Catching an amazing variety in 3 days of fishing Islamorada

 Cliff Fox and his good buddy Freddy DuPreez are in town this week and had a great 3 days of fishing.

On Day 1 we fished on the oceanside starting on the reef patches. Plenty of tasty Yellowtail Snapper were kept for dinner and lots of Grouper were released. All were caught using Fox Ultralight Rage rods and Bonefish Trek rods fitted with Diablo 350 spinning reels. After spending the morning catching all sorts of fish including a Hogfish by Cliff we decided to try the outer reef edges. I threw the castnet before we left the shallow reef and caught a dozen or so ballyhoo just in case we saw a Saifish.

Cliff Fox with a Black Grouper caught using
the Rage Ultralight Diablo 350 combo

On the outer reef we anchored the boat and began catching King Mackerel up to 15 lbs. All of these were caught on bucktail leadheaded jigs tipped with a live shrimp. Using the Permit Trek rods fitted with Diablo 550 spinning reels was a perfect combo for this action.

King Macks were fun on the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combos

 I put a ballyhoo out on the right outrigger in  hopes of a Sail and we also flew the kite baited with a live Blue Runner.  Cliff hooked a nice King and Freddy grabbed the right outrigger rod and was onto a 50lb Sailfish. We had to toss the anchor buoy and give chase. Twenty minutes later we released the beautiful Sailfish. The Diablo 750 reel was loaded with 20lb Horizon Braid so we had plenty of line and we needed it. congrats Freddy.

Cliff with a nice King Mackerel

Fred caught  his Sailfish on the
Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo

boatside release of Freddy's Sailfish

Day 2 we decided to use Cliff's boat Foxy Lady and we headed out into Florida Bayside. A morning was spent catching lots of Spanish Mackerel and even a nice Cobia. We kept a few Mackerel for bait. The weather the last week had been warm and the winds had dropped so I suggested we give Tarpon a try even though it is the middle of winter.

Freddy caught and released this Cobia on a
Rage Ultralight Diablo 350 combo

We set up in  a channel further back in the bay and first off caught and released 3 Blacktip sharks in the 80lb class.

Cliff does battle with a Blacktip Shark using the
EOS trolling reel and Trek XT Boatrod

a hefty Blacktip Shark

 We could see a rain squall making up and we were about to reel in when Freddy hooked into a big fish. We battled this fish using a Diablo 750 spinning reel and a Sailfish Trek rod. The reel was loaded with 50 lb Horizon braid and 20 feet of 80lb leader with 3 feet of 100lb at the hook end. After an hour the fish got up on the edge of the flat and we got a good look. It was a Sawfish over 300lbs. Also swimming alongside the Sawfish were a few Cobia. Well I knew we would be extremely lucky to this fish up. After having the leader on the rod dozens of time and enduring a white-out rain squall I finally finger tipped the big fish up. At this point the Sawfish came loose. Oh well. The Sailfish Trek rod did an incredible job for over 2 hours with 50lb braid on this fish. Freddy held up very well. Nice effort.

Freddy DuPreez spent well over 2 hours battling a
Sawfish on the Sailfish Trek rod and Diablo 750 spinning reel

The rain came but did not stop Freddy

at the 2 hour mark Freddy battling his Sawfish

Day 3 dawned slick calm and we brought the big sticks. Thinking we would go back to the same area wiith Fox XT Boatrods and EOS 50 Trolling reels with 65lb Horizon braid and get the job done properly. After deploying 2 baits we were surprised as Cliff jumped a huge Tarpon that threw the big hook and bait.

Well I wasted no time rigging up 2 Sailfish Trek rods fittted with Diablo 750 spinning reels. In the next 4 hours Cliff Fox and Freddy DuPreez had the time of their fishing lives battling big Tarpon up to 150lbs. The slick calm conditions with a water temperature of 76 degrees had brought these big fish out of their winter slumber and they were hungry.

Cliff had 3 releases and Freddy had 1 and another 4 went jumping away.

After taking some incredibe photos I took another picture of a big Lemon Shark that Freddy had up and my old digital camera went away. The strap had broken off a year earlier so no pictures. All those jumping Tarpon will be etched in my mind for a long time.

Way to go Cliff and Freddy.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Using Light Tackle on the Reefs

Fox Sport Fishing Diablo spinning reels have amazed me in the last 2 years that I have been using them. Randy Soth, Peter Aiello and Curtis released at least 60 Grouper along with another 50 assorted reef fish all using these amazing reels. In 2 years I have not had to replace or rebuild a drag or had to replace a handle or replace stripped gears or anything, period. I have been guiding over 40 years and in the past I spent a lot of evenings rebuilding spinning reels that had failed in one way or another. I really have to stress that the Fox Diablo spinning reels are the best I have ever used.

We fished on five or so spots on this day. We chummed with crushed Lobster heads. No fish can resist this brew. Fox Bonefish Trek and Fox Rage Ultralight rods were what we used with the Diablo 350 spinning reels. Light tackle fun like this is what brings my customers back trip after trip.

Pictured are some of the highlights of the day.

Curtis with a beautiful Black Grouper

Curtis with a Rainbow Wrasse

Fox Diablo spinning reels hold up day after day
and month after month. Gag Grouper pictured

Fox Rage Ultralight 185 rod and
Diablo 350 spinning reel is a Super Tough outfit

over 60 Grouper were released using the
Diablo 350 spinning reels

Pete using the Rage Ultralight - Diablo combo thinks he is
going to catch the big shark he  is fighting

Peter Aiello with a Black Grouper

Randy Soth (r) caught this fat Red Grouper
on a Bonefish Trek - Diablo 350 combo

Randy Soth with a Gag Grouper before release

the Rage Ultralight 185 takes pressure like this day after day.
What an incredible fishing rod!

Toothy Cero Mackerel

Even though the Grouper have to be released because of a 4 month season closure they can be caught and released to battle another day. Because of this we are seeing big numbers of grouper returning to our reefs.

At the end of the day we kept Yellowtail and Mangrove Snapper for a fish fry and some Cero Mackerel to be made into a tasty fish salad.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Fishing continues to be good

Sailfish are biting but it is a pick. We got lucky on Wednesday and raised a pack of hungry ones. Cyd Nielsen and Roddy Rogers caught a double header. Permit Trek rods and Diablo 550 reels were used. Yesterday on the reef the action was outstanding.

Over 60 Grouper were caught along with plenty of other reef species. All were caught using Fox Bonefish Trek rods and Fox Rage Ultralight rods fittied with Diablo 350 reels.

Had another day where we were trying for Sails and had 3 on but they all got away. That is why we call it fishing.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Patch Reef Action

This was one of those days.... Joanne Stavola brought her dad Jim and daughter, Sierra out for a fishing trip and it was more of a catching trip. The seas were flat and the fish were hungry.

Using Fox Sport Fishing Bonefish Trek and Rage Ultralight rods fitted with Diablo 350 spinning reels and 10lb Horizon braid the family caught over 100 fish in 5 hours of fishing. Groupers of 3 species, Mutton, Mangrove and Yellowtail Snapper. Porgies , Jacks, Spanish Mackerel and even a puffer fish.

The Bonefish Trek rods were bowed up

Jim Stavola with a Yellowtail Snapper

the action was nonstop

Joanne and Sierra released 25 Grouper. A Rage Ultralight rod
and Diablo 350 spinning reel was used on this catch

Joanne and Sierra with a Red Grouper caught
using the Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

Joanne caught this Gag Grouper using the
Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

double up result Mutton Snapper and Blue Runner

Jim had last fished with me 20 years ago on my charterboat How Bout It and had always wanted to come down and do it again. Joanne brought him down for a Christmas present and he just had the best time. Sierra was new to angling and really took to it. I don't think Joanne took a break until it was time to go. Grandpa had a really good touch and didn't lose very many shrimp without hooking a fish.

Joanne did a great job of angling

Joanne, Sierra and Jim Stavola caught over
100 fish using Fox Sport Fishing tackle

I was really happy the seas had laid down and everyone felt good. The day before and the day afterwards the seas were back up to 3 to 5 foot. So it worked out just perfect. Jim was hoping for some nice eating fish and took home Mangrove and Yellowtail Snappers. The groupers and the rest were all released.

It goes without saying I had a great time with this family.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Take Your Family Fishing!

This past Saturday and Sunday the Magidson family fished with me here in Islamorada. Lately I have had a lot of families out and there is nothing I enjoy more than watching the young ones reeling in fish.

Ryan is 10 and Matthew is 8. They have now been out with me for four years and are quite good anglers. Grandpa Jim Sr. was a deckhand for a couple months in Islamorada in 1958. So the family tradition of fishing in the Keys goes back a long time. We spent Saturday way out back at Middle Cape Sable fishing the River Mouths and Creeks. Lots of fun catching Black Drum, Redfish, and Sheepshead.

10 year old Ryan Magidson caught this fine Black Drum
using the Fox Rage Ultralight rod and Diablo 350 spinning reel

8 year old Matthew caught more fish than everyone
else on his Fox Diablo 350 spinning reel

Jim Magidson had fun catching this Black Drum on a
Fox Bonefish Trek rod and Diablo 350 spinning reel

Grandpa Jim Magidson had a great time with the kids and
caught plenty of fish using the Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo

The boys did great not snagging near as many trees and roots as I  thought they might. We enjoyed a hot bite of Sheepshead. Jim Sr eats fish 5 days a week and Sheepshead are one of his favorites. He took home a dozen and we released 25 more.

Matthew(8) holds a Redfish for his brother Ryan(10)

lots of tasty Sheepshead were caught on the
Rage Ultralight rods and Diablo 350 reels

Later in the day we learned some patience while waiting the the tide to pick up. When it finally did the Black Drum bite took hold and Ryan caught the largest one of 10lbs. Matthew and both Jims caught Black Drum as well and then it was time to head back to the keys.

On the second day we fished the Patch Reefs aboard the First Growth. It was gusting to 28 mph out of the north and the big boat was a great option. The enclosed cabin was a nice shelter from the wind. The young lads waylaid the reef fish using Bonefish Trek rods fitted with Diablo 350 spinning reels. The Trek rod has a nice long rodbutt which fitted very comfortably underneath the boys' arms.

the Bonefish Trek rod has a long butt section which fits
perfectly under Matthew's arm giving him full leverage

Matthew is not letting this one get away

These kids were a true delight to watch. The Grouper won the battle more than a few times running down and rocking up. The kids learned to use the Bonefish Trek rod to short pump the fish. That keeps the head of the fish up and the tail down and helps to keep them swimming up. The boys caught on quickly and caught some really nice bottom dwellers.

Dad unhooks a brightly colored Porkfish for the boys

Jim Magidson enjoyed using Fox Rage Ultralight rods
fishing on the Patch Reefs

Jim Sr. with his grandsons fishing. Does it get any better

Matthew with a Spanish Mackerel half as long as he is

Ryan and Matthew used Bonefish Trek 350 Diablo
combos on this pair of Gag Groupers

Ryan used the Bonefish Trek 350 Diablo on this Gag Grouper
that  Skip holds while Grandpa Jim looks on with approval

this Black Grouper was heading for the bottom but
Jim Magidson used the Bonefish Trek 350 Diablo combo
to pump him up

this is what fishing is all about

Hopefully next winter the seas will be calmer and we can take the boys to the outer reefs and try for Sailfish and some big King Macks.

Great job Ryan and Matthew. And Jim Jr and Jim Sr thanks for bringing up the children in a fishing environment.

Captain Skip Nielsen

Sailfishing on January 7th and 9th

Dr.Hugh Dennis joined me this week for a couple days of Sailfishing. We finally had a fairly strong coldfront blow through and we had high expectations. Fishing was good but still not red hot. We were very patient both days. On day one Hugh released 2 Sailfish. Also caught was a large Blackfin Tuna of 27lbs. We were fishing 3 Permit Trek/Diablo 550 combos with 12lb monofilament and a Sailfish Trek/Diablo 750 with 30lb Horizon Braid. The Tuna ate a live ballyhoo trolled from the heavier tackle. And that was a good thing. The battle lasted 20 minutes with Dr.Hugh applying lots of pressure. It was a great fish. We enjoyed sushi and grilled tuna steaks and tuna salad for a few days afterwards.

Dr. Hugh Dennis with a 27lb Blackfin Tuna

Hugh puts the stops to a Sailfish
using the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo

Permit Trek rods and Diablo 550 spinning reels
were used to catch 4 Sailfish

A Sail takes to the air

Boatside release

While waiting for Sailfish bites
5 Mahi Mahi were boated

On the second day of fishing it was pretty choppy but got a little nicer in the afternoon. Once again Hugh released 2 Sailfish using the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combos. He really enjoyed using the light tackle on the Sails. Mahi-Mahi attacked our baits all morning long and kept us plenty busy. It was really fun for both Hugh and myself as Sailfishing is one of my favorite things to do.

Captain Skip Nielsen