Miami, Florida - Offshore

West and Southwesterly winds have shut down the Dolphin fishing this past week. What few Dolphin were around, have virtually disappeared with the backward breezes. However, when the winds turned around to the east and southeast, anglers found occasional periods of excellent Dolphin action. Look for schoolies mixed in with a few gaffers when you do find fish. If you are lucky enough to encounter a good size piece of floatsom, your chances of putting a few fish on ice will increase. You can still find fish under diving Petrals and Frigates. Fisherman that have been finding Dolphin have been locating them around the ten mile mark. Sailfishing would certainly seem to be out of the question this time of the year, but Captain Ray Rosher and Captain Quinton Dieterle have been quietly reeling in the “snooters” this week. Captain Rosher found fish as far out as 900 feet under Frigate birds and as close in as 90 feet, fishing live bait along the edge of the reef. Dieterle found his fish along the edge while fishing live baits from kites. They both reported strong Gulf Stream currents and clean water along the dropoff. Captain Rosher found the Bonita’s to be “a pain in butt.” He said that you would probably catch more fish if you could keep the Bonita’s off your line. However, the Bonita’s do make excellent action for light tackle and fly fisherman. Summer Kings have been around early in the morning and are hitting live baits in the area of Key Biscayne. Live bait is getting easier to find and you should have no trouble finding Threadfins, cigars, and pilchards on the usual buoys and reefs. Fish these live baits down deeper with a downrigger or extra weight to catch the kings. Bottom fishing has been fair. One angler complained of the current being to strong for bottom fishing. Typically this time of year, offshore currents can be very fast in the Gulf Stream making it difficult to keep a bait along the bottom. Yellowtail action should be good along the reef and shallower wrecks. Also, if you do fish the reefs, keep an eye out for Cero Mackerel showing up in your chum line. They will favor depths of 90 to 30 feet of water and can school up behind your boat when chumming for Yellowtail. They will readily hit a live Pilchard tossed their way and they make for excellent eating. Snook season reopened September 1, and I have already heard of lots of Snook being sighted inside of Government Cut. Snook will also be found around the bridges of downtown Miami and the canals of South Dade. Bob Hewes Boats is offering a free in the water demonstration for shallow water fishing enthusiasts on September 16th and 17th at Haulover Park Marina. For more information call 305-681-6602. “Ladies Let’s Go Fishing” announces a seminar extravaganza in Islamorada, Fl. Keys. This award-winning saltwater fishing seminar series for women, hosted by Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and presented by Mercury Outboards, will be held on September 23and the 24th. The weekend event offers a Friday evening welcome party at the Worldwide Sportsman, seminar at the Lorelei on Saturday, and a full day of fishing out of Whale Harbor on Sunday. The two day event teaches women the basic fishing techniques at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The seminar concludes with a fish filet class. Marsha Bierman will be the keynote speaker. For more information call Betty Bauman at 954-475-9068. The first leg of the Bahamas Wahoo Championship Series will begin on November 7th-11th at the Bimini Big Game Club in the Bahamas. Other events will be held at the Lucayan Marina Village December 5-9, The Walkers Cay Resort January 16-20,and The Abaco Beach Resort February 6-10th. These will be Wahoo only Tournaments. Fish three out of four days. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, in an effort to develop a wintertime fisheries in the Bahamas, invites competitors to enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the Bahamas Out Islands during the winter months. For more information call 305-234-7386 On Thursday nights, from 7pm to 8pm, at the Old Cutler Raw Bar, South Dixie Highway and SW 184 Street, come listen to “Fishing South Florida Style”. This is an hour long live radio show hosted by Mike Pace, Captain Rob Fordyce, Captain Marty Locke, and Captain Mark Houghtaling. Offshore and inshore fishing topics are covered during the live radio broadcast, and you can pick up a few tips from the radio hosts after the show. You can also catch the show on Thunder Country 100.3 FM. Captain Mark Houghtaling wants to hear from you. Send him your latest catches and pictures to15920 SW 85 Ave. Miami, Fla. 33157, or E-Mail him at [email protected]. Capt Mark also has a charter fishing service ,you can call him at 305-253-1151 or check out his web page at http://www.magicfin.com For free safe boating and personal watercraft classes call the Coast Guard Auxiliary at 305-820-8411, or the United States Power Squadron at 305-238-4807