Anglers are always looking for that “secret” lure, and short of the “Banjo Minnow,” I haven’t found one yet.  However, I have found that being lucky is always the best way to catch a fish, fancy lure or not.

Dana Irby and family found out that all it takes to catch Dorados and one big 55 inch Barracuda…  is luck and a spoon! :)

The Irbys’, from Houston, spent the day fishing on board the Mr. Z and changed our luck.  Lately, we had just been catching “chicken” sized Dolphin, but with the first line out today, Dana reeled in a 14 pounder!

At the end of the trip, as we were winding in the last of the lines, Capt. Steve hooked this monster Barracuda on, of all things, a spoon lure, and we boxed him for Dana’s trophy room.  He will find a nice wall to hang this one on!

The dolphin are pouring thru the Florida Keys as usual this time of year.  Rich Bruce and friends found that out today and the girls won out with the bigger fish.  Amy caught the 26 pounder!

Each year Florida Governor Charlie Crist and Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp take a fishing trip somewhere in the great state of Florida and this year they brought the Challenge to Key West.  We were invited (out of hundreds of working charterboats) to host the Lt. Governor’s team aboard the “Mr. Z.”  As luck would have it, the LG’s team won the Challenge with a 24 pound cow Dophin and a pile of schoolies!  That’s the LG at right in the photo below wearing the “salmon” colored shirt.  I told the LG in Key West we just called it pink…  not that there’s anything wrong with that!

David and Anna Peacher of Kansas City are two of our cherished “repeat” customers.  This visit we concentrated on catching them a Sailfish…  and we slayed the Dolphin instead!  It just goes to show you that fishing is fishing, you just never know what you’re gonna get.  Sort of a Forrest Gump thing…

Thanks so much David and Anna for good company and good fishing!

Jim Cowell and friends have a strict formula for having the best day of fishing possible.  It requires the discipline of staying on Duval Street and drinking heavily until the sun first begins to rise, rushing to the charterboat, “Mr. Z” schlepping as much beer as you can carry, and forgetting any item of food or alchohol-free liquid.  There-in lies the formula for billfishing at its best.  Jim will carry that secret with him!