Detagged

[gottaflylee]

This summer has been one of the best Sailfish bites I can remember in many years. It brings back to mind the late 60's and early 70's when you could stand on the bow of your boat and cast to them and with out a doubt that is when my affliction and love for these fish started. Some people get Tarpon fever...I get Sailfish fever in the summer, when we can go 5 to 10 miles off our coast and find them with some consistency.
This summer I have been blessed and seeing them almost every trip on the "Predator" or the "Gottafly" boat, it has almost become mundane that I don't report it much. Yesterday was a little different for me as this fish was bearing a special gift. It was tagged...first one I have ever retrieved out of a billfish and a nice fish for an inshore Sail...72" from the jaw to the fork of its tail.

As for those that fish with me know I like to make fishing "sporty" and fish with 20 pound test for large Kings and Sails...Penn 975's and Penn Slammers or 850's are reels of choice and this one was on the 975...gotta love it!




Note the tag just behind the peck fin and in the edge of the black line...hope you can see it in the picture





Clipping the tag




Another note; this Sail's bill was shorter than most...must have been broken off a while ago and grown back. It was more round and not so pointy.




Going back home...God I love this!

[gradywhite273]

nice work capt lee, outstanding.

[BTH284]

Great job Lee. I am right there with you as I am highly addicted to them now too! Cannot wait to get back out and raise some more. Purty work my friend!

[Sea Draggin]

For anyone interested you can get free tags from here:

Tags and tagging kits can be obtained from the CTC by calling 1(800) 437-3936, writing to us at: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Dr. Miami, Florida 33149
Eric.Orbesen@noaa.gov

Now has anyone seen my tag stick with my gaff wrap. I've lost it somewhere?

[Dave Sikorski]

Pretty work buddy!!

More reports damn it!!!

-D

[JMS-ILM]

nice, lee! please let us know the tag return information when you get it.....

looks to be a little sporty out there!

[Sterling]

Great report and very cool on the tag recovery. I personally have never caught a tagged fish. As mentioned, it would be great to hear any info that comes back on the tag. Nice work!

[trollman]

nice story too. once we get that first sail we are addicted for life. great fish!

just curious what your rigs look like, naked Hoo's? or casting lures?

[clt_capt]

Wonderful report Lee. Great job on the tag recovery. It is really gratifying to see a "second hand" fish - Proof that Tag and Release works - and more than one angler can enjoy the fish.

Great Job

[twodogs]

Awesome job Capt. Lee - I also very interested to see how far that sail has travelled...