Trolling success!

Look at this fish!  It's a 30 inch mahi mahi, caught at approximately 620 feet depth.

Saturday morning we were up early and left the house at 8am on the dot and headed straight South.  At about 200 feet we set up our trolling rigs and headed (still South) until we were at 500 feet.  We had heard that the mahi mahi were at the 600 mark so while we had planned on staying at 500 we decided to push on until 600.

At that point we started trolling (at about 6.25mph) in East and West directions i.e. a straight line East for about 30 minutes and then turn and head West.  

We had two rods out - one with fake lure and the other with ballyhoo bait and hook.  Patrick first saw action on the ballyhoo line and pulled it in fast.  He disappointingly announced we had had a hit and the bait fish was bitten in half. A split second later he yelled, we have a fish, we have a fish - on the other rod. He started reeling in fast, keeping tension. I started easing down the speed on the boat - also keeping the tension. Then the last moment while pulling that beautiful fish on to the boat needs to be handled very carefully (and quickly) - these fish are strong and muscly, and jumpy!  They can jump themselves off the hook if they want to and you will lose them.  It has happened to us before!!! And it's killer.  But this one was not getting away.  Pics below 

Weekend summary a.k.a what I ate

Came home from work on Friday night to a fine feast of Stone Crab Claws and Prosecco.

Took last half glass of prosecco and sat out front of our house on adirondack chairs.  Admired the radiant evening sky.  As my friend Alice said, "like it was designed by Lilly Pulitzer".

On Saturday we went to one of our favourite early lunch spots - Colez Peace Bakery - and split one their lovely sandwiches made with their baked bread.

That afternoon we headed out on the boat to get gas and check the crab traps.  After the hard work of the traps we drifted around on the ocean and had a little drink - me a mixed drink (vodka & diet coke) and Patrick a cold Pacifico beer.  On our cycle home we stopped off at the local VFW and split a burger - blue cheese mmm!  And fries with vinegar!  What a (naughty but nice) treat.

On Sunday we got up early and were on the water by 8am.  Happy that we got gas yesterday we headed to a new spot and it was HOT!  See separate blog post about our adventures there.  

That evening we celebrated the fishing success with an Oysterfest at Alonzo's. Oysters on the Half Shell, Baked Oysters and Battered Fish Bites. I paid because I lost a bet with Patrick 🤣🤣 and the wager was a Happy Hour. 

Boat life

I had to go into work for a few hours today on the weekend.  I thought I would be in and out, but (won't bore you with the details) because of technology issues that affected a guest, ending up having to stay longer.  This was along with having to go in yesterday too, to take care of a few things in the office.

So when I came out today and got on my bike my mind slightly felt down and I was reminded of times back in Dublin when I would have also worked on Saturday's and Sunday's.  But as I cycled along Eaton Street, up Palm Avenue, and stopped at the top of the hill overlooking Garrison Bight it reminded me just how different my life is now. A flavour of my weekend (in between the stints of work) is below.

On Saturday we went out for a wonderful fishing trip, further than we had ever gone before.  Patrick went out with his friend recently who showed him this spot and how to use his Garmin to get there.  And he did it!  It was very exciting to be so far away from land and in an area I had not fished before.  Between us we caught two nice porgy and Patrick landed a BIG plump lane snapper.  And I hooked a starfish!!!!  Pulled up my line and there was a beautiful starfish hanging like a christmas tree decoration.  This photo was an attempt to capture it but instead it caught the moment it fell off my hook....if you look really closely you can see one of it's arms in the bottom left hand side of the photo! My face shows my feelings about not getting the photo lol.

And guess what we are for dinner that night instead of take out?! Fresh fish!!!!

 

Then today, the weather was SO BAD this morning that really it was an unexpected bonus that we got out this afternoon.  I cycled in to work, stayed for the few hours and then headed to the yacht club where I met Patrick.  We zipped out to the crab traps and pulled up this haul of 7 good size stone crab claws.  Delighted!

This is our docking spot.  Note the hose pipe connected to the engine.  We are flushing it out with freshwater to get rid the salty sea water and clean out any dirt etc.  It was really nice in the yacht club and we took our time hosing and scrubbing the boat and with the engine flushing.  Case in point: see how relaxed and smiley Patrick looks :)

 Long story short, let that be the last negative thought to go through my head for some time yet!

Fish on! Part ????

After our lovely road trip, I guess we just weren't quite tired enough so decided to push the boat out (d'ya geddit) and nip out for a few hours before sunset.  We always do that!!! Push and push, and by the end of the weekend are completely exhausted.  Ah sure, look, isn't life for living?!

For our efforts I was rewarded with THIS.  A fabulous big grouper, which was unfortunately not big enough!!!! He had to be thrown back in sob, sob, sniffle sniffle.  But wonderful sport bringing him in.  I was delighted with the catch.

Instead of dining on grouper we caught a few lane snapper which Patrick fileted and made into a fish curry - using a lovely marinade that we bought at the farmer's market on Thursday.  We both really liked it. This is going to become a regular: fileting the fish versus eating a whole fish.

I feel really lucky that we both share a hobby/love for fishing.  And eating the catch!

 

She hooks 'em, he cooks them!

 

A great day out on the sea yesterday and then a great evening sharing our catch with Jean and Joe!

Water activities!

 Weather has been good lately and accordingly, we've been getting out on the water a fair bit.

Thursday: we went out with G on his boat after work.  

It was just fabulous out there!

Patrick caught two lane snapper (one quite big one) and I caught two also.  

Cooked up two for a lovely Saturday evening dinner!

Delicious!

Friday: After work, we zipped out to check the crab traps.  We caught 4 ok ones for our freezer stockpile.  And had a lovely dinner on the water of sushi and prosecco.  No photos! But I think you can imagine how nice that was, right!.  

Sunday: We got up nice and early and were on the water at 8am.  Fish onnn!

Another 4 again, caught between us.  I got a decent size Lane snapper (one inch below Patrick's Thursday catch) and a nice porgy.  Patrick caught two lane (similar size to the one above).

Monday (today): Lovely dinner ahead of us of fresh grilled fish (Lane and Porgy)

Have a great Monday, dear reader

Yellow tail snapper

 Fun times in the little baby boat continue, with plenty of fishing and crabbing ahoy!

We had a great day at the weekend where, amongst plenty of others, Patrick landed this sweet 14 inch yellowtail snapper.

Seasoned with olive oil, garlic, lemon and rosemary and fried up on the barbecue made for a lovely dinner.

Porgy on the left (known as seabream in Ireland) and that wonderful yellowtail on the right!

The F word

Let's talk about fishing!  Because, let me tell you, it seems to be all we talk about at home these days, all we text our friends about, and all I seem to look at on my phone - fishing and fish apps.

At the weekend we were out with friend's on their lovely boat and it was great!  Not necessarily the best haul...but as they say "a bad day's fishing beats any day in the office".  Plus also, it is just so lovely fishing for the afternoon and then fishing as the sun sets.  Key West gets simply the most beautiful sunsets...there is a reason people have been hanging out at Mallory Square and honouring the sun for decades.

And then this evening, straight after work instead of going home, I nipped on my bike and headed to White Street Pier for a sneaky little fish before sunset.  It was a nice reminder of why we moved here and how lovely it is to live on an island.

I met a friend lol!

Sunday fishing!

So initially, this blog post looked like it was shaping up to be a bit of a whinge about how I didn't catch many fish yesterday.  But the more I think about it...yesterday, was a great day.

We both had a wonderful night's sleep waking up without the alarm at 8am on the button.  Perfect timimg for some breakfast and relaxing before things turned more frenetic as we got ready and headed for the boat.

I went on ahead over to Garrison Bight, while Patrick went and picked up some sandwiches for the day.  Cuban sandwiches...which might be only be the best sandwich in the whole world?  That is of course, in my humble opinion as an Irish person. It has to be said there is a bigger sandwich "market" and "range" of bread and meat and topping and sauce combos over here than anything I am used to from home. (Although! Of course, nothing is better than that Christmas night and St Stephen's night sandwich of fresh Brennan's bread, turkey, stuffing, and ham, right?!)

The weather was perfect, conditions just right...Thankfully.  It meant no queasiness this time round...for either of us.

So! Confession time.  It was a pretty lousy day for me, from a catching perspective.  But it's crazy.  Fishing is a bit like gambling in my opinion.  The good days get you back for more. And the bad days get you back too - the lure of the Big One in both cases.

And on the subject of Big One!

Patrick caught this grouper!!! 20 inches, 4lbs, how about that!

Fishing - White Street Pier

Am back fishing during the week on White Street Pier.  Plenty of nibbles but no catches - YET!

What I like about fishing off the pier is that we are using different kinds of rods and reels from those on the boat.  We are also using spoons and lures rather than live bait.  Totally different, the main difference being that you have to cast your hook/line as compared to simply dropping the line when you are bottom fishing from a boat. It is very enjoyable learning how to cast.  

And! You are always doing something; casting out, reeling in, and repeat.  So while I am not catching anything (AT THE MOMENT) it feels like an active exercise as compared to sitting there passively waiting.

Did I mention the sunsets down at the pier? Glorious.