That brings me to my next rant, which will be part of theme of Mac’s next and adventure.
I’ve grown tired of fishing for dolphin. They are incredibly fun to catch, and not bad table fare, but they’ve lost their luster for me. Part of it was catching the snowy grouper last summer that relegate the previously top-shelf dolphin meat to fish dip. Part of it is my growth as a fisherman, and part of it is the change in migration patterns of the fish themselves.
What I’ve come to believe is that dolphin are a beginners fish. There are three parts to fishing: finding the fish, getting them to take your bait, and landing them. With dolphin, the first two are random and easy.
Finding dolphin requires finding structure. Either weed lines, debris on the surface, or working birds. You can catch them blind trolling, but the odds are in your favor if you run and gun (actively seek the above.) With REC-90 (ethanol free marine gas) running close to six dollars a gallon at gas stations and a close to eight at marinas, the run and gun option get expensive. On a typical day using this strategy a boat could be expected to cover almost a hundred miles of water. For many boats, especially offshore models, the fuel consumption is about a gallon a mile. Six hundred dollars in fuel plus bait, ice, beer, and food could easily turn into a thousand dollar day.
So, now we’ve found the fish. Next is getting them to eat. Dolphin are the fastest growing fish in the ocean, and are voracious eaters. They’ll prefer one bait to another, but they’ll eat damned near anything. Where some fish require a perfect presentation, to catch dolphin, the only requirement is the bait or lure needs to be in the water. It’s not always quite that easy, but compared to other species it isn’t rocket science.
The latest trend in offshore boats is large center consoles with multiple outboards and towers. These boats are also taking over the charter boat space as well. They can handle big seas, and are fast. Their wider beamed and more comfortable counterparts can’t compare to the older cabin sport fishermen. They also limit finding the fish, the third part of the equation to the captain or the man in the tower.
That leads me to hunting versus fishing.
I’m not a hunter in the typical sense. Though I’m not opposed to it, I’ve just never hunted with a gun. But, hunting is not limited to land. Spearfishermen call their sport hunting.
Where fishing is mostly a passive activity and often accompanied by beer. Hunting is serious business and requires all senses to be in good working order.
Over time, I’ve become more of a hunter as a fisherman. Part of the transformation is that I’m able to put more time into it. If you’ve only got a few weekends to hit the water, go have fun. I have enough days where I can get out by myself and explore. I can check new spots and ideas without the pressure of catching.
For me right now, the reef makes sense. My boat is very economical and with anything less than 4’ seas very capable. One of the benefits of the Keys is that if it’s blowing there is always a place in the backcountry to get out of the wind. I’ve become a hunter. I’m not so rigid that I plan my trips around moon phases and tides, but I know when they are and lower my expectations when I’m not on the water at the right time.
This is the guy that Mac has grown into as well.
Bonefishing is closest to hunting. Being stealthy and sight casting. Bonefish in Islamorada have PHD’s in fly delivery.