May 15th, 2012

Islamorada, FLORIDA - It is a known fact that sharks are the some of the heartiest, most ferocious fighters when hooked on rod and reel.  The reefs off of the Florida Keys are home to some of the biggest sharks on this planet, including some that reign in people's nightmares.  During the later spring and early summer months the Tiger Shark is king, and puts big game anglers in an extreme disposition when battling these brutes.  Recently, Team Pelagic's Captain James Chappell and Fred Lavitman set out on a film expedition to catch and release "El Tigre".  The story is as follows...

"The adventure began as we set out to film the second largest predator in the Atlantic Ocean, the Tiger Shark.  Our day started as we left Bass Pro Shops World Wide Sportsman’s Bayside Marina located in Islamorada, FL.  We were aboard my charter boat, Catchalottafish, filming a show for Monster Fish on the Outdoor Channel. 

"Filming for the day was cameraman Peter Barbush, and host Fred Lavitman – also our angler for the day.  Our first mate was Capt. Marc Toledo.  This adventure was taking us Southwest to an area we call the West Hump.  The West hump is a Sea Mount located about 30 miles Southwest of Islamorada and is known to hold large quantities of Sharks, Tunas, and Amberjacks.  We made it about half way there before finding an abandoned Cuban raft that the Coast Guard had already found, and tagged OK.  We were fortunate enough that this raft was loaded up with nice Mahi-Mahi and we put several in the box for dinner that evening up to 30 pounds. 

Below: Bendo on Dorado - the attire goes well with the quarry.

"After reaching the west hump, pure chaos started almost immediately.  Our plan was to use the vertical jigs to catch 6 AJ’s that we would use for bait for the tigers.  On our first drop all 3 rods were doubled over, with 2 AJ’s coming over the side in the 40 pound class, and one that didn’t want to budge.  We fought the 3rd one for an hour, and it finally broke a large wire jigging hook on the vertical jig.  Not real sure what that was, but all I can say is it was big. 
Next drift was the same game with a little different ending.  Three rods bent over to the max, but this time there were 2 large Silky Sharks following the AJ’s to the boat anticipating a free meal.  We managed to catch 1 Almaco jack and 2 AJ’s on this drop, but with these 200 pound class Silky’s lurking around we had to put a hook in one!  I butterflied up the Almaco that had just come over the gunnel, and put him out on our shark rig.  Almost immediately it was inhaled, and 20 minutes later the 200 pound Silky was subdued.  Shark one down for the day! 

Below: Hooked-up on a Silky

"On the next drift we had 2 more AJ’s to catch for our limit.  Same deal again, drift across the hump and vertical jig up 2 more AJ’s, except this time we had 2 AJ’s and a small Blackfin tuna!  When the Tuna came up, Mr. Hammerhead – of about 300 pounds – made an appearance and decided he needed a taste!  So, we butterflied him up and Shark number two was quick to bite.  The Hammerhead was a fun fight before being released unharmed. 
Now we have our limit of AJ’s and two sharks down, but we still need “EL Tigre”!  We made several drifts, and the problem wasn’t that we weren’t getting any bites…..the problem was that the Silky’s and Hammerheads wouldn’t leave us alone.  Therefore, after several drifts for tigers, and a few more AJ’s to replace what had been eaten, we decided to call it a day. 

Below: Hammerhead grinning for the camera

"Day two was a whole different story.  We were on a mission to catch the second most dangerous shark in the ocean, and being defeated was not an option.  We started out the day with 6 fresh AJ’s in the box, and headed to the Islamorada Hump.  Like the West Hump, this hump had the same set up, although it is a little smaller in size, it definitely holds some fish.  We arrived at the hump around 9AM, with bait loaded up in the Yeti.  The day began making drifts across the hump using a butterflied Amberjack that weighed out at about 30 pounds – a heavy meal for sure!  I know elephants eat peanuts, but a shark of this stature wants a meal, not a snack. 

Below: "El Tigre" - not just a Zoolander pose...

"After about 5 drifts we decided that the current was a little too heavy, and that anchoring on this sea mount was going to be the way to go.  Therefore, we ran up current, figured out our set and drift, and came tight on top of the hump.  Now the chunking begins!  We started cutting up chunks of AJ’s and letting them drift back into the slick.  We had a butterflied AJ hanging over the side of the boat, and one butterflied on the main rig down about 200 feet waiting for the bite.  It didn’t take long, and before you knew it we were on!  The beast pictured here is approximately 14 feet long and is estimated to way close to 1000 pounds!  The fight lasted about 50 minutes, and is one big Tiger!  Congrats to Fred Lavitman on the catch of a lifetime!  Will make an awesome show!"

Below: Tiger Shark finally subdued and ready for release.

May 15, 2012

A rare catch, the Leatherback Grouper (AKA Leatherback Cabrilla) like its habitat on the rugged side.  Mostly found near rocky reefs and areas near the base of rocky faces, this fish inhabits the tropic and sub-tropical waters ranging from the Pacific's Sea of Cortez to Ecuador - however, it is most ubundant at offshore volcanic islands, such as Mexico's Revillagigdos Archipelago.  Adults have a distinct color pattern of white and dark blotches and spots on a usually dark skin color, depending on its home surroundings.

This Leatherback bit Team Pelagic Bob Woodward's plastic-jig offering while fishing near the Perlas Islands in Panama.

Below: A near 400-pound Bull Shark ready to be released with a satellite tag already deployed on the dorsal fin

Here are some notes from Oz’ recent expeditions:

“Now that the winds are finally dying down, I'm in between offshore and surf Shark trips.  In fact I just got back from a four day brutal, but rewarding shark trip.  I ended up putting a PAT Satellite tag on a monster Bull Shark that went 350-400lbs. The University and the HARTE Research Institute have me tagging a lot of sharks for them, but this is only the second I've done with their high-dollar satellite tags. They are curious about these big female Bulls to see if they are traveling into the shallow bays here and eventually up freshwater. Ironically it's a lot similar to the concept of the Nat Geo program we were on a few months ago... Really cool stuff.

Below: Team Pelagic's Eric 'Oz' Ozolins ready to deply the tag on a beefy Bull Shark

“…For the photos you are seeing – the daytime Bull Shark was the large female Bull with the Satellite tag. In a couple of the photos you can actually see me attaching the tag through the dorsal. I caught that shark on the National Seashore this past Monday (May 7th), mid-day, on a 15-pound section of Jack Crevalle.  The shark went 102", with a 54" girth... according to the algorithmic formula specific for Bull Sharks, she would have gone 392-pounds! The bait was taken out via kayak about 500 yards to a distinct color change that was running parallel with the beach that day. I ended up fighting her for over 45 minutes on an Avet 50W. The PAT tag was entrusted to me by the HARTE Research Institute in which they are doing a study on mature Bull Sharks along the Texas coast. For the other photos, there is a smaller night-time Bull Shark - 7'1" (estimated at 200-pounds), which I got the night before, and tagged with HARTE/A&M-CC University's standard shark tag.”

Below: A 200-pound Bull caught at night // Oz getting set for a successful release (note the satellite tag on the dorsal fin)

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - Fishing with Pelagic Pro Team Captain Franky Aboroa of GO DEEP SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES in Cabo, Team Pelagic scored 17 Striped Marlin and one HUGE Dorado over the course of a day and a half on the water.  Joining in on the fun was Team Pelagic's Capt. Josh Temple.  Normally at the helm for these kind of trip, JT actually got to pull on some fish, landing a handful of quality Stripers.  One thing to note was the presence of the "super moon" this past weekend in Cabo.  Many people have neglected to fish "on the full"...the Striped Marlin this past weekend, to say the least, were not turned off by the moon phase...not even close.

Below: Team Pelagic with a MONSTER Dorado

Below: All smiles for Pelagic Pro Team Captain Franky Aboroa

Below:  Pelagic Pro Team Captain Josh Temple plays a Striped Marlin on light tackle.

Below: JT taking wraps barehanded.

Below: Striped Marlin fishing heats up in Cabo // Too close for comfort! // A more docile specimen

Below: Top Secret Bait??? "Poo-poo-ing" the "Bananas = Bad Luck" theory...this rig went 5 for 7 on Striped Marlin one day...

Below: "Super Moon" over Cabo's arch - the fish definitely didn't seem to care...

Below: JT podering the Super Moon while relaxing after a hard day's fishing

The fishing in Cabo is RED HOT right now.  Do yourself a favor and book a trip with Capt. Franky by visiting GO DEEP on the web. 

Chiriqui, Panama - Fishing with Jason Wald and Keith Alan of Ultimate Fishing Experience TV, Patrick Sebile of Sebile Lures was able to land a variety of gamefish species along Panama's Pacific Coast.  In fact, fishing was so good that Patrick potentially set SEVEN new world records during this trip alone.

Below: Pacific Big Eye Barracuda

Below: Bluefin Trevally

Below: Cubera Snapper

Below: Roosterfish

Below: Sailfish close to shore - a rare feat

Below: Sierra Mackerel

Cape Verde, Africa - Get ready, it's coming! The Pelagic Film Crew recorded some epic footage of giant Blue Marlin from across the Atlantic at Cape Verde Islands just a few weeks ago.  Fish to over 700-pounds showed up in the spread, slashing baits and lures with reckless abandon, and causing havoc on the deck of Pelagic Pro Team Captain Clay Hensley's Hooker.  Renowned underwater photographer, Tony Ludovico, was on hand to capture all the action from above and below the ocean's surface.  Stay tuned for more...

Currently, the blue marlin fishing in Cape Verde is RED HOT.  For more information or to book a charter with Captain Clay  Hensley, please email:  worldwidesportfishing@gmail.com

Congrats to Get Lit Fishing Team for taking home second place in the Sailfish Pro Series! Way to go guys!

Cape Verde Islands, Africa - The Pelagic Film Crew and world-renowned underwater photographer, Tony Ludovico, recently returned from a long-anticipated film trip across the Atlantic.  Fishing aboard Pelagic Pro Team Captain Clay Hensley's HOOKER, this epic adventure saw many Blue Marlin caught and released, including two monsters estimated at over 700-pounds!  Stay tuned for more incredible footage, including full photo gallery and video, to be revealed in the next edition of The Waterman's Journal.  For now, here are a few photos for you to salivate over...

Currently, the blue marlin fishing in Cape Verde is RED HOT.  For more information or to book a charter with Captain Clay Hensley, please email:  worldwidesportfishing@gmail.com

Team Pelagic' s Ryan Griffin dropped us a line to share the photo of this Oarfish they brought aboard 'Acero Azul' in Cabo San Lucas Yesterday.  Makes you wonder what else might be swimming in the deep...

"Catching a cow is quite the commitment; it requires heavy-duty, big game fishing gear, and usually, from a long range perspective anyways, a trip of two weeks or more.  There is a lot of preparation involved as well: servicing your reels, learning spectra to mono or mono to fluoro connections, rigging your tackle, choosing the right hook for the job, etc.  That being said, all of the preparation in the world does not guarantee you a 200-pound fish.  I’ve met guys that have been going on these trips for years, and have caught many great fish, but none surpassing the double-century mark.  On the other hand, many long range rookies have struck good fortune and bagged a cow or two on their very first trip..."

Below: "Big Al" Gross with a 265-pound Yellowfin

Below:  Team Pelagic's Colin Sarfeh with a hefty jig-caught Wahoo.