Cero Mackerel has a bluish-green, fading to silvery sides and belly. The sides have silvery-yellow spots, some forming broken lines. You will find a yellowish stripe extending from pectoral fin to caudal fin. A bluish-black blotch will be located on front of first dorsal fin. Lateral line slopes gently from behind the gill cover to the tail.
Spanish and King Mackerel are similar species. The Spanish Mackerel will not have a stripe down the side.
This species can be located in coastal waters, especially over coral reefs and other structure.
The feed on small fish and squid.
State record holds at 17lb 2 oz, caught near Islamorada.
Cero Mackerel will receive double points for every submittal toward our annual tournament.
Fly Fishing for Mahi, Girl Breaks new fly rod on Dolphin!
Bri and Skipper Head out of Hillsboro Inlet to tease up small summertime dolphin on the FLY out of South Florida! Left the dock around 4 PM the fish were in about 750 feet of water. Just enjoying Life in Florida. This is what fun fishing is all about. Photography by Chris Rabil
Skipjack Tuna has a dark purplish-blue back, fading to silvery lower sides and belly. Four to six horizontal stripes on lower part of sides, and short pectoral fins.
Similar Species: Little Tunny and Atlantic Bonito, both have stripes on back, not on lower sides.
Skipjack are caught offshore, and feed on fish and invertebrates.
Skipjacks are a Highly Migratory Species, and State/Federal Regulations are to be followed.
Not to be confused with Bonitas:
Skipjack is the OAPB Species of the Month for January 2018. This species will receive double points toward our monthly/annual tournament.
Unfortunately, our December drawing of the species of the month was Hogfish. The season for this species ended on October 31st, so a new drawing was held using Random.org. Red Snapper is our new December species.
Red Snapper : Lutjanus campechanus
Red snapper is pinkish red over entire body, whitish on belly. Long triangular snout, anal fin is sharply pointed, there is NOT a dark lateral spot like most snappers, and has a distinctive red eye.
Juvenile red snappers can be found over sandy or mud bottoms.
Red snapper feed on crustaceans and fish.
State recored is 46lb-8 oz, caught near Destin.
Fishing tips: Snappers will take soft-bodied jigs, bucktails and spoons. Adult red snappers may live more than 20 years and attain 35lbs or more.
Spanish Mackerel is our November species of the month for the OAPB Annual Fishing tournament for the Captain and Angler of the Year Award. There are 29 days left in this years tournament. Please submit all your fish.
Spanish Mackerel is colored from green shading to silver with golden yellow irregular spots found above and below the lateral line. The front of the dorsal fin is black, and the lateral line curves gently to base of tail.
Spanish Mackerel are found in abundance throughout Florida waters: inshore, offshore and nearshore. They are found frequently over grass beds and reefs.
This species is a schooling fish that migrate northward in the spring, and returns when the waters drop below 70 degrees. They spawn offshore from spring through summer and feed on small fish and squid.
The state record is a 12 lb, caught near Fort Pierce.
Spanish Mackerel are similar to Cero and King Mackerel.
Kite fishing is the go to method for fishing for many South Florida anglers that are out to target Pelagic and Sailfish in our area. Our guest speaker for October will be Captain Carlos Rodriguez from Florida Sport Fishing with a discussion on Kite Fishing out of Hillsboro Inlet. Topics such as:
Kites – Light and Strong wind kites, and how to decide which one is necessary for the winds you are fishing.
Balloons – When it is necessary to use balloons to keep your kites flying.
Tackle – Types of equipment necessary when deploying kites.
Rigging – How to rig your live bait, so that it is presented correctly
Current and Wind – Understanding your initial setup, and how wind/current will determine how your kite will fly.
Tactics – Deploying lines at different depths.
Live Bait – How different types of live bait perform (Goggle eyes, pilchards, and speedos)
Florida Sport Fishing is a local journal that provides great insight for anglers with videos, magazines, seminars, and is a great way to stay up to date on the newest products/tactics.
Please visit their site, and check out what they are all about. Below link:
Florida Sport Fishing is a cutting edge approach to hooking up fishing and boating related businesses with the millions of resident and visiting anglers enjoying our natural resources. As an independently owned and operated business, our mission is to impact the state’s angling community with the most comprehensive sport fishing publication to date, supported by an innovative online directory and exciting television series – all brought to you by angling enthusiasts dedicated to making each and every one of your fishing trips as safe and as successful as possible.
Florida Sport Fishing is published and distributed bimonthly six times per year. Our magazine is available on newsstands across all of Florida with additional distribution and exposure in 25 states, Canada, The Bahamas and across The Caribbean.
Florida Sport Fishing Television is filmed on location across Florida and airs on cable television for 52 weeks a year. Complete episodes are also available online. We’d like to hear what you have to say. What topics would you like to see covered? Your comments, questions and concerns are important to us and to your angling success.
Wahoo is our October species of the month. All anglers that submit wahoo starting October 1st will received double points (35 points for fish, and 1 point per inch), so a 45″ wahoo will give the angler and captain160 points.
Appearance: A member of the mackerel family, long and streamlined with about 30 dark wavy bars for camouflage. Found offshore, generally not in schools. Known for tremendous runs and shifts of direction. State record is 139lbs, caught near Marathon. Wahoo are caught by trolling bait and artificial lures on flatlines.
Jim Blake (My Time) is leading the Captain scoreboard with 7,745 points and Chris Thomas (Holdemhook) has the Angler scoreboard at 6,603 points.
The annual contest ends on the last day of November. Make sure you are turning in all your fish, Our October wristband is Black/Pink.
Swordfish, also known as broadbills in some countries, are large, highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat bill. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. These fish are found widely in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic.
Recreational anglers hunting for Swordfish can only catch with hook and line only. 1 per person not to exceed a maximum of 4 per recreational vessel. Minimum catch length is 47″ lower jaw to fork.
Open year round season
Swordfish damaged by shark bites may be retained only if the remainder of the carcass is at least 47 inches lower jaw fork length or 25 inches cleithrum to keel length.
Swordfish is the OAPB September species of the month. All participating members in our annual contest will receive double points for toward the Angler and Captain of the Year Award, and the trip to Quepos, Costa Rica to fish with JP Fishing Charters.
Reminder: The annual contest ends in 90 days. Turn in all points, but submitting your fish online.
Jerry Squadrito has a 1984 27′ Tiara for sale. Asking price is $3,000. The vessel does need some work. He would like to see it go to a club member. Call or email him for more information or to set up a time to view it. 954-682-2128 or email squadricop@gmail.com
We will be having Dennis Forgione as our guest speaker tonight 7pm at the Sands Harbor, North Dock. He will be discussing Offshore Fishing. Times, areas, tides, tackle, bait, and overall how to identify and target a specific species. Dennis is extremely good at explaining what works for him, and how you can use these tactics to get more fish in the boat.
Tonight’s raffle:
1)Rod/Reel Combo: Penn Fathom 40LDHS 7:1 ratio on a Chaos(15-50)7’-0” live bait rod This reel has an ultrafast line pickup rate at 60”, which is 5’ per crank. Perfect for Kingfish and Sailfish. Valued ($410)
2)Reliable Kill Bag: 18 x 36 – Perfect for heading out for Snapper/Grouper- Valued at $199
Will have other raffle items, but those are the main prizes. We will have the 50/50 raffle as well.
The Penn Fathom/Chaos Rod you will see at all of our events from this point forward. Our goal is to offer a PAIR of these at every meeting. Of course, increasing the value(quality) of our items means it decreases the quantity of items. We are a fast growing fishing club, so our thoughts are let start getting the tools into our members hands that help them perform better, and bring more fish to the table.
The products that you will see on display are for viewing upon the request of the companies that provide the raffle items. Of course, all products can be picked up through the club. I am still setting up the codes that will allow members to go online, and input the code to discount the product. Once I get this up and running everyone will get an email.
We will have Ronda Bunker in the house tonight to quickly go over the Pompano Beach Boat Parade. We have several members that do the parade every year, and I am going to coordinate to see if the club can be more active in this event.
REMINDER: All club meetings are closed, and open to members and immediate family only.
If you would like to be a member please visit MEMBER REGISTRATION.
Call or email me if you have any questions at all.
