While there haven’t been enough big fish to make me happy, (then again there never are or will be), the dolphin fishing has been good enough that nobody has had to anchor up to catch Snappers. I have nothing against bottom fishing for snapper and grouper this time of year … except maybe it’s beastly hot most days. If that’s what a customer wants to catch, then we’ll do it, but personally, I’d much rather be offshore trying for dolphin, (Mahi). They’re generally bigger, fight better and you always have the possibility of a Wahoo, tuna of billfish when dolphin fishing. Most days, if we are on a 6 or 8 hr trip, we are able to get far enough offshore and deep enough to find some good fish. Half day trips,(4 hr), have been a bit tough as the fish are getting farther offshore this time of year.
There has been a tremendous amount of Sargasso weed offshore and there has been east current all summer, (so far). Both are good for the dolphin fishing. The Sargasso weed is a naturally occurring seaweed that grows on the surface. It’s a good thing because creates a habitat for small critters such as shrimp, crabs, seahorses and bait fish that the dolphin likes to eat so they hang along the weed patches and lines waiting for an opportunity to feed.
The Eastbound current is good because it brings fresh weed and habitat through the area every day. Basically, if the current is running about 2kts,(which it is), the weed patches you are fishing today, were close to 28 miles away yesterday and the weed that is still 28 miles away today is what you will be fishing tomorrow. The ocean renews every day. Also, even if it is calm, that current will cause upwellings for hills and irregularities on the ocean floor. This causes the water to “roll over” as it travels through and keeps the surface of the ocean from getting too warm. In years when there is little or no current and very calm weather, I’ve seen the surface of the ocean get into the ’90s and that’s offshore in 500+ ft of water. The fish tend to go deep when this happens and the fishing or I guess I should say the catching, slows way down. So, I for one am enjoying the current conditions and fishing. I could be better, but I could always be better. It could also be worse. We’re catching, My customers are happy and life is good. I’ll take it.