No luck /2 Rough (Miami 4/13/08)

RocknReeln · 04-14-2008, 10:17 AM

Well tried to get out there again last night - 4/13/08. I've been swordless now since middle Jan. Probably should have stayed home, only problem is that it was one of the only nights that I had a free pass to play.

Also I wanted to try this Dead Tinker rig that I am trying to learn to do (Double hook, Head down, Stitched Gill and Spine, Cut tail off) Ran out of MH. Caught some bait, but very few big runners. Ran south from Bug to about even with Elliot key, about 18 miles. Never fished this area - but since things aren't going well in the catching dept., thought I'd give it try. Made it to the grounds in 40 minutes with an aft West wind. As we ran south, we saw only few birds - just them damn geese looking, no good for offshore fishing birds.

There were some broken up weed lines in 1200 feet. Soon as we pulled back the throttles, I confirmed what I was thinking the whole run out there - that we were going to have a tough time out there, with contradicting conditions (Soup bowl). Wind was howling at about 20-25 knots.

After about a one hour drift with no action and the swells looking really scary, I called it at 9:00 p.m. When the lines came in the dead Tinker was all but gone off the rig, and we had a slashed squid. Ran back in at an angle with the waves til we got in 20 feet of water close to shore then ran in through stilts. Back at the dock by 11:00 and in bed by 1:00 a.m.

What can I say - its fishing, not always catching.

CARBEN COPY · 04-14-2008, 02:15 PM

Sorry to hear. We were out sat. night and went 0/2. We had 1 fish FREIGHT TRAIN 18lbs of drag like it was in freespool. After 10 mins or so, fish made a u turn and cranked like a madman to catch up, then she starts taking off again and after 5 or 6 mins makes anothe u, catch up and then gone! Heartbreaker, was a beast for sure. Taking in the spread at the end of the night with 2 lines still out there, got nailed again but never came tight. Very poor performance and still thinkin about the beast that got away, oh well there's always next time, right?

Captain Juan · 04-14-2008, 03:35 PM

You'll get em next time. I was in Orlando this weekend, but a crew near and dear to me was out in the wash Friday night and caught two swords, releasing one and keeping a 55-incher, and a mako estimated to be about 350 lbs, which they released boatside. They fished between the 14 and the 20 and the 53 and the 49.

I, for one, have not caught a sword since the fall and jonesing to get one soon. It's been skunks and sharkss for me for months. Oddly, when I haven't gone is when Team Fintastic has boated 500+ lb. swords, or gone 3 for 4 or nailed other nice fish. Maybe the bad stank is on me.

Laters.

Juani

lcosta02 · 04-14-2008, 10:39 PM

I've gone three times with no bites, no fish. I'm 0/3 in my swordfish career. I hope to make it out this week. We're going to try heading a bit north than our usual Miami area.

george84 · 04-15-2008, 04:34 PM

Went out 4/12 on my first trip off Triumph out to the 79.50 line, which is in 2300-2500ft!?...We dirfted for an hour or so with no baits touched. I thought that was a little deep so we moved in and drifted between 1200 and 1500ft all night with not a single bait touched. This is the way it goes in swording I hear so I'm looking forward to getting back out there and giving it another shot!

Ivan11 · 04-15-2008, 06:07 PM

past 4 trips for me have been skunks off of south miami also :*( . where did all the fish go???

Relentless33 · 04-15-2008, 06:10 PM

Far, far, far away....

Disco Lady · 04-15-2008, 06:17 PM

Jr...... Don't feel bad It's been shity down my way too.I think Nick C caught em all.

Cheers.DL

Relentless33 · 04-15-2008, 06:23 PM

I don't know about that one DL!

Harry Klauber · 04-15-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan11

past 4 trips for me have been skunks off of south miami also :*( . where did all the fish go???

Ivan,
I met you briefly at BMC this past weekend. I was fishing with Richard on the Fish Magnet along with Butch, Jim, and Quack Quack. It seems we are the only two that live down south (I'm in South Miami) - maybe we can get together and fish. From your occupation I would imagine that you get weekdays off. My occupation is retired and I only fish during the week as the ramps down here make me nuts on the weekends. For weekends I have friends with bigger boats that are in the water and we just use theirs. I have a 284 Mako and fish for everything. I have all the tackle for night or day swords, wahoo trolling in the islands, bottom fishing where ever and can go almost any day.
Don't feel too bad about no swords lately - it's been that way for everyone. My last one was the 423 with Richard and that was awhile ago. I like the area 100 degrees from pacific in about 1200 - 1400 feet but even that has been dead lately. During the day I have no particular "hotspots" and find that lady luck plays a huge part in catching one. I've hammered the lumps, peaks, hills, and trenches yet seem to find that you can catch one just about anyplace.
My email is klafish1@aol.com if you want to respond outside the forum as sometimes I don't follow all the threads. A PM also works. Harry

lcosta02 · 04-15-2008, 10:04 PM

I've been concentrating in the area off Key Biscayne, but it seems that the next trip we will head north to PE. Something's gotta give.

I NEED to pop the cherry already.

miamiangler1 · 04-16-2008, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan11

past 4 trips for me have been skunks off of south miami also :*( . where did all the fish go???

Ivan ...dont feel bad havn`t got a sword since last Feb ... the Haulover area has been dead ... might try the day time thing ... since my rod can crank up a 9ft shark .. a day time sword might not be to bad

catch you later .. still owe you a Tily

CARBEN COPY · 04-16-2008, 10:13 AM

They are there! Just not nearly in the numbers that they had been. We seem to get 1-2 shots per trip and for the most part have gotten a fish on most nights but you have to be on your "A" game and be lucky as well!!! I miss the nights of 5+ chances to hook up!!

RocknReeln · 04-16-2008, 07:33 PM

Thanks for the reponses.....I thought I was alone on "not catching" lately. Anyone have any comments on the "cause" of the slowdown ?

Last year I was on fire...caught 7 out of 9 trips....don't know what caused the slowdown...

Don't wanna believe its the buoys or the experimental longline up North -- not yet at least......any ideas.

Disco Lady · 04-16-2008, 07:34 PM

It's Nick C he caught them all.

Ivan11 · 04-16-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocknReeln

Thanks for the reponses.....I thought I was alone on "not catching" lately. Anyone have any comments on the "cause" of the slowdown ?

Last year I was on fire...caught 7 out of 9 trips....don't know what caused the slowdown...

Don't wanna believe its the buoys or the experimental longline up North -- not yet at least......any ideas.

i can believe thats what caused it. last night i went fishing for sword looked like a club on the 50 line with strobes all over the water.

tales · 04-17-2008, 07:23 AM

I agree. The bite has not been there over the past year or so like it used to be. It should be one (fish) and done for everyone, especially with all the breeders being caught daytime now.

Bill Fisher · 04-17-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcosta02

I've gone three times with no bites, no fish. I'm 0/3 in my swordfish career. I hope to make it out this week. We're going to try heading a bit north than our usual Miami area.

Hey Costa you own Costa Oil?

Marauder1 · 04-17-2008, 01:55 PM

I dont think that it has been all that bad lately. I have not been out very much( I think 11 trips), but I have had 4 trips this year where I have caught 4 fish in a night, and the nights that I have caught only 1 or 2 they have been above avg size. Sure, were not getting the 5-7 shots that we got last year, but for me atleast ths time last year was really slow anyway....

RocknReeln · 04-17-2008, 03:23 PM

11 trips since Jan. ? Thats a heck of alot more than me. I think I got 4 or 5. If your swording that much - 11 trips in four months consistently, then I think your gonna have alot better grasp on this question, then me. I have caught 9of them last year out of about 16 trips. This year, I got one (52 incher) out of 4 or 5. I just remember last year from Jan-April to be on fire - all but two last year of mine were caught during that time period. I remember doing the Hydrowglow tourney in the summer last year and most said it was slow then - I think 7 fish were caught.

04-14-2008, 10:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
RocknReeln Lines In Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Miami to KW Boat: Contender 31 Cuddy Best Catch: 40 Lbs Black Occupation: JD Posts: 25	No luck /2 Rough (Miami 4/13/08) Well tried to get out there again last night - 4/13/08. I've been swordless now since middle Jan. Probably should have stayed home, only problem is that it was one of the only nights that I had a free pass to play. Also I wanted to try this Dead Tinker rig that I am trying to learn to do (Double hook, Head down, Stitched Gill and Spine, Cut tail off) Ran out of MH. Caught some bait, but very few big runners. Ran south from Bug to about even with Elliot key, about 18 miles. Never fished this area - but since things aren't going well in the catching dept., thought I'd give it try. Made it to the grounds in 40 minutes with an aft West wind. As we ran south, we saw only few birds - just them damn geese looking, no good for offshore fishing birds. There were some broken up weed lines in 1200 feet. Soon as we pulled back the throttles, I confirmed what I was thinking the whole run out there - that we were going to have a tough time out there, with contradicting conditions (Soup bowl). Wind was howling at about 20-25 knots. After about a one hour drift with no action and the swells looking really scary, I called it at 9:00 p.m. When the lines came in the dead Tinker was all but gone off the rig, and we had a slashed squid. Ran back in at an angle with the waves til we got in 20 feet of water close to shore then ran in through stilts. Back at the dock by 11:00 and in bed by 1:00 a.m. What can I say - its fishing, not always catching.

04-14-2008, 10:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
lcosta02 Hooked Up Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Coral Gables, FL Boat: Cabo 35' Exp Occupation: Marine Division Manager Posts: 140	I've gone three times with no bites, no fish. I'm 0/3 in my swordfish career. I hope to make it out this week. We're going to try heading a bit north than our usual Miami area. __________________ Costa Oil--- www.costaoil.com 2004 35 Cabo Express 2007 33 Invincible "All I know is that I know nothing." -Socrates

04-15-2008, 06:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ivan11 Hooked Up Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: miami fl Boat: dusky 21 =( Best Catch: #130lb sword (est), 80lb sailfish Occupation: firefighter/paramedic Posts: 320	past 4 trips for me have been skunks off of south miami also :*( . where did all the fish go??? __________________ ive been consumed by the darkside! http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...did=885 22296 for more pics =)

04-15-2008, 10:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
lcosta02 Hooked Up Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Coral Gables, FL Boat: Cabo 35' Exp Occupation: Marine Division Manager Posts: 140	I've been concentrating in the area off Key Biscayne, but it seems that the next trip we will head north to PE. Something's gotta give. I NEED to pop the cherry already. __________________ Costa Oil--- www.costaoil.com 2004 35 Cabo Express 2007 33 Invincible "All I know is that I know nothing." -Socrates

04-17-2008, 01:55 PM	#19 (permalink)
Marauder1 Hooked Up Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Boca Raton Boat: 31 Contender Best Catch: 85" Sword 300+ Occupation: Charter Capt. Posts: 169	I dont think that it has been all that bad lately. I have not been out very much( I think 11 trips), but I have had 4 trips this year where I have caught 4 fish in a night, and the nights that I have caught only 1 or 2 they have been above avg size. Sure, were not getting the 5-7 shots that we got last year, but for me atleast ths time last year was really slow anyway.... __________________ Charters Available

04-14-2008, 02:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
CARBEN COPY Hooked Up Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 296	Sorry to hear. We were out sat. night and went 0/2. We had 1 fish FREIGHT TRAIN 18lbs of drag like it was in freespool. After 10 mins or so, fish made a u turn and cranked like a madman to catch up, then she starts taking off again and after 5 or 6 mins makes anothe u, catch up and then gone! Heartbreaker, was a beast for sure. Taking in the spread at the end of the night with 2 lines still out there, got nailed again but never came tight. Very poor performance and still thinkin about the beast that got away, oh well there's always next time, right?

04-14-2008, 03:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Captain Juan Hooked Up Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hollywood, FL Boat: Contender 25 Best Catch: 63 lb. wahoo, 26 lb. mutton, 11 lb. peacock Occupation: Dir. of Communications Posts: 389	You'll get em next time. I was in Orlando this weekend, but a crew near and dear to me was out in the wash Friday night and caught two swords, releasing one and keeping a 55-incher, and a mako estimated to be about 350 lbs, which they released boatside. They fished between the 14 and the 20 and the 53 and the 49. I, for one, have not caught a sword since the fall and jonesing to get one soon. It's been skunks and sharkss for me for months. Oddly, when I haven't gone is when Team Fintastic has boated 500+ lb. swords, or gone 3 for 4 or nailed other nice fish. Maybe the bad stank is on me. Laters. Juani

04-15-2008, 04:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
george84 Grunt Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	Went out 4/12 on my first trip off Triumph out to the 79.50 line, which is in 2300-2500ft!?...We dirfted for an hour or so with no baits touched. I thought that was a little deep so we moved in and drifted between 1200 and 1500ft all night with not a single bait touched. This is the way it goes in swording I hear so I'm looking forward to getting back out there and giving it another shot!

04-15-2008, 06:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
Relentless33 Grander Join Date: Apr 2006 Best Catch: 81" sword Posts: 2,894	Far, far, far away....

04-15-2008, 06:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
Disco Lady Grander Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,617	Jr...... Don't feel bad It's been shity down my way too.I think Nick C caught em all. Cheers.DL

04-15-2008, 06:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Relentless33 Grander Join Date: Apr 2006 Best Catch: 81" sword Posts: 2,894	I don't know about that one DL!

04-16-2008, 10:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
CARBEN COPY Hooked Up Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 296	They are there! Just not nearly in the numbers that they had been. We seem to get 1-2 shots per trip and for the most part have gotten a fish on most nights but you have to be on your "A" game and be lucky as well!!! I miss the nights of 5+ chances to hook up!!

04-16-2008, 07:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
RocknReeln Lines In Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Miami to KW Boat: Contender 31 Cuddy Best Catch: 40 Lbs Black Occupation: JD Posts: 25	Thanks for the reponses.....I thought I was alone on "not catching" lately. Anyone have any comments on the "cause" of the slowdown ? Last year I was on fire...caught 7 out of 9 trips....don't know what caused the slowdown... Don't wanna believe its the buoys or the experimental longline up North -- not yet at least......any ideas.

04-16-2008, 07:34 PM	#15 (permalink)
Disco Lady Grander Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,617	It's Nick C he caught them all.

04-17-2008, 07:23 AM	#17 (permalink)
tales Lines In Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 39	I agree. The bite has not been there over the past year or so like it used to be. It should be one (fish) and done for everyone, especially with all the breeders being caught daytime now.

04-17-2008, 03:23 PM	#20 (permalink)
RocknReeln Lines In Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Miami to KW Boat: Contender 31 Cuddy Best Catch: 40 Lbs Black Occupation: JD Posts: 25	11 trips since Jan. ? Thats a heck of alot more than me. I think I got 4 or 5. If your swording that much - 11 trips in four months consistently, then I think your gonna have alot better grasp on this question, then me. I have caught 9of them last year out of about 16 trips. This year, I got one (52 incher) out of 4 or 5. I just remember last year from Jan-April to be on fire - all but two last year of mine were caught during that time period. I remember doing the Hydrowglow tourney in the summer last year and most said it was slow then - I think 7 fish were caught.