Fish Reports
December 2005 - March 2006
The new “Jodari” has surpassed all expectations with her new sleek design, fishability, and marlin raising magnetism. In the first month of fishing we raised over 40 Blue Marlin, releasing 14. Of the 14 Blue Marlin 10 were over 500lbs, biggest around 800lbs. Not to mention the hundreds of sailfish, and monster Yellowfin Tuna we caught up to 300lbs. This December was one to remember, with mixed species on the currents and high spots. YYou never knew what was going to come up on the short corner. It’s almost April, and they just keep biting the props off!!
One trip I remember like it was yesterday, was with repeat clients intent on landing their first Blue Marlin. After 20 minutes of live baiting a 6 lb. Yellowfin, the strike came!! David brought the drag to strike and we where on. The circle hook lodged perfectly in the corner of her jaw, and line started screaming off the reel in hundred yard increments. It was a great battle with the 500lb marlin jumping at least 10 different times. Luis Enrique my crew, grabbed the leader and held on for some great pictures and a clean release after a 45 minute fight. A great job by angler and the fish. Moving offshore we came upon a group of spotted dolphins and instantly hooked a monster Yellowfin on a live sardine. David still trying to recover from the marlin fight gave me the finger and said, “good luck Mike I ain’t touchin that pole.” So off the bridge I came, Luis took the wheel and I strapped into the harness for a grueling 1hr 20min. hell fight. David kept my Cuban Cigar lit, and all I could think about besides that crazy sound of the line on the verge of snapping was how did I get myself in this chair suffering like this!!!!!! That was one strong tuna.
The owners of ”Jodari”, Dirk and Andy fished the first week of March getting into the marlin bite. We raised another 15 marlin, releasing 5 blues (biggest around 650lbs). What a great year for the big boys. We also hooked into some good fly fishing for sails and small yellowfin tuna on the 9#. Funny to watch the first run of a pissed off yellowfin and the sound of Dirks knuckles getting ripped off as that spool started to spin.
Inshore fly fishing yielded some great action on big jacks, rainbow runners, and some Cubera snapper all hitting on the surface, not all making it to the boat. If you’ve ever had a big snapper on you know what they do on conventional gear, well on fly they get down even quicker, but super fun!
The first tournament this year, Team Jodari more than doubled the catch of the second place team with 21 releases in 2 days of fishing. With top angler being our “African Willy”, 13 releases. Good work guys!!!! Can’t wait for the Banana Bay Invitational in April.
The speed of “Jodari” has helped with her success, enabling us to run (26knt cruise) to new grounds when fishing gets slow in a certain area. I still say “Jodari”, feels like a 40 footer and fishes like a dream. It’s a pleaser running this boat and can’t wait until tomorrow to see that shadow on the right rigger again.
A big thanks goes out to all the wonderful clients Luis and I had the pleasure to fish with this season and hope to see ya again next year.
Keep a tight line,
Captain Mike Hennessy
