Key West Charter photos - First billfish

ncjawbreaker · 09-29-2009, 10:21 AM

The wife and I were in Key West last week for a meeting that just so happened to include a day of offshore fishing. We awoke Friday morning to a nice 10-15 kt wind and seas about 4-5 feet outside of the reef. Nonetheless, we headed out and put the spread out in about 1500 feet of water. After a while, the first strike of the day was a spearfish (mistaken for a white marlin). Fish landed and I think the boat crew was more happy than I. It was their first billfish of the year and my first billfish ever. It seems they do not have alot of people wanting to venture very far offshore, so they mostly do nearshore fishing.

After trolling for a while with no bites and dodging horrendous rain, we headed back in a ways and caught a mahi, 2 blackfin tuna, and 2 sharks. Not a bad day, and the tuna was absolutely great that evening.

Logan9581 · 09-29-2009, 01:13 PM

I haven't seen many but I'd call that a spearfish, not a white marlin. Good job either way though! What did it eat?

Capt. kapoc · 09-29-2009, 01:15 PM

Shortbill spearfish ....congrats

tabasco · 09-29-2009, 02:04 PM

crew and you should have been VERY happy. Not many anglers get spearfish in the US (outside of hawaii).

floridadeckie · 09-29-2009, 02:19 PM

definitely a longbill spearfish. not a rare catch, but definitely an uncommon one! great job!

ncjawbreaker · 09-29-2009, 03:02 PM

I stand corrected. I guess in the excitement I didn't pay attnetion to the fact that it didn't quite look like a white to me.

It ate a naked ballyhoo after attacking another skirted ballyhoo

Duke Blue Blood · 09-30-2009, 12:21 AM

Nice spear. Do you know who the captain was?

ncjawbreaker · 09-30-2009, 11:53 AM

DBB - Hurts me to even abbreviate that by the way(lol),

The captains first name was Chuck and he is with the outfit Linda D.

Thanks for all of the comments!

Captain Fred Archer · 09-30-2009, 01:58 PM

Definite spearo and a rare catch in the continental US too. Also wonderful eating. Congratulations!

ncjawbreaker · 10-01-2009, 09:43 AM

Thanks Captain!

09-29-2009, 02:04 PM	#4
tabasco Got fish Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: florida Posts: 189 Credits: 1,926.9	spearfish crew and you should have been VERY happy. Not many anglers get spearfish in the US (outside of hawaii).

09-29-2009, 02:19 PM	#5
floridadeckie Crab mustard is good Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Big Bend, Fl/Islamorada, FL Posts: 645 Credits: 2,309.1 Boat: hula girl Home Port: islamorada Occupation: fulltime freelance deckie	definitely a longbill spearfish. not a rare catch, but definitely an uncommon one! great job! __________________ *SALTWATER COWBOY OUTFITTERS* Serving the Florida Big Bend to the Keys with all your guiding, deckhand, and detailing needs PM me for rates and details www.saltwatercowboyoutfitters.com Jimmy D.

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09-29-2009, 01:13 PM	#2
Logan9581 Crab mustard is good Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 670 Credits: 5,312.8 Boat: 27 Oceanmaster, 18 Mako Flats Home Port: Bradenton, FL	I haven't seen many but I'd call that a spearfish, not a white marlin. Good job either way though! What did it eat?

09-29-2009, 01:15 PM	#3
Capt. kapoc Sit down Shut up And fish Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Virgina Beach, Va Posts: 583 Credits: 2,062.3 Occupation: Us Navy/ Charterboat Capt Blog Entries: 3	Shortbill spearfish ....congrats

09-29-2009, 03:02 PM	#6
ncjawbreaker Pit Monkey First Class Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 24 Credits: 315.8 Boat: 31 Cape Horn Offshore "Jawbreaker" Occupation: OMFS	I stand corrected. I guess in the excitement I didn't pay attnetion to the fact that it didn't quite look like a white to me. It ate a naked ballyhoo after attacking another skirted ballyhoo

09-30-2009, 12:21 AM	#7
Duke Blue Blood Guppy Breeder Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 34 Credits: 1,545.6 Home Port: Billfishreport.com Best Catch: Billfish Royal Slam Occupation: billfishreport.com	Nice spear. Do you know who the captain was?

09-30-2009, 11:53 AM	#8
ncjawbreaker Pit Monkey First Class Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 24 Credits: 315.8 Boat: 31 Cape Horn Offshore "Jawbreaker" Occupation: OMFS	DBB - Hurts me to even abbreviate that by the way(lol), The captains first name was Chuck and he is with the outfit Linda D. Thanks for all of the comments!

10-01-2009, 09:43 AM	#10
ncjawbreaker Pit Monkey First Class Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 24 Credits: 315.8 Boat: 31 Cape Horn Offshore "Jawbreaker" Occupation: OMFS	Thanks Captain!