Islamorada Trip

[JFD94]

We went down to Islamorada for two days of fishing. I've never been before and was hoping to catch some new fish. We fished out of Bud 'N Mary's Marina. The first day, we went into Florida Bay started out catching Ladyfish for Tarpon bait. We caught several nice ones along with several nice specks and mangrove snapper. Our guide then took us over to the Everglades, where we set up at the mouth of a creek for tarpon and sharks, using the ladyfish for bait. We saw some Tarpon roll but they wouldn't bite. I soon hooked into something big that took us back out into the bay. After about 25 min we got it close to the boat. It was a Sawfish about 15-18 ft/700-800 lbs (we were only in a small skiff so it was as big as the boat). Biggest fish I've ever caught. The guide cut the leader after we all got to look at it since it had a 6 ft bill that could do some serious damage. Soon after, my mom caught a smaller Sawfish, that was maybe a couple hundred pounds smaller. She had a great day since that was her biggest fish and she got her personal best Speck too. A little later, I hooked into a 5 ft Lemon Shark. It was a fun fight, but it broke off when it got close to the boat. Thunderclouds started to roll in so we left. We had to suffer through the storm the whole hour + back to the dock, but the fishing was well worth it. The second day, we fished by the bridges for Tarpon. Nothing, so we moved to a flat for Bonefish. Unfortunately, my hands were swelling up and inflamed to the point where I was in serious pain and couldn't even hold the rod, so we went in and I later went to the Emergency Room. Turns out I got Contact Dermatitis from touching something that gave me an allergic reaction. Total bummer, only two days to fish and one was ruined. But the fishing the day before was awesome. There were tons of large Tarpon and Sharks all around the docks, unfortunately there was no fishing allowed from there. All in all, it was a great trip I'll never forget! I attached some pics but unfortunately most of the pics are on my phone and i have no clue how to put them on, sorry.

[fathernson]

Thats awesome!

[Gulfcoast13]

Very Cool!

[finfisher]

Very cool!!!

[SUPER SPOOK]

wow! thats a huge sawfish!

[reeltime]

I wish the sawfish would come back along the third coast like they were in the old days.Awesome catch!

[Texfish]

Great report, two sawfish in one day is awesome !

[JFD94]

Thanks guys, it really was a catch of a lifetime! Reeltime: the guide we were with fishes for them a lot. He frequently takes research groups fishing for them so they can tag them with satellite and sonar tags. He says that the populations there seem to be making a comeback. He says they catch them frequently and, like our day, multiple per day. It's good news because they are incredible and interesting fish. And yea Galveston340: those saw bills are pretty dangerous and deadly. He was telling us about a scientist he had fishing for them, who fell on top of one and got all cut up, but luckily nothing super serious. With mine, he cut the leader since the bill was coming out of the water and the fish was pointed at the boat haha