March 31, 2014 Report

Today I had Dave and Nick from South Africa. Dave is one of the members of very cool electronic band Goldfish www.GoldfishLive.com and was down in Miami playing at Ultra. This is the second year we fish together and it is always a lot of fun. We started looking for tarpon and finally found some cruising and rolling fish. Nick and Dave took a bunch of shots at these fish and we got two to eat Unfortunately, we missed the hook set on both. Since it was windy and overcast, we had to forgo Dave's desire to look for bonefish and instead wanted to pursue seatrout as we did last year. Nick and Dave caught trout, some on fly but the highlight was the tarpon we hooked. I had mentioned to them there had been tarpon holding on this flat and sure enough Dave hooks a 90lber and gets one amazing jump out of him. After that, it was a tug of war for 15 minutes until the fish beat us to some barnacle encrusted stakes and cut us off. Wow, that hurts! Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com

March 29, 2014 Report

The high winds continue but Greg and Drew were down in Key Largo for a get together and wanted to hit the water and have good time. We tried bonefishing for a bit but with high winds and dark clouds above, conditions were rather tough. They decided to try something different and we anchored in a favorite channel of mine and had a blast catching snappers, bar jacks and losing a few fish that were more that we could handle on 10lb class tackle and locked drags. One of the heart breakers was Greg losing a nice grouper right next to the boat. Ouch! Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com

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