Jan 11
Today we had Brain and his daughter Sara from Philly out for some fun in the sun aboard the Hooked Up.
We picked up some live goggles eyes (live bait) from the bait boat and went right to 125 feet of water and set out our kites with our live baits suspended from them.
This was Brain's time to spend with his daughter while she was on break from collage. I can't think of a better way to spend some time with your daughter than hanging out in Fort Lauderdale and doing a little fishing.
Ok so the trap was set and now all we needed was for a big fish to come along and complete this great vacation.
All of a sudden along came this monster sail fish chasseing our right long kite bate all over the place after about a half a second line was pealing off the reel and we were Hooked Up.
Sara jumped in the chair and the fight was on. It was a back and forth tug a war for a good 20 min but @ last Sara got her first sailfish to the boat.
Brain got quick photos and we released this big sail and watched him swim away in great shape to fight again another day.
Brain and Sara thanks again for a fun morning of deep-sea fishing aboard the Hooked Up and Sara good luck @ school.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
Jan 12
Today we started out with no fishing trips on the books till this car came driving down our parking lot and J.J. started talking to them.
It turned out that Manuel Perez wanted to go out fishing with his sons Anglo and Edward all from Dominican Republic but now living in the US.
We had a bunch of live baits left over in our live well from the day before so we went out to 125 feet of water and set out both of our kites with live baits suspended from them and the wait was on.
Long story short here we waited for over an hour and 20 min with this being only a 3-hour trip needless to say we needed to change something.
Since Manuel's English was limited and since I speak pretty good Spanish we figured we switch Captains and mates so I went to work the cockpit and J.J. came on the bridge.
Ok here we go with a fresh start and a new plain. We started trolling with our 2 planner boards running about 45 to 50 feet down and 3 baits skipping across the surface.
Once again no bites (RATS) and we were pretty much out of time.
I hollered up at J.J. seeing that there was a shipwreck between us and the inlet that I wanted to try dropping a live bait down on the wreck on our way in.
Now bare in mind we had not caught a fish and I was trying to keep them as entertained with small talk and kind of letting them know what we were doing and what we were hoping to catch.
Once we got to the wreck I dropped down a live bait and HEY we got a bite. But we missed him and he got away. So I was joking with these guys and knowing that they were from Dominic Republic I asked them if they knew any thing about base ball and that first miss was strike one.
Well I no idea but I guess that was the Q that Manuel was waiting for because he was so proud of his son Anglo who just so happen to be the out fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Now I knew why we were having such a hard time catching fish. For some reason whenever we have celebrities or athletes' on board I have the toughest time catching them fish.
I was not going home with out catching any fish so down went the second bait and once again strike 2.
At this point we were running very late and everyone knew that this 3rd drop was going to be our last. I guess 3s the charm because our 3rd drop got a bite and this one hung on there.
Manuel jumped in the chair and ended up landing an amber jack.
Manuel, Edward and Anglo Gracias.
Well it may not have been the best day of catching today but we all had a good time.
I wish all of my fishing reports were about all these big fish we caught but as they say a good bad day fishing is better than a good day @ work.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
Jan 13
Today we had one of our repeat customers Craig and his son Alex from right down here in Sunny South Florida.
Today Craig also brought along his dad Mel who came down to visit from Arizona so we had all 3 generations on board.
We started out with our kites and our live baits suspended from the kites in 125 feet of water. After a good 40 min with out a bite I slid the boat out deeper to 180 feet of water and after another 30 min with out a bite at last we got a bite and before we knew it this sailfish was dancing all over the place.
Craig jumped in the chair and the fight was on. 15 min later Craig had his fish to the side of the boat. We got a couple photos of his sail and watched him swim away in great shape.
Ok now that we finally broke the ice out went the baits again and this time the wait was not quite so long BAM we were Hooked Up again.
This time Mel jumped in the chair and again the fight was on.
15 min later Mel had his fish @ the boat and once again a couple photos and he swim away in great shape.
Ok 2 down and one to go. At this point we were about 6 miles north of our inlet off the coast of Pompano so we decided to start trolling our way back.
Once we broke the ice it seemed we could do no wrong because before we knew it we were Hooked Up again and this time little Alex jumped in the chair and he ended up catching dinner with a dolphin fish. (Way 2 go Alex)
Ok the end of another great day fishing aboard the Hooked Up off the coast of South Florida or was it really over?
Here is the really cool part of this trip. As we were running home in get this 58 feet of water J.J. noticed a sailfish just tailing down sea. So we stopped the boat to see if we could find him again.
Not only did we find him again but also there was 3 sails together tailing down sea. J.J. jumped down stairs and casted a live bait in front of these fish and within seconds BAM we were Hooked Up again.
No chair for Craig this time this fish would be fought on a spinner rod and reel with only 20 pound test line.
This turned out to be no easy task this fish was just not giving up and never jumped at all. I don't know how long Craig had this back and forth tug a war for but at least 30 min.
But finally as Craig got his monster sail to the side of the boat and J.J. went to see if he could get the hook out of his mouth out popped his eye. Holly Cow we had him hooked in the eye the hole time I guess that's what made it so hard to catch.
Now we do all we can to not hurt these fish but now and then they do get hurt. But I will say that he swam away fast. I have caught a lot of fish missing and eye so having said that we all hope he'll be all right.
Craig thanks again and we are looking forward to fishing with you and Alex again this spring.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
Jan 14
Today I was not on the boat and captain J.J. was running the show. Unfortunately I was running our other boat the Local knowledge and I had our camera with me and we got no photos today on a banner day of deep-sea fishing aboard the Hooked Up.
Today started out with Carl and his 17-year-old son Joe along with their good friends Sean and John all from New York.
They went right out to 125 feet of water and set out both kites with 2 live baits suspended from each kite.
It wasn't long till they got their first bite and it turned out to be a big sailfish. Joe jumped in the chair and a good 20 min later they had Joe's first sailfish to the side of the boat.
Way 2 go Joe!!
They got the baits set right back out there and BAM another sailfish climbed all over the right short kite bait and once again the Hooked Up was Hooked Up.
This time John got a shot at fighting one of the best the Atlantic has to offer anther sailfish. And with in 15 min they had caught their second sailfish.
Way to go guys!!
As J.J. pulled back to the dock his second trip of the day was waiting to give their luck a shot aboard the Hooked Up.
We had Tricia, Keron, Sandra and Atul all from the Island of Trinidad.
Right back out to 125 feet of water and right back out with the kites only by this time in the day the sailfish really started to turn on.
They ended up catching and releasing 4 more sails for the day for a total of 6 sail fish today.
Con Grads to all of our anglers today and to Captain J.J. and Richard for a job well done.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
