South Florida Fishing Charter

[Thickhorn]

Hey guys,

My work is taking me down to Ft. Lauderdale / Miami for the second week in April. They've even been kind enough to pay for my girlfriend to accompany me on the trip. Has anyone here been on any S. Florida fishing charters? Any recommendations or suggestions?

[Chet]

I fished with Saltwater Experience out of Islamorada in Jaunuary. I booked a skiff to fly fish the flats and it was a pretty good trip. I'm not sure what kind of fishing you want to do or if you are willing to travel a bit from Miami but the Keys are a nice drive from Miami with really good fishing especially at that time of year. Islamorada is about half way down the Keys.

Chet

[Thickhorn]

I'd have no problem with driving down the keys if meant better chances... I'm mostly interested in billfish - I'm not sure what's around this time of year but marlin would be awesome, sailfish too.

[Thickhorn]

hey guys,
we got back from our florida trip - the ladyfriend and I did a one day offshore charter with catchalottafish charters and had a great time. thought i'd share some pics...

a hungry pelican at the marina
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862216_882.jpg

our boat, geared up and ready to go
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862233_9524.jpg

the buoy where we found our baitfish
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862235_1286.jpg

me and my epic battle with a 100lb blackfin tuna
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862237_3079.jpg

the 100lb blackfin tuna suffered some boat-shrinkage: now it's a 20lb bonita. man these things can fight though...
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862238_6472.jpg

sending the kites out, looking for sailfish
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862240_8251.jpg

watching / waiting for the strike
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862241_9161.jpg

the girlfriend with her dolphin. mine was way bigger of course, but i fumbled it as it was about to be landed, so no pic
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862242_69.jpg

damn seagull stole my baitfish. for a while i had a seagull on 14lb test, but he managed to get away w/o the hook
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862253_1120.jpg

hard to see, but two nurse charks and an 8' lemon shark are attacking a fish head back at the marina
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hindbo16/n605735391_2862284_7446.jpg

We didn't manage to get hooked up with any sailfish, but between all the other species, the day was fairly action packed.