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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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12/31/07
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Fun Fishing with Friends |
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A couple of buddies and I took advantage of the beautiful weather on New Year’s Eve day. We set out in search of a wahoo to throw on the grill for the night’s festivities.
We ran to 150 feet of water and put the baits out. Fifteen minutes later, we hooked a nice, 10-lb. dolphin, which at least ensured plenty of fresh fish for the party.
The next 30 minutes were uneventful, until the left rigger suddenly popped and the reel screamed violently as 300 yards of line ripped off of it.
Feeling the telltale violent head shakes a few minutes into the fight, I knew we had a giant wahoo on the line. Twenty minutes later, I had the fish within sight of the boat. A final, last-ditch headshake and the wahoo threw the hook. Having the seen the fish, it was at least 40 pounds.
We shook off the loss and focused on the next one.
Twenty minutes later the left rigger exploded again with line screaming off the reel. An intense battle drew the fish within sight.
We were not to be defeated by his endless head shakes, and were able to get him within range of the gaff.
It wasn’t as big as the first, but still weighed 28 pounds and put icing on the cake for our New Year’s Eve barbecue, which now included dolphin AND wahoo.
Realizing we were almost out of beer and had a lot of fish to clean, we headed home to prepare a wonderful New Year’s Eve fresh-fish cookout...Only in the Keys, life is good.
Call or email to book a trip.
Thanks, Captain Stan Miles
305-797-3116, or fishstan_miles@yahoo.com |
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12/29/07
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Sailfish and dolphin |
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Back in Key West before the New Year, we were going to capitalize on the sailfish bite so we loaded up with live bait and headed to the blue water.
Five minutes after putting the baits out, we hooked a nice dolphin, landed it and looked forward to a red-hot day.
Unfortunately, we went a couple of hours without a bite before another dolphin came into the spread and ended up in our cooler.
An hour later, we hooked another dolphin, which ended up in the same place.
Another 45 minutes of boredom ended abruptly with a sailfish popping up in the spread and eating the right flatline.
We went from boredom to chaos to victory, after an exhilarating and spectacular fight. Sailfish mission accomplished, along with plenty of fresh dolphin for dinner.
Fishing will only improve, so book today. Call or email to book a trip.
Thanks,
Captain Stan Miles
305-797-3116 or fishstan_miles@yahoo.com |
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12/27/07
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After-Christmas Sailfish |
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Spent Christmas in Pompano Beach with my sister, mom and grandmother.
Returning to the Keys after the holiday, stopped in Key Colony Beach (Middle Keys) to fish with an old client from Atlanta, Mark and Tanya Curtis. The objective was to catch their buddy his first sailfish.
Considering our targeted species, I was willing to spend as much time as it took to get the proper ammunition...LIVE BAIT.
We started in search of ballyhoo, but the crystal clear water allowed them to see the cast net before it hit the water, making them impossible to capture.
I made the decision to run back inshore to look for pilchards along the flats, where I’ve caught them many times before. But upon arrival, we saw no pelicans or other birds diving. But knowing bait is somewhere near the area, we spent half an hour combing the flat and looking signs of their presence.
Thirty minutes later, we saw two pelicans dive and motored to where they dove. I threw the net and loaded up on pilchards.
We were now armed and dangerous and headed out to the blue water beyond the reef in search of the elusive sailfish.
We set up in 120 feet of water and put out a spread of four live pilchards and a live bait teaser. Action was slow for the first hour, but the boredom was interrupted when I saw one of our live baits jumping. Seconds later, I spotted a sailfish stalking the bait. The sailfish engulfed the bait and the fight was on. Warren had met his match.
The sailfish gave us a spectacular fight, running, jumping and thrilling the anglers.
The fish finally succumbed to Warren’s determination. We brought the fish on board for some quick photos before releasing it to fight another day.
It was a tough day from catching bait to finally catching the sailfish, but in the end, we had achieved our objective. In Warren’s eyes, he had summited Everest.
Congratulations to Warren on his first sailfish and on a job well done.
Call or email to book a trip...fishing is red hot.
Thank you, Captain Stan Miles
305-797-3116, fishstan_miles@yahoo.com |
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11/15/07
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More dolphin, kingfish and another wahoo |
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Today was a lot like yesterday...lots of kingfish, barracuda and bonita action out as deep as 300 feet with a few small dolphin in the mix.
Hooked a big wahoo as we trolled near a wreck. Several lines went off at the same time. We missed two on the bite, but had one solid hook-up that smoked the reel twice as fast as the 5-foot wahoo we caught yesterday.
During its line-melting run, another wahoo hit the lure, which had slid up the line, cutting him free.
Faces were long after an 0 for 3 wahoo attack.
We continued to troll around the wreck. After 10 or 12 passes, we hooked another wahoo, which gave us a great fight before succumbing to the gaff.
We decided to drop on the wreck, but quickly realized the barracudas would not allow it.
Running home with a cooler full of dolphin and wahoo once again put a smile on everyone’s face.
Thanks for reading, Captain Stan Miles.
Call to book a trip, 305-797-3116 or e-mail fish_stanmiles@yahoo.com |
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11/14/07
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Dolphin, Wahoo, Kingfish and more... |
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Water conditions hadn’t improved enough overnight to live bait. So like yesterday, we trolled dead baits and had immediate double- and triple-header action with kingfish, bonitas and barracudas.
Caught a couple of small dolphin before hooking something big on the downrigger. It screamed off more than 200 yards of line on its initial run, and made several more runs of 100 yards or more before we got it close enough to see it was a wahoo. With the green water concealing its true size, it continued to grow as it neared the surface. As it reached the surface, I realized it was at least five feet long.
Pure excitement erupted on the deck as I gaffed and boated the giant wahoo that was the highlight of the day.
We rounded out the day with a few more small dolphin, kingfish and bonitas.
Everyone wore a smile of hungry anticipation as we headed home with a cooler full of dolphin and a giant wahoo.
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11/13/07
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Dolphin, Kingfish, Barracuda |
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Loaded up with live bait on the way out, but conditions beyond the reef weren’t conducive for live-baiting, so we decided to troll dead ones instead.
The water was green with scattered weed everywhere...definitely not ideal conditions for sailfish.
After trolling five minutes, we had our first strike, which was a 10 lb. dolphin. Upon hooking that one and starting the fight, the left rigger popped. It was a smaller dolphin, about 5 lbs., which jumped and spit the hook.
We landed the 10-pounder.
The next couple hours were uneventful with the exception of some small king mackerel and tons of barracuda.
In search of more action, we trolled west toward the sub, in 242 feet of water, hoping the wreck would be more productive.
Dropped a live bait upon arrival at the sub, which was rewarded with an instant hook-up. The mystery fish was halfway to the boat when it was eaten by a barracuda.
Barracudas were increasingly aggressive, eating baits, even on their way to the bottom. After losing at least 10 fish to barracuda on the sub, we went back to trolling and spotted a frigate bird diving. Saw a flying fish under the frigate. As we trolled underneath the bird, we hooked an 18 to 20-lb. dolphin.
The fish fought like a 30-pounder, taking more than half the spool on his first run. He put on a spectacular show of jumps. After an intense 20-minute battle, we had the fish 10 feet behind the boat, just out of gaff range. Out of nowhere, a barracuda blasted the dolphin and severed the line.
We watched helplessly as our dolphin sank to the bottom, cut in two by the barracuda.
Caught a few more small dolphin, nonstop barracudas, and an occasional bonita for the remainder of the day.
Tons of action if you don’t mind reeling in barracudas, which can be exciting.
As hard as the wind’s been blowing, it was inevitable that the water would be stirred up. Hopefully the weatherman’s right, and the wind will lay down to allow the water to clear up into that perfect blue.
Check back for a more exciting report when conditions improve
Capt. Stan Miles, 305-797-3116
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11/2/07
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Sailfish and Dolphin |
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Set out today in search of sailfish.
Had no problem catching live bait on the way out.
Even though winds were still blowing 15 to 20 mph out of the northeast, we were pleased to see the seas were only 3 to 4 feet because the current and wind were headed the same way.
Found the color change in 300 feet, and set up for our first drift. Shortly thereafter, we hooked and landed a small dolphin.
We set up for another drift and waited.
Our patience paid off a half hour later when our targeted species, Mr. Sailfish, made an appearance. He ate a live bait on the flatline and gave us an incredible 30-minute battle on 20-lb. spin. Having won the battle, we were able to get him alongside the boat. Took pictures and measurements for a replica mount. After carefully reviving the fish, we released him unharmed to fight another day.
Had time for two more drifts, each of which produced a small dolphin.
Never saw another sailfish, but had accomplished our goal and had three bonus dolphin to filet at the dock.
Sailfish action is heating up and will only get hotter. Call or email to book a trip:
305-797-3116, or fishstan_miles@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Captain Stan Miles |
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