Catching sharks, Sails Jack and more off the coast of Ft Lauderdale aboard Hooked Up

Submitted by Taco Hooked Up Sportsfishing

Submitted on 02/09/2011
Fishing Spot:
Atlantic Ocean (FL)
Fort Lauderdale, FL United States United States
January 19th, 2011
 
Today we had Martin from Boston formally from Czech Republic out fishing with his good friend Mila who was in town from Czech Republic to see his son play a hockey game against the Florida Panthers. Mila’s son Jacob plays for the Columbus Blue Jays.
 
 
We started out trolling the reef with 2-planner board running about 45 feet down along with three baits skipping across the surface.
 
The reef was just not producing any fish for us so we went out to deeper water about 400 feet and there the black fin tunas were biting.
 
We caught 4 or 5 little tunas and the ice was broken now we would go for big sea monster or zip.
We brought in all the trolling gear and set out our kites with 3 live baits suspended from the kites along with one big dead bonito for shark bait.
 
Still no bites so we added one more shark bait down on the bottom (350 down).
(That’s when all hell broke lose).
 
Our deep rod bent over and line started peeling off the reel. We were Hooked Up.
 
 
Mila jumped in the chair and the fight was on.
 
 
 
 
 
It was a big back and forth battle for over 20 min but @ last Mila hung in there and this big hammerhead shark was next to the boat. We got a couple quick photos and watched him swim away in good shape.
 
 
Martin and Mila thanks again and good luck at the game tonight.
 
 
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
 
January 22nd, 2011
 
Today we started out our day fishing with Alice and Boris from Conn.
 
 
We started out trolling on the reef looking for some king fish or some bonitos but today the reef was just not producing any fish for us so in came the trolling gear and out went the kites with 3 live baits suspended from the kite along with one big shark bait also suspended from the kite. We also sent a shark bait all the way down 350 feet to the bottom and last but not least a shark bait down about 150.
 
Ok the trap was set now all we needed was for a big sea monster to come along and take one of the baits.
And that was just what happen.
 
This big hammerhead shark came up and darted right for the shark bait out of the kite.
 
From there it was only seconds till the rod bent over and line was screaming off the reel.
Ok Alice you wanted a fight with a big fish well here we go.
 
This was not going to be an easy catch by no means but Alice was determined and after a good 35 min fight Alice had her hammerhead at the boat.
 
 
We got a few photos and watched him swim away slowly but in good shape.
 
Way to go Alice and thanks again for fishing with us aboard the Hooked Up.
 
 
This after noon we had Louie, Ray and Brent all from Ocala Florida. We knew that these guys were fishing with us for 2 days so we thought we would break it up some and try a couple different styles of fishing.
 
We started out trolling the reef and while we did manage to catch a few king fish and bonitos but for the most part trolling was on the slow side.
 
Ok time for plan B we brought in the trolling gear and set out 2 kites with 2 live baits suspended from each kite.
From listening to the marine radio I knew that there was a few sailfish around so our hopes were high for getting a shot or two.
 
As we were waiting for our bite 2 boats one just north of me and one just south of us had each gotten a shot while we still waited and waited?
 
Then just when we least expected it here comes a sailfish all over our right short kite bait. Bare in mind that this bait was no more than 20 feet behind us so we got a good look at what was going on and we could see that the sail had gotten all wrapped up in the leader but what the heck we had nothing to lose so we went ahead with the boat as Captain Greg reeled as quick as he could and tried to come tight with the fish and hook him some where.
 
Now let me back up for just a moment if you’ve ever fished with us before aboard the Hooked Up you would know that we always stay calm during bites or while fighting a fish as a matter a fact most of the time you’ll hardly ever hear the Captain and Mate talking at all.
 
We’ve been fishing together so long that we just know what the other is thinking. (Most Of The Time)
But what I did not see and Captain Greg did was that A we did not hook the sailfish BUT there was another sailfish trying to eat our other short kite bait. So Greg was yelling up 2 me to stop the boat!!
 
Well needless to say I had the boat going ahead and by the time I slowed down he was gone.
Well that’s why they call it fishing. You just never know what’s coming next.
 
Guys thanks again and we WILL catch you guys a sail tomorrow.
Stay tuned for the next blog and see if we do in fact finally catch Louie his first sailfish.
 
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
 
January 23rd, 2011
 
Ok so here we go again with Louie, Bret and Ray.
 
 
Yesterday we took these guys out for a few hours and while we did have a shot @ a couple of sails they both managed to get away so today was pay back time and pay back was just what we did.
 
We went right back out to the same area and set out both kites with 2 live baits suspended from each kite.
It didn’t take long to get our first bite with Ray landing a nice king fish.
 
Soon after Louie hooked up with a big sail fish and this one.
DID NOT GET AWAY
 
Way to go Louie!! Once we got the baits set back out their Bret awaited his shot at a big game fish and BAM we were Hooked Up again with another nice sail. And once again this one stayed on the hook. After a good 20 min later Bret had his sail along side the boat.
 
Louie. Ray and Bret thanks again for hanging in there and fishing with us aboard the Hooked Up.
As we got back to the dock we had our afternoon trip eager to give their luck a shot aboard the Hooked Up off the coast of Ft Lauderdale.
 
James and Toney from Houston Texas were hoping they might also get a shot at catching a sailfish.
Once again yep you guessed it out went the kites and the trap was set.
 
This time it took some waiting but just as we were starting to lose hope of getting a shot @ a sailfish BAM up popped a sailfish and we were Hooked Up again.
 
Toney jumped in the chair and the fight was on. At first it was just a gain a little line lose a little back and forth tug a war but after 25 min of this we realized that this was ether a monster sailfish or a fouled hooked one. As it turned out monster is just what it was!! (A 90-inch sailfish Holly @##$%) Now that’s a big sail.
 
Way to go Toney and thanks again to all of our anglers today for fishing with us aboard the Hooked Up.
 
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
 
January 24th, 2011
 
Today we fished with Andrew and Phil from London England.
 
 
What a great day it turned out to be. We went right to kite fishing and once we got all the baits set out the fun began. First of all
 
Andrew caught a sailfish soon after Phil caught another big sailfish followed up with a nice dolphin fish and throw in one big black tip shark and you could say that we kept pretty busy for most of the trip.
 
The only thing that did not go right on this trip was that we forgot to bring and we got no photos or maybe that’s why things went so well?
 
Andrew and Phil thanks again we really enjoyed fishing with you guys.
 
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
 
January 25th, 2011
 
Today we had a shared charter with Bob from Virginia Marvin and Bruce from Illinois.
 
 
Once again we went right to kite fishing.
 
Catching Bob a big sail fish and than soon after Captain Greg managed to get the baits in front of another sailfish that was tailing down sea and Bruce also caught a nice sailfish.
 
 
Way to go guys.
 
 
If any of our readers up north are getting tired of all the cold and snow well the sun is sinning and the fish are biting so come on down. With all the airlines having their price wars and most of the hotels cutting their prices due to the economy now is the time to come fish Fort Lauderdale.
 
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344
 
 
January 27th, 2011 The big clash between the Swedes and the Norwegians.
 
 
Today we were on a 2-boat convention with everyone being from Norway on the Hooked Up and everyone being from Sweden on the other boat.
 
Well needless to say they had a friendly competition going on.
 
We had Svein, Ole, Geir, Henning, Oslo and Bergen.
 
Now I think I spelled them right. And on the other boat we had a bunch from Sweden who never did give their names.
Now I must say that fishing was a bit on the slow side so we would be needed a combination of skill and luck and the other boat was hopping for the same.
 
We started out trolling from 120 feet of water out to 400 feet and as it turned out we had made the right choice catching big bomber bonitos and a couple of small black fin tunas.
 
Ok @ this point the skunk was out of the box and everyone had caught a fish so it was time to try to put the nail in the coffin on this little tournament.
 
So in came all the trolling gear and out went our kites along with some live baits suspended from them and a shark bait set down deep.
 
At first things started out real slow but then just when we least expected it up popped this sailfish and we were Hooked Up.
 
At first one of the guys jumped in the chair I’m sorry to say that I don’t know witch one it was but within a couple of min they were saying something to each other and the rod was handed off to Svein and the fight was on.
 
After a good 20 min of this back and forth tug a war Svein’s sailfish popped up.
 
 
As it turned out his sail had fought with everything he had and once we got him to the boat he was just not going to make it. So we went ahead and brought him in to be smoked.
 
 
Just a quick foot note all of us aboard the Hooked Up try not to kill these beautiful fish and we do all we can to release them in good shape but now and then one does ether get gut hooked or fouled up in the line and instead of just letting them sink to the bottom we do bring them in to be smoked and eaten instead of just wasting them.
 
As we pulled back to the dock it appeared as throw the Swedes did not believe all the fish we had caught BUT you should have seen the looks on their faces as J.J. was throwing the fish on the dock.
 
As a matter a fact I got a picture of these faces so our readers could get a look at them.
 
 
 
 
(Our anglers instead on it.)
 
 
 
 
And this is what our anglers looked like. (LOL)
 
 
 
 
Thanks again to all the anglers today aboard both boats you guys sure made it fun for all of us and we are looking forward to fishing with you again next year.
 
 
Captain Taco (954) 764-4344 or toll free @ (877) SEA-4344