2013 Life Detox Entry 1

Life Detox Entry 1 - 2013



The first two days in the Florida Keys were cold by Florida Keys standards - in the 60s with the wind 10-15 mph as we started the day.On Monday Dad, Eric and myself went out on the Ocean side with Capt. James Platt of  No Slack Sport Fishing.  The most amusing thing about weather in the Keys is that when you talk to Florida natives when the weather is in the 60s they are usually in sweatshirts and sweatpants and shivering. One captain asked me where I was I from so I told him in Illinois it was 18 degrees and snowing - then he understood why I was so comfortable in the 60 degree weather.

We went out with jackets, wind pants, hats, hoods, gloves, fishing masks (see the pictures) and sunglasses and still felt quite chilly for the first few hours. We started the day very slowly, but then Eric caught a grunt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haemulidae) and then a nice sized Mutton Snapper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutton_snapper) which we eventually had for dinner. We then caught an 8 pound King Mackerel and a Spanish Mackerel. Both fish sell for $15-18 per pound in the stores but we are tired of them and gave them to the crew. After that things got quiet for a few hours. Just about the time we thought we might call it an early day the captain got a phone call and hit the gas. We hurried over to where two other ships were casting at a ray swimming nearby. On the back of that ray were 30-50 cobias (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobia). We caught 5 but 3were too small - the other two were 35 pounds and 20 pounds.

The 1st mate then put on his snorkel gear and took his spearfish gig and went overboard. He wound up spearing 2 cobias - one 20 and one 15 pounds. We settled back into some bait fishing hoping to catch a sailfish but instead caught 3 bonitas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonito) and one of them was struck near the boat by a wahoo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahoo). We fished after the wahoo or a sailfish for another 30 minutes then we gave up and came in.

We ended up with about 30 pounds of cobia and ate the snapper for dinner tonight - blackened, fried and lemon caper. Hopefully the cobia will be coming home with us. Tomorrow is our first flats days so the sky is the limit. We have previously caught bonefish, tarpon, permit, jacks, sharks . . . it is always a good fishing day on the flats with Captain Jeff Malone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAecbKKlVMA). Here's hoping there are some exciting fish in our future tomorrow.