Jeff Jennings and his bachelor party from Lexington, KY put in a full day of fishing aboard the “Mr. Z” out of Key West and went away with both huge smiles and an even huger bag of fish!

Still, the green water persists, but don’t let that get you down.  The Bonitas continued to eat the transom out of the boat, the Kingfish in the gully between Sand Key Lighthouse and Western Dry Rocks reef were the biggest we have seen in weeks, and of course, we caught a Sailfish!

Clay Leavell did a fine job (considering the eyeball melting hangover he arrived with) of keeping the line tight and bringing this feisty fish to the boat.  And, this time I did my job and made sure that I had fresh batteries in my camera.  Like Capt. Steve says, “If you don’t have a picture, it didn’t happen.”

On a roll. 

We really can’t say that it is Sailfish Season yet, but as we all know here in the Fabulous Florida Keys (and especially Key West ) anything is possible at any time of year.

Yesterday, Sailfish and Blackfin Tunas.  Today, same conditions, another Sailfish in the green water and all the Bonitos you could stand.  You literally could not keep a bait in the water for all the Bonitas.  Only one Kingfish, but plenty of Macheral and Barracuda.

Oh, I know you are all expecting a photo because what would a blog entry by Capt. Craig be without a photo?  Sort of like getting a Playboy Magazine with just the articles…  well, unfortunately with all the work, skill and luck that goes into catching a Sail, it all came down to two AA batteries that decided to go dead right as we boated this fish!

The Cavan Construction boys from up North have been coming to Key West every spring to blow off steam for 5 years now.  They pour concrete on everything that stands on the East Coast and then pour rum down themselves in equal quantities!

They always fish two days because as Tom Smith says, “I have plenty of off days at work that are followed up by a fantastic next day ”

Well, even in the case of fishing, Tom is right!

We spent the first day doing as close to nothing as you can get.  Green Gulf of Mexico water had been driven out of the Gulf and into the Atlantic by a fierce cold front the night before.  But, give it 24 hours and a half dozen tide changes and the sea returned to normal.  Some charters figured that one slow day meant another slow day.  Not so here in Key West.  Things change…  and quickly.

We caught Bonito, Barracuda, and Kingfish right off the bat.  Then moved out to 300 feet of water and caught 5 Blackfin Tunas (unfortunately not pictured) and this hard fighting Sailfish.  Tom showed us how it is done and whipped this fish on 25 lb. test to be released quickly.

Sometimes I wonder if I write this blog just for my own therapy.  Then, I’ll get someone on a charter that will literally recite the entries to me as written.  Yesterday afternoon, I came home to check my email and had several emails wanting to know how my day turned out.  I’ll never doubt my readership again.  They are loyal and apparently don’t mind an odd entry…  And some of them are pretty strangely written!

My early morning trip did show up pretty much on time, having closed down the Duval St. bars at 4 am, it’s no small feat!  We had rough conditions with green water and a very cold North wind.  No Blue water fish, but plenty of Cero, Spanish, and King Mackerel, we kept the action going and tried not to bore anyone.  There were a couple of chummers between the boats, but one lucky angler locked onto a 40 pound hammerjack and took the overall largest fish award.

The afternoon went a bit smoother.  Craig Cope, from NY, NY celebrated his nuptials with fiancee Shanti with a half day of wreck fishing.  The Copes’ have fished with us now for 5 years.  In fact, I believe my first blog entry is about them catching Sailfish in shallow water, landing three and chalking up several near misses in as close as the Key West Ship channel.

Seven-year-old Brandon Cope, Craig’s nephew, caught the biggest fish of his life.  On a Shimano high speed 30-pound reel packed with light braided line, he worked for more than 20 minutes, keeping the braid tight, following Capt. Steve’s directions to the “T” and finally putting about a 40 pound Hammerjack in the boat for a great picture.  The fish was off-gassed, releasing the air in its bladder, revived at the side of the boat, and released unharmed to fight another day! 

Way to go Brandon, you made us look like heroes at the dock!

Up early…  Long day. 

First, a 6 hour charter with live bait fishing.  We have 12 Anglers, so we split the charter with our sistership (the other 46.6 Bertram in Key West) the “Triple Time.”  We plan on leaving the dock at 7 am…  However, I did receive a text message from the charter at 4 am telling me, “We’ll be there!”  I’ll let you know

Second charter of the day leaves the dock this afternoon at 1:30 pm, just a 4 hour trip.  These anglers should be well rested and the afternoon should be productive as the Gulf Stream has moved way North and into our half day range. 

Tonight, my son, Zachary, plays baseball beginning at 8 pm.  He got “player of the game” last Tuesday, so I pretty much have to go tonight.

And to start the day, a big cup of coffee…  and this view out my condo window.  My version of psycho-therapy!