March 26, 2014 Report

This has been a rough week with winds in the 30-40 MPH range and lots of charter cancellations. Never the less, Aaron and his son Jake braved 30-35 MPH winds and we fished the leeward side of the few areas we could find. Jake caught his biggest fish to date and the smile on his face and the fire that sparked in him was absolutely worth the very tough conditions. We caught sea trout on artificial lures and Jake did a great job casting, working the lure and fighting the fish all on his own! Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com

March 22, 2014 Report

After a great week or so of a tarpon bite, Bill was aboard for a half day of fishing Biscayne Bay. Conditions were tough with dark clouds, rain and windy. We worked an area that had been giving up tarpon almost daily but very slow. We moved off to fish for snapper and grouper but a small spinner shark is all the bay would give up there. The day ended on some trout flats where we caught some trout. Over all, a very slow day but today was one of those trips where you meet someone that is a great person and Bill is one of those people. We had a great time, sometimes even missing a few fish because we were engrossed in or conversation. Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com

March 21, 2014 Report

Jim had sons Tommy and Matt aboard today as they had wrapped up a visit at the University of Miami for Tommy. Once again, in atypical March fashion, we had slick calm conditions. Tarpon spot number one is all we needed to get the day started right. About 45 minutes into our trip the rod goes off and a nice tarpon goes airborne. Jim fought the fish for 30 minutes and had it next to the boat when the hook pulled free and swam off breaking our hearts. Redemption would come in a different form of silver. Staked out on a favorite flat looking for sharks for Matt, two six foot lemon sharks move in but didn't eat our baits. However, two grey shadows appear that look like permit. A perfect cast was rewarded with a long screaming run and 20 minutes later Tommy holds his prize, a nice 20lb permit. We ended the day sight casting artificials to spinner sharks. Matt finally got hooked up to his shark and burned the drag more than most sharks can. However, as spinner sharks do, this one jumped, spinning in the air and broke Matt off. Tommy however, made a great cast to another spinner, watched the shark sprint for his lure and demolish it and head off towards open water. Thirty minutes later we snap some pics and let him swim away for the enjoyment of someone else. What a great day! Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com

March 20, 2014 Report

What an epic tarpon battle we found ourselves embroiled in this afternoon! Joe had just landed in Miami and took a cab ride straight to the marina where we jumped onto my skiff and sped off to a tarpon spot that had been holding fish for me. With slick calm conditions tarpon were rolling all around us and within minutes one of the rods doubles over and the drag starts to scream. In a burst of silver rage, 150lbs of tarpon makes a few majestic jumps and starts a long drag burning run. Two hours into the fight, in spite of our best efforts, he takes us into a dock and wraps himself around two pilings! Using a guide trick we somehow manage to keep him on and the battle continues. With the line stretched to the max, a passing bird smacks into the line and nearly breaks us off. Then, he dashes under the boat and once again we avert disaster. To add more drama, twice the line wraps around the rod tip and I clear it a split second before he takes off on another run. After a 3 hour battle, Joe subdued the fish, snapped a few pictures and let it go free. Having dragged us nearly 2 miles back towards to boat ramp, Joe had a short run back as he began to feel the physical and emotional exhaustion that is brought on by triple digit tarpon. This fish took three years off my life! Capt. Mo Estevz www.MiamiBoneFishing.com

March 18, 2014 After Dark Report

Launching my skiff at Key Biscayne Marina at 8:00pm into the mirror calm waters of Biscayne Bay is always a thrill knowing what awaits. Tonight local angler and friend John was aboard for a night time tarpon trip. Working the incoming tide proved slower than expected although shrimp were skipping on the surface everywhere and a few tarpon pops were heard. At our second spot of the night one of the rods doubles over and quickly snaps back. Missed a fish. That stinks! The action didn't start in earnest until the outgoing tide and even still it was slower than expected. Finally at our last stop there is a pop and a swirl behind the boat, I cast to it and put the rod in the holder. Seconds later we're on! The rod doubles over, the reel screams and 80lbs of raging tarpon bursts out of the water numerous times with drag burning runs in between. After 45 minutes, getting the leader in the rod (an official release) and having him two feet from the boat several times he makes a run, bursts out of the water and spits the hook back at me. No hero shot but a great time enjoying our most powerful and acrobatic fish in Biscayne Bay. Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com

March 16, 2014 Report

Joe and brother Kevin were in town from PA on their way to Key West. We had a great time last time we fished about two years ago and Joe was the one with all the catches. This year was different. Fishing started slow with a snook taking a swipe at a soft plastic bait we were tossing but missing the hook. Later Kevin landed a trout on soft plastic but it was eerily quite in spite of the 20+MPH winds. We looked for bonefish and found none. However, once the tide turned the fishing picked up big time and Kevin and Joe had several shots at bonefish but the primary target was shark on the flats. With a six footer coming close but not eating we were driven crazy by the number of sharks that came to the boat but did not eat. Finally one moves in, Kevin makes a good cast and lets it sink to the bottom. The sharks body language changes and I hear, "I'm on!". The reel starts to scream and a while later Kevin scores his shark on the flats. There were other fish landed during our trip, all landed by Kevin. Now it's Kevin 1, Joe 1. Let's see who breaks the tie next time! Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com

March 15, 2014 AM & PM Report

AM Report Brian and son Will booked a half day for some rod bending fun. We started early on tarpon with rolling fish in the 40lb-100lb range. While we deployed their favorite baits, they refused to eat. However, one of the rods goes off and starts to scream. Will grabs it and fights the fish like a champ subduing the BIG spanish mackerel like a pro. Moving to the finger channels Will was kept busy with an assortment of snappers and we ended the morning catching trout.

PM Report Greg and son Grant were here from Alabama and wanted to try bonefishing. With the last of the outgoing tide and perfect visibility we got into bonefish on the first flat we worked. Greg and Grant had several shots at big Miami bonefish but the casts were off just a bit courtesy of the 20MPH crosswinds. With time winding down we decided to fish the finger channels and Grant was kept busy by big porgies, mangrove snappers, mutton snappers and a grouper that found a rock after getting hooked. At one point we had a cloud of snappers behind the boat and rods going off within seconds of hitting the water!