Key Biscayne Fishing Report - vinnyjojo

Featured pictures

Pictures

FL Species

Spot Croaker
Spot Croaker
Spot Croaker
Black Drum
Black Drum
Black Drum (cut fresh shrimp)
Sept 09 053.jpg
Sept 09 053.jpg
Sept 09 053.jpg 2009-09-25
Sept 09 055.jpg
Sept 09 055.jpg
Sept 09 055.jpg 2009-09-25
Jan 3 2010 023.jpg
Jan 3 2010 023.jpg
Jan 3 2010 023.jpg 2010-01-03
Offshore Trip Jan 2010 020.jpg
Offshore Trip Jan 2010 020.jpg
Offshore Trip Jan 2010 020.jpg 2010-01-15
Jodie and Tim Visit 060.jpg
Jodie and Tim Visit 060.jpg
Jodie and Tim Visit 060.jpg 2010-03-08
Fishing 052.jpg
Fishing 052.jpg
Fishing 052.jpg 2010-02-14
Lookdown
Lookdown
Gold Kroc Spoon
Snook
Snook
Yozuri Crystal Minnow
Dad's Big Barracuda
Dad's Big Barracuda
Mirrolure Catch 2000
First Mahi Mahi
First Mahi Mahi
.
Dad's Sailfish
Dad's Sailfish
~75lbs
Snook 28''
Snook 28''
Skimmer Jig/Fishbite
Jan 3 2010 020.jpg
Jan 3 2010 020.jpg
Jan 3 2010 020.jpg 2010-01-03
First Snook  1.02.10.jpg
First Snook 1.02.10.jpg
Bucktail/Fishbite
Spanish Mackerel (teaser fly)
Spanish Mackerel (teaser fly)
The difference between the Spanish and Cero Mackerel is that the Cero has a line and dots, while the Spanish just has dots.
The Cero is the least oily of the 3 FL Mackerels.  While the King Mackerel is the strongest flavored (eeecch).
Cero Mackerel (Powerbait Minnow/Jighead)
Cero Mackerel (Powerbait Minnow/Jighead)
.
Bonefish (brown skimmer jig)
Bonefish (brown skimmer jig)
Nassau...Belize...I don't think so

This Bonefish was made in America

This is my 3rd Bone in the exact same spot of the surf - there's a pothole in the middle of some grassy stuff - holds fish. 
This Bone is also the first time I actually caught a fish I was specifically targeting (I used a Bonefish jig).  I caught the first two with Yozuri swimmers.
Dad's Snook
Dad's Snook
Zoom Super Salty Fluke (Arkansas Shiner)
1/16oz weighted Gamakatsu offset work hook
10lb test - No Leader

First Snook off the beach...leave it to my Dad to show me who's boss.
Bonefish (color corrected).jpg
Bonefish (color corrected).jpg
Bonefish (color corrected).jpg 2010-02-07
Red Grouper (Tsunami 4'' Swimbait)
Red Grouper (Tsunami 4'' Swimbait)
Casting - Kayak - 10lb test

4.5 pounds.
Reef Shark
Reef Shark
.
Ladyfish (Rapala Rattletrap)
Ladyfish (Rapala Rattletrap)
Caught while trolling
Red Grouper (Tsunami 4'' Swimbait)
Red Grouper (Tsunami 4'' Swimbait)
.
34'' Cuda (yozuri crystal minnow) Pic 2
34'' Cuda (yozuri crystal minnow) Pic 2
I've caught a ton of 'cuda in the same spot on this yo-zuri, but in a spot I found out I can no longer fish (state park).
...but if I were in a kayak or a boat I could fish the same spot....I don't get it.
Actually...I do get it.  The state park is beautiful and they don't want empty squid boxes, Corona bottles, and plastic bags all over it - Hey slob fishermen - Do us sportsmen a favor and pick up after yourselves.  You're ruining it for the rest of us.
Spanish Mackerel (pic 2)
Spanish Mackerel (pic 2)
.
Kingfish
Kingfish
.
Speckled Trout (2.5lb)
Speckled Trout (2.5lb)
.
Houndfish (live bait) - Pic 2
Houndfish (live bait) - Pic 2
Here's a picture of a horrifying creature that swims in the ocean.
...also, there's a houndfish in the photo.
Skipjack Tuna
Skipjack Tuna
Pound for pound, these fish fight the hardest.
Blue Runner (teaser fly)
Blue Runner (teaser fly)
.
Sand Perch (cut mackeral)
Sand Perch (cut mackeral)
This little guy is in the Grouper Family
Red Grouper (Tsunami 4'' Swimbait)
Red Grouper (Tsunami 4'' Swimbait)
.
Houndfish (Yozuri Crystal Minnow)
Houndfish (Yozuri Crystal Minnow)
.
Red Grouper/Yellowtail Snapper Combo
Red Grouper/Yellowtail Snapper Combo
.
White Grunt (teaser fly)
White Grunt (teaser fly)
Casting
'Cuda (Teaser Fly)
'Cuda (Teaser Fly)
I finally mustered up the guts to eat this one. 
Delicious...please put that on my tombstone
Nassau Grouper - Kroc Spoon
Nassau Grouper - Kroc Spoon
Kayak Grouper?
Reef Shark
Reef Shark
.
Leatherjack (teaser fly)
Leatherjack (teaser fly)
Trolling
Cero Mackerel - Business End
Cero Mackerel - Business End
Oct 09 197.jpg 2009-10-17
Reef Shark
Reef Shark
.
Baby Mutton Snapper (teaser fly)
Baby Mutton Snapper (teaser fly)
.
Lizardfish - Topwater?
Lizardfish - Topwater?
.
Lizardfish (DOA Terroreyez)
Lizardfish (DOA Terroreyez)
.
Lizardfish
Lizardfish
.
Ladyfish (DOA Terroreyez)
Ladyfish (DOA Terroreyez)
.
Mangrove/Mutton Double Header
Mangrove/Mutton Double Header
Oct 09 062.jpg 2009-10-09
Yellowtail Snapper Double Header
Yellowtail Snapper Double Header
Oct 09 063.jpg 2009-10-09
Red Grouper - Business End
Red Grouper - Business End
Check out the swimbait in that big maw!
Blue Runner (teaser fly)
Blue Runner (teaser fly)

Mutton Snapper (Teaser Fly)
Mutton Snapper (Teaser Fly)
Oct 09 059.jpg 2009-10-09
Mutton Snapper (Teaser Fly)
Mutton Snapper (Teaser Fly)
.
Another baby Cuda
Another baby Cuda
Zoom Super Salty Fluke
'Cuda (DOA Glow Shrimp - carolina rigged)
'Cuda (DOA Glow Shrimp - carolina rigged)
.
Mutton Snapper - Redfish Magic/Leadhead
Mutton Snapper - Redfish Magic/Leadhead
For an undersized fish, he fought like a mule.  Hopefully I'll bump into him again when he's 16''.
Dad's Tiny Blackfin
Dad's Tiny Blackfin
We were hoping for a 20 pounder....this is what we got
cero - good2.jpg
cero - good2.jpg
cero - good2.jpg 2009-10-17
Dad's Kingfish
Dad's Kingfish
.
A Good Day
A Good Day
5 keeper specks and a grover.

...when you catch this many fish, you can call them cool nicknames.
Oct 09 195.jpg
Oct 09 195.jpg
Oct 09 195.jpg 2009-10-17
Mangrove Snapper - Top Pup
Mangrove Snapper - Top Pup
Topwater Snapper action
Puffer - 3'' Gulp
Puffer - 3'' Gulp
These fish maintain a steady diet of gulp shrimp tails.
Mangrove Snapper - Redfish Magic/Leadhead
Mangrove Snapper - Redfish Magic/Leadhead
.
Mutton Snapper
Mutton Snapper
caught by Aaron
Yellowtail Snapper - Yozuri Crystal Minnow
Yellowtail Snapper - Yozuri Crystal Minnow
...since when does a yellowtail hit a yozuri?
(caught by Aaron)
Blue Runner
Blue Runner
Caught by Aaron
Houndfish on a Kroc
Houndfish on a Kroc
caught by Aaron
Nassau Grouper - Kroc Spoon
Nassau Grouper - Kroc Spoon
caught by Aaron
Yellowtail Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper
...a very odd catch inshore.  He was 2'' below the legal limit, so back in the water he went.
World's Tiniest Barracuda
World's Tiniest Barracuda
awwwwwww....isn't he cute with his razor sharp teeth.

He jumped on the lure while I was trolling in the Kayak...I had no idea he was even there.
Mangrove Snapper (Gulp/Popping Cork)
Mangrove Snapper (Gulp/Popping Cork)
This Mangrove Snapper tried to convince me that the FWC size limit had been raised from 10'' to 30''. 
...I think he just felt silly with a fake shrimp in his jaw.
Cuda - Topwater
Cuda - Topwater
Who says you can't catch 'cuda with a surface chugger?

...someone did say that, right?
Houndfish (live bait)
Houndfish (live bait)
This is a photo of the first fish I ever caught on live bait.
Awesome - these guys put on some real ladyfish-esque acrobatics. 
...I also stopped swimming in the ocean for a while.
34'' Cuda (yozuri crystal minnow)
34'' Cuda (yozuri crystal minnow)
Check out that little Yozuri in his mouth.
Southern Stingray
Southern Stingray
Surf
A very excited father/son team caught this nice ray on a ballyhoo chunk.  They also had no hook remover or pliers - luckily I did, so I had some fun flipping over this manhole cover of a fish, removing the hook, and flipping him back to freedom.
Red Snapper
Red Snapper
.
Silk Snapper (Ballyhoo)
Silk Snapper (Ballyhoo)
Offshore - Miami
...he later found himself in a fish taco
Mangrove Snapper (squid)
Mangrove Snapper (squid)
Be free and grow a few more inches little fella.  I see a fish taco in your future.

...the dark stripe keeps the sun out of their eyes - like Will Clark.
Jack Crevalle (live bait)
Jack Crevalle (live bait)
Surf
Blue Runner (live shrimp)
Blue Runner (live shrimp)
Surf


Sailor's Choice
Sailor's Choice
I thought it was a Mangrove Snapper....nope.
11'' long
Bluestriped Grunt (squid)
Bluestriped Grunt (squid)
Surf

Because the surf I fish holds a lot of grass, I've caught 5,000,000 of these fish.  Butterflied, they're irresistible to sharks and rays.  ...I think because their heads are both roly and/or poly.
Speckled Trout (2.5lb)
Speckled Trout (2.5lb)
Redfish Magic/Leadhead  (Trolling)

Reason #1 to troll a soft bait in a kayak:

...you may stumble upon a secret Trout hole.
Bluefish
Bluefish
Offshore Miami
Bluefish...blowing up bait on a Jersey Shore beach near you
Sailfish
Sailfish
My first and only Sailfish - released safe and unharmed.
Puffer (squid)
Puffer (squid)
He's not puffed up - he's full of expensive Gulp tails
Pigfish (squid)
Pigfish (squid)
Surf
That'll do pigfish....that'll do.

The chick in the background is my best catch yet.
Spot (squid)
Spot (squid)
Surf
Pinfish (squid)
Pinfish (squid)
Surf
This fish later found himself inside of a Stingray
Ballyhoo (Sabiki Rig)
Ballyhoo (Sabiki Rig)
Surf

This is the first Ballyhoo I've ever seen without a pink teaser on his head.
Jack -type? (squid)
Jack -type? (squid)
If anyone knows what kind of Jack this is, I'd love to know
Blue Runner (Jack)
Blue Runner (Jack)
This fish got foul hooked on a Yozuri Mag Series Minnow.
...if the lure didn't have 2 sets of big trebles, I would have free spooled him back in the wash with the lure attached.
Leatherjack (squid)
Leatherjack (squid)
Surf
Yellowfin Mojarra (squid)
Yellowfin Mojarra (squid)
Surf
I just can't bring myself to use these guys as live bait....just look at those puppy dog eyes.
Be free, scrappy fish - I'll see you again on light tackle.
80lb Stingray (cut ladyfish)
80lb Stingray (cut ladyfish)
Flamingo, FL
5ft. Bull Shark (butterflied catfish)
5ft. Bull Shark (butterflied catfish)
Flamingo
5ft. Bull Shark - Pic 2
5ft. Bull Shark - Pic 2
.
Little Tunny (ballyhoo)
Little Tunny (ballyhoo)
Those spots around the pectoral fin differentiate the Little Tunny from the Atlantic Bonito.
They taste terrible, but their bellies cut into long strips with a teaser make a great substitute for trolling Ballyhoo.
Kingfish (ballyhoo)
Kingfish (ballyhoo)
Pompano Beach Offshore Trip
Mahi Mahi
Mahi Mahi
AKA Dolphinfish
AKA Dorado
AKA Delicious
Pompano Beach Offshore Trip
Pompano Beach Offshore Trip
We caught a total of 17.5 fish that day (including a Sailfish) in the scarcest thunderstorm I've ever been in.  I felt like that priest from Caddyshack. 
Take note of the Blackfin Tuna all the way to the right.






Speckled Trout (propeller plug)
Speckled Trout (propeller plug)
Flamingo, FL
They don't put up much of a fight, but man is it cool to watch them crash a surface plug.
Speckled Trout
Speckled Trout
Our first three fish of the day were Specks.  We let them all go in anticipation of bringing home a cooler full of fish.
3 Hardheads, 3 Ladyfish, a Bull Shark, some undersize Grover snapper, 2 Stingrays, and a Sawfish later we found ourselves heading home to buy some fishsticks.
Hardhead Catfish (gulp shrimp/jighead)
Hardhead Catfish (gulp shrimp/jighead)
Flamingo, FL
Hardhead Catfish
Hardhead Catfish
.
Bait -any ideas? (sabiki rig)
Bait -any ideas? (sabiki rig)
Surf
Silver Perch
Silver Perch
Surf -
...also, he was tasty
Another Yozuri'd Cuda
Another Yozuri'd Cuda

.


Ahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhhh
Surf
June 2009 087.jpg
June 2009 087.jpg
June 2009 087.jpg 2009-06-07
May 2009 138.jpg
May 2009 138.jpg
May 2009 138.jpg 2009-05-24
Who says Crevalle Jack isn't good eats?
Who says Crevalle Jack isn't good eats?
This Crevalle got gut hooked and didn't make it.  It's better I eat it than a shark, right?
...it's better I get deadly parasites than a shark, right?
Zoom Super Fluke (white) with a 1/16oz weighted Gamakatsu offset work hook - texas rigged.
Zoom Super Fluke (white) with a 1/16oz weighted Gamakatsu offset work hook - texas rigged.
Aug 2009.jpg 2009-08-15
Ahhhhhh...get it out!
Ahhhhhh...get it out!

Fishing 031.jpg
Fishing 031.jpg
Fishing 031.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 032.jpg
Fishing 032.jpg
Fishing 032.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 033.jpg
Fishing 033.jpg
Fishing 033.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 034.jpg
Fishing 034.jpg
Fishing 034.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 035.jpg
Fishing 035.jpg
Fishing 035.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 036.jpg
Fishing 036.jpg
Fishing 036.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 037.jpg
Fishing 037.jpg
Fishing 037.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 038.jpg
Fishing 038.jpg
Fishing 038.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 039.jpg
Fishing 039.jpg
Fishing 039.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 040.jpg
Fishing 040.jpg
Fishing 040.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 041.jpg
Fishing 041.jpg
Fishing 041.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 042.jpg
Fishing 042.jpg
Fishing 042.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 043.jpg
Fishing 043.jpg
Fishing 043.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 044.jpg
Fishing 044.jpg
Fishing 044.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 045.jpg
Fishing 045.jpg
Fishing 045.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 046.jpg
Fishing 046.jpg
Fishing 046.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 053.jpg
Fishing 053.jpg
Fishing 053.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 054.jpg
Fishing 054.jpg
Fishing 054.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 060.jpg
Fishing 060.jpg
Fishing 060.jpg 2010-02-14
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Fishing 061.jpg
Fishing 061.jpg 2010-02-14
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Fishing 062.jpg
Fishing 062.jpg 2010-02-14
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Fishing 063.jpg
Fishing 063.jpg 2010-02-14
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Fishing 064.jpg
Fishing 064.jpg 2010-02-14
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Fishing 067.jpg
Fishing 067.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 068.jpg
Fishing 068.jpg
Fishing 068.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 069.jpg
Fishing 069.jpg
Fishing 069.jpg 2010-02-14
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Fishing 070.jpg
Fishing 070.jpg 2010-02-14
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Fishing 071.jpg
Fishing 071.jpg 2010-02-14
Fishing 072.jpg
Fishing 072.jpg
Fishing 072.jpg 2010-02-14

Artificials

Tsunami 3'' Swim Shad (glow)
Tsunami 3'' Swim Shad (glow)
Species Fooled:

Red Grouper
Blue Runner
Rattlin' Rapala
Rattlin' Rapala
Species Fooled:

Ladyfish
Blue Runner
Tsunami 4'' Swim Shad
Tsunami 4'' Swim Shad
.
Top Pup (green top)
Top Pup (green top)
.
Top Dog Jr.
Top Dog Jr.
.
Popa Dog
Popa Dog
.
MirroMullet
MirroMullet
Tiny Topwater bait
DOA Terroreyez/Teaser Combo
DOA Terroreyez/Teaser Combo
All on the troll.

Species Fooled:
Ladyfish
Mutton Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper
Mangrove Snapper (fly)
Blue Runner (fly)
Pinfish (fly)
Mirrolure Top Pup
Mirrolure Top Pup
This plug walks the dog on the surface - it's my all time favorite lure.

Species Fooled:
Barracuda
Mangrove Snapper
Jack Crevalle
Blue Runner
Top Pup (battle scars!)
Top Pup (battle scars!)
A barracuda bit a hole in it and it filled up with water.  Now it's a "Bottom-Pup"
Redfish Magic 4'' Glass Minnow (Strike King)
Redfish Magic 4'' Glass Minnow (Strike King)
This my new go-to softbait.  They're much more resilient than Gulp and Zoom baits.  Oh, and they catch fish.

Species Fooled:
Tarpon
Speckled Trout
Barracuda (retrieve skipped quickly across the surface)
Mutton Snapper
Mangrove Snapper
Lookdown
Jack Crevalle
Blue Runner
Pinfish
Yozuzi Crystal Minnow (floating)
Yozuzi Crystal Minnow (floating)
I caught 50,000 barracuda on this plug in June. 
...ok, that might be an exaggeration.
It did catch my first big Bonefish though.
This is also the 5th one I've purchased, hence the lack of teeth marks.


Species Fooled:
Barracuda
Bonefish
Mutton Snapper
BIG Stingray
Jack Crevalle
Houndfish
Blue Runner
Skimmer Jig (1/8oz)
Skimmer Jig (1/8oz)
The head on this jig is a "Wiggle Jig" - the flymaster at Captain Harry's in Miami tied on some better hair and flash.

Species Fooled:
Bonefish
Barracuda
Snook
Yozuzi Crystal Minnow (floating)
Yozuzi Crystal Minnow (floating)
Species Fooled:
Barracuda
Jack Crevalle
Yellowtail Snapper
Blue Runner
DOA Shrimp - 2 ways
DOA Shrimp - 2 ways
With the backwards rigging, the fish face the shrimp's face, front legs, and eyes - which may look more appealing, and supposedly natural.

I removed the stock weight and used a weighted Gamakatsu offset wormhook. The cavity where the stock weight once sat is a prime place for a glass rattle.

Species Fooled: (standard rigging)
Tarpon
Mangrove Snapper

Species Fooled: (backward rigging)
Tarpon
Yozuzi Mag Series Minnow
Yozuzi Mag Series Minnow
These swimbaits have an internal magnetic-transfer system that improves casting distance, as it will travel more like a bullet and less like...well, a Yozuri.

Species Fooled:
Barracuda
Gotcha 4'' Trout Killer/Jig Head
Gotcha 4'' Trout Killer/Jig Head
Species Fooled:
Barracuda
Jack Crevalle
Zoom Super Salty Fluke
Zoom Super Salty Fluke
Rigged with a Gamakatsu offset weighted work hook.

Species Fooled:
Snook (Arkansas shiner/weighted hook)
Jack Crevalle (white/weighted hook)
Blue Runner (Arkansas shiner/unweighted hook)
Cuda (white/football jig)
Puffer
Yozuzi Mag Series Minnow
Yozuzi Mag Series Minnow
Yes, you can catch Bones on big, honkin', rattling, plugs.

Species Fooled:
Bonefish
Gulp 3'' Shrimp (new penny)
Gulp 3'' Shrimp (new penny)
There's not much these scented softies won't catch when rigged on a jighead or in a martini glass full of cocktail sauce.
Puffers love chomping their tails off and killing the action of the bait...jerks.

I'll do my fair share of wading when the fishing gets slow.  There's just something unsettling about having a pocket full of fish attractant when you're waste deep in the ocean.

Species Caught:
Everything that eats shrimp
Bomber A-Salt® Pop ‘n Minnow™
Bomber A-Salt® Pop ‘n Minnow™
http://www.bombersaltwatergrade.com/products/detail.asp?id=asalt_pop_n_minnow
Color: Silver Flash/Red Head

Species Fooled:
Barracuda
Crevalle Jack
Hopkins
Hopkins
The Hopkins company has been forging these metals since 1948, so I guess they work. 
Luhr Jensen Krocodile (1/2 oz)
Luhr Jensen Krocodile (1/2 oz)
This is one of the best designed metals I've ever used.  The swivel on the end not only prevents line twist, but creates retrieve that spins the lure.  Also note the small red disc.
It also casts a country mile.
It's currently at the bottom of Biscayne Bay.

Species Fooled:
Mangrove Snapper
Lizardfish
Houndfish
Blue Runner
Nassau Grouper
Yozuri Crystal Minnow
Yozuri Crystal Minnow
I like this plug so much, I bought one in every size.
Cajun Thunder Popping Cork/DOA 1/4oz Shrimp
Cajun Thunder Popping Cork/DOA 1/4oz Shrimp
The popping cork is supposed to make a noise that sounds like a big fish swallowing bait.  The pop also make the DOA shrimp jump a bit.
I like it because I can cast it much further than the DOA shrimp on it's own, and it doesn't hang in the weeds.

Species Fooled:
Jack Crevalle
Teaser Flies
Teaser Flies
I've got a few flys to tie in front of the big plugs to give the illusion of a "chase".

The shrimp fly on the right was given to me gratis by the manager at an Orvis in Atlanta.  He told me it was free if I could send him a picture of a Bonefish with the fly (used as a teaser) in his mouth.

...no pressure, right?
Chrome Spoons
Chrome Spoons
Q: Is there anything these spoons won't catch?

A: If you're me, fish
Yozuri Mag Series - Darter
Yozuri Mag Series - Darter
This lure got stolen before I could ever use it...so there.
Mirrolure Mirrominnow
Mirrolure Mirrominnow
(Currently at the bottom of the sea)

It was floating in the water by my feet at the surfline while I was fixing a wind knot and a Ladyfish absolutely crashed it.  The hook didn't set and the Ladyfish literally skipped away out of the water like Woody Woodpecker.

Species Fooled:
Ladyfish
Bucktails
Bucktails
I still haven't caught a darn thing with a bucktail (excluding the skimmer jig)
...why do I keep trying?

Gotta love the photo though...it's like an Ipod commerical
Tube Lure "Surge"
Tube Lure "Surge"
I think these are better for trolling - they're a pain to cast.
Mirrolure Catch 2000
Mirrolure Catch 2000
Suspending Twitchbait

Species Fooled:
Snook
Barracuda
Jack Crevalle
Leatherjack
Blue Runner
Yozuri Crystal Minnow - MAGNUM
Yozuri Crystal Minnow - MAGNUM
This is a big boy
Doc's Goofy Jig and Teaser
Doc's Goofy Jig and Teaser
This jig/teaser combo is great for fishing sandy bottoms
...I've yet to realize any success with it - too much grass where I fish.
Note the orientation of the jig and teaser - this is how they should look on your loop knot.
...and you better be using loop knots on your jigs.

Check out this article about these jigs:
http://forshorefishing.theledger.com/default.asp?item=2215176
Crippled Herring
Crippled Herring
For deep jigging.
DOA Baitbuster
DOA Baitbuster
This is the deep runner model.
Great for sight casting to rolling tarpon, or trolling.

Not so great for sight casting to rolling tarpon...10# test
Rapala Skitterpop
Rapala Skitterpop
This plug is huge...
The First Mirrolure
The First Mirrolure

William Lamb was pretty cynical about fish. This apparatus, patented in 1894, assumes that a fish that sees itself in a mirror “will be made bolder by the supposed companionship, and more eager to take the bait before his competitor seizes it.”

“He will lose his caution,” Lamb wrote, “and take the bait with a recklessness that greatly increases the chances of his being caught on the hook.”


Underwater

Oct 09 219.jpg
Oct 09 219.jpg
Oct 09 219.jpg 2009-10-18
Reef Shark
Reef Shark
.
Blue Runner
Blue Runner
.
Crevalle (Teaser Fly)
Crevalle (Teaser Fly)
.
jackunderwater.jpg
jackunderwater.jpg
jackunderwater.jpg 2009-10-31
Oct 09 213.jpg
Oct 09 213.jpg
Oct 09 213.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 214.jpg
Oct 09 214.jpg
Oct 09 214.jpg 2009-10-18
Blue Runner (teaser fly)
Blue Runner (teaser fly)
.
Oct 09 215.jpg
Oct 09 215.jpg
Oct 09 215.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 216.jpg
Oct 09 216.jpg
Oct 09 216.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 217.jpg
Oct 09 217.jpg
Oct 09 217.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 218.jpg
Oct 09 218.jpg
Oct 09 218.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 220.jpg
Oct 09 220.jpg
Oct 09 220.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 221.jpg
Oct 09 221.jpg
Oct 09 221.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 222.jpg
Oct 09 222.jpg
Oct 09 222.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 223.jpg
Oct 09 223.jpg
Oct 09 223.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 225.jpg
Oct 09 225.jpg
Oct 09 225.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 226.jpg
Oct 09 226.jpg
Oct 09 226.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 228.jpg
Oct 09 228.jpg
Oct 09 228.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 236.jpg
Oct 09 236.jpg
Oct 09 236.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 237.jpg
Oct 09 237.jpg
Oct 09 237.jpg 2009-10-18
Oct 09 255.jpg
Oct 09 255.jpg
Oct 09 255.jpg 2009-10-18

Scenery

May 2009 137.jpg
May 2009 137.jpg
May 2009 137.jpg 2009-05-24
Yak'en Away
Yak'en Away
.
May 2009 139.jpg
May 2009 139.jpg
May 2009 139.jpg 2009-05-24


This photo is actually 3 separate exposures of 3 different focal points - which is why everything is in extreme focus.
...I just think it's pretty.  Big ups to my coworker Mike for taking the photo.
Me and Dad
Me and Dad
My fondest childhood memories are of my Dad taking me fishing for sunnys, bluegills, (and snapping turtles) in the lake in South Jersey.
25 years later, I'm returning the favor.
"...now where should I toss this livie"
"...now where should I toss this livie"
...get out of the slough dummy....that's where all the fish are!
Sept 09 050.jpg
Sept 09 050.jpg
Sept 09 050.jpg 2009-09-25
May 2009 138.jpg
May 2009 138.jpg
May 2009 138.jpg 2009-05-24
May 2009 133.jpg
May 2009 133.jpg
May 2009 133.jpg 2009-05-24
June 2009 085.jpg
June 2009 085.jpg
These are my 15 foot surf rods...did I mention how tall I was?
June 2009 087.jpg
June 2009 087.jpg
June 2009 087.jpg 2009-06-07
The Cobra-Cai-yak
The Cobra-Cai-yak
My new Moken 12 Angler

...christened it with a ~50-60lb Tarpon (jumped)
Casting for the Pot o' Gold
Casting for the Pot o' Gold
Note the poor casting form. 
This is what happens when you have to keep your left hand on the bail of a Daiwa BG series to keep it from snapping back and breaking off your 3 hook terminal tackle into an area where children will be swimming in an hour or two.
This will not make you very popular with your neighbors.

A steady supply of Pompano fillets, however, will make you popular with your neighbors.
My Dad
My Dad
We didn't get a single bite this morning.
...but sometimes it's not about the fish
Low Tide Surf Fishing
Low Tide Surf Fishing
Every live bait we fished that day got chomped up by baby barracuda. 
I really do dislike juvenile barracuda - they're the jerks of the sea.
The Healthy Release
The Healthy Release
- my second favorite part of catching fish.

...off you go, Mr. Rubberlips

Action Shots

First Stingray
First Stingray
Walked me all the way down the beach and stuck himself in the sand - never pulled him out.
...if you look close, you can see my egg sinker out of the water (so close)
First Stingray (pic 2)
First Stingray (pic 2)

Landing a brusier
Landing a brusier

Hooked up on light tackle
Hooked up on light tackle

De'hooking a baby cuda
De'hooking a baby cuda
.
Sometimes the cuda bite back
Sometimes the cuda bite back
I'm glad my camera didn't capture the audio of me screaming like a girl.
Jumping Cuda
Jumping Cuda

Mangrove Snapper (underwater)
Mangrove Snapper (underwater)
This mango hit a Gulp pogie on a jighead.  Here he is underwater.

Crevalle

Aug 2009 010.jpg
Aug 2009 010.jpg
Aug 2009 010.jpg 2009-08-15
December 2009 233.jpg
December 2009 233.jpg
December 2009 233.jpg 2009-12-26
December 2009 147.jpg
December 2009 147.jpg
December 2009 147.jpg 2009-12-20
December 2009 149.jpg
December 2009 149.jpg
December 2009 149.jpg 2009-12-20
December 2009 232.jpg
December 2009 232.jpg
December 2009 232.jpg 2009-12-26
Jan 3 2010 005.jpg
Jan 3 2010 005.jpg
Jan 3 2010 005.jpg 2010-01-03
Jan 3 2010 002.jpg
Jan 3 2010 002.jpg
Jan 3 2010 002.jpg 2010-01-03
Jan 3 2010 003.jpg
Jan 3 2010 003.jpg
Jan 3 2010 003.jpg 2010-01-03
November 2009 020.jpg
November 2009 020.jpg
November 2009 020.jpg 2009-11-01
November 2009 027.jpg
November 2009 027.jpg
November 2009 027.jpg 2009-11-01
November 2009 003.jpg
November 2009 003.jpg
November 2009 003.jpg 2009-11-01
Jack Crevalle.jpg
Jack Crevalle.jpg
Jack Crevalle.jpg 2009-06-03
Halloween 09 038.jpg
Halloween 09 038.jpg
Halloween 09 038.jpg 2009-10-31
Sept 09 014.jpg
Sept 09 014.jpg
Sept 09 014.jpg 2009-09-13
jack_0005.jpg
jack_0005.jpg
jack_0005.jpg 2009-09-17
jackunderwater.jpg
jackunderwater.jpg
jackunderwater.jpg 2009-10-31
jack_0006.jpg
jack_0006.jpg
jack_0006.jpg 2009-09-17
Halloween 09 036.jpg
Halloween 09 036.jpg
Halloween 09 036.jpg 2009-10-31

Yak

Aug 2009 117.jpg
Aug 2009 117.jpg
Aug 2009 117.jpg 2009-09-02
Aug 2009 112.jpg
Aug 2009 112.jpg
Aug 2009 112.jpg 2009-09-02
Aug 2009 113.jpg
Aug 2009 113.jpg
Aug 2009 113.jpg 2009-09-02
Aug 2009 114.jpg
Aug 2009 114.jpg
Aug 2009 114.jpg 2009-09-02
Aug 2009 115.jpg
Aug 2009 115.jpg
Aug 2009 115.jpg 2009-09-02
Aug 2009 111.jpg
Aug 2009 111.jpg
Aug 2009 111.jpg 2009-09-02
Aug 2009 109.jpg
Aug 2009 109.jpg
Aug 2009 109.jpg 2009-09-02
My transition from surf fishing to kayak fishing was a gradual process.
My transition from surf fishing to kayak fishing was a gradual process.
.
Aug 2009 116.jpg
Aug 2009 116.jpg
Aug 2009 116.jpg 2009-09-02
I can't believe I fell for the ol' fake shrimp trick
I can't believe I fell for the ol' fake shrimp trick
.

Fish Food

Pecan Crusted Trout with Horseradish Lemon Cream Sauce
Pecan Crusted Trout with Horseradish Lemon Cream Sauce
Specks are quite possibly the best eatin' fish ever.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pecan-crusted-trout-recipe/index.html
Roasted Cero Mackerel w/ Tomatos & Garlic
Roasted Cero Mackerel w/ Tomatos & Garlic
Cero Mackerel is the anti-kingfish....light and mild

Fishing Reports

2/14/10 Valentines Day Trout
2/7/10 Beach Bonefish
1/2/10 First Snook!
12/4 First Spanish Mackerel
11/28 Grouper Digging off the Key
11/25 I found a Kayak Chum/Live Bait Floating Net!
11/21 - Kayak Sharkfest
11/14 - Red Grouper
11/1 - Jacks, Cuda
10/31 - Halloween Ladyfish
10/9 - (juvie) Snapper Slam

Videos


Kayak Fishing - Speckled Trout and a Big Shark
Kayak Fishing for Speckled Trout on jigs and plugs in Key Biscayne, FL. A shark shows up uninvited. (please see my other bonus video "Shark eats Mirrolure" for the full "sleigh-ride")

Kayak Fishing - 4ft shark eats Mirrolure
A 4 foot shark eats my Mirrolure M52 while speckled trout fishing and takes me for a kayak sleigh ride. Disclaimer: You do not see the shark in this video

Surf Fishing - Bonefish
Bonefish caught off the beach with a gold kroc spoon.

Reef Sharks - Kayak
2 Reef Sharks caught from my Kayak in Key Biscayne, FL. Bait was a Blue Runner head and a live Pinfish.

Crevalle Jack - Kayak
Jack Crevalle - Light Tackle - Key Biscayne, FL Caught off my kayak.

Catching (trolling) and Rigging Live Bait - Kayak
How to catch and rig a live bait - trolling a teaser fly - catching a leatherjack - and rigging with a stinger rig

Jack Crevallle - Kayak
Yet Another Jack Crevalle

Mutton Snapper - Kayak
Mutton Snapper Kayak Teaser Fly

Baby Sea Turtle

Manatees!

Dad's Snook
One of my favorite aspects of surf fishing with lures are people's reactions to just "how big" these fish are and how close to the beach we catch (and release) them. 
I think part of it is due to the majority of surf and pier rats around here that keep every undersized fish they catch...animals.

Specks
I found a Trout hole.  Lucky me!

First Kayak Vid
My first mounted camera vid.  Featuring a ~1lb Crevalle.

Sailfish - Pompano Beach Offshore
This is my first and only Sailfish. Like a good sportsman, I didn't boat him for a photo.
(note: this is exactly what you say when you lose a once-in-a-lifetime billfish next to the boat after a 15 minute fight because you accidentally reeled the planer into the rod tip)

Bull Shark - Flamingo, FL
Flamingo, FL         

Southern Stingray - Flamingo, FL
Flamingo, FL 

Hardhead Catfish - Flamingo, FL
Flamingo, FL        

Longtooth Sawfish - Flamingo, FL
Disclaimer: The fish breaks off and we don't see him.       However, this video is 4 minutes of rod bending/saw whipping action

"Big" Blue Runner on a live shrimp - Surf
This was the first "big" fish I ever caught off the surf.
...note how I'm horsing him in like it's my last meal.
Cut me some slack...before this it was all Pinfish.

Species Caught (saltwater) 49 to date

Sailfish
Mahi Mahi
Tarpon (jumped 5 to date)
Snook (6)
Redfish
Gag Grouper
Red Grouper
Great Barracuda
Skipjack Tuna
Little Tunny
Speckled Trout
Bonefish (5)
Black Drum
Ladyfish
Croaker
Reef Shark
Southern Stingray
Mackerels
King, Cero, Spanish

Jacks:
Blue Runner, Jack Crevalle, Lookdown, Banded Rudderfish, Leatherjack

Snappers:
Mutton, Mangrove, Lane, Yellowtail

Grunts:
Pigfish, Bluestriped Grunt, Sailor's Choice, White Grunt

Puffer
Sand Perch
Hardhead Catfish
Gafftopsail Catfish
Houndfish
Pinfish
Lizardfish
Silver Perch
Spot Croaker
Remora
Yellowfin Mojarra
Ballyhoo
Squid

Oyster Cracker
Black Sea Bass
Atlantic Skate

"To Do" List

Bluefish
Redfish
Pompano
Permit
Cobia

Favorite links

My Youtube Fishing Channel
Jacksonville Kayak Fishing
http://fwswkayaker.shutterfly.com/
Florida Surf Fishing
Hornet Bear's Haus o' Anglin'
Great site for FL species via 'yak.

Fishing Report

Comments: Cmon, I talk to fish all day, I need the human contact

10/2/2010 3:34:42 PM - 002087405391
Hey Vinny what have you been up to? Any new photos or videos are you still fishing this time of year? I know we just got over a bit of a rain storm here on the east coast, how are you doing in your neck of the woods? I just updated my website I put up a few photos from one of my little 12 volt battery projects for the kayak. More to come.
Peace Brother
Dennis
9/8/2009 9:38:01 AM - 002087405391
Congrats on your new kayak, let me know how things are going. We did some local fishing Monday I had a nice 22"Chain Pickerel on all the way up to the kayak and it just cut my braided line with those razor sharp teeth. I was disappointed, will try a steel leader next time.
8/30/2009 8:57:14 PM - 000095843077
I'm enjoying looking at the fish!

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