January/ February 2008

Each year by this time, we expect to have seen the migration of Sailfish to the south by now. As the winter fronts push temperatures lower in the ocean, the bait fish move south in search of warmer conditions and the pelagic fish follow. While up north in the mid west and the northeast have experienced some serious winter cold, we down here in Fort Lauderdale have had an extremely mild winter so far. And that mildness has caused a delay in the fish we expect to make their appearances as scheduled.

While some Sailfish have been caught, we have not seen the mass movement through our area yet. They will be coming; they always do, driven by the weather. Last year, we had GREAT action with Sailfish from February through March because of the late arrival of winter.

Some of our other winter visitors have begun arriving on time. All species of sharks are beginning to show. While I have yet to hear of a Mako being caught, Threshers, Hammerheads, Blacktip and even Tiger Sharks are being seen and caught. It’s not unusual to see them swim by, just cruising the surface for a meal.

The reef has offered some Kingfish action. While not the numbers we catch in the summer, we can usually pull a few fish for dinner or shark bait to the boat. Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) also have made their presence known on the reef as well as off shore. Schools of these fish moving south have been seen each week eating anything they come across and continuing their trek south. Some of the bigger fish, in the 20 and 30 lbs class have been caught as well.

Amberjacks have made an entrance on some of the deeper wrecks and reefs. Some Grouper and small Snapper are also being caught.

Each day we head out to the fishing grounds… expecting today to be the day it all begins for 2008. While we have had some good days, the best is still to come for this year.
Join us, won’t you?

Captains Rick and Steve
Marlin My Darlin
(954) 761-8202