Every year, thousands of anglers descend on sunny South Florida with their sights set on sailfish season. Charter boats and tournament fisherman alike spend countless hours checking kites, respooling reels and catching and storing live bait in hopes of outdoing their competitors. The action often starts slow with a cold front or two pushing some fish down and sparking interest and anticipation. Around December, these fronts start coming through with much more regularity and intensity. The falling temperatures and north winds get fish moving and much more active.
Sailfishing is mostly a game full of nuances and details. Seasoned captains know the importance of quality live bait and spend countless days and nights stocking up. Baits such as goggle eyes, threadfin herring and spanish sardines are a critical part of any outing. Catching these fish is just part of the equation that leads to ultimate success. Every baitfish must be carefully transported back to the dock and unloaded in large bait pens where they will be fed and cared for until ready to use.
Professional fisherman will also go through all of the systems, gear and tackle on the boat. Any issues usually get addressed ahead of a charter or tournament. It is important that all of the electrical outlets that supply power to the electric kite reels be checked to make sure they are working properly. Any livewell pumps that are old or worn should also be replaced in order to avoid losing valuable baitfish. A lot of tournaments have been lost before they started due to issues with bait and or live livewells.
Boat builders have addressed this issue by incorporating pump systems that come equipped with backup pumps or sea chests. Many of today’s high powered center consoles can be ordered with up to four built in livewells capable of handling even the most extreme demands. Livewell systems should always be carefully matched to the needs of baits they will hold.
Another ritual that is important to success is that of tying lots and lots of leaders. People often ask why the need for so many leaders. Are we really planning to catch 50, 75 or 100 sailfish? More often than not, you won’t need all of these leaders, but don’t forget that other hungry fish like mahi and kingfish can chew up your rigs in a big hurry.
I still remember what occurred during a tournament that I was invited to fish a few years ago. Upon stepping onto the boat in the morning, I asked the captain where he kept the extra leaders and his response was “we have 18 rigged rods, so we don’t need them”! To make matters worse, he used a leader system that made swapping leaders very slow. As soon as we put out the first spread, we were welcomed by a hungry pack of school size dolphin followed by a pack of snake kings. In less than one hour we had to practically stop fishing in order to rig most of those 18 rods. Fortunately, the kings and dolphin finally left us alone and we manage to catch a few sailfish.
I guess the point that I’m trying to make is that preparation is the key to success. Once your boat, gear and bait is in order you’ll need to know where to fish. A little networking and a few phone calls before you head out can be helpful in finding productive areas. Social media can also be helpful in getting a feel for what is going on in your area. Also, don’t forget to listen to your VHF radio while fishing so that you can get a better idea on current conditions. Follow these tips and you will be have a season to remember.
I’d like to take a moment to wish everyone, especially our military and first responders a great holiday season. Also, don’t forget to keep up with the latest reports, pictures and news by following me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YOUTUBE.
Tight Lines and Happy New Year,
CAPT. ORLANDO MUNIZ
Nomad Fishing Charters
786-266-0171
www.fishingchartermiami.com
FRIENDS & SPONSORS: Mercury Marine, Bass Pro Shops, Offshore Angler, Costa Sunglasses, Taco Marine, Betts Tackle, Xtratuf, SeaDek, ACRARTEX, AquaNutrition, Tigress, Baitmasters and Cuda Brand.