Earlier this month, In a very unexpected turn of events, I got a call from a great friend who said He had a trip to Miami beach along with 2 full day fishing trips planned for the following week. If I wanted to go all I had to do was book a ticket to get down there….DONE!
DAY 1 was a inshore and backbay trip that was on a boat called the grasshopper. A 19’8″ Carolina skiff. Our guide Captain Mike had me a little worried at first. At no more than 25 years old how could he have enough experience to find the best spots? Boy was I wrong, he was great!
It started like many charters with a search for pilchards or threadfin for bait. It took some time to find them but once we did it only took one well placed throw of the cast net and we had bait for the entire day. We started fishing right away, In the same cove we found the bait there was a school of jacks chasing bait out of the water. They hooked up on the live baits we casted and gave the great fight they are known for. I think it was then we decided to see how many species we could land in a day. We moved out to a grassy area and after a few more casts my friend hooked a nice sea trout.
The weather was being agreeable and the report said that the ocean was as flat as could be so we headed a couple miles offshore to do some trolling in the small boat. The first to hit was a big lizard fish, next were a few blue runner, Bonita, and skipjack. It was my buddies turn when the spool took off and he fought up this nice fat gag grouper. Shame it was only 23.5 inches, at 24 he would have made a good and legal lunch, so he went back in to grow some more. We went to a marina for some blackened mahi lunch and put together a plan for the second part of the day, which was to use the Bonita we caught earlier as chunk bait for tarpon.
I have targeted tarpon many times and hooked up only once and never landed one. I was excited but skeptical. We set up at a spot our captain said they were commonly caught at and patiently waited for a bite. When the rod bent my heart stopped. But it only bent for a second and then was slack again. A while later we got another strike, and this time set the hook, but it was a jack crevalle. Bait was running low and it was getting late so we made the call to try one more spot just outside the marina. I soaked a chunk of Bonita meat and in a few minutes had a bite, Only this time the rod bent and stayed that way! FISH ON! – I could not believe the weight of the monster on the other side, and when he jumped right in front of me I couldn’t believe how big he was! We wrestled for 10 minutes or so and after some great runs and awesome acrobatics he finally gave in. The captain pulled him in the boat and we took some pictures that I will always cherish.

Before releasing him we pulled the beautiful fish alongside the boat until he was strong enough to swim off on his own. I can’t say enough about that day. Not only did I get to catch, photo, and release a fish that I had chased after for years, but it was also the anniversary of my dads passing. A fitting day to check a big one off my personal bucket list! I think all in all we caught 8 different species that day.

CLICK HERE to contact www.inshorefishingmiami.com and book your trip on the grasshopper!

Tight Lines and Tailwinds!
-Billy