sailfishing kinda sucks =/

[Ivan11]

well been out 9 times now and im 0/9. ive actually had 1 fish hooked and it jumped off. i went out today saw 3 free jumping at different times but no luck. had live goggs, herrings, runners as bait. 2 Kites 1 mid depth, 1 deep 1 flat and nada. i dont see how people catch so many sails cause i usually try to fish 2 days a week. think im gonna stick to swordfishing and bottom fishing

[lcosta02]

It's not for everyone man. Just keep trying. If it makes you feel better, I can catch sails all day, but I can't bottom fish for the life of me. I'll go 3/3 on the sails, but groupers and muttons always elude me/

[miamiangler1]

Originally Posted by Ivan11

well been out 9 times now and im 0/9. ive actually had 1 fish hooked and it jumped off. i went out today saw 3 free jumping at different times but no luck. had live goggs, herrings, runners as bait. 2 Kites 1 mid depth, 1 deep 1 flat and nada. i dont see how people catch so many sails cause i usually try to fish 2 days a week. think im gonna stick to swordfishing and bottom fishing

Hey Ivan


Never had trouble with sails ... I just use two rods ... set my drift and just put out two flat lines as far back as I can ... if west wind start at 90ft ... if east wind start at 250ft .....but my fav depth is 125ft if a south or north wind ... with big pilhards (much more livier)... dont care much for herrings ... Last year hooked my first spearfish and Marlin that way ...if you see sails free jumping .. check your depth ... then that is the area you want to stay at .. hope that will help

[Ivan11]

ya, like ive tried all that stuff and they still evade me. maybe i can hook up with lcosta one day, ill hook a mutton and pass u the rod, and u hook a sail and pass me the rod =)

[ContenderWays]

Fishing in general has sucked lately off miami in my time out.. the kings are smaller and scarce and the sailfish are hit and miss.

If you really want a sail get that kite up with some big kicking baits such as gogs runner or big pichards.. they will find ya...

Last year this time, we couldnt keep them off the line..

[quack quack]

With the sails so scattered this year start bump trolling.Put 2 baits in the riggers and 2 flats with one tight to the transom.Work in and out to find a fish.I bet you get one on your next trip out if you do this.Look hard for bait on the fish finder and if you see some bait do a few laps around that area.

[Warrior]

The bite has turned on up here... late. Multiple fish yesturday and today. It does sound like live bait only. They will come from everywhere for live gogs. Until you get your first one, feed him until you think he's ready to shit that bait. Crank tight and don't set the hook with the rod.

[Ivan11]

ya we had gogs last trip and got nothing but some undersized muttons that we threw back.

[Fishalways]

Coldfront that just came through should pick it up for tomorrow.

Give it a shot, kite and liveys.

[Ivan11]

my 21ft boat can only handle so much. im thinking i just go out on the lighter days, max 2-4 and thats why i havent caught shit

[OFFDUTYpushbutton]

Should be fine for your boat on a NW wind in where you need to be for the sails. We're heading out of Boca in the AM and going a little North, probably around the Martini Glass. Hopefully the small runners and gogs will be around before the sun comes up.

[Nick C]

Bait has been good in boynton... headin out this afternoon and/or Sunday. Fishing staight off the inlet.

[Warrior]

My friends up here, who actually fish, have given me excellent reports south of Ft.Pierce. Should be a good weekend for you guys from Jupiter to Miami. Let me know

[miamiangler1]

With the fronts coming through .. should make for some good sailfishing next week .. to bad I have to work ...I wish I had a 21ft`er ... I`d be out there !

[Ivan11]

so whats the best wind to get out there on? NW? N? NE?

[Warrior]

YES!!! This time of year, go when weather allows. Find the bait.

[miamiangler1]

A North west or north wind .. should be good ..if the seas come down a little should make for some good sail fishing ..if you can drift over some wrecks if you have them marked .. weed lines .. or change in color of the water .. you should hook up with some sails ... this is what I do ..out of Haulover ... have all the wrecks marked here if one does not work ..I move to the next

[Ivan11]

i usually always go to triumph reef, all the sails ive ever seen have been there. they all jump out of the water and (LOL) at me

[LHPfish]

What kind of hooks are you using? How long is your leader, Where are you hooking the baits. Make sure you bridle your larger baits.

[Ivan11]

i bridle with the small black rubber bands for the kite baits, flat lines i hook them thru the nose. 15+ft leaders. owner livebait j hooks 6/0

[LHPfish]

Originally Posted by Ivan11

i bridle with the small black rubber bands for the kite baits, flat lines i hook them thru the nose. 15+ft leaders. owner livebait j hooks 6/0

Interesting, and you're pulling hooks? I would try a smaller J hook. I'm all for catch and release but have found that smaller J hooks will work better on smaller baits. If I'm fishing a mixture of pilchards/herrings/runners/gogs i'll use a 4/0 owner livebait J all around unless the baits are gigantic. In the winter almost exclusively the 6/0's bridled with floss since gogs tend to be quite larget his time of year. I've found that floss holds up better and can almost be more forgiving than the black rubber bands. When you see the strike on the quite your immediate action should be to freespool the reel and point it at the kite. I usually wait for line to start coming off at a good clip before i come tight (10 seconds) bigger the bait longer the wait. Don't set the hook eve though they are j's> I've foudn this causes more misses than slowly reeling down on the fish like its a circle. If you're still having problems Just keep at it. I've had my fair share of days going 0/#####'s but its all about the days when it comes together and you gain confidence in your methods. Keep at it, you'll get it.

[Ivan11]

thx, ill keep that all in mind. i first need them to bite though. thats been the main problem, there arent to many being seen on the days i go out. every usually says it was a "slow" day. im going tomorrow, lets see what happens.

[miamiangler1]

Originally Posted by Ivan11

thx, ill keep that all in mind. i first need them to bite though. thats been the main problem, there arent to many being seen on the days i go out. every usually says it was a "slow" day. im going tomorrow, lets see what happens.

I use Owner 5/0 when I`m fishing for sails and kings ... small peice of wire to prevent cutoffs .. use a 50lb floro-carbon leader 4ft long ... that has worked for me ... no need to have that long of leader.... on my spinning gear I use a peice of copper wire .. on the reel seat ... that way when the fish takes the bait it releases the line ... with no drag on it .. close bail , let it come tight and should have a fish on

[LHPfish]

no need to have that long of leader....

I guess it depends, I fish shorter leaders on the spinning gear but then again i'm mainly fishing the conventials and Kites so a long leader is useful in those situations to aid in the speed of rerigging.

[T.I.P]

we went 2/2 on Tuesday at around 4 o'clock just north of Boca Inlet..popped my cousins cherry..made for great film..

[Ivan11]

just got back in and yep, we didnt catch shit. no current of course, slow trolling runners/threads. fished the bottom pulled up 3 keeper muttons. however, no sailfish as usual, everyone said it was a "slow" day. seems to be tons of those

[P33JP3]

Originally Posted by Ivan11

just got back in and yep, we didnt catch shit. no current of course, slow trolling runners/threads. fished the bottom pulled up 3 keeper muttons. however, no sailfish as usual, everyone said it was a "slow" day. seems to be tons of those

I hear you. I must be out the same days it's 'slow'. haven't been able to catch one yet but like you, I'm still trying. 0/4 so far, bite was there but could not bring 'em to the boat. they are free jumping all around me, probably laughing no doubt.

[Ivan11]

Originally Posted by P33JP3

they are free jumping all around me, probably laughing no doubt.

lol i think the same thing. they jump around "LOLing" at me. had one come up in the spread and give me the big middle finger.

[Ivan11]

going sailfishing on saturday again, lets see what goes wrong this trip

[Fishalways]

Ivan

I'll be heading out of PT Everglades Saturday also.

Where are you heading out of?