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The crew of the B n' M went out yesterday, 7/14/08, and had a great day swordfishing.  The weather was questionable, with storms and showers and slight wind throughout the Florida Keys.  But 50 miles offshore, Capt. Richard Stanczyk and crew daytime dropped for swordfish.  They used rigged squid for bait and hooked up a fish around 4:30 pm and landed it around 7:15 pm.  Thunder and lightning were crashing around the boat during the day, and they got caught in a squall with 50+ mph winds!  This didn't stop the crew though, and they thundered home and hit the dock around 9:30 pm.  The fish ended up weighing 380 lbs!  Capt. Vic Gaspeny caught this fish, his 117th daytime swordfish, which also unofficially ties the record with Dr. Ruban Jaen, who originally started daytime swordfishing in Venezeula 15 years ago!  Dr. Jaen had since retired from swordfishing due to his age, though his techniques were studied by Richard and Vic, and this was the basis of them starting the whole daytime swordfishing thing in the U.S. about 5 years ago!  Pictures below include mates Jimmy Coughlin and Ben Loy.

My job was to research the premier location for our excursion. I checked the internet. I asked my friends. I did my diligence. It all filtered to Bud & Mary’s on Islamorada. I called my Dad and communicated my results. It was now crunch time approaching Memorial Day Weekend. With a little luck we were able to reserve the Cottage above the Bait Shop. If I tell you about the views, I may not get a future reservation, so you just check-it for yourself.

We arrive Friday around 11AM and have a ½ day booking for the 27’ CC “FEARLESS”. Reef fishing is the agenda for today. Yellow Tail’s are on the menu. The captain dialed in on the fish. With a good amount of Sashimi on board, let’s move on to bigger prey. The rod hits, feels like its got shoulders. Hey Dad, take the rod. No Son, you take it. Dad, just take the rod, you paid for this trip, just take the rod. I know it’s something good. I boat an 18lb. Permit. Nice fish, makes for good pictures, then back to the open sea. A few drifts for Grouper, no luck. With a great 1^st day, it’s now time to steam back to port and get cleaned up for our catch of the day dinner.

Saturday morning, 7AM with a full day scheduled back on the “FEARLESS”. Heading SE the ocean looks like a watery desert. Birds, Birds, where are the Birds? Mahi is the word of the day. Scanning the ocean for life, none to speak of. 25 miles offshore “The Hump” It’s a Blackfin Tuna orgy. Two by two we boat schoolies, approximately 3-4 pounds a piece. In my mind, I keep looping a comment my Dad made while discussing our plans. He said; “Son I’m not looking for a boat ride, I have my own boat for that, I want FISH”. Hey Cap. The Sushi’s great, but let’s get back to the Mahi hunt. While steaming slowly to the NW, I see something breach about a ½ mile away. The captain see’s birds in the same area as the breach. We get closer; a large Loggerhead Turtle is on the surface. Two lines baited with squid hit the water on either side of the turtle. Bullets of color shoot through the water, bang goes the first rod, then the second, I yell “Fish-On”. A small school of seven Dolphin, I saw one Bull in the school and I know he hit my rod. Hey Dad, take my rod. No Son, I have a fish on. Dad, I’ll switch with you, take my rod. No Son, that’s ok, I have one on. We boated 6 of the 7 fish. “Son, this is what we came for”, and I thought we were here for a Father and Son weekend.