Easter Week

We started off last with a slick calm day, I had tough duty. Taking Cathy Scott and Libby Adamson out for an afternoon of fishing. We were hoping to catch enough Mangrove Snapper for a fish fry that evening. Moving around and fishing a few of the "Bomb Holes" we were able to put together our limit of Snapper. Also released were Grouper and Spanish Mackerels. We used Fox Diablo 350 reels and Rage Ultralight rods for this fun.

Cathy Scott and Libby Adamson had a blast fishing with the
 Fox Rage Ultalight rods and Diablo 360 reels

Libby and Cathy with dinner

Being that it was slick calm it was like wearing a mask and snorkle. Everything on the bottom was very visible. All of a sudden the girls spotted not 1 but 2 very large Hammerhead Sharks behind the boat. This was a rare sight. I kept them around for 20 minutes by feeding them cut up mullet and snapper. What a sight. I video'd and hopefully it will show up on u-tube. After a while of watching this incredible nature show Libbey asked if she could catch one. I had a Fox Sailfish Trek rod with a Diablo 750 reel ready to go with 100lb mono trace and a circle hook. The shark took a bait right at the stern and it was game on for Libby. After an hour battle Libby used the eight foot Sailfish Trek to tire the Hammerhead out and we released it. Great catch for Libby Adamson.

rare slick calm condions in April. All of a sudden a pair of big
Hammerhead Sharks showed in the chumslick

Hammerhead feeding behind the boat

Libby Adamson uses the 8 foot Sailfish Trek rod fitted
with a Diablo 750 reel to catch an estimated 9 foot Hammerhead Shark

On another afternoon I had Debbie and Rich Riolo out fishing with me. They love their Tarpon fishing. We had fun with Rich driving the boat while I threw the castnet to load up on mullet for bait. April is the best time of the year to fish Tarpon with live mullet. So exciting to watch the bites. Well anyway this was a special trip. Rich released 3 Tarpon and Debbie released 2 Tarpon. All this action was at a spot called Monster Alley. These were all fish well over 100lbs. A lot of splashing going on behind the boat as these Tarpon chased the mullet. All of the Riolos' Tarpon were caught on Fox Tarpon Spincast rods fitted with EOS 30 conventional reels. I had 2 families down this week and on one trip took all the kids fishing. Lots of fun as they all caught some sharks.

Debbie caught this Gag Grouper while waiting for a Tarpon bite

after the sunset Debbie Riolo hooked and landed her 2nd Tarpon

Debbie Riolo caught both of her Tarpon using the
Fox Trek Tarpon Spincast rod fitted with a Fox EOS 30 reel

Monster Alley Tarpon

Rich Riolo used the Fox EOS 30 Tarpon Spincast combo
 to release 3 Tarpon this eve

On Thursday the whole crew went with me on First Growth. Our 28' boat. Cathy,Hammond,Parker and Garrett Scott along with Libby,Emily, Walker and David Adamson. We headed over to the legendary Spring Hole to see who and what was living there. We were busy from the time we arrived to when we left. Lemon Sharks,Bull Sharks, Goliath Grouper were caught. The last fish of the day was an estimated 300lb Sawfish caught by 13 year old Hammond Scott. One tough little girl! On this day we did not fool around with light tackle. We used the Fox EOS 50 reels spooled with 65lb Horizon Braid on Fox Trek XT Boat rods.

David Adamson released this Goliath Grouper

Emily Adamson pulling on a big Lemon Shark
with the Fox Trek Boatrod XT EOS 50 combo

Emily worked hard on this Lemon Shark now she is a happy angler

the Lemon Shark smile

thirteen year old Hammond Scott caught the most poundage by far

thirteen year old Hammond Scott is one tough angler. She released a
250lb Sawfish and  5 other Sharks using the Fox Trek Boatrod XT
fitted with the EOS 50 reel

Walker Adamson and Parker Scott fighting a double of Shark
while dad Garrett adds moral support

Of note here in Islamorada this week the offshore fishing has been spectacular. Swordfish of 520 and 787 lbs were caught daytime fishing in the depths and at least 4 Blue Marlin were released this past week. Springtime fishing is in high gear.

Captain Skip Nielsen