up and are in the 5 - 25 pound range. Sailfish are being caught on an almost daily basis. Meanwhile, the tarpon fishing remains consistent.
Hot Action Continues Both Offshore and Inshore (1/28/2008)
[Miami,FL] Tarpon fishing is on fire. Offshore the sailfishing has been very steady with a few days when it's been off the scale. While working the sailfish depths, there is also a good chance that a dolphin or two might inhale one of your baits.
Good Winter Action (1/22/2008)
[Miami,FL] The winter weather has definitely arrived in South Florida. This weather pattern brings good sailfishing offshore. Throw in some kingfish action along with a few dolphin (mahi-mahi) and that makes for some good fishing action. Shrimp runs in the Bay have got the tarpon going like gang busters at the Inlets and in the Bay.
Time To Tangle With Winter Tarpon (1/06/2008)
[Miami,FL] Good news for all tarpon fans. The winter tarpon season has started both at the Inlets and in the Bay. The cold front that just passed through has the shrimp moving and the tarpon feeding on them. Mark Rubert and his friend Terry were the first anglers aboard Knot Nancy to welcome in the tarpon.
Say Goodbye to 2007 and Hello 2008 (12/31/2007)
[Miami,FL] It's hard to believe, however, another year has come and gone. Say goodbye to 2007 and hello to 2008. The year was another great one for me and I had the opportunity to meet and fish with many new people as well as people who fish with me on a regular basis. The year had its ups and downs just like fishing everywhere in the world has.
Sailfish Action Heating UP!! (12/07/2007)
[Miami,FL] Sailfishing continues to improve as we get more and more into the winter season. Throw in some kingfish action along with a few dolphin and you have the makings for a good fishing trip.
Tough Conditions & Hard Fishing (11/25/2007)
[Miami,FL] For the past several days we have been experiencing some tough fishing conditions. By tough, I mean no current and green water out as far as 300 feet. Despite these tough conditions, there are still some sailfish, kingfish, and a few dolphin being caught.
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