SaltyDog Crew SwordTrip To Miami

[SaltyDog]

Wanted to go get some swordfish this winter and experience the daytime bite off Miami. Got together with the usual suspects who fish with me on The Salty Dog and we headed down for a quick 5 day getaway to Miami. Chartered with Double D, who was recommended by a number of friends. Planned to do a day-dropping sword bite, with a day off in between to hit the beach, followed by a night-bite for more swords. Wanted to learn some new techniques and tips for swordfishing up here. The florida guys are dialed in both day and night the past 10 years.


We had great weather the entire time, first day was a bit slow. Day-dropping for swords is somewhat boring but very productive for big swords. We fished for 6 hrs with no bites and then moved to our second location. 15 minutes and we got the tap,tap,tap, sword on. We cranked it up with the electric reel and then fought it at the surface. Jumped and slashed its bill, really amazing to a swordfish during the day! We had a 30 minute fight, NightBite on the rod, I leadered it, and the mate gaffed it. We were pumped to boat a swordfish and couldnt wait till dinner that night. We had another tap,tap,tap 30 minutes later but lost it on the way up. With a nice sword in the boat we decided it was time to hit the dock and enjoy the night, beers, fresh swordfish, and a night off to chill in Miami...



After a day off to relax on the beach and get over a hangover we were ready for the nightbite but our forecast suddenly changed and a front was moving in that evening so we had to modify the trip to a sailfish kite drift along the edge. On the way out we found a sail chasing ballyhoo and tossed a live herring and boated out first sail of the day. 10 minutes into the trip and the ice is broken. Double D then put out 2 kites with 6 live baits and we spent all day reeling in various fish...mahi blasted the spread multiple times, blackfin tuna, bonitos, and the day ended with 3 sailfish crashing the kites together. All in all a great trip. The cooler came home filled with swordfish and mahi. Nothing better than catching fish with your crew when its 30 degrees back home. Dean Panos of Double D Charters outfished every single boat that was out there with us and never said a word on the radio. The man has some serious fishing skills and was worth every dime. Going to be a long March and April...

[Reel Pursuit]

Congrats Mark & Jon!! Looks like you guys had a great trip. And sails to boot?
I'm jealous, wish I could have joined you but it's good to see some bluewater fishing action in winter for sure!

[Parapapam]

UUuummmm. Boy am I hungry!!!

Good job guys. I am jealous. So I am going to go out and have some fun... chipping ice dams out of my gutters.

Mike

[Captain Curt]

Very nice report and pics thanks for sharing.

[Bill_N]

Sounds like a fun trip with a nice sword! Gotta love the sailfish action in sight of the beach...

[cappyD]

Nice going. There is a reason why Dean has been on my Castafari links page for the passed 10 years A man of few words/graces...and lots of fish!

[Captain Don Campbell]

Nice going. There is a reason why Dean has been on my Castafari links page for the passed 10 years A man of few words/graces...and lots of fish!

nice trip

[Albatross32]

Great job Mark and crew!....

-Brian