Middle Keys Fishing Reports

fishnfool73 · Post by **fishnfool73** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:33 pm

Sweet trip great job guys.

PhishingPhanatic · Post by **PhishingPhanatic** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:34 pm

Awesome job guys, glad to see you kept catching them up after we left, I told you you would get another keeper mutton....that one that BridgeRat got was a SLOB. Not too much else to report besides their report, I got 1 keeper mutt (on wire leader, go figure) and lost another (hook pulled as I had him next to the bridge)...also a few nurses, a bunch of mystery runs and the usual short snappers.

frentals · Post by **frentals** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:16 pm

yeah danny threw it out and got nailed twice on it i think the first shark dropped it

fishandchicks · Post by **fishandchicks** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:08 pm

Rijkaard wrote:
fishandchicks wrote:thanks bro. do you have any good recipies for muttons and hogs?
that's how I usually cook my snappers (mangos, muttons, ytails), it's good for hogs too and bascily for all white meat fishes, hogfish imo is one of the best tasting fish around (remember they feed mostly on crabs).

1 - Cut just one fillet from one side of the fish and put some seasoning inside (I usually put garlic powder, a little lemon pepper and/or some cajun or jerk seasoning), this will help to give more flavor to the fish and to cook it better in the inside.
2 - Place the fish in aluminum foil oiled with olive oil and drop some white wine on it, close the aluminum foil like a package and cook in the oven for 20-30 minutes (according to fish thickness) at 400°.
3 - Open the foil, flip the fillet on one side, add just a little butter and some bread crumbs on both pieces on the meat side and broil in the oven for 6-7 minutes until it forms a crust.
4 - Enjoy the fish, possibly accompained with the same white wine you used to cook, but you should be 21 for this option

the fish are already filleted. anyone got a good recipie for em if they are already filleted. gunna be dinner 2nite.

mikeypbg · Post by **mikeypbg** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:26 pm

Great report guys, glad to see the keys starting to turn on again.

PhishingPhanatic · Post by **PhishingPhanatic** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:46 pm

Hey Zack, try this one too, its how I cooked my mutton last night and it was really really good, cooking on top of the onions keeps the fish really moist and gives it some great taste.

Two 8oz filets. (About one side of an 8lb fish, cut into two pieces)
Sprinkle with salt and pepper, 1/2 tablespoon of worchestershire on each side (2 tblspn total).
Put filets on a bed of sliced raw onions (1 med) and green peppers (1 Sliced) in a baking pan (I used 8x8 silver metal this last time) If you don't like peppers, may want to swap out with veggie of choice but the peppers make for a great seasoning?
Dot top of filets with butter and put in 350 degree oven for 24 min. Every 8 minutes tip pan and take pan juices and baste (so once at 8 min, once at 16). Put oven to Broil and top with parmesan cheese; Broil until lovely browned.

fishandchicks · Post by **fishandchicks** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:45 pm

well i already started the fish before i saw this post rijkard and rory but thanks anyway. i did the mutton in the oven. emiril fish rub, some olive oil, butter, tomatoes, and onions. it was AMAZING! i did the hog on the grill. emiril fish rub, olive oil, lemon and lime juice (added while cooking), and melted butter (added while cooking) it was even more AMAZING!!! it was the best fish i ever had! i think im hooked on hogfish which sucks cus i probably mont be havin it all to often unless i get a sper gun or atlesty a hawian sling.

Team rebel · Post by **Team rebel** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:41 pm

good job gentleman and good little bull

BoatlessFisherman · Post by **BoatlessFisherman** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:21 pm

Yea guys nice report and pics, good going

fishandchicks · Post by **fishandchicks** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:37 pm

you could ask danny, harley or viktor and theyll all tell you how bad i wanted a yellow jack on our trip two weekends ago.

way to go rijkaard

cudaman · Post by **cudaman** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:22 pm

Nice report Ricardo, you guys set me up good in that pic of me sleeping, lol, but correction we were trying to scare the birds not hit them. I would not do something like that unless I was gonna eat them(eew). That was a fun trip more pics coming as soon as I fix my other PC.

PhishingPhanatic · Post by **PhishingPhanatic** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:27 pm

Nice job, those yellow jacks are really tasty.

BRunner346 · Post by **BRunner346** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:29 pm

nice fish

Cookinman · Post by **Cookinman** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:14 pm

Nce report !

frentals · Post by **frentals** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:51 pm

nice fish!

mikeypbg · Post by **mikeypbg** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 11:40 pm

Rijkaard wrote:I met with brad and his dad around 5:30 pm, big storm was passing by so we went to have a quick dinner, we then setup at ch.2 to catch some bait, got a ton of small pilchards, 2"-3" size mixed with some live shrimps and a couple of BIG pilchards (7"-8", but they were just hard to catch, don't know why). We then moved to Long key, their known spot was PACKED so we decided to try another one, in the meantime a 19" mutton and a 20# crevelle were caught, we setup and started throwing live pilchards, 10 minutes and I got a decent 15" mango, brad was rocked a couple of times by (I swear) groupers, I got some short muttons and mangos and we had a TERRIFIC run on brad's 14/0 on a frozen eel, that thing just didn't stop and it finally spit the hook. Then brad tossed a big live pilchard that was INSTANTLY nailed by a poon who spit the hook after 2-3 jumps. In the meantime herbert (cudaman) and his son were on the bridge and we started fishing the bridge side under the pilons 'cause tide changed. herbert got a nice fat mango (close to 17") and some massive runs on shark baits (live catfish just caught few minutes before), we all took a break and rested some time, the night was clear and beautiful despite the 70% of rain chance that was announced (do they fire these guys once in a while????). The morning bite was pretty slow, I got a nice cuda on my light spinning tackle (10# test) on a ghost x-rap I was tossing for jacks, nonetheless was a nice fight, first idea was to save the fish for dinner, then, after herbert scared me to death about possible ciguatera effects, I ended up giving the fish to brad for shark bait, thought it was just IDIOT taking the risk
Little bit later I was busted on my 6/0 by a jewfish who swallowed half ladyfish, but it just didn't come out from the rocks.
We started catching small grunts 'cause we were getting out of bait, I had a good hit on a live grunt and I reeled in a beautiful (for the colors) 22" bahamian jack, I tell you, it's one of the best tasting fishes I've had, even better than pompanos imo. The day ended with brad and herbert having casting competition through the power lines and trying to hit the birds hanging there, one line melted and one sinker hung on the lines was the bottom point of the day
I had great fun, hope to make it again soon buddies

some pics (others will follow from brad and herbert)

that's why herbert slept so much (sorry bro, I couldn't just resist )

Dang man...looks like I missed another really nice trip to my favorite bridge. My usual partners are getting tired of me suggesting it but it sounds like you guys did pretty well.

Good job guys...You will have to all go again so I can join yal

mikeypbg · Post by **mikeypbg** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:16 pm

Me, my dad, and Gonesharkfishin loaded a small tackle shop into the back of my dads Chevy Savannah work van and headed south from miami around 8ish. We stopped off at Walmart and Jacks for some much needed bait and tackle and then headed down to Ch 2 for some live bait. Then we made it down to Long Key around 11.

There were some people who setup a small tent village in the spot we wanted to fish so we had to make it down to our second choice. We set up while my dad, the chef, fixed us some sandwiches.

This was the first time my dad had been out to the bridge with me so I needed to show him a good time. I set him up with my stradic 4000, a little bit of weight, a 1/0 circle and some fresh ballyhoo plugs. Bouncing the bait off the bottom produced a fat 16inch grover.

Pic to come...

Then Brad's rod went off, he picked it up and set up on the fish. Brad collected a nice 12in School Master.

Then my rod goes off and produces a nice 12in eel.

We immediately throw this guy on the 12/0 and ten minutes later ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...FISH ON!!!!

7ft Bullshark on Bridge...Team Hammertime.

Pic to come...

About 6AM we toss out a whole fresh bluefish I got on Monday at DFP (Thanks Ken), and the 12/0 almost dips over the rail before the line starts screaming. Brad sets up on the shark, and hands me the rod, a 7ft heavy but flexible old school shark rod that I hate because of the flex. I working this fish and its just peeling off line. We get it bridge side only to find out that its a stinking NURSE!!! He hit the bait floating right on top of the water.

We let the nurse run back out so we could strap my dad in and let him fight it. We get him all harnessed up and strapped into the reel and he had such a great time. The look on his face while fighting this fish says it all. The balloon never popped and we can see this nurse cruising up and down the bridge feeding on the surface.

Pics to come...

Then Brads rod goes off and he reels up a 2 ft eel that we immediately toss out on the 14/0. This bait gets slammed within 15 minutes of being in the water. This time I rush to the rod and pick it up and froze. The reel ran straight for about a minute and Brad's giving me direction the whole time because he wanted me to catch this fish. I froze and was afraid to throw it into gear thinking the whole thing would fly out of my hand. Anyhow, my fault, we lost this fish. Brad was really cool about it saying at least Im picking up the rods instead of looking at them. LOL

Shortly after, around 8am, a big ol rainstorm blasted us and we rushed to pack up and get back in the van. We went to my uncles, showered, ate breakfast, stared out at the flat behind the building, took a nap, ate dinner, and then Brad and I headed back out to Ch5 around 10. My dad didnt go because we had to leave really early Sunday Morning to get home because my grandma slipped and fell and we had to get her from the hospital. All is ok now.

We met up with Picua there, soaked a few baits, fished for some tarpon that were hanging in the shadow line, and soaked a crab for some permit. Nothing could be found there. So around 3 AM we packed up. I slept right next to the 14/0 waiting for it to go off but it never woke me.

I had a few casualties unfortunately. My stradic anti reverse failed, my 6/0 wide is somehow missing a spring, and my inshore extreme rod that my stradic came on, broke in the back of the van. While its all crappy, its a perfect opportunity for me to almost start over and get new gear.

All in all a very fun trip. Glad my dad could finally get out there and we got some dinner out of it. We were supposed to meet up with Swordfish, Cudaman and a few others but the rain scared em off and rightfully so. I hope they did well whereever they ended up.

Thats all for now, Pictures to come.

Mikey

baitwetter · Post by **baitwetter** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:32 pm

Nice report Mikey. Sounds like a great trip. Let me know when you guys are going again. I might just take a drive and meet up with you guys.

Waiting for the pics....

frentals · Post by **frentals** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:37 pm

great report cant wait for the pics:)

picua · Post by **picua** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:29 pm

Hey Mike,

It was great meeting you and Brad. i'm glad to hear everything is alright with your grandma. There have been better nights. Not much action that night and the wind was brutal. Also, I think we were all tired out. It was great meeting you guys. Remember FRESH BAIT!!! LOL.

outofair · Post by **outofair** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:56 am

Nice report. Fri night/Sat morning, I was out there with a buddy and his cousin on Long Key. I believe we walked past you guys as you were loading up. We caught a bunch of grunts and a few just legal mangroves that were all thrown back. I saw that "tent village" you speak of. It was maybe 5 guys with like 100 rods and reels.

When we saw the two cops haul tail back to their car. We should have done the same. It was a long wet ride back to Miami.

gonesharkfishin' · Post by **gonesharkfishin'** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:52 am

here are the pics......

mike and his dad hank with a 16" mangrove

my little 7' bull

hank fighting his first shark

fwc doing they're job

stupid seagull that flew into mikes powerpro and got tangled up (hooks never touch the bird and it was safely released and flew away like nothing happend)

PhishingPhanatic · Post by **PhishingPhanatic** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:43 am

Nice to see FWC out there, out of probably 100 trips to the Keys I have never seen them out on the bridges, just one time I saw Monroe Sherriffs who were riding bikes across Long Key telling people to take down their tents.

gonesharkfishin' · Post by **gonesharkfishin'** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:36 pm

no they were FWC they checked everyones cooler and they didnt care about the tents...... in that pic they gave all of the tickets and i saw 5 fish go back in the water

swordfish · Post by **swordfish** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:41 pm

AWESOME! I am glad tickets were handed out, looks like they were raiding a nursery over there, like always.

-swordfish

baitwetter · Post by **baitwetter** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:14 pm

Good to finally see FWC bustin a$$!

outofair · Post by **outofair** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:53 pm

At least one of them had a SO uniform on. They stopped by and checked our cooler. I started to make the comment that I never seen a SO check fish. They were pretty cool, asked us if we had anything to measure the fish and left. Regardless it was nice to see a LEO out there checking and enforcing.

Gonesharkin, What do you guys do with the sharks once you have them at the bridge?

gonesharkfishin' · Post by **gonesharkfishin'** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:08 pm

to release the sharks sometimes we walk the down the bridge so that we can tag get the hook out and realese the fish or sometimes we just cut the line...... this time we cut the line since it was a mile walk to the end of the bridge and the fish most likely would have died from walking it down..... yeah yeah i know what some of you are thinking "all that line and leader still hanging from the shark"..... well yeah it is but i only use 4' of piano wire to a swivel to my double line when i am fishing from bridges..... so in a matter of about 3 days the piano wire will rust through and the shark can swim with just the hook in his mouth and then the hook will rust out in about 3 weeks.......

gonesharkfishin' · Post by **gonesharkfishin'** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:00 pm

its piano wire.... you can only fish it once because of the fact that it rusts so fast, if you leave it in the water over night when you bring it up it is already completely rusted...... and my hooks are filed down so the stainless steel coating is filed off.... if you leave my hooks in the water overnight the tips get a heavy coating of rust on them, 3 weeks and you can snap them like a twig!..... i dont need anyone to tell me these things, i know my gear and my techniques

picua · Post by **picua** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:46 pm

CJ,

Those hooks are gone in 7- 10 days guaranteed. I can't tell you how many times after calling it a day I have brought up my Shark rigs and the hooks have already started rusting after just a couple of hours being in the salt water.

Middle Keys Fishing Reports

Re: Long Key bridge, friday night through saturday morning

10/13-10/14