Every Fall South Florida anglers begin the yearly ritual of preparing for the upcoming sailfish season. Long before the first bait is deployed countless hours of preparation must take place in order to insure a successful outing. Often times it is this extra effort and grunt work that separates the field. Most successful captains and teams begin the season by checking all of their tackle, fishing kites, replacing lines, filling helium tanks, etc.
Once the boat and tackle is ready to go it is time to proceed to the next step. Ask any seasoned captain what the single most "controllable" factor in a successful day of sailfishing is and you'll probably hear the word - BAIT! Having an ample, healthy supply of live baits will tip the scales in your favor. Even though bait can be purchased, most crews prefer to catch their own bait one at a time. Sure, one throw of a large cast net will blackout the livewell in a hurry but the baits will not be as durable. Tournament teams often spend countless hours devoted to catching and caring for bait. Some of the most sought after baits are goggle eyes, threadfin herring, Spanish sardines, and pilchards.
In the last paragraph I used the word "controllable" in order to describe the importance of quality live baits. Unfortunately there are some factors that fisherman cannot control such as water quality, currents, and wind speed/direction. Sailfish generally favor areas from approximately 80'-180' of water. Another important ingredient is strong North current and clean blue water. These conditions often create what most of us know as "the edge". Fisherman will often set up on this edge waiting for sailfish, mahi, tuna, and wahoo to swim by as they follow the bait that calls this area home. On days when the conditions are optimal it is not uncommon for a single boat to get shots approaching or even surpassing double digits. Ideal conditions usually occur just after a cold front has passed and the wind blows from a Northern quadrant. North winds usually signal what is know as "tailing condition". During these tailing conditions sailfish can often be seen cruising at or near the surface with their sails clear out of the water.
Atlantic sailfish can be caught using several methods but none is more effective or exciting than kite fishing. Watching a hungry sail pounce on bait sitting on the surface will definitely get your blood pumping.Many times fish travel in pods making multiple hook ups possible. Pods also allow anglers to move with the fish giving them even more opportunities. Another nice thing about kite fishing for sailfish is that you'll usually have just as much fun catching other species that provide action as well as table fare
November is almost here and that means it's time to book your Miami fishing charter for the upcoming months. If you're ready to go, you might want to book early in order to secure your dates. Word spreads quickly through the sport fishing community making it difficult at times to find a captain. In case you're not sure or just need additional information about this or other types of fishing opportunities off South Florida, you may contact me using the information below. I hope you have found this article informative as well as entertaining.