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30 May 2009
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Marquesas Trip |
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Today I fished with Brian & Rose from NJ. I have been fishing with them for years. Our plan was to run out to the blue water, catch a dolphin, and then run to the Marquesas, pull up on a beautiful beach and fire up the grill. Luck was on our side. We caught a 30LB dolphin right off the bat. The run to the Marquesas was nice and calm, and the water was gin clear. I pulled up to my favorite beach and set up the grill while they took a dip and drank a cold one. In no time I had fresh dolphin grilled to perfection. We had a great lunch! Before we headed back to Key West, I threw my cast net on a school of mullet. Back in K.W. I ran to one of my favorite tarpon spots. We made a few drifts and then Brian hooked a huge tarpon. It put on a great show, jumping non stop. What a way to end the day! It’s nice to break up the trip, with a picnic and a swim. I will customize a trip, and do what ever you would like to do.
Captain Stan |
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29 May 2009
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Big Dolphin |
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I fished offshore today, we were targeting dolphin. One mile past the reef, I spotted a frigate bird that was diving, and knew he was on fish. I put two baits out, and trolled them under the bird. On our first pass we got a bite. The fish made a long run, then came up jumping. We saw it was a big dolphin. I thought it was around 30LB or so. After a long battle we had the dolphin about 30 yards behind the boat, that’s when we got a good look at him. It was much bigger than I thought. As it got closer it looked huge. 30 min. after hooking the fish, I was able to gaff it. He was bigger than the cooler. I guessed it was around 45LB. We weighed it back at the dock and it was just over 50LB. What a monster! We ended up with a cooler full of nice dolphin from 15 to 50LB. What a great day! It’s prime dolphin time. The seas are calm, and the fishing is great. Tarpon are also red hot now. Call or email me if you would like to book a trip.
Thank you,
Captain Stan |
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28 Jan 2009
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Marquesas Trip |
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Ran to the Marquesas today and fished the inside channels, which offer protection from the strong north wind.
The water was calm, clear and teeming with life. En route to my fishing spot, we saw several turtles and rays, and bait was plentiful.
After anchoring up, we had immediate action, which was nonstop all day long.
Action included large mangrove snappers, mutton snappers, jack crevalles, a bull shark, three lemon sharks, a couple barracuda and a giant stingray.
It was a great day with constant excitement. Went home with a cooler full of snapper and some great shark pictures.
Fishing is getting better every day now.
Spots such as the Marquesas offer great protection during these windy months for a comfortable and successful trip.
Call or email to book a trip.
Thank you,
Capt. Stan Miles
305-797-3116 |
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17 June 2008
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Filming TV pilot |
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Set out today with more pressure than normal after being selected to appear as the featured captain during the filming of a television pilot.
The producers’ goal was to capture, beginning to end, all that is involved in a successful tarpon trip. From cast-netting live mullet to actually hooking and catching the tarpon, they wanted it all.
With one productive throw of the cast net, the biggest obstacle was overcome. We had plenty of mullet and were ready to fish.
After demonstrating knots, rigs and baits for the cameras, and riding out a huge afternoon thunderstorm, we could finally head to my tarpon spot.
We anchored up, but within a few minutes, were engulfed by massive amounts of seaweed.
A tarpon’s incredible eyesight and awareness of anything unnatural makes it imperative to keep baits and line free of obstacles.
The seaweed added another layer of difficulty in catching our targeted species.
And time was of the essence. With only 20 more minutes of filming time, the host and crew had already resigned themselves to a second attempt on another day.
But being 100 percent certain I could hook one, 15 minutes was all I needed.
I continuously cast the bait off the side and let it drift back with the current. With no tension on the line, the bait and weed drifted together, with fewer hang-ups.
I’d let it drift over my tarpon hole, wind it back in, clear the weed off and do it again and again.
This routine was happily interrupted five minutes after the film crew gave a 15-minute warning.
With the setting sun turning the Key West sky pink, a 100-lb. tarpon destined for showbiz slammed the bait and put on a show.
He fought, jumped, spun and jumped again for the cameras, thrilling the film crew and exhilarating me.
The fight lasted 10 minutes. I won.
Cut. That’s a wrap.
The crew is editing the television pilot as we speak. It includes interviews, demonstrations and plenty of Key West fishing.
I’ll keep you posted...
Summer is here and the fishing is great. Call or email to book a trip.
305-797-3116 or fishstan_miles@yahoo.com
Thanks, Capt. Stan Miles
Thanks
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1 June 2008
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Half-day dolphin trip |
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Today’s was only a half-day trip, but fortunately we found a weed line in close, in 400 feet of water.
It produced a steady pick at nice dolphin from 8 to 14 pounds.
This is the only time of year a half-day dolphin trip can be successful.
Weather’s great, bite’s on, time is now.
Call or e-mail to book a trip. 305-797-3116, or fishstan_miles@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Capt. Stan Miles
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22 May 2008
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Offshore trip |
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Headed out in search of dolphin and saw a frigate bird working in 450 feet of water.
Trolled a couple of baits under him, and hooked a 15-lb. and 18-lb. dolphin.
Continued off shore a half mile before another frigate bird led us to success. Caught three dolphin, all about 10 pounds.
Another few miles...another frigate bird... another three fish in the 10 pound range.
Bird was still diving, so we swept it again and hooked a 20-lb. wahoo and a 15-lb. dolphin.
Continued off shore and found a weed line just inside the wall, which yielded a steady stream of dolphin from 5 to 20 pounds.
Headed home with a full cooler and satisfied smiles all around. Dinner was served.
Call to book a trip. 305-797-3116, or fishstan_miles@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Capt. Stan Miles
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18 May 2008
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Tarpon trip |
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Had an evening tarpon trip with two great clients. Brian and Rose from Beachaven, N.J. had their hearts set on a big tarpon.
We anchored up in one of my hot tarpon spots with a live well filled with mullet.
Before I could get the second bait in the water, a giant 150-lb. tarpon inhaled the bait, instantly jumped 10 feet in the air, and did a backflip before spitting the hook.
We regrouped and got two baits in the water. Seconds after the second mullet hit the water, it was viciously attacked by an 80-lb. tarpon who meant business.
Dropped the anchor ball and fitted Rose with the fighting belt. The chase led to an incredible 45-minute battle of screaming reels, long runs, exciting jumps and violent head shakes.
Until this victory, Rose’s previous (and plentiful) encounters had been won by the fish known for its skill in dislodging hooks and avoiding capture.
We released the fish and returned to the anchor ball, but didn’t stay long.
Brian’s was the second bait cast, and once again, it was instantly engulfed, this time by the 150-lb. tarpon he had been waiting years to beat.
Once again, we dropped the anchor ball and began a staggering two-hour fight that spanned more than three exhausting miles.
The tarpon amazed us with its strength, endurance and refusal to show weakness.
But Brian’s obsession prevailed with a caught fish and lifetime of memories.
This is prime time for tarpon, dolphin and many other species. Don’t miss out on the hot bite.
Dates are limited, so book a.s.a.p.
Thank you,
Capt. Stan Miles
305-797-3116, fishstan_miles@yahoo.com
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3/12/08
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Welcome, tarpon season! |
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Tarpon fished a good client this evening.
One throw of the cast net yielded three dozen live mullet, two dozen more than we had hoped for.
After clearing the biggest hurdle - catching bait - we made the 10-minute run to the fishing ground.
Arrived there at prime time - an hour and a half before sunset.
Hooked a 30-pound jack crevalle on our first drift, which gave us a 20-minute fight before we took pictures and released it.
The same drift also had two tarpon bites that eluded the hooks, and we then hooked another 30-pound jack crevalle, which fought even tougher and took 30 minutes to land.
Set up for another drift and had an instant hook-up. After another 20-minute battle,expecting to see another jack crevalle, a 14-pound mangrove snapper came into sight and sent me scrambling for the landing net.
Spent the duration of the trip fighting fish, although not the targeted species. Nevertheless, a bent rod is a bent rod. The action never stopped and dinner was in the cooler.
Tarpon action gets hotter every day and there’s always something biting.
Tarpon season is just beginning and continuously gets better every day for the next three months.
March and April are already booked solid.
Call or email today to get a date for May or June.
fishstan_miles@yahoo.com or 305-797-3116
Thanks,
Captain Stan Miles
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3/6/08
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Marquesas snapper and sharks |
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Made memories today for 13-year-old J.C. who had never caught a fish bigger than 10 inches.
He was in a heated rivalry with his 16-year-old sister for the biggest fish, and won the contest today in the Marquesas, where he caught six fish longer than 14 inches within the first five minutes.
His ultimate bragging rights came when he caught a 6-foot, 100-pound shark, which I grabbed by the dorsal fin and brought on board the boat. I stood on his pec fins long enough for photographs, before hoisting him overboard and releasing him unharmed.
We ended the day snorkeling at a beautiful coral head, where we saw numerous tropical fish and all kinds of sea life. The perfect end to a memorable trip.
Fishing’s excellent, anything’s possible.
Call or email to book a trip. fishstan_miles@yahoo.com or 305-797-3116.
Thanks,
Captain Stan Miles |
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3/4/08
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Flag Yellowtails |
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Took a good client of mine, Robbie Bacon, and his 4-year-old son, Stillwell, to one of my best yellowtail spots.
After marking a big school on the depth finder, we strategically positioned the boat upwind and upcurrent so the chum would drop in the midst of our target.
Got lucky and hit it right on the button and was rewarded with a bite on every drift from the first bait and on...
We limited out on giant flag yellowtails from 18 to 28 inches.
Robbie and Stillwell left extremely happy after a day of nonstop action and a giant bag of yellowtail filets to remind them of how great the day was.
The next three months are peak season for any and everything you want to catch.
Dates are getting scarce, so call or email to book a trip. fishstan_miles@yahoo.com or 305-797-3116.
Thanks,
Captain Stan Miles |
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Jan. to March '08
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Winter update |
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It’s been a busy winter. Been away from the computer but not the fish.
Spent January and February following the sailfish bite from Palm Beach all the way back to Key West, with stops in between. The last stop was in Marathon, where we took third place in the Leon Shell Memorial Sailfish Tournament.
It’s good to be back in Key West, where the fishing is red hot.
Looking forward to the best three months of the year for sailfish, dolphin, tuna, tarpon and pretty much everything else.
Call or email to book a trip. fishstan_miles@yahoo.com or 305-797-3116.
Thanks,
Captain Stan Miles
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1/1/08
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Dolphin, tuna, shark and more |
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Prior to the arrival of a cold front that was forecasted to reach Key West around 4 or 5 p.m., we set out that morning to capitalize on the remaining calm seas.
It paid off.
We hooked and landed a nice dolphin, followed shortly thereafter by a 40-lb. silky shark.
It wasn’t long before we hooked and landed another nice dolphin, this time followed by a series of three blackfin tunas and then another dolphin.
The weather forecast was dead on. The winds picked up and the temperature dropped. That was our clue...the front was arriving, so we made the wise decision to head for home before the worst of it hit.
We had a great box of fish, and as we tied the boat up, the winds gusted violently in the midst of plummeting temperatures.
Knowing this was the last fishable day given the approaching front, everyone was ecstatic at the sight of a full cooler attached to a boat that was securely tied up, safe from Mother Nature’s fury that produced winds in excess of 35 knots over the next three days.
Thanks,
Captain Stan Miles
Call or email to book a trip at 305-797-3116 or fishstan_miles@yahoo.com |
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