Over the past few years, my visits to South Beach included the traditional sampling of a Call a Cab and hitting Collins and Ocean Drive with melodic Latin and House beats in the backdrop of sidewalk cafes. You name it…the night life, music, food, beach life and warm weather is enough to convince anyone to pack up and move to the Sunshine State. My draw over the years to south Florida and the Miami area has not only been to hang out in the art deco district and café hop. Just off the coast of Miami, literally a few miles off the stretch of beaches, lies some of the best offshore-fishing in the world. Unlike much of the northeast and mid Atlantic region, South Florida provides some of the hottest offshore fishing just minutes from the beach. With the warm Gulf Stream waters piping pretty much inshore, tuna, sailfish, dolphin, wahoo, kingfish, bonita and a host of migratory fish frequent these warm waters feeding on schools of baitfish.

It was ten years since I last fished with local fishing guide, Captain Dave Koystko on the Knot Nancy. Chartering out of Miami and specializing in live bait tackle for over 35 years, Captain Dave has hooked many to the hot fishing action in south Florida. Favoring light tackle and fishing from his 28 ft. Whitewater center console it two twin Yamahas, Captain Dave was equipped for the full fishing experience.

Dodging an early forecast for rain, we pulled out of Biscayne Bay and headed south looking for schools of herring and pilchards. Minutes into the run, we hit a few schools of baitfish and cast Sabiki rigs to fill the live-well. It wasn’t long before we were stacked and ready to roll. Captain Dave started with a slow troll with hopes of nailing a sailfish.

Removing the lure
Our first destination was a few miles parallel to South Beach. I could see the Palm Hotel and other notable beachfront lodging at a distance. Captain Dave set two lines rigged with herring from the stern side. The live bait was free spooled at shallow depths of 15-20 feet, while a downrigger was set for 50 feet. Although the rain would hold off for a while, Captain Dave was quick to point out the slow current… not good for sailfish. Preferred conditions by most captains would be for a moving current that provides more baitfish and presents a more active setting for game fish as they chase and prey on herring and pilchards. Our strategy was to comb an area in hopes of bagging a straggling sailfish feeding on schools of bait. Hitting depths of 70 to 140 feet, we trolled just a bit before the edge of the drop. About 30 minutes into trolling we got a hit on the downrigger. I quickly grabbed the rod as mono spooled from the reel… a sound I’d been itching to hear. The fish made a quick run from portside as I pointed my rod tip and began retrieving some line. Within minutes a bright metallic image penetrated the depths of bright blue water. After a few pumps Captain Dave gaffed a 9# kingfish to the boat… not the biggest in these waters, but it was a great way to start.

Kingfish for dinner

After about an hour and no hit, Captain David noticed the lack of current and knew this would be problematic. It was really beginning to show. Captain Dave decided to drift on a northeast course covering depths from 140 to 412 feet into deeper blue water. With a slight breeze coming in from the west, we drifted a steady course and then finally another big hit on the downrigger… much stronger this time. Nearly slamming my head into the T-top, I grabbed the rod and patiently waited as the fish pulled and pulled. Cranking about 5-6 turns between pumps, the fish made a quick run to might right side and in seconds, it cut the line before I made an adjustment… a clean break on the line.

A Kingfish fight

I knew that was the big one. We were on a fish within minutes of baiting and setting the lines again. It was another king in the 10# range, only this one was hooked in the tail, most likely slamming the bait and trying to zip away… a testimony for the importance of a sharp hook. Before heading in to avoid an afternoon downpour, we capped off the day by landing a nice size bonita, which took one of the top water baits.

Bonita
The striking rich, deep blue and metallic color of the bonita was incredible. At any given time bonita are able to blitz baitfish on the surface with frigate birds hovering for their chance to feed. It just wasn’t that type of day.

Though we didn’t bag that sailfish, there’s nothing like fishing blue water with South Beach just at a glance. We raced back to the marina to quickly clean our fresh catch soon to be cooked by my brother’s mother-in-law…Belizian style! What a weekend… a days worth of fishing and an evening hitting the cafes. And by the way I did get my Call a Cab.