How do I even tell this story? Of all the tuna fishing expeditions we’ve made the last few years, this might have been the pinnacle of our journeys to the Gulf of Mexico. The secret is out – sportfishermen around the world have heard tales of giant yellowfin tunas blasting baits in the shadows of deep water oil rigs and back breaking fights which cripple men who are unprepared for the strain of titan class tunas.

Venice, LA sits at the shores of a bountiful and largely untamed bluewater eden – the culmination of tuna angling in the United States. For us, giant yellowfin tuna fishing in The Gulf is an odyssey into a sport fishing legacy which has been carried by the crew of Paradise Outfitters in Venice, LA for more than a decade.

Our previous expeditions with Capt. Hunter Caballero and Capt. Scott Leger put us on the line with 145lb tunas crashing cull behind shrimp boats and chunking for 60-80lb tunas at the midnight lump.  They are stories best told with pictures than words -adventures that have evolved into enduring memories which compel us to return, over and over again, to the deep water rigs – in search of that perfect moment, where in a fit of fury, impeccable bluewater predators humble us with their strength. There is no greater battle, no greater reward, than fighting these fish in their element with some of the finest gear on the planet.

Our pilgrimage to Louisiana landed us in the heart of New Orleans late in the afternoon, two days before St. Patricks day.  Tourists from all over the country, adorned in green shirts, fo-gold chains, and purple beaded necklaces, clogged the entrance to one of our favorite culinary sanctuaries upon arrival – the Harbor Seafood and Oyster House. Despite the agonizing 35 minute wait for a dose of NOLA fried goodness, patience delivered us to a fitting meal of swamp platters before our commute to the lower delta.

The trip to Venice, LA is a tour through the country side – long stretches of low country road unimpeded by the droves of cars which pour into and out of New Orleans every day.  Our late afternoon arrival and swap platter feast put us into Cypress Cove Marina shortly after 7:30, which meant darkness, mosquitos, and a fitting hike out to the new luxury house boat which shelters the crew of Paradise Outfitters.

An oasis of a private sport fishing lodge, the house boat is unlike any I have previously encountered. Once inside, you’d never know you weren’t in a downtown condo in anywhere USA. Adorned in a few reminders of trophy fish, scattered foul weather gear, and coolers -the boat itself sported three bedrooms, a full kitchen, dining area and lounge. What was perhaps most striking about the operation is that the entire Paradise Outfitters fleet was docked immediately on, well, the front porch. This is the design and incarnation of charter fishing fantasy – to have your boat, loaded and ready, just ten steps from your front door. That would be torture in almost any other lifestyle.

Day 1 – The New Boat and Top Water Tunas

Dawn on the Mississippi is entrancing. Icy river water meets piercing sun, which casts an eerily timeless fog across the harbor.  The ominous roar of tankers making their way up and down the tumultuous currents of the Mississippi reverberated through the dock-house as the crew made ready for departure.

0700 is an on-time start for the PO crew, whose customers wait with tremendous anticipation to begin their journey.  As a fitting start to our expedition, we had the privilege of joining Capt. Hunter aboard his brand new 41′ Fin Cat.

The boat is massive, commanding, and resembles a vehicle more fit for amphibious assault by Seal Team Two than a fishing vessel – but it’s performance is undeniable. It’s hard to appreciate just how enormous and perfectly designed this boat is until you experience it in person.

This is the successor to Hunter’s original Fin Cat – boasting a slightly larger control console and a few performance “enhancements” following lessons learned running the original blue boat more than four seasons.

We charged down the Mississippi through a frigid wash of mud stained water, chopped lilly pads, and logs – carried down river from the voluminous thaw of northern snow.  40 degree water temperature at 715 in the morning was a chilling reminder of the harsh winter that crushed most of the U.S the past few months. We passed a variety of tankers just arriving from an enduring ocean journey as we made our way to the pass – many of them casting a brilliant silhouette in the fresh dawn.

As the sun rose and gave way to warmth, we arrived to the mouth of the river and passed, unobstructed into moderately calm seas.

Our last several expeditions with the Paradise crew put us into steep chop which made navigation challenging on the 40 mile run to the floating deep water rigs. Thrilled at the concept of finally fishing in agreeable weather – our plan was simple.  Find giant tunas, and catch them on top water plugs.

One of Hunter’s shining accolades is his infallible ability to find fish when the odds are stacked against him. Day after day, after day, after day – Hunter finds the bite for his clients. You would be hard pressed to find another Captain as seasoned and well versed in the techniques of catching trophy fish in the seemingly bottomless Gulf of Mexico.  What’s most amazing about fishing in The Gulf is the staggering absurdity of the landscape.  40 miles out of the pass, towering in the distance are, for all intensive purposes, what look like space stations on the horizon. The presence of these super structures is visually overwhelming – a solemn reminder of the machines which power the world with petroleum. The contrast of bluewater against these titanic hulks of steel, aluminum, iron, and cable is unnerving as much as it is surreal. The bounty of life which thrives in the shadows and coils which descend from the rigs is nothing short of confounding.

We arrived to the rig under sunny skies, pleased to find bait swimming on the surface and tunas lurking below.  Marking yellowfins upon arrival to a rig, as clearly as Hunter’s Simrad’s do, instigates a cascade of emotions which can best be described as one part anxiety, one part pain, and one part melt your face off excitement. To know our quarry is just a few hundred feet below, actively prowling for food – well, that’s something which you need to feel to understand.

We began a broad side drift, slowly chunking our way across the North side of the rig with blackfin tuna for bait. As if on queue during our first drift of the expedition, the line snapped out of my hand, went tight for a split second, then slack.  I had missed it. The first bite of the trip, and I had missed it.  Defeat. A sensation which is familiar when tuna chunking.  A swift decisive transition from free spool to strike on the drag lever is mandatory in order to drive the circle hook home. It’s a technique which takes some practice – and after you miss the bite of what could be a legendary tuna – you repeat the process to yourself over, and over, and over again – until it becomes instinctive.  On the second set, we welcomed the first fish to the boat – a smaller specimen which earned a trip to the ice box after a quick, albeit stubborn fight, to the surface.

In quick succession, the bite begin to pick up – and a few more small tunas came to the boat. Scott landed our first keeper of the day, boating a nice 30lb fish fit for the dinner table. Into the ice with the fish and then, in one of those fleeting moments where time goes “slow mo” I saw what would ultimately become our destiny that day – an enormous bust. Disbelief, followed by mlld panic, as another bust gave way to a hulking fish hurling itself through the air.  My mind didn’t exactly process what I was seeing as a shower of ballyhoo exploded about 150 yards away, followed by an eruption of hundred pound tunas in hot pursuit.  Explosion, after explosion, after explosion.

Giant tunas began rocketing out of the water in an orchestrated blitz against panicked baitfish. All lines in, and we began our charge towards the school.  The busts were all around us – taunting us in a tantalizing display of aerial fury.

I heaved the plug off the bow and began ripping it across the surface.  Nothing.  More busts.  I heaved the plug again, digging deep into the surf casting roots of my Atlantic beach soul to maximize distance – the plug set down next to an eruption.  One more chug – and – boom!  Another fleeting moment that will remain forged in my mind as one of the single greatest tuna moments of my life – a hundred plus pound tuna exploded on the plug – knocking it high into the sky. The fish soared through air with it’s mouth open waiting for the plug to fall – but it didn’t.  Zero gravity. The force. I don’t know.  The yo-zuri just kept soaring through the air as the tuna crashed back into the water.  The plug plopped down a few seconds later. I was quivering with frustration, but still overjoyed.  A conundrum which is indescribable.  I heard the rattle of the plug as the tuna blasted it, but the razor sharp treble hooks did not find a home. The image of that fish exploding into the sky, it’s mouth agape in anticipation of a meal – my plug just out of reach – was painful, but truly and thoroughly sensational. The school leapt off into the distance. We pursued.

Apparently the real trick, when tunas are jumping in a synchronized assault on bait around an oil rig is to “match the hatch” and drag a rigged ballyhoo while waiting with a popper ready to throw. The school continued to bound in the distance – going away from us, then coming back.  A second shot was in store.  The tunas, now leaping 5 to 10 feet in the air, pounded their way back towards the boat as Hunter made a slow steady turn towards them – to head them off on their trajectory.  The busts grew closer, and closer – the stern rod got nailed and started screaming!  Scott hooked up – another bust – another – close enough to cast.  I heaved the plug viciously and landed it just 30 yards off the bow.  A slow steady draw on the plug gave way to another furious explosion – as if i was tied to a truck – the rod bent over sharp in my hands, then slack, then sharp, then slack, then…it sounded.  I’ve fought many, many powerful fish on jigging tackle, but this was an explosion of weight and fury unlike anything I have ever held in my hands. The plug was fixed in that tunas mouth and I have never felt a spinning reel rip that hard in my life.  The run would just not end and the braid poured off the Penn Clash with the power of a dozen amberjacks. Incredible.  What was likely a four minute run felt like a 1/2 hour by the time the fish quit diving and I was able to make headway.  Fighting a 60+lb yellowfin on a jig rod is no joke – it took all of my arms and most of my lower back to pull that fish to submission.  It was a fight which just would not end – give and take went on for about 25 minutes while Scott fought another impressive yellowfin at the stern. It was glorious to see that first top water tuna show color at the boat.  Rising up from the deep with his brilliant amber sides and razor defined sickles dragging in the current. The thud of the gaff in that fish wasn’t nearly as satisfying as the scream of the drag, but I suppose that’s because I knew the fight was over.  Not that I could have handled much more.  Despite weeks of physical training in preparation for the trip, my lower back was burning!

What a privilege to be one of the first people in the world to catch a top water yellowfin tuna on the Penn Clash!

As the excitement drew down aboard Hunter’s boat, the day still had much, much in store for us. The tunas continued to leap and bound their way across the surface – their distance shifting with every minute.  The constant eruption of fleeing ballyhoo and flying fish kept our adrenaline flowing as tunas continued to demonstrate their aerial capability. One after another, after another.  The surface blitz continued.  We went back to chunking, this time a bit farther out from the rig with a drift to intercept the tunas as they wandered to and from the shadow of the URSA. Now fervent in their dedication to follow suit in my top water spoils, Scott and Todd took turns throwing the popper as far as they could.  Each cast of that popper kept everyone fixated on the lure as we methodically drew out our lines to keep the chunks going.  Boom!  Again, another yellow exploded on the popper and began absolutely ripping straight down.

 This time Scott was on the rod and began drawing the fish up slowly.  Give and take went on for about 20 minutes before the fish reluctantly made its way to the surface.  Another incredible top water tuna!

The satisfaction is just unparalleled. The adrenaline soaked experience of witnessing the ferocity of a yellowfin tuna pound a top water popper is surpassed only by that first blistering run. Nothing can touch it.  Nothing.

We went on that day to boat three fish on top water plugs, the highlight being a group of 50 to 70lb tunas fighting each other for the popper as Scott ripped it across the surface. In a profound moment of absurdity, when the infallible Captain Hunter glanced up just in time to see a tuna leap out of the water just a few feet off the bow to engulf Scott’s popper – in mid air – he quipped a quick “oh s***!”.  That about summed it up.  It’s rare you get to hear a seasoned Captain get just as excited as us – this was truly a special occasion, when top water blitzing giant yellowfin tunas decided to cooperate – and our tackle held up.

Day 2 – Exploring New Ground and a Deep Water Surprise

I was thrilled at the opportunity to spend a day exploring new territory with Capt. Hunter on the second day of our expedition. As a full-time charter Captain, it’s rare to find an opportunity when you can break away from the routine and test out new techniques, new numbers, and new equipment.  Particularly in Venice, LA, when customers pay big dollars to go out for tuna, it’s a rare opportunity to go fun fishing.  Having a day on the water with Hunter to catch up and test out some deep dropping territory was a refreshing change of pace for all of us.

The ride out in the morning put us in extremely heavy fog, which cast an opaque steam drenched glow across the marshes as we pushed through the west pass.

We started our second day working some of the pumping stations for wahoo in the morning, but only managed one specimen.

For us, it was an awesome occasion, as any wahoo would be considered a day maker in Miami, Fl!  In Venice, LA – not so much. Venice, LA is home to some of the best wahoo fishing in the world – producing fish up to 80lbs on a regular basis.  As Hunter explained, wahoo trolling can be very hit or miss, as the fish will often stack up on the rigs and slam baits as they come by.  They’re either there and feeding – or they’re not. What’s amazing to me is that wahoo’s here on the south east Florida cost rarely touch giant trolling rapalas, but in The Gulf – they slam the hec out of them. The other major consideration for catching wahoo down here in Miami, FL is water clarity – it’s a rare occasion to find a wahoo in anything other than bluewater.  In The Gulf, however, the muddy river water layers on top of blue water- creating a divide in water clarity with muck on top and clear water just below.  These conditions are typically ideal for wahoo trolling around the pumping stations, but it just wasn’t in the cards for us.  We made a variety of passes from different angles, changed out lures, tried different speeds, but we just couldn’t get a bite.   Feeling lucky, Hunter took us to the rig where the state record wahoo had been caught just a few years earlier – the structure was brilliantly commanding in the blue water and certainly looked like prime ground for wahoo.

We made a few passes and marked absolutely nothing.  Not even bait! Without a wahoo to be seen anywhere in the area, we made or way our to the deep dropping grounds to began our search for tile fish, yellow edge grouper, and who knows what else.  There are a few boats in Venice, LA which excel at bottom fishing, and Hunter had an itching suspicion he knew where those spots might be.  Deep dropping on “the west side” can be very difficult, as there’s such a tremendous volume of area where fish could reside. Our search began on bathyometric charts for territory which resembled some of the better deep dropping ground we cover here in the Atlantic.  We found a few areas which looked prime – resembling walls and bottom that’s been productive for us in the Caribbean.  We made a few drops using the new Hooker Electric and pulled a few nice bites, but didn’t manage any deep water specimens to the boat. The territory we fished looked legit, but again, it just wasn’t in the cards for us to be deep drop hero’s.  Before we wrapped it up for day two of the expedition, we made our way to an area which looked very close to some of the ridges we’ve fished for swordfish throughout the Florida Keys.

Deep, sharp ridges on “the west side” looked ideal for swordfish – so we rigged up with a Stanczyk swordfish wind-on, prepared a strip bait, and began working the bottom.  With daylight burning fast, we worked a drop off which looked to be the steepest structure in the area.  Slowly bounding down the wall, we saw a slight bend in the rod, but nothing which suggested a true swordfish “whack”.  We waited to see if the fish would come back – and sure enough, the rod dipped just slightly again.  Suspicious, we came tight and there was a bit of weight!  I was thinking small sword or some other random bottom fish, but we hauled up regardless.  By the time we hit the leader, there was definitely a consistent wiggle and drag on the line – and wouldn’t you know it – there was a fish!  Not a swordfish, but a truly odd deep water specimen – an Escolar!

This giant nasty creature had literally engulfed our bait in one bite and was deep hooked. After a few pics, we packed it up and headed in to enjoy a wahoo dinner and a few cautious bites of the oceans “most palatable” deep water fish.

Day 3 – Legacy tuna fishing with Capt. Scott Leger

The story of Paradise Outfitters actually begins in the late 90’s when Scott Avanzino started the operation in the emerging town of Venice, LA.  Largely unknown to the global sport fishing community, a few pioneers began experimenting with, and succeeding at catching giant yellowfin tunas, marlin, wahoo, mako sharks, red snappers, groupers, triple tails…well, pretty much everything that swims. Oil rig fishing in the gulf of mexico, almost two decades ago, was something few anglers had ever experienced.  Today, the small muddy town of Venice, LA is now legendary – hailed as the port of choice for big game anglers who desire to test their might against the toughest predators the ocean has to offer.

In the early days, Scott Avanzino was the most successful of the pioneer fishermen out of Venice. You may have read about him in the countless magazines and news paper articles that were published at the time.  You may also have encountered a photo which featured him or one of his customers with legendary catches. But, as with most impressively bold endeavors, Avanzino was by no means alone in this venture to solidify Paradise Outfitters as the leading crew of Venice, Louisiana sport fishermen.  Avanzino was in some ways inadvertently, and in some ways purposefully, training the next generation of elite sport fishermen – two of those truly time tested and incredible crew members – were Scott Leger and Hunter Caballero.

I’d met Scott Leger previously during our expeditions to Venice, but never had the privilege of fishing with him. I regret that!  I’ve fished with many anglers, captains, and mates around the world, but few of them are as humble and genuinely amiable as Leger.  A Louisiana native and salt-of-the-earth hard working individual, Leger has been on the Paradise Outfitters crew since the beginning. As a mate, he has boated countless trophy tunas, wahoos, makos, and the like.  As a Captain, he has guided thousands of customers to catches which are legendary.  As an angler, he holds the Gulf of Mexico and State of Louisiana record for Big Eye tuna – a staggering 240lb 3 oz specimen he boated with none other than Hunter Caballero. Leger’s tuna fishing experience is second to none.  He is also one of the most loyal, honest, and dedicated sportfishermen you will ever meet.

By the third day of our expedition, the rumor was that most of the larger tunas at the rigs were only feeding on live pogies and that chunk baits just weren’t cutting it. Chasing bait on the delta is a difficult endeavor, and as Leger put it, keeping a secret in Venice is impossible. Word spread quick of a small area on the west side that held bait, making it a mad dash first thing in the morning to find the coveted baitfish before anyone else. That third morning we departed the dock into some of the heaviest fog i’ve experienced on the water.  Without radar, the trip out of the west pass would have been impossible.  We encountered several eerie scenes of shrimp boats nestled in the grass and blind turns which barely held the beam of the original 41′ Fin Cat that Leger operates for Paradise Outfitters. We were rigged for anything, from tuna to wahoo.

Clearing the west pass put us out into the muddy shores of the gulf in search of pelicans, which we stalked for almost two hours before finding a few that seemed to share where the pogies were hiding.

Taking turns heaving heavy cast nets, we must have thrown a dozen times in order to round up a few dozen pogies.  The bait was there, and thick, but just seemed to scatter before our nets made their way to them.  With daylight burning, we charged back out to the rig where the tunas had been leaping out of the water the day before. The run from the Mouth of the Mississippi to the floating rigs is not a short one, which afforded me the perfect opportunity to learn more about the legacy of sport fishing in Venice, LA as well as Leger’s personal experience with how the industry changed over time. What I found most intriguing during our conversation was how he described the change in tactics.  The techniques they used to catch tunas a decade ago would hardly find a place in today’s environment.  Did the fish get smarter? Are they responding to pressure? Have the feeding habits changed?  It sounds that way.  Leger painted a picture of an untamed wilderness, specifically recalling how fishing the midnight lump once relied on the use of a heavy mono leader, giant circle hook, and dead pogie spiraling in the current.  While chunking is still effective today, fluorocarbon and small 6/0 3X strong circle hooks are the mainstay of the fleet. A spiraling dead pogie with a huge hook engorged in its head is laughable by modern standards, but worked flawlessly back then. Kite’s, for example, rarely find their way to the sky as the need to float rubber flying fish out on a line just isn’t there. The changes in tactics that Leger described echoed some of the changes i’ve experienced here in Miami, FL.  For one, the bait has become increasingly more difficult to acquire.  Secondly, most of the wrecks and reefs we fish today are covered up in boats, whereas a decade ago, I hardly recall seeing another vessel in sight of me when fishing down south.  I suppose that’s how it goes and change is the only constant we can depend on in this rebounded and moderately shell shocked economy, but I found it striking that even in one of the most up and coming sport fishing destinations in the world – a veteran noticed their way of life changing around him.  Leger asserts that the fishing in Venice, LA is actually better than he ever remembers – citing the shear volume of giant tunas he’s caught, and seen caught, in the last two years. I’m inclined to agree with him, but then again, i’m just a guest in their daily routine of catching oversized tunas that fight like freight trains.

We concluded our 45 mile run with an arrival to one of the most odd ships i’ve personally encountered.  While drilling ships may be common in the Gulf of Mexico, i’d never seen one up close and personal.  The “Noble Bully”, as it read across it’s stearn, is massive and has been in place for quite some time.  Drilling ships provide the same structure and protection for baitfish as the floating rigs, which makes them prime targets for tuna fishermen.  Arriving to the ship as helicopters circled about, taking tandem turns landing and leaving, we deployed our spread – two live pogies hooked through the bottom lip – essentially freelined.  We marked fish deep around the ship, but they just wouldn’t come up to bite the slimy wiggling pogies, free drifting in 5000 feet of water.  We hauled up and made the run to another drill ship which was just to the North of the URSA, where we had witnessed the giant tuna jumping bonanza on the first day of our expedition. We lined up at the front of the ship and deployed our first round of chunks to no avail.  We circled around again and made a second drift. Sometimes, chunking can get monotonous.  You want that bite so bad, and every pull could be the one, but your mind begins to play tricks on you. You wait, and each gentle drag of the current sends your heart racing.  It’s a game of managing anxiety while staying perfectly prepared for that single instance when you must swiftly thrust the drag lever to strike, or risk losing what could be a trophy tuna.  There’s just no way to know what might grab your chunk.

By our fourth bite-less drift, i’ll admit I felt worried.  Not that we were doing anything wrong, but i’m used to fish shutting down on us.  It happens in Miami, FL all the time.  Whether it’s the current, the bait, the moon, the water temperature, or any other myriad of factors – fish can just “turn off” and there’s nothing you can do about it.  The rumors of the bite shutting down were fluttering in my mind, but in an instant, it all changed – the line ripped out of my hands and instinctually (hey, I was impressed it actually happened like that), my right hand nudged the drag lever to strike and the fish began ripping. Hooked up! I moved the rod to the belt and was pleased to find an angry tuna jockeying against me.  Just a few minutes into the fight – Todd comes tight too!  Adjacent to me on the gunnel, his fish is acting a bit funny.  He wasn’t sure whether it was a small fish, or if he was tangled in my line. We frantically began to “unwrap” the line crossing before it cost us what felt like a decent fish.  As I worked the fish up from the depths, without much relief from heavy pressure, it became apparent that this fish had made the terrible mistake of ingesting two baits with hooks!  This tuna was double hooked between myself and Todd – after a few more minutes, the fish was in the boat – with two circle hooks vested in the corner of its mouth.  A fitting end to a gluttonous tuna!

After working hard to get the bite at the drilling ship, and with time winding down on the third day of our expedition, we made the run South to the URSA – leaving the drilling ship behind for other Captains to work. We arrived and began immediately marking fish – chunks out but no bites.  One of the amazing skill sets of the Paradise Outfitters crew is to understand where to position the boat in order to draw a strike.  After our first drift not producing any fish, Leger moved us closer to the rig on the north side, drifting with the current, slowly to the south.  As if on queue during the next drift – my rod loads up and the drag on the 50W tiagra starts screaming.  It’s a BIG fish. Ripping drag on the 50 for 30 seconds – I call for the harness and strap in.  The fight is on and the fish is HEAVY.

When you’re tired, as you should be after several days of tuna fishing in Venice, LA, big fish feel even bigger – but there was no doubt in my mind.  This was a serious tuna.  Each gain led to another pull.  I would bring in 10 yards, the fish would take 15.

This tug of war went on for about 25 minutes before the fish finally showed some color – big sickles, a mean head, and a furious head beat which signified it was getting tired.  Watching the fish go broad side to me, just 100 feet down, burned the image of that tuna into my mind.  I began to recall the moment I first saw the 145lbr I caught with Hunter the previous Fall – a furious tuna pulling with all of its primordial strength to return home – to the depths.  My legs were straining from sitting down on the fish in the harness, but my arms and back were fine.  Being careful not to apply too much drag, I lifted the fish and was able to put prime pressure just as he went weak. Up pops the beast and Leger is there with a swift gaff shot to the head.  Done. Up and THUD on the deck he goes.  A prime ~ 70lb yellowfin.

We were ecstatic – not because we had the fish in the boat, but because we knew there were more coming.

We iced down the fish and circled right back around to the corner.  Chunks out – this time – Scott gets nailed and the fight is on!  Another bruiser fish ripping line into the deep.  Leger had them dialed, and we knew it was about to get epic.

Scott Virgin has caught many incredible fish through the years and i’ve been fortunate to be with him for many of those occasions.  Never in my life had I seen him as ecstatic as he was on this occasion.  The tuna would rip line, and Scott would smile like he just won the lottery.  The tuna would dog him, and Scott would laugh. It’s a humbling feeling to watch an angler who is so lost in the moment that everything else fades away and nothing else matters.  That’s what big game fishing is all about, particularly tuna fishing on the Oil rigs.  Leger gets it.  Caballero gets it.  It’s a feeling of freedom.  A fleeting feeling that your heart and mind remember, but your body forgets, until you feel the weight of the fish and hear the scream of the drag. Unstoppable.

Scott’s fish was a beauty – a magnificent specimen which captured the conclusion of our expedition in full glory. Giant yellowfin tuna fishing in Venice, LA is not for the mentally or physically unprepared.  It is a privilege.  An experience which slowly evolves into an addiction.  The crew of Paradise Outfitters is addicted – they do this not because they have to, but because they want to.  Because every morning, they still love it.  They still give everything they have to give to share the remarkable experience of big game fishing with those who seek the ultimate sport fishing thrill. There are few places in the world you can travel where the contrast between humanity and nature is as profound as the super structures towering above the endless ocean – harboring both predators, and prey.

How do I even tell this story? In many respects, I can’t.  No matter what i’ve written here – my memory is so overwhelmed with the details of the expedition that to capture all of it is just impossible. The experience of fishing with the Paradise Outfitters crew is indescribably amazing.  If you sit back and imagine the perfect fishing charter operation – it would be difficult to imagine anything other than this. But it’s not just about the business, or the fishing.  It’s not just about the enchanting moments of flying through the fog in the baddest boats on the planet, the chill of the marsh air against your face as you charge towards the most unbelievable fishing in the gulf of mexico.  It’s about something greater.  That feeling of holding a rod while a monster yellowfin grabs your popper off the surface just yards from the boat.  That feeling of watching your friends catch their fish of a lifetime.  That feeling of knowing that it’s not over – that even if this expedition comes to an end – that’ we’ll get to come back. This journey into the heart of the Gulf of Mexico is just one episode – one taste of the life Paradise Outfitters lives every day.  We are privileged to have joined them, again – Hunter, Scott, and the rest of the crew – to experience their way of life, their legacy.

No one wants to admit it, but the truth is that September and October are transition months for fishing down here in Miami, FL. Some days, it feels like there’s just no fish in the ocean.While the fishing in Miami, FL is great year round compared to almost everywhere else in the U.S, September and October are typically the slowest months for offshore fishing due to a myriad of environmental factors beyond our control. In order to keep the rods bent this fall while you wait in anticipation of the upcoming sailfish season, try these four fall fishing tips!

Push Farther Offshore
 While the fall is not considered the hottest time of the year for targeting mahi-mahi, there are still good numbers of schoolies offshore. These keeper “schoolie” sized mahi’s make for excellent table fare and if you put in the time to locate them, you can still catch upwards of 20 in a day. The trick is to make your way farther offshore than you would during the spring and early summer months. As the weather heats up, these fish tend to move out deeper and search for bait under grass lines. It’s also common this time of year to see large flocks of frigates and birds chasing schools of jacks; typically mahi-mahi will follow the schools in tandem with skipjack and blackfins.The best bet is to cruise offshore slowly – not trolling – looking for birds or debris. We typically ride out to 1200 ft and stop along the way if we find birds or grass – then begin trolling to locate fish. Some of the most common places to find fish in the fall months includes the “double zeros” and anywhere between the 55 and 57 line. Those numbers refer to coordinates on your GPS – put in a bit of research and you’ll get the hang of the locations most charter boats start their hunt for schoolies. It’s rare that you would need to push out deeper than 2000ft while looking for mahi in the fall months – concentrate your efforts between 1000ft and 1600ft and you’ll likely find a few fish. It’s crucial to find grass, birds, or floatsam – trolling aimlessly in deep water may produce a bite occasionally, but you’ll enjoy catching more fish if you have a gameplan.

Don’t neglect the deep drop

This can be a day saver more often than not. Vermilion snapper, queen snapper, tilefish, and various deepwater species can be found off the coast of Miami, FL in depths from 300ft to 700 ft. The key is to find the right bottom where your target deep water species resides. Vermillion snappers typically live in depths of 250 to 500 ft, but seldom deeper. Tilefish typically live in depths of 500 to 700 ft, but usually on soft bottom. Learn as much as you can about each species before you target them – there’s plenty of general knowledge out there which will give you a head start in working the appropriate areas for each fish. While deep dropping may not be the most glorious kind of fishing we get to enjoy in Miami, FL – when the edge is not producing and the dolphin start to disappear offshore, deep water fish can provide steady action.

Mind the mid-waters

Flat lining and mid-water live baiting can produce a steady bite if current around the edge is consistent. A mix of bonitas, barracudas, and kingfish tend to dominate the water column between 100′ and 150′ during September and October – while not glorious fishing by any means, they can provide steady action. The trick is to fish the entire water column without tangling your live baits – this is typically best accomplished by drifting broad side while using a series of progressive weights (1.5oz, 2oz, 3oz) to suspend baits at various depths. We typically put out out a bottom rod, followed by baits at ~ 70ft, 50ft, and 30ft with a flat line on the surface. Once we start getting bites at a specific depth – we’ll adjust our baits to that range and work it thoroughly. This technique works particularly well when fishing in the vicinity of the country wrecks – anywhere from Key Biscayne north to the Boil.

Raid the Reefs
We tend to get caught up in offshore fishing because you never know what you might catch when fishing deep water. In the fall months, when the offshore bite really slows down, the reefs from Fowey Rocks south to Key Largo tend to be very productive. Fishing deep water reefs in the range of 80′ to 110′ can produce mutton snappers, yellowtails, gag or black groupers, and the the occasional amberjack. The key is to find good current and bottom structure with substantial relief. The more rocky and jagged the bottom, the better. Spend the time slow trolling over reef lines until you locate structure that is very pronounced – then anchor up into the current and start fishing. Move around regularly to try different areas unless you’ve found some terrain which really seems to hold alot of life. Keep a chum slick going at the surface while working the bottom with knocker rigs and finder rigs. Use a mix of live bait, cut bait, and even jigs to see what’s in the area. Between September and early November, the bite tends to get pretty good off the ragged keys all the way down to Ceasar’s creek – put in the time to find solid reef structure and you’ll reap the rewards.

It’s that time of year when the summer doldrums begin and the surface bite shuts down.  What better time to get serious about bottom fishing and start putting more big groupers in the boat! Grouper fishing in Miami is one of those satisfying endeavors which takes a bit of time to perfect, but once you’ve got these stubborn (and delicious) reef critters in check, you’ll enjoy constant success and plenty of fresh fish dinners. We’ve experimented with a variety of grouper fishing techniques all over the world but always find ourselves falling back to these five surefire grouper fishing techniques which are tried and true.  If you’re looking to step up your grouper fishing game, then this article is for you.

Find Habitat That Holds Fish

It’s no mystery that groupers love rocky structure in deep water.  Grouper are part of the Mycteroperca family, which means these bottom dwelling predators enjoy anatomical features which are perfectly suited for strength and endurance in a fight to the finish. Groupers make their home under coral ledges, within rock piles, and particularly wreckage fro sunken ships and debris.  They are ambush predators, which means they remain mostly concealed until they are ready to engulf their prey. Finding structure where grouper’s hide is somewhat straightforward, but it does require a specialized eye to identify areas that are fishable.  Drifting for groupers can be effective, but your best bet is to find an area with very rocky bottom, or anchor just off a ledge, then work the area meticulously. Groupers abound in jagged structure which holds baitfish – so if you’re marking fish on the bottom (i.e. lots of bait), it’s likely there will be some larger predators in the area.  Groupers rarely pass up pinfish, blue runners, goggle eyes, pilchards, and cigar minnows – but the trick is to make sure you can present the bait without getting fouled in the bottom structure.

When you’re looking for bottom structure that is suitable for grouper fishing, keep an eye out for sharp ledges or overhangs and rock piles.  Fishing shipwrecks can be very effective, but there’s more opportunity to lose the fish on rusty jagged steel. Rockpiles and coral ledges are ideal habitat and grounds of that nature are widely available in the Miami area. Most of the reef structure south of Fowey Rocks is excellent terrain to target fish.  Focus your grouper fishing efforts between 100 and 150 feet over rocky or coral laden bottom and you’ll stand a better chance at connecting with a decent Gag or Black grouper.  While keeper size groupers can be caught in the finger channels of Biscayne Bay, groupers are more abundant in deep water where there’s less pressure.

Gear up properly for Groupers

While i was diving on a wreck in 110′ the other day, I came across a big dead black grouper that was half buried in a hole.  He hadn’t been dead very long,as he still had color and none of the other reef critters had come to feast on him.  I was intrigued by the giant fish half poking out of the hole, stiff as a board, and pulled him out of the wreckage for a closer inspection.  Sure enough, he had a big circle hook in the corner of his mouth and a 2′ piece of approximately 50lb leader trailing off.  This was one fish that died in battle, but not before he could pull some under-gunned angler’s rig into the wreckage. It was yet another real world reminder that you have to gear up properly for grouper fishing in Miami, FL.

There are several rigs which work well for groupers – most commonly a finder, knocker, or tri-swivel based bottom rig will do the job.  It’s important to fish at least 60lb braid with nothing less than an 80lb leader.  While you can get away with 60lb flourocarbon, it’s better to be over-prepared than under prepared when it comes to hoisting groupers off the bottom before they can reach structure. Groupers instinctively make a dive for cover upon being hooked, which means you need to use gear that can effectively prevent the fish from running away while not breaking the line.  While this dictates the use of heavy main line, leader, and stout hooks that won’t straighten out under pressure (typically 3X strong circle hooks in 7/0 or bigger) – the reel and rod is what will give you the upper hand.  You need massive stopping power when it comes to catching big groupers – a drag which can prevent a fish from running into cover can save the day.  Make sure you invest in high quality conventional reels in order to maximize drag power.  As far as a rod is concerned, you need a blank which is stout and durable – designed specifically for 30 to 50lb class fishing if not heavier.  Don’t go overboard here and show up with a tuna stick, but make sure you select a rod which is built specifically to battle groupers and lift them clear of structure which can cut line in a split second.

Why pole when you can troll?

Grouper trolling has become exceptionally popular in Miami. It’s a relatively easy tactic to catch decent size Gag groupers on shallower patch reefs.  A standard 50lb trolling outfit will do the job.  Make sure you’re using a strong shock leader of approximately 25′ connected by crimps to 100lb ball bearing swivels (use the same outfit you would use when trolling for bull dolphin offshore). Some of the most popular lures for grouper trolling in Miami, FL include Mann’s stretch 20’s, Rapala Magnums, and Yo-Zuri’s in pretty much the largest size available.

It’s best to use one rod when trolling for grouper, unless you’re feeling somewhat adventerous and are confident you can keep the plugs far enough apart as to avoid snagging and wrapping up the lines.  We typically troll between 20′ and 30′ of water along the patch reefs, working the sand immediately next to the reefs/rocks which are widely scattered from Fowey Rocks south.  Many charter boats enjoy decent success trolling for grouper off Key Biscayne, and will often work their way from Government cut south to Fowey before doubling back.  The best practice here is to make sure your lure is just grazing the bottom – the lure should swim as close to the sand as possible, bumping the bottom occasionally but not getting thoroughly hung up.  If you snag the bottom occasionally, you’re doing it right.  If you’re tolling on the sand, there’s really nothing to snag – if you’re trolling too close to the rocks, it’s likely you’ll lose your lure. Grouper have excellent vision and are pretty quick to dart out and grab a plug – if you’re within 15 feet of the rocks, you’re in the right range.  Make sure to cover as much area as you can, typically trolling at 5 to 7 knots the entire time.  There’s no mistaking a grouper bite on the troll as they eat aggressively – keep the boat in gear to make sure the fish is clear of the structure then fight as you normally would.

Grouper trolling is an excellent alternative to bottom fishing for grouper if the current is slow and the reef bite just doesn’t seem to be happening.  While it’s a bit more expensive to leverage this tactic due to fuel costs, it can certainly help to catch multiple fish in a day by covering lots of ground.

Bait and Switch

Using live bait for grouper is a given.  While you can catch them on dead baits like ballyhoo or sardines, there’s just no substitute for a panicking injured baitfish.  If we’re targeting groupers specifically on a trip, we will bring a selection of baits to make sure we can offer a wide menu.  We find that pinfish, goggle eyes, and big pilchards work best for grouper in the summer months, but grunts and blue runners are a close second. Bridling bottom baits is a must as groupers tend to engulf their prey rather than bite it.  A bridled bait will set much more effectively in the mouth of a big fish and there’s less chance of the hook tearing out of the bait upon impact.

If you’re anchored up on an area and the grouper bite is consistent, you might consider tossing a few chunks into the water to get fish fired up while vertical jigging.  Cut baits settling to the bottom will bring groupers out of their hiding spots and can put them in proximity to your live baits. Chunking also brings all kinds of other species into the fold, which can be an added bonus. While chunking, we’ve been known to drop a vertical jig and work the bottom with great success. Vertical jigs are excellent for grouper if you’re anchored, as the appearance of the jig bouncing a few feet off the bottom then fluttering back down provides an excellent presentation.  Don’t hesitate to switch up the baits you’re using while fishing for grouper in a specific area (i.e. at anchor) – use frisky live baits as much as possible but switch it up to jigs tipped with dead bait every once in a while.  You might just be surprised at the results.

Don’t Discount the Drag

This is the one mistake that most grouper fishermen make.  Using heavy drag means more pressure on you, but it’s necessary to prevent fish from diving into the bottom structure.  Most of the serious groper fishermen I know fish heavy tackle with locked down drags – preventing fish from gaining even an inch.  Often they will drop baits to the bottom and keep the line completely slack so they can feel the bite, then wind tight and hold on with all their might. That first engagement in battle with a grouper is punishing, but you only have a few seconds to get them clear of the bottom structure or you will lose the fish.  If you’re fishing heavy gear, you don’t have to worry about breaking the line – only pulling the hook.  If you’re using circle hooks, it’s very unlikely the hook will pull.  Your best bet is to fish with a locked down or almost locked down drag – putting maximum pressure on the fish at all times.  If you can get a grouper clear of the bottom, your chance of landing the fish is much much stronger. Take a “no mercy” approach when it comes to applying drag pressure for groupers – just make sure your tackle can withstand the stress of the bite and fight.