Alligator Point Sailfish
Posted: September 12th, 2010, 8:39 am
Yesterday morning I ran out from Mashes Sands to try my luck at catching a few grouper before the FSU game (I'm glad I came back for that @#$^ 
). Although I only caught shorts, 2 huge nurse sharks, and a very large cuda, I did catch several nice spanish on my run out and I found a new hole that I believe will pay dividends in the future. On the run back in the water was like glass and I noticed a black fin working its way back and forth. I eased over to the area thinking that it must be a shark, however, as I got closer the fin grew in length and height. It turned out to be a very good sized sailfish that was working some bait on top. I was fortunate enough to get to watch it work on for several minutes. I didn't really have anything to offer it that I could think of, so I trolled by it with a stretch 30 and cd-18 hoping it would take an interest but it didn't. The sailfish stayed up long enough for me to make three passes before it finally eased on under and out of site. At one point, I was no more than 45 yards from it. I broke out my Blackberry and shot some video of it working, as well as a picture. When I got home to show my wife the video, for some reason it would not display 
However, the picture I took did show up. She and I caught a lot of sailfish in Mexico on our honeymoon and this sailfish was equal in size to any of those we caught. I am not totally sure how far off-shore from Alligator Point I was (guessing 6-8 miles due south), but in the background of the picture you can see land and my GPS showed me being 10.2 miles SW of the boat ramp at Mashes Sands. Very cool day right up until about the FSU game........
). Although I only caught shorts, 2 huge nurse sharks, and a very large cuda, I did catch several nice spanish on my run out and I found a new hole that I believe will pay dividends in the future. On the run back in the water was like glass and I noticed a black fin working its way back and forth. I eased over to the area thinking that it must be a shark, however, as I got closer the fin grew in length and height. It turned out to be a very good sized sailfish that was working some bait on top. I was fortunate enough to get to watch it work on for several minutes. I didn't really have anything to offer it that I could think of, so I trolled by it with a stretch 30 and cd-18 hoping it would take an interest but it didn't. The sailfish stayed up long enough for me to make three passes before it finally eased on under and out of site. At one point, I was no more than 45 yards from it. I broke out my Blackberry and shot some video of it working, as well as a picture. When I got home to show my wife the video, for some reason it would not display However, the picture I took did show up. She and I caught a lot of sailfish in Mexico on our honeymoon and this sailfish was equal in size to any of those we caught. I am not totally sure how far off-shore from Alligator Point I was (guessing 6-8 miles due south), but in the background of the picture you can see land and my GPS showed me being 10.2 miles SW of the boat ramp at Mashes Sands. Very cool day right up until about the FSU game........
