After several weeks of some mediocre fishing, finally we are experiencing what I remember as real Key West Fishing!
I started as a licenced Captain working in Key West in 1986. So I am coming up on a quarter of a century of fishing/diving the same old spots and have seen it all under a microscope. I’ve seen a lot of changes and held on tight as more storms than I could make up names for passed us by with little damage but set our business back. The boredom of late summer as you look forward to filling out your booking book and hitting each holiday season with a bang. Sometimes it’s been a real drag…  predictable, but I’ve almost given up many times.  The only thing stopping me was the people that were giving up…  they always came back with stories of the real world and how much it sucked.  “Stay where you are,” was the general message.
Then, when you least expect it, the fishing turns red hot, you have some of the nicest charters, and if that wasn’t enough… they pay you in cash! Then, it all seems worthwhile and you go on for another few days– months– years– and before you know it, your 20 year gold watch is tarnished beyond recognition…   Just kidding about the watch.  You get nothing.  There is a lot of camaraderie between Captains, but don’t think for a minute that they wish the best for you.  We all love secretly when someone goes out of business.  For whatever reason.  We really don’t want something bad to happen to another guide.  Sinking, fire, foreclosure, etc. is a scare to us all, but mostly we just say, “whew, glad it wasn’t me.”  Although, I have had all of those things happen to me.  It’s really a test of how much you want the lifestyle.  One thing I have learned.  You never go out of business until you let yourself go out of business.  But, giving up is easy.  Going on is the challenge and I like putting years under my belt.  As long as I don’t quit, the guides with less time on the water won’t ever catch me.  They may have better days, but they can’t say they have been a guide longer

And pictures.  If you don’t have a picture, it didn’t happen.  So, if a beautiful bikini clad chica catches a white Marlin on 30 lb. test, you’d better get a picture, or it is just a story…  have I shown you my picture of the bikini girl with the White Marlin?  Annnyyway…

Kelly and William Melton of Knoxville, TN spent a great day aboard the Mr. Z pulling Groupers and Snappers out of the rocks and eating very well.

I love this time of year. Sure, it’s considered Sailfish season and we catch plenty of those too. In fact, we caught one today just fishing on the reef (see tomorrow’s blog entry) but there’s nothing like pulling big fat Black and Red Groupers out of the rocks on heavy tackle and slamming them in the box! This catch took less than 20 minutes to put together leaving a lot of blue-water time left to hunt “trophies.”

O.K.,
I got a lot of emails (it is truly amazing how many people read this blog! To me it is just silly how pictures of dead fish, half naked girls, and semi-auto weapons attract an audience:)
O.K. so what did I get Lisa for our first anniversary?  And yes, I am amazed how much I have learned from the first few marriages too… but she tells me that first anniversaries are “paper.” Paper?  For hanging in there for a year?  I mean her, ya know. What the hell does that mean? And who is the “they” that makes up these rules and themes that go with the summary of being married for a year… or 50. Yeah, 50 I understand the Gold part. I even get the 25 year Silver theme. But, Paper?
Let’s update that to something practical, something substantial. Now, I understand the controversial idea behind never teaching a woman (even if it is your own mother) not to use a gun or make one easily accessible, but in keeping with my present (go to the following B-log entry) we will now make a one year anniversary, wait for it… Stainless! Could be flatware, a place setting for 6, or a 3-inch cylinder, pink gripped, .410 chambered “Public Defender” Taurus Judge (or for you civilians) a really cool handgun!

I know this is a fishing blog and I’ll get back to it soon enough, but the several that have witnessed my enthusiasm for firearms, especially when the gulls are screwing with our trolling baits, will give me a little latitude when it comes to love or defense.  By the way, we now have a firing range just up the road…   

Tight lines and dry powder!

It’s kinda hard to tell, but that’s Jeff Overton the Professional Golfer pictured with our own Capt Steve Liberatore… oh and a Sailfish. Jeff just figured he’d spend an little of his four million that he made this year alone and go fishing with the best in Key West. As usual, Capt. Steve came thru and the fiesty Sail was released in 200 feet of water. Capt. Kyle Williams was at the helm and I… well, I was on the couch watching re-runs of “Pawn Wars.” What? You didn’t think they needed me to take a celebrity out to catch the fish of a lifetime, did you?