July was the month for deep dropping, groupers and snappers were the fish of choice in the Bahamas and the fabulous Florida Keys.
Those anglers who stayed home in the Miami area were rewarded with plenty of swordfish action in the cool of the evening. Mahi mahi our summer staple were scattered but the fish that were caught were larger than average. The star crossed mini lobster season two day event took place as the month waned with mostly tragic news. Many of the lobsters were “short” and had to be returned and several fatalities and injuries cast a pall over the proceedings. Many anglers reported hooking up with marlin adding fuel to the demands for a two day Miami marlin tournament.
Retired doctor George Irvin ventured out of Red Hook Marina in St.Thomas and caught his first ever blue marlin putting the icing on the cake to his long and successful angling career. The fish easily in excess of four hundred pounds was released to fight again. Doctor George was accompanied by his son Lee an insurance executive with skills of a charter captain learned in his youth. By catching this beast medico George might have outgrown his fishing buddies Jim Taintor and Billy Ray Smith.
Captain Bart Sherwood fresh from his blue fin tuna success proved he was a captain for all seasons. Bottom fishing expert Bart and Captain Mike Henry guided a fun loving group of anglers to a mutton snapper bonanza. The group known only as Eddie, Adam, Scooter [not Libby] and Bill were fishing on the Fighting Lady off the dry dock wreck.
Jack Agramonte, Crook and Crook’s manager and first mate on the Ecuadorian National Fishing Team tournament vessel Jichi, decided to surprise his significant other, the charming Lilly, with a lobster dive. When she inquired where they were going Jack told her.” We are going beneath the waves to harvest fruits of the sea.’ Alas true love does not always run smoothly as the lady was unable to participate in the underwater adventure. Undaunted Captain Jack went with his friends [both of them] and spotted only undersized creatures].
Just received this epistle from veteran Captain George Mitchell former Florida Keys legend now chartering out of Jupiter, Florida. –“just got back from my best trip of this season in Venice, La. We caught a total of eight yellowfin tuna from 55 to 191 pounds here’s a coupla [sic] shots. I caught the 182 lber in 27 minutes on a Penn VSW with 50 pound line, 80 leader The wahoo weighed 48, the dorado 34.” Note Americas tower of hope in the background of the captain’s photo.
The arrival of mid summer means that it’s once again time for the areas two premier swordfish tournaments. Entrepreneur Captain Brick Peeples two nocturnal events are just around he corner. The captain announced that his Florida Swordfish Series will start with Islamorada Swordfish Tournament at the Cheeca Lodge and Spa. This event will run from August 11th thru the 13th. The second jewel of the duo will be the Miami Swordfish Tournament which will run from September 7th thru the 10th at the Miami Beach Marina. For information call Capt. Richard H. Peeples III at [305]282-1006.
Three senior members of the venerable and prestigious Tropical Angles Club showed they still had the angling skills of their salad days on a recent outing on Al Pflueger’s twenty three foot Tournament Contender [a mint condition vessel that is currently on the market]. Attorney Jim Dunnellin and Dick Coe a MET master angler during the Johnson administration [Andrew] ganged up on a snapper and brought him into the boat. The third member of the trio famed angler Al Pflueger captured an African pompano while impersonating Dontrelle Willis. Nimrod Al, a ghost from the past, is back on the fishing scene after hunting deer all over the globe. This proves the adage – you’re never too old to fish if you have the expertise, good chum and Geritol.
Coni Gibson of Wheat Ridge Colorado took her grandson Connor Richey fishing while visiting the Magic City. Ms.Gibson chartered famed charter Captain Jose Alvarez and his Ali Cat for a day in the gulf stream. The weather conditions were frightening but the westerners were troopers and fished while hanging on for dear life. It paid off when young Connor, a student at Kullerstrand Elementary School back home in the mountain state, caught his first ever mahi mahi aka dolphin. The fish proved to be a rare pygmy dolphin.
Continuing a seven year tradition Captain Bill Harrison teamed with Ester and Markus Schultz on the family’s annual Bahamas trek. They took Markus” boat Cracker from Fort Meyers Fl. to Cat Island, Hawk’s Nest and back home. During the odyssey they caught large dolphin, yellow fin tuna, deep water snapper and a host of mystic groupers including an 82 pound beast. The last day of fishing proved the best when they captured a large blue marlin. The Cracker was cruising from Nassau to the newly refurbished Chub Cay Club when they tossed out a trolling lure. A blue in excess of four hundred pounds took the bait and the battle was on, they finally brought in the fish after twelve jumps. The fish was released and the trip went from enjoyable to memorable.
Captain Peter Bristow reports that the marlin have returned to Madeira in frenzied fashion. Two harbingers of successful marlin fishing are increasing number of hookups an the arrival of Stewart Campbell, Captain Bark Garnsey and their legendary boat Chundra. Captain Bristow had the hard luck tale of the season. In Captain Peter’s own words – “on the 5th of July Neil Patrick of Halco Tackle was fishing on the Katherine and hooked a blue marlin in excess of 1400 pounds. I was on he wheel and I ran over the line while the fish was very close only minutes into the game. This has never happened to me in 45 years of fishing [editor’s note he started fishing at three years old]. After trying to get over the shock of what had just happened I spoke to Captain Bark Garnsey on the Chundra and told him what I had done. He took me off the hook by saying he had lost count on how many times that happened to him in the early minutes of the fight.. Neil was using lures with a single hook and went five of six in four days.”
An idea whose time has come: Sometimes the fates converge and events that seemed impossible suddenly become do-able and soon develop into commonplace occurrences. This seems to be happening on the Miami area marlin scene. Not too long ago if you suggested a blue marlin tournament in the Miami you would be suspected of being brain dead. Suddenly as if orchestrated such diverse anglers are all suggesting not only is a tournament feasible but needed. Anglers such as Jack Agramonte. Warren Sands, Rob Ruwitch, Ross Reeder, John Louie Dudas and Captain Brick Peeples are clamoring for a Miami marlin contest. Don’t be shocked if we have a two day marlin event in the immediate future.
That’s it for this month fans, as usual I close with the quote of the month: Captain David Smyth second in command of John Deveaney’s armada [they have everything but alas a Merritt Boat] is now running John’s ferry service to the remote Island of Cat Cay bringing needed supplies to the natives [caviar, Dom Perignon, western beef and other staples] is quite proud of his humanitarian efforts. He recently proclaimed to his loyal mate, Hunter sort of a marine Tonto. Pointing his finger dramatically in the air Smyth shouted “remember the ferry is never late!!”
