Mahi Mahi have been coming through the area with fish ranging from 5 to 15 pounds being caught. The best bite has been during the morning trips during and just after a stiff north, northeast of east wind blows for a couple of days. The fish have been caught by anglers fishing different depths of the water column and various distances from the vessel.
Catches have been mixed with King Mackerel, Cobia, Mahi Mahi, False Albacore, Atlantic Bonito, Triggerfish, Porgies and Snapper. With so many large fish around, many anglers are opting to fish with the sardine or drift rigs instead of bottom rigs. Can you blame them?
The pulpit gets a little crowded with a double header going on. Here a Sailfish fights (r) as a King Mackerel makes a long hard run (l). In the end the King Mackerel was boated while the Sailfish was left in the water for photos and for the utmost safety of the fish then the leader was cut at the hook. Anglers not wishing to keep their catch should inform the crew so all unwanted fish may be released as quickly and safely as possible.
Sharks continue to prowl the waters like the Nurse Shark below which was caught and released during an afternoon trip. The fish was estimated to weigh about 200 to 250 pounds. Other sharks such as Bull and Hammerhead continue to patrol the reefs in search of wounded or hooked fish, sometimes following an anglers catch right up to the boat.