Maybe Some Sailfish Reports are Exaggerated

We all know the sailfish action this January has been red hot. It seems as if every boat has broken their personal records. Tournaments are reporting releases in the THOUSANDS. People are reporting double-digit days up and down the Florida coast, but some stories seem a bit far fetched. Here are my favorites. You decide. (Names have been witheld to protect the innocent.)



Not Your Typical Double-Double
I talked to one captain this week who retold the story of his most unusual double-header. "There we were at bug light shagging bait when I see a sailfish tailing," he explained. "My first instinct was to toss my Sabiki at him, which I did. The sailfish took the one pilchard that was on the sabiki and swallowed it. I was on. As I fought the fish on 8-pound test he dragged the Sabiki along with him. As you would have it, a few more pilchards jumped on the Sabiki and they too were hooked. So now I am fighting a sailfish and 3 pilchards. Then another sailfish shows up and downs one of the pilchards. Now it gets crazy. I have two sailfish and two pilchards on 8-pound test. I continue to work them until I am able to get the release on both sails and got the two pilchards into the livewell. Does that count in a tournament," he asked? I looked at him a bit sideways and shook my head.



The Overnighter

This captain is know for his swodfishing skills, but he does well in sailfish tournaments too. This is his story. "One night, we setup for swords on the line. About 7pm we start getting bites, but they are not swords, but sailfish! After releasesing around a dozen sailfish on swordfish gear, we switched to lighter tackle and targeted the sails. We were catching sailfish all night and into the next day. By the time sundown came, 24 hours later, we had releases 133 sailfish! This is my personal record and a new record for the boat. Oh, and we caught a nice 400-pound sword as well." I just loved his nonchalant retelling of the tale.



El Farito

I'm walking to my car this morning and i see the guy who cuts my grass. Let's call him Theodore to protect his name. He tells me this quick little tidbit. "I was en El Farito trying to cash son roncos for dinner. Den dis big fich come up jumpin like a somononbeach! It was a sailfich. So dare I am pulling him wit my jojo. I tought he was going to break my line. It is 100-pound line so he didn break it. I pull him up and he was a big big fich. He did not fit in my cooler. I took it home in my picku. No roncos for us dat night! Ju wan son?" No, I politely replied.




We all know January has been hot. Now is the time to see if you can keep us the the sailfish. The recent coldfronts continue to push fish south.



We've already heard reports of double-digit days off Fowey and Pacific.



As always we'll have open bar, great food, free boat wash, and more. See you next Thursday Jan 26 at Monty's in the Grove.



www.MayorsCupTournament.com



Introducing the $1,000,000.00 Bounty for the Grove SLAM!

Yes. $1,000,000.00 in cash. And it is simple. We'll be tagging 10 dolphin in April with unique id tags. If any of these fish are caught during the Grove SLAM! you'll win $1,000. And if you catch the mahi with the unique $1,000,000.00 tag, then you win $1,000,000.00! It could not be any easier. Stay tuned to www.GroveSLAM.com for details.



We'll see you May 3-5 for the World's Funnest Fishing Tournament, The Sea Vee / Mercury Grove SLAM! www.GroveSLAM.com




The Miami Marine Flea Market is moving to a bigger location! Tropcial Park is the new home and we've expanded to 3 days for nautical bargains. Look for $2 coupons in your favorite fishing magazine. March 18-20, 2011