Islamorada Juniors Sailfish Tournament – Weekly Report

The Sailfish are biting and the weather is outstanding!!  If you remember last week I mentioned that big cold front we were getting.  Well, it sure helped get the season off to a perfect start!   Both “Pretty Work” and “That’s Right” had a very busy weekend.  

The Islamorada Juniors Sailfish Tournament started on Saturday and the kids had an absolute blast.  The winds were blowing pretty well from the SE and the current was flowing.  This can only bring good fishing and it did.

Onboard the “Pretty Work” with Captain Clyde was his daughter Emma and her two friends Audrey and Alexandra, all 12 years old.  They did a great job! Saturday they caught and released five sails and Sunday they caught and released four which put them in Third place.  In second place was 10 and first place was 13.  Great job for the GIRL’S as well as Capt. Clyde and his two sons Croft and Travis who worked the pit!!  

Mutton Snapper
I, along with Captain Andrew and Captain Jeff fished “That’s Right” with my own daughter Olivia and a close friend from Miami, Karl Sturge and his three boys Karl (16), Matthew (14) and William (12). On Saturday they too caught five sails and on Sunday we only saw two catching them both which put them in a tie for 5thplace with seven fish.  They too did an outstanding job! Mind you all these kids did EVERYTHING by themselves!!
On Saturday there were about 80 fish caught.  On Sunday the wind switched and turned WNW, then later in the day it turned WSW so this made for a slower day with about 30 total fish caught. Overall though it was great Islamorada sailfishing for the kids and they all caught a fish or two. The bait of choice was Ballyhoo.  We fished both days from the riggers which seemed to be very productive and was much easier for the kids.  Once again congratulations to ALL the kids!!Amberjack
Kids FishingKing Mackeral

The rest of the report is good as the reef is alive. The shallow patches are very productive with good catches of Snappers and smaller Cero and Spanish mackerel.  There are still some Red Groupers around as well as the Mutton Snappers. The front also kicked off the big King Mack’s, the 100’ to 140’ spots are now holding fish anywhere from 8 to 30lb. Great action, all being caught on live bait, with Cigar Minnows.  There have also been some big Muttons on these deeper spots as well as some Amberjacks and an occasional Cobia.

Happy Holidays to all and please be safe.  Thanks again for participating in another great season!  Oh ya, the Ocean City TV Show with George Poveromo will be airing on Versus February 5th at 11:30am and February 11th at 4:30pm.  Watch out for it!

Captain John Oughton
prettyworkcharters@gmail.com
1-855-GOT-BAIT

pw7

Look for George Poveromo fishing with Captain John Oughton out of Ocean City, MD on George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing on the Versus Channel!

George Poveromo
Featured airing: Saturday, February 5 – 11:30 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time)Encore Performances:  Friday, February 11 – 4:00 p.m and  Saturday, May 21 – 11:30 a.m

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