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January 1, 2005 - Key West Fishing ReportSeasons change in most of the great United States by leaves turning color, temperatures falling, and fashions getting thicker. In Key West, however, we monitor the season by the tourists and their apparel. In spring, we watch for spring breakers sprawled on the sidewalks at 4 am, trash cans upturned, wet T-shirt contests and the "all you can drink" specials at Duval Street bars. Summer comes on hot with Hemingway look-a-likes, loud piped Harley's, and lawyers dressed as pirates ordering Amstel Light at the Schooner Wharf Bar. Fall is brought on by painted public nudity, masks, and pets dressed as people during the big Fantasy Fest extravaganza. Fishing follows a certain pattern too, in Key West, but with a little more subtlety... We started off the New Year with a bang. Actually, the bang started about Christmas, and we got our wish! The shortest run to the fish possible with the best catch, short of a Marlin, possible. The main ships channel South of Key West is only 6 miles to 100 feet of water. About a 20 minute run for most of us and for 11 days provided wonderful Sailfish action with the occasional Bonita, Dolphin, Tuna, Kingfish thrown in for diversion. Bonus, these were country fish! You didn't need live bait, kites, dredges, or 2 pound test fluro-carbon leaders to catch them. Old fashioned trolling dead ballyhoo made for consistent catches of three to five Sailfish a day without breaking a sweat or burning a full tank of fuel. Sportfish and light tackle boats rubbed shoulders in the 100 to 120 feet of water that surrounds the head pin of the ships channel. A lot of these fish were small, 20 to 30 pounds, but some full-grown examples were present just to challenge any angler who was tempted to make quick work on 12 pound test. New Year's Eve at Sloppy Joe's
New Year's Day New Year's day came early, but we were smart enough to have scheduled a noon day charter. Shanti and Craig Seigel from New York City had become our friends over the past week. They chartered the Mr. Z for a sunset trip on the preceding Thursday and being the silver-tounged devil that I am, talked them into a fishing charter too. My first mate, Dread Pirate Steve, had all his ducks in a row. We left the dock with high hopes, light drags, and heavy hangovers. The air was crisp, but not cold as was evident by Shanti's colorful bikini. Both being advertising exectutives from the City, they were weary of my "Sails been chew'n the bottom out of the boat," sales pitch. I had painted a rosy picture and was now bound and determined to frame it.
On the ride out, I talked on the VHF to several early-riser charter boats that were fishing in the "Sailfish hole" and was told that it was, indeed, happening. I slowed the big Bertram and laid out the riggers as the fathometer measured one hundred feet. Dread Pirate Steve had just made a purchase of two “strip teasers” to run off each outrigger. These are incredible teasers made from strips of shower curtain material with little fish stickers on them. Ridiculous actually, but they work! By the third bait out we had raised a Sailfish on the flat line. A scrappy 25 pound billfish bound and determined to crush our closest ballyhoo. “Snap” went the release clip and without missing a step, Steve was dropping back. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three… lock it up and fish on! Craig was first in the fighting chair and worked that fish like a pro. 30 lb. test on a Shimano TLD 25 is our tackle of choice for Sails. Just enough ass to turn a heavy fish, but enough play to make this fish put on the aerial show of a lifetime.
Again, the lines went back in the water and it wasn’t long before a double-header Sailfish showed up. Both outriggers snapped simultaneously and two fish were in the air. Steve wasted no time in getting Shanti in the fighting chair and strapping on the stand-up belt to Craig. Clearing the lines and keeping ahead of the Sails became job one, but there is never a guarantee in offshore fishing. Shanti’s fish threw the hook as it cartwheeled across the stern of the boat. Craig made short work of his fish and our third release was photographed. We rounded out the day with several Bonita releases and a Dorado. The sun sets early this time of year so we headed back to Key West Harbor to celebrate our catches. Three release flags fluttered in our rigger as we passed the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square. Lot’s of waves and thumbs up from tourists as we cruised the dockside bars and coasted back into the A and B Marina. As night fell, we regaled the dock with our stories of high flying Sailfish and soaked up Cuban Mojitos. 2005 had started off strong and we have high hopes of an outstanding year ahead. Life’s short, fish hard! Capt. Craig Mr. Z
Mr.
Z Charters (305) 296-0910
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Shanti’s
turn was next and it didn’t take long before the shotgun clicker
went off up top and it was my turn to set the hook on a Sail.
Passing the rod down to Steve and into the gimbel of the Murray fighting
chair, Shanti got to test her metal on a feisty Sailfish.
This fight lasted a while. The fish spent as much time on its’
tail as it did in the water. As soon as Shanti took 50 yards of line,
the Sail ran it back out. A saltwater tug-o-war
even