Islamorada, the Sportfishing Capital of the world, offers some of the best charter fishing opportunities in the United States. We welcome you to hop aboard Bout Time Sportfishing to look for that bucket list sailfish! Sailfish are known to be the FASTEST fish in the ocean, reaching speeds over 70 miles per hour! These fish are extremely acrobatic, sometimes “tailwalking’ on the surface of the water for over a hundred yards at a time. Watch these fish flip, spin, twirl, summersault, and speed off like they’re being shot out of a cannon. Many customers ask, “What is your favorite fish to catch?” The answer is simply sailfish. Every sailfish we hook, makes me fall in love with fishing all over again.
How a Charter Boat in Islamorada Catches Sailfish
Kite Fishing
Kite fishing?! That’s right! Originated in the Polynesian Islands, kite fishing is an extremely effective method to catch sailfish right here in Islamorada. A specialty kite is deployed from the boat attached to an electric reel. As the kite soars into the air, and travels farther away from the boat, release clips are positioned at different intervals. Line from a fishing rod is put into the release clips. Live bait is then put on the hook before allowing the kite to continue farther from the boat. A float 15 feet from the bait allows us to see how far the bait is from the surface of the water. Not enough line out and the bait soars into the sky. If there’s too much line out, the bait is able to swim freely away from predators. When a sailfish eats the live bait, the line pops out of the release clips, and its time to reel as fast as you can to come tight on the fish. Once you come tight on the fish, you’ll experience one of the most amazing fish in the Florida Keys!
Live Bait Drifting
Live bait is essential to targeting sailfish during a charter in the Florida keys. On the way out we generally will stop to grab some fresh bait. We will be targeting cigar minnows, ballyhoo, or pilchards. After catching fresh, frisky baits, It’s as simple as it sounds! These baits are hooked to extremely light spinning tackle, and casted behind the boat. Outriggers are used to help us spread the baits out, and prevent them from swimming into each other. The baits naturally swim on the surface, as the boat periodically bumps forward to keep the lines tight. Current takes the boat down the edge of the reef. As sailfish are migrating by, they see an easy meal and just can’t help themselves! Once a sailfish eats the bait, its imperative you give him enough time to swallow the whole thing. A count to 10 with an open bail, is generally enough time. Once you count to 10, close the bail of the spinning reel, and wind as fast as you can. Once you come tight, HOLD ON!
Live Bait Showers
Shampoo not needed! Live bait showers are the most exciting way to target sailfish in Islamorada. Unique to the Florida Keys, there is nothing more natural than this! What’s a live bait showers you ask? When a sailfish finds a large school of ballyhoo he will try and line them up for an easy meal. As the sailfish attacks the school of ballyhoo at unbelieveable speeds, their natural reaction is to jump and skip across the water to get away. This creates an image from a distance of water pouring out of a shower head! As the sailfish continues to chase ballyhoo, the ballyhoo will continue jumping together and skipping across the water to get away! Sometimes this will go on for hundreds of yards. When a live bait showers is spotted, It’s an all out race to get there. As the boatapproaches the shower, the captain will then start looking for the fish from high in the air. Once the sailfish is spotted the first mate will cast a live bait in front of the fish. Naturally the bait will be slightly stunned as it hits the water, and be a quick easy meal while the sailfish is in all out attack mode. After waiting about 10 seconds to allow the fish to swallow the bait, close your bail and get ready for a memory that will last a lifetime.
Bout Time Sportfishing is located in Islamorada Florida. We are dedicated to providing an unforgettable charter fishing experience to anglers of all ages and experience levels. Join us aboard our 41 foot Hatteras Yacht for a memorable day in the Florida Keys!