Slowly Switching Gears

Report Date: November 11, 2013

For the past few months, the main emphasis has been on daytime swordfishing, and in the past two weeks we have done a few of those trips. As we are now in November and we are starting to approach winter, sailfish season is upon us and we are starting to do more and more sailfish trips.

Going back to swordfish, since my last report, all but one of our swordfish trips has been successful. We caught on average 1 to 2 swords per trip and most of the fish were between 100 and 250 pounds. Although the swords will bite throughout the winter, as we get more and more frequent cold fronts, it will be harder to get a good weather window to target them. If the weather is good though, the sword bite is usually very good in November and December.

On one hand the cold fronts may keep us from getting to the sword grounds which are located right in the middle of the Gulfstream, we are praying for frequent and strong fronts to drive the sailfish down to our area. In the past few weeks, we have had some very strong fronts and the sailfish are already responding and coming into our waters. We have had at least 4 full day sailfish trips and all of them have produced at least 3 sailfish per day and our best day we caught 6 out 6. The wind was blowing hard out of the N and NE that day which causes the fish to “tail” (surf down sea), and we did see quite a few tailers. We caught 6 fish that day all on tailing fish. We are in a season now that the benefit of the tower on the boat can make a huge difference and all the tailers were spotted from the tower. The other sailfish trips were simply kite fishing on the edge with live baits consisting mostly of goggle eyes, threadfin herring, pilchards and cigar minnows. We caught sails on each type of bait, so it does benefit you to have a variety of bait on board. While live baiting for sails, we have also caught quite a few mahis.

Now that we have dusted off the kites and are in sailfish mode, go ahead and look at your winter schedules and lets set up that sailfish trip. I have already received a few calls and have reserved some of my regular customers for the upcoming sailfish season. I am also running a brand new 43 SeaVee walkaround for 6 of the upcoming sailfish tournaments. Although I still have plenty of dates open, between the tournament dates (which are mostly weekend) and my regular repeat clients already booked, the dates are dwindling, so give me a call and lets get your dates set up!!

PS - Also have open dates during Thanksgiving week!

Tight Lines,
Capt. Dean Panos

Back to Main Fishing Report Page