FIRST SAILFISH on Seafari

fdheld34 · #1 05-09-2009, 09:29 PM

Well, me and my Bro in law went out fishing this morning on the Seafari. First time takin her out in the ocean. We hooked up on a nice Sailfish..trolling naked ballyhoo in 300 ft of water out of St. Lucie Inlet.....
First Sailfish for both of us......took pic with digital camera...could not get whole fish in the frame..need a bigger boat!!!
-Fred

McGillicuddy · #2 05-09-2009, 10:24 PM

Way to go Fred, congratulations!
Nice excuse to get a bigger boat...or a wider angle lens

Do you guys eat sailfish or is it catch and release?
Full transom looks great for backing on the fish.

castalot · #3 05-10-2009, 12:22 AM

nice catch fred i bet your glad my friend didn't buy the boat now

matt

fdheld34 · #4 05-11-2009, 08:48 AM

Hey Gillie- We quickly released the sail...my
father asked the same question about keeping it and smoking it up...nowadays you need a special permit!!!In the event you wish to keep a sailfish, you must possess a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) vessel permit and report your landings at (800) 894-5528. (from FL Sailfishing Basics)...plus I would probably get a flogging back at the docks!!!!!!!
I think a wide angle lens is in store..cheaper than a bigger boat!!!The closed transom did work great and the confidence factor was high...especially when maneuvering (spelling)the boat. PM me pics of your arch!!!!
Matt--the days when it all goes well is the days when I am glad I have the boat....gets depressing when the boat just sits in the driveway though..and it sits quite a bit!!!!!
-Fred

eggsuckindog · #5 05-11-2009, 09:13 AM

The first one is pretty exciting, good going

Ryank · #6 05-11-2009, 11:56 AM

Awesome Job!!! You know they make such a huge deal about permits and you shouldn't keep sails etc etc, but when they have a major tournament Dozens of Sails die daily and can be found floating behind the tourny boats due to not being released properly or fought too hard etc.

Fr. Frank · #7 05-11-2009, 12:46 PM

I miss trolling off Juno/Jupiter

No MFS permit is required if the fish is caught within 3 miles of shore in the Atlantic, or within 9 miles of shore in the Gulf. Anything east of Sombrero in the Keys is considered Atlantic, BTW. (Or at least it used be).

The MFS is only $16 per vessel per year. No angler specific MFS stamps or permits are required in Florida, but state bag limit is one per angler per day or in possession; National bag limit is 3 per vessel per day, and both apply.

FTR, I haven't seen or heard of a billfish being taken within 9 miles of the Gulf coast anywhere between St. George Island/Appalachicola and Crystal River in 5 or 6 years. Saw a very small white Marlin (4 - 5 lbs.) taken and released 2 miles off Homasassa 2 or 3 years ago, but that's it.

Capt Chuck · #8 05-11-2009, 03:42 PM

Nice catch & release Fred. The skunks off the SeaFari so you'll be hooking up a few more in the future.

Bushwacker · #9 05-11-2009, 06:36 PM

Nice catch Fred - now that's the way to properly initiate your newly remodeled rig!

I'm installing bow anchor bracket similar to your set-up; should be operational in another week or so!
Denny

fdheld34 · #10 05-12-2009, 08:40 AM

Thanks All--first one was exciting..even if I dont catch anything else I am content for the year!!!! (not really!!)
Denny, send me some pics of your setup. JUST A NOTE DENNY--I had to move my anchor roller forward about 4 inches (last night) due to the flukes hitting the underside of bow rail...did not do it in the river but in the ocean it was pretty rough going out and I got alot of bouncing....scratched up the underside of the bow pretty good...so keep that in mind when you mount your anchor roller!!!!or go with a delta style plow..might clear then...not sure
-Fred