What a Day

With winds out of the north, our plans for the day were to take a look offshore and then hit the edge in the afternoon. Our clients for the day were eager to do some Miami charter fishing so it was off to the gulf stream. Once the L&H reached 1000 ft of water off of Key Biscayne I spotted a lone frigate bird off in the distance. As we got closer, the blueish color of a nice mahi caught my eye. Quickly I instructed baits to be presented as more and more fish began showing up. For the next twenty minutes the team worked together to put 25 nice mahimahi in our icy hold. Once we got going again the left rigger took off screaming. Our angler did a great job and after a good battle we added a nice wahoo to our catch. Now it was time to turn our attention to the edge. The conditions were perfect for tailing sailfish and it wasn't long before we started seeing them. For the next few hours we rode around looking for sailfish and casting baits when we found them. Multiple hookups were the norm rather than the exception and by 4:00pm we had released 12 sailfish. Time was running out on out day so we decided to put the kites up for a little bit. Kite fishing proved to be the right decision! In short order we caught two nice blackfin tuna and 3 more sailfish. What a day of charter fishing on the L&H! Dolphin (mahi), wahoo, tuna AND 15 sailfish!! #springfishing

Amy Catches One Bigger Than Her

We were on a big convention trip with anglers from all over the country. Most of them had never been fishing before and were happy to just be out on the boat. One angler, Amy, had different aspirations and was admit about catching something bigger than she was. There had been some sailfish around, so that seemed like the best shot at something big. Immediately upon reaching the edge, we found a nice size mahi. The fish traveled to the south at a high rate of speed as I followed it from my perch in the tower. Our crew readied a live bait and threw it in front of the traveling mahi. Moments after the frisky live bait hit the water, the hungry mahi raced over and devoured our offering. We were off to a good start. From there it was time to set up the fishing kites and wait for a big sailfish. Unfortunately that is exactly what  we did, waited and waited and waited! Trying as hard as we possibly could, luck was not on our side and the team could not buy a bite. It looked as if Amy was not going to get her wish. Time was running out on us. Finally I spotted a sailfish on the surface and maneuvered the L&H to the spot.  Seconds later, the right kite bait got very nervous, a sure sign that a hungry predator was close by.  Then the dark inky color of a big sail deep below the waters surface appeared. Right middle I shouted as the fish pounced on the bait. Somehow the fish ate the bait off the hook. Watch the other baits I ordered, as I knew the fish did not feel the sting of the hook and we could very well get another shot.  Seconds later the big sail reappeared on another bait and this time everything went our way! White water flew as the big angry sailfish tore up the surface of the cobalt blue water. Amy battled the fish relentlessly as I did everything in my power to get the L&H close to her quarry. After a long hard fight, the exhausted fish was alongside the boat. Amy had done it! Being around five foot tall she was dwarfed by the seven and a half foot sailfish! Exactly what she wanted, a fish bigger than her!  Everyone was happy for her and it was another great day of charter fishing aboard the L&H!

Busy Afternoon Half Day

It was a windy, fall, afternoon half day and our trip was only four hours. With some frisky live baits swimming happily in the large circulating bait well, I decided to head straight to the edge and get right to it. As the boat slowed down just past the edge of the reef, the baits went out and we were fishing in no time! Our guests for the afternoon were from the mid-west and were happy to catch anything.  Suddenly a decent sized mahi charged in and ate out long rigger bait. I made a turn to go back through the area and another good sized mahi mahi came racing in on my bridge rod. The fish swam behind the skipping bait for a few seconds before committing to it and we were on again. Happy with our quick start, we continued to work the area. This time when the rod bent over it was from the pull of a good sized kingfish. Customers, crew and captain alike were enjoying the immediate success as the L&H pounded the spot. Suddenly I saw a sailfish closing in on my bait dragging from the one rod I was fishing from the fly bridge. The fish tried the bait, but missed. Not to be deterred, the hungry sail came from behind with even more determination. When the sailfish grabbed the rigged, natural bait I dropped back for several seconds to make sure the feeding billfish had time to swallow the bait. Upon feeling the sting of our sharp hook, the beautiful sail took to the air and raced for the horizon. Everyone grabbed a rod and began clearing lines as fast as possible so we could begin to chase the fleeing billfish that was now several hundred yards away! After a tough battle we had the fish along side the boat for a few quick pictures and a healthy release. Quickly the lines were set back out and the hunt for gamefish resumed. Out in the deep, a frigate bird swooped down to the waters surface, a sure sign that a feeding gamefish was not far behind. When we reached the spot where the frigate was diving, I could see a couple sailfish chasing bait only a few feet below the waters surface. Maneuvering the L&H into position, and presenting a live bait was just what the doctor ordered and one of the hungry sailfish casually swam up and engulfed the hapless live bait. By now everyone knew the drill and quickly cleared the other lines so we could chase the fish down. Shortly thereafter we had our second sail of the day alongside the L&H for a quick release. With only a little time left, it was time to start working our way back in. Just before taking the lines out of the water and heading for the marina, I spotted yet another sailfish chasing bait on the surface. For the third time in only a few hours, we were hooked up to a brilliantly colored, majestic sailfish! This fish determined to get away, greyhounded at a feverish pace across the clear, blue water! The L&H performed that familiar reverse rumble as we backed down in hot pursuit. Finally after covering a lot of ground we caught up to the now exhausted sail and made another successful release. On the way home our home, our clients enjoyed the air conditioned salon as they reflected on another great day of sport fishing off Miami aboard the L&H!

Josu Gaubeka Has A Great Half Day Of Miami Charter Fishing

Our friend Josu, who has fished with us on Miami's best charter boat, the L&H, several times before was back out to do it again.  Josu often fishes with his family, but today he was joined by some business associates.  After catching some live bait we decided to start the day off doing some kite fishing.  Only a few miles off Key Biscayne, there was nice blue water and a light current.  While we were setting out the baits, a hungry sailfish came and ate the right middle kite bait, then two nice sized dolphin engulfed the two other live baits dangling from our fishing kite!  While all of this was happening, another feisty Atlantic sailfish attacked the left middle kite bait and just seconds later a large dolphin rushed in to devour the only bait left in the water!  Just like that, our group of four fishermen were hooked up to five big fish, all at the same time!  I maneuvered the L&H over to the first big mahi and Jim gaffed the colorful fish and put it in the fish box.  Then minutes later the second mahi came over the rail and shortly after that the third mahi joined his companions in our icy hold!  Now it was time to concentrate on the sailfish.  I backed our charter boat toward the frisky billfish and before long both fish were released unharmed to fight another day!   It was a terrific start to Josu's day of charter fishing and the L&H was just getting warmed up!  Jim quickly reset the kite baits and almost as fast as the baits were going out, they were getting eaten by hungry gamefish!  Two more sailfish were released and a few more good sized mahi were brought aboard.  Then Josu got a big bite on the deep line and everyone knew that this was going to be something different!  After a good fight, our angler hauled a beautiful twelve pound mutton snapper into the boat!  It was beginning to feel like one of those days where we could do nothing wrong.  Another multiple hook up yielded a few nice size tuna to our growing catch and as Jim put the last stubborn, sushi quality tuna in the box some more mahi mahi swam up.  The customers quickly started casting out live baits on our custom leeward rods with fin-nor spinning reels and in the blink of an eye there were mahis jumping everywhere.  We were able to catch most of the fish in the school and now it was almost time to head back to Crandon Park Marina.  We agreed to reset the baits one last time and give it a few more minutes.  As luck would have it, we found ourselves hooked up to another triple header.  This time our group of fishermen found themselves battling three different species.  Another nice mahi came aboard, the fifth sailfish of the day was successfully released and our friend Josu put the icing on the cake when he reeled in a gorgeous grouper that had taken a live bait suspended just off the bottom!  I continued to ride the tower on the way home searching for just one more fish.  Just seconds before turning the L&H west and heading for home I spotted two big mahi swimming in only forty feet of water.  Like clockwork, two baits went out and both fish were hooked up!  After some acrobatic jumps by the wonderful mahi, both fish were gaffed and added to our nearly full fish box!  Everyone onboard enjoyed the smooth, calm ride back to the marina.  When we arrived at the dock, with sailfish release flags flying high, Jim and I took some photos of our guests with the days catch.  After that we cleaned and packaged a bunch of fish for our guests to take with them!  I was truly a great half day of Miami charter fishing for Josu and friends and just another example of why the L&H is Miami's best charter boat!

Juan Fabini Stays Busy With A Variety Of Fish

Juan Fabini has fished with us on the L&H before and we were excited to have him back out with us!  The fishing had been good lately so we were excited about what the day had to offer.  After catching bait we decided to start out kite fishing, but with very little current we did not get any bites.  Off in the distance I could see some birds so we pulled the kites in and headed toward the flock of diving sea gulls.  As we got closer, everyone watched as nice size tuna tore up the surface of the water.  Within seconds we were hooked up and line melted off our fin-nor reels!  These fish fought hard and the crew worked together to put several nice fish in our icy hold.  It wasn't long before we found another hungry tuna school and as we fished the school it seemed as of more and more fish started showing up.  Our lines were getting bit as soon as they hit the water and it didn't seem to matter what we put out, the fish would eat it.  Before long the two couples fishing with us that day had landed almost thirty of the mixed sized tunas.  Out of nowhere, we caught a nice mahi mahi and added that to our collection of fish.  With a light current, it seemed like a good time to try some deep water bottom fishing.  We trolled out to a spot in over one-thousand feet of water and sent down several circle hooks with a large lead baited with cut bait.  We started getting bites almost as soon as we hit the bottom, and Juan and his guests started catching rosefish one after the other.  Although we did not get any big bites our team landed almost forty of the colorful rosefish in short order!  It was time to start heading back in, but I stayed in the tuna tower and continued to search hoping to find something on the way home.  Just north of the inlet I spotted a pack of four sailfish swimming on the surface.  The fish were hungry, but unfortunately luck was not on our side!  We hooked all four sails, but were only able to get one of them alongside the L&H for a successful release!  The other three sailfish got away for a variety of reasons.  Nonetheless, Juan was very happy with the sailfish release as this was the first he had ever seen!  We headed back to the dock and took some photos and cut up some fish for our friends.  It was another fun day on the L&H and we kept Juan and his guests busy with a variety of good eating and strong fighting fish!