Jeremy Dimbath from Naples, Florida brought his bachelor party to Key West, Florida for some outstanding sportfishing, and to celebrate with some first class downtown Key West entertainment…  I wasn’t there for the late night party, but I am sure they weren’t let down.  And they certainly weren’t let down by the fishing either :)

Since he had 8 anglers, Jeremy chartered both the “Mr. Z” and the “Triple Time” (both 46.6 Bertrams) captained by Joe Mercurio, and both boats spent the day on the Dolphin!  More than 300 pounds which was quite the accomplishment since the weather was a bit “challenging” and the night before had apparently been just about as challenging   It was a bachelor party afterall!

The picture shows only half the anglers and about a quarter of the fish…

But, don’t just take my word for it.  Here is the email I just got back from Jeremy…

Captain Craig-

I wanted to thank you and Steve again for the hot dolphin action.  My buddies getting sick didn’t ruin my fishing or my bachelor party… in fact, that really just gave me more time in the chair!  The sun burn has subsided, and my friends and coworkers were more than willing to accept the ridiculous amount of fish I brought back to Naples.  I won’t forget my first bachelor party (hopefully joking) or my first trip out on Mr. Z.  I will definitely be back!  Until then, I’ll keep fishing like I’m from the west coast.

Aaron Dimbath

Enjoy the fish and we’ll see you all next year!

Actually, a quick report on my son, Zachary, whom many of you have met, or kept up with over his six short years of a unique life straddling two cultures/countries at war.  

Zachary was born in Habana, Cuba, and spent the first year of his life with his mother and grandparents in Jaimanitas living in a very modest dwelling or aboard the “Mr. Z” when it was there fishing the many Marlin Tournaments held there each year.  He was one of only 7 children born in Cuba that year (2003) that received dual citizenship (in spite of the vigorous resistance of the United States Government!)  We actually took him from the Cuban Maternity ward directly to the “Mr. Z” and kept him there for the first couple weeks of his life, just in case he got somehow held up in red tape or “confiscated.”  It was not an easy process, but for me, it was a worthwhile endeavour and I figure he will have a great story later in life of how he escaped Communism before he could walk :)

So, being of Cuban heritage apparently hasn’t hurt his passion for baseball; he made the All-Star team last week and is thrilled.  He plays pitcher position and first base, so his extra time is spent in the batting cage…  And what team does he play for?  Team McDonalds of course!

Good luck Zach!

There’s no doubt that Off-shore sportfishing is a high end sport.  Sorry, but it’s just not for everybody, some of these fish are too precious to be available to everyone.  These are truly “fish of a lifetime.” 

The first thing most people ask when they call about a charter is “How much?”  Certainly that’s a fair question and again, sometimes if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.  But, there are other considerations.  You have to have an affinity for the sport.  Not that you have to know everything about the sport, that’s why we have Capt. Steve on the deck, you don’t have to know all the ins and outs to participate.  But, a love of the sport…  a true interest in the fish, the environment, the equipment and process and procedure is all what makes the sport dear to my heart and to most other true “Anglers.”

One of our favorite repeat customers and someone that I consider a friend as opposed to a favored client is Frank Miller.  He is quite a story in himself and just a quick Google of his name and company will tell you all about his business:  www.darkopsholdings.com  (maybe more).  He is a model for success.  I enjoy his visits to Key West and we spend the day talking about anything and everything.  One of Frank’s best features is that he isn’t at all intimidated by any situation.  I have seen the man sit in the center fighting chair, flogging away at a Sail, Hammerjack, Dolphin, etc. laughing at the 10-foot seas and truly enjoying life like it was his last day on earth.  This is the purest form of angler.  He enjoys every moment of the experience and isn’t an angling snob.  He has caught them all, so whatever is on the other end of the line, he enjoys it to its fullest.  Whether it goes in the fishbox or gets gently released, he couldn’t care less…  if it lets go before Capt. Steve can wire it in the boat, so be it.  For Frank, it’s all about the fight, the FUN!

Yesterday was another one of those days.  Not much going on.  A lot of other boats catching nothing or close to it.  We got lucky with a pile of Dolphin, Bonita, Barracuda, and of course, another Sailfish!  Frank has landed many Sails over the years, but I think he would admit this one put on one of the best shows we have ever seen.  This fish spent more time in the air than in the water.  Of course, it was released, but the picture is the only thing Frank really wanted anyway.  He is a true sportsman

Just an interesting trend I am seeing.  I guess I might be a little bit slow ’cause we tend to get caught up in our own little World down here in Key West, Florida and don’t sometimes even realize that there is another world outside of ours.  Also, I tend to get anxiety attacks when I watch regular TV and see what goes on outside of our little fishing bubble…  For instance.

 Last week, I had a wonderful group of Anglers (John Morgan and his father) charter the “Mr. Z”  from New Zealand!  I’ve heard that there is some of the best Black Marlin fishing in the world in New Zealand and they had heard that Key West had the Worlds’ best Sailfishing   So, we spent a couple of days comparing the two.  And you know what we found out?  Fishing is 99% luck and when combined with good comraderie, nice weather, and time on the water, it beats a day at work anytime!  They sell funiture to Kiwi’s and had a shindig to attend in High Point, N.C. and just decided to drive South

Then again, we took Sam from Belgium out fishing and showed him what it was like to get tied into a Hammerjack even if it was just a warm-up for a Sailfish…

And on another semi-related note, I sold one of Nikki Sixx’s bass guitars (Motley Crue) to a fellow in Portugal;  Portugal!  I had to have my wife show me on a map where that was!

Anyway, the fish come from a long way to get to Key West, Florida…  and the people that catch them sometimes travel even farther!

There’s a reason I get up at 4:30 every morning…

We sat in for the past two days due to high winds.  This gave us time to fix and fiddle with all those mundane chores we don’t normally have the time to fix when we are running every day.  Then, with a break in the weather, we were back to work.  Keith Benda and friends from Lincoln, Nebraska took a charter out on the “Mr. Z” out of Key West and the A and B Marina, and caught Kingfish, Bonita, Barracuda, Amberjack…  and of course, a Sailfish!

A picture is worth a thousand words… but there’s the real reason I get up!