June 11
Today we had a newlywed couple on the boat Jarrett and his new bride Jenifer both from Wisconsin.
We started out trolling the reef catching bonitos pretty much one after another. We tried a deep drop on a ship wreck with no bites at all. Ok enough of the bonitos so we went off shore looking for some dolphin fish once again no luck. (RATS)
(One last effort to see if we could catch Jarrett something besides a bonitos.)
We slow trolled a couple of live small bonitos of a big ledge right out in front of Port Everglades. All of a sudden one of the live bonitos was going nuts trying to swim back to the boat as fast as he could but not fast enough. All of a sudden there was a big splash where the little live bonito used to be the rod bent over and line was screaming off the reel. We were Hooked Up.
We were hooked up with a big barracuda on a small spinner rod. This fight was far from being over because first of all we had another boat real close to us trying to get a bite we also had a marker in the water that the fish was trying to get us wrapped up in and we had the ledge that would cut the line as if it was hot butter. Finally I got the boat out side of the ledge and away from the other boat and the marker. It seemed every time Jarrett would gain some line the fish would just take it back at will. After a good 15 min fight Jarrett finally got his barracuda close enough for Captain Greg to gaff him.
Nice going Jarrett and thanks so much for a fun morning of fishing with you guys.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 12
Today we had some friends of Captain J.J. aboard for a few hours of deep sea fishing.
We had Bryan, Chris and Jason all from down here in sunny South Florida.
We started out trolling the reef catching a couple of bonitos but these guys were looking for some fish they could take home and cook. We tried trolling off shore for a short while but the water did not look very good for dolphin fishing and we had not heard of anyone on the radio talking about catching any so it was off to plain C.
In hindsight I think plain C stands for catching because Captain Greg decided to try dropping on a ship wreck trying for some good eating snappers. (AND THEY WERE BITING) They ended up catching their limit of big snappers and ended up with more than enough for dinner.
Guys sorry to say that while we had our camera on board we all forgot to take any photos of these big snappers.
Thanks again Guys for fishing with us and we are sure we will be seeing you guys again soon.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 13
Today we started out fishing with Pat from Boise Idaho Guy from Salt Lake City and Doug from Parkland Florida.
We started out trolling the reef catching once again bonitos. I've got to take a second to say that while I know that in all the past reports you have been reading a lot about bonitos bonitos bonitos but first of all they put up a great fight secondly they make great bait and last but not least due to all the bonitos around the bigger predator fish have followed them down witch bring us to our plan B this morning.
Captain Greg trolled his way to a ship wreck and Captain J.J. kept a couple of these bonitos alive and hooked them to a couple of big wire leaders with 3 big trouble hooks. Then he set them right back out over this ship wreck.
If you've never seen this done before let me tell you a little about the bite. First of all we are using a live bait that weighs about 7 to 8 pounds and is as fast as any other fish in the ocean. Then remember that the bait sees the big fish coming after him way before we do so he starts running off to one side or the other but he is on a leash so there is no getting away. Them BAM the water explodes and all you see is water flying and line screaming off the reel. It truly is a sight to see.
And that is just what happen we were Hooked Up and Pat wasted no time jumping in the chair. After a good 15 min fight Pat had caught his monster barracuda. It worked once so we tried it again and sure enough BAM we were Hooked Up again this time Guy got in the chair and once again after a good 10 to 15 min he had also caught a big barracuda.
After catching our second big barracuda J.J. wanted to try dropping a small live bonito down to the bottom over this ship wreck. Once the bait hit the bottom BAM once again Hooked Up. It seemed we could do no wrong today. We ended up catching a big greater golden amber jack off the bottom.
What a great way to end a fun action filled fishing trip.
Thanks again guys
After we got to the dock we loaded up our second trip for the day. We had Sunshine, Eric, Vince and Stan all from Minnesota.
Once again we started out trolling the reef catching some bonitos. And once again we worked our way to the ship wreck and landed a big barracuda and a big jack.
(If it ant broken don't fix it) Thanks again to all of our anglers today.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 14
Today we got a last min unexpected trip that turned out to be a great fun fishing trip.
We had Dan from Dallas Texas, Dennis from Chicago, Randy from Montana, Tom from Minnasota and Dave from Virginia.
Once again we started out trolling the reef with 3 baits skipping across the surface and 2 baits running deep on planner board. And once again the bonitos were biting. Everyone was catching fish at will and after we had all had just about enough of catching bonitos we tried keeping one alive and slow trolling him over a ship wreck. Sure enough they just can't resist it and BAM a monster barracuda jumped on the bait and we were Hooked Up. Dan jumped in the chair and the fight was on. It was a back and forth tug a war for a good 10 min but finally once the fish got within J.J. gaffing range he never had a chance.
Way to go Dan and J.J. nice job with the gaff.
Guys thanks again for a fun day of fishing and good luck with your golf game tomorrow.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 15
Ok today we started out with a bunch of young men out for a bit of beer and fishing.
We had Scott from Phoenix, Brain, Mike, Derek and Nick all from Indiana.
Once again we trolled the reef with our planner boards and our baits skipping across the surface and yes once again we wacked the bonitos. I'm not sure how many we caught but we did not want to catch any more.(LOL) So we went to a ship wreck and managed to pull out a nice barracuda.
Nice going guys and remember easy on the drinking. (LOL)
As we pulled back to the dock we had Ryan and Amanda from Kentucky waiting for us along with Joe from parts unknown.
Once again the bonitos were there but so were the king fish and a nice barracuda. I think Amanda ended up with the king fish and Ryan caught a nice barracuda. Every one caught bonitos.
Guys thanks to all of our anglers today it was a blast having you aboard the Hooked Up.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 16
Ok today we had a shared charter going with a couple of lady's that have fished with us in the past. We had Carol from Huntington West Virginia and Theresa from Ft Lauderdale and we also got a last min guy Bruce from Mars I mean Conn to join us.
We started out trolling the reef catching king fish. It seemed every day we were catching a lot of bonitos but today not so much king fish would rulers of the reef today. And that was fine with us
After everyone had caught fish we thought we would end the trip with putting out a couple of big shark baits out just to see if we could get lucky.
Well I must admit it only took about 30 min of waiting till I seem our balloon going under and we were Hooked Up.
Carol jumped in the chair and the fight was on. It was a back and forth tug a war for a good 30 min till we finally got a look at the big sand bar shark.
J.J. somehow managed to slide him in threw the tuna door got all 3 hooks out of him got a quick measurement to have a replica trophy made of Carol's fish and watched him swim out of the tuna door and swam off in great shape.
Guy's thanks so much for a fun morning of fishing and carol I've got your shirt give me a call.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 18
This morning we started out our day fishing with Danny from North Carolina, Timothy from Ft Lauderdale, Chesty, Marissa and Randy also from Ft Lauderdale.
We started out trolling the reef with 2 planner boards running about 45 feet down and 3 baits skipping across the surface. While the surface baits were not producing any fish the 2 planners were hooking them left and right. We ended up with a couple king fish and a box full of bonitos.
As we pulled back to the dock we had Peter, Gianni, Josef, John and Ray Ray waiting and ready to give their luck a shot at some deep sea fishing aboard the Hooked Up.
Once again we went right to trolling on the reef and once again the bonitos were biting well. So as we were trolling the reef catching these bonitos we were working our way toward a ship wreck that lay about 110 feet down on the bottom.
Once we got to the wreck Captain Greg brought in all the trolling gear and set out a big live bonito on a wire leader with trouble hooks in the bonito. Once the trap was set and the poor bonito found himself in a BAD neighborhood and BAM the water exploded and we were Hooked Up. At first this big barracuda came out of the water dancing all over the surface but then he went straight down trying to get back into the wreck. We pulled away from the wreck as Josef locked the drag down and held the rod tip up high trying to stop his fish. After a few min we were far enough away from the wreck for Josef to slowly work his fish toward the boat. At last a big barracuda in the boat. Way to go Josef.
Thanks again to all of our anglers today for a fun day on the water.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 19
Today we started out fishing With Kathy and Carlos who had charter the boat for Mike and his good friend Mike who had both just gotten back from Afghanistan. We started out trolling the reef catching a few bonitos on the reef. As we worked our way down to the south where a ship wreck lay on the bottom Captain Greg set out a live bonito with a wire leader.
It only took a couple of min till a big barracuda seen this bonito and BAM the fight was on. Kathy jumped in the chair and it was on. Kathy fought her barracuda for a good 10 min and at last he was in the boat. Nice going Kathy.
Everyone had a great time but this afternoon we had a seasoned fisherman fishing with us and we knew we were going to have to find something more than just bonitos and barracudas.
As we got to the dock we had Kenny and his friend Kathy, Susan I mean Dawn (LOL) waiting for us. Kenny works the shows up in Manhattan New York and works about 1,000,000 hours a week for about 7 months in a row so he likes coming down here to just get away whenever he can. Over the years Kenny has not only become a regular aboard the Hooked Up but a very close friend as well.
We let Kenny know that fishing was a bit on the slow side but as it turned out all he was looking for was for his friend to catch her first fish and maybe a little fish for dinner.
Once again we started out trolling the reef catching a few bonitos. And yes once again as we got to this ship wreck Captain Greg set out a live bonito and this young lady had the fight of her life catching a nice barracuda. If I were blind I would have thought she was catching a monster blue marlin with all the yelling going on.
At this point Captain Greg came up stairs to drive and I went down stairs to work the cock pit. Greg knew of a bottom spot that used to hold some nice snappers. It took a good 15 min of Greg driving around in circles but when he said for me to drop and that he had found the spot I never expected to catch them as big and as many as we did.
I am sorry to say that we never took any pictures of these snappers but they were all about 3 pounds each with one of them a good 5 pounder.
Guy's thanks again for a fun day of fishing and Donna, Kathy I mean Susan hope you guys enjoy dinner (LOL)
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 20
Today we started out with a mother farther and son team to start out father's day. We had Joe and Linda and their son Andrea from Annapolis Mo.
Once again the reef was full of bonitos and we caught a box full followed up with a monster barracuda.
That same afternoon we had a father and son team Jeff and Jeff from West Palm Beach Florida.
And again the reef was producing Bonitos and a couple of king fish and 2 nice barracudas.
I would like to wish all the dads out there Happy Fathers day and thanks to the rest of our anglers that brought their dads out aboard the Hooked Up.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 23
There is an old fishing saying that goes something like this (That's why they call it fishing not catching)
Today was just one of those days where fishing was just SLOW!
I wish that I could write about a great fishing trip every time I write one of our fishing stories but the truth is fishing is just that fishing and today it was what we call a tough day on the rip.
We started out our day with Jack, Becky, Bob, Tracy, William and Benjamin from Ill and Iowa.
We trolled the reef hopping the bonitos would still be biting but after a couple of hours with no bites we knew it was time to try something else. So we went to a wreck and finally managed to catch Benjamin a nice barracuda.
As we got back to the dock we had Larry and his two sons Ethan and Anthony and Larry's Sister Karen waiting to see if they could change our luck.
We started out trolling the reef but the seas had picked up and we decided to try some fishing on the inside in the bay.
We anchored up the boat and J.J. started chumming the waters with big pieces of bonitos and before we knew it we had school of Jack caravels around the boat.
Hey we found fish!! Everyone was having a ball catching jacks when all of a sudden we got a big jack on the line and this one was not coming to the boat quite so easily. But after a 10 min back and forth tug a war we finally landed a 12 pound jack. Ok so now our luck was changing for the better. We than slow trolled some live blue runners around when all of a sudden not one but two big barracudas attacked our baits at the same time.
At this point we were trying to not only keep these fish from getting us wrapped around a piling but we were also trying to stay out of the way of other boats that were cursing up and down the water way. Once we finally got the first barracuda in the boat we went after the bigger of the two. After another 10 min we got him!!
What a great way to end the day. Thanks again guys you turned a slow day of fishing into a blast.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
June 26
Ok so the last few days of fishing has been on the slow side due to the full moon so today we thought we would go back to some kite fishing with live baits suspended from the kites and leave the trolling along for a few days and as it turned out we made the right choice.
We started out our day with Jeff, Travis and Chad from Nashville Tenn. and Kyle from Fort Worth Texas.
We went to about 145 feet of water and set out both our kites with 3 live baits suspended from them and one big dead shark bait also suspended from the kite. We also set out a shark bait on the bottom.
We waited for over an hour when all of a sudden out of nowhere we seen a BIG splash right where our shark bait was under the kite. The rod bent over line started screaming off the reel and we were Hooked Up.
Kyle jumped in the chair and the fight was on. Now I've got to say that 9 out of 10 fish we get Hooked Up with we know what kind of fish we are fighting but all we had seen was a big splash and this fish was not going down it just stayed near the surface and pulled hard.
After about 15 min Kyle finally was gaining well on his fish and it turned out to be a spinner shark that had gotten all wrapped up in the leader and never even had a hook in him.
As we got him next to the boat we got a couple of pictures of him next to the boat and as we cut the leader he got unwrapped and darter off in great shape.
Ok we still were not doing great but at least we got the skunk out of the box.
After getting all the baits set back out there we seen a sail fish coming up on our right short kite bait. Captain Greg was trying to feed this sailfish the bait but after what seemed like forever I asked him what was going on? Greg replied I think he is just sitting there with the bait in his mouth. So he decided to go ahead and try him. Greg locked up the reel and started reeling as I went ahead with the boat trying to get the line tight ASAP. Well all of a sudden out came this sail fish dancing all over the surface and out came the bait right out of the sails mouth. (RATS)
Ok time to regroup now. We got the baits right back out there and as soon as the trap was once again set I noticed a real nice blue edge of water outside of us. So I started bumping the boat out to this edge. As soon as we got our baits on this edge here comes this big hammer head shark charging the bait like a freight train and once again we were Hooked Up.
This time we had Jeff in the chair and the fight was on. It was a back and forth tug a war for a good 20 min but at last we got him close enough for a couple photos and watched him swim away in good shape.
Thanks again to all of our anglers today.
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free (877) SEA-4344
