Happy Birthday Rudy

Rudy "Island Boy" Hinds celebrated his 75th birthday recently with a great party hosted by Guy and Sue Leekey and then a few days later aboard the "Island Boy" with a trip to Buzzard's roost for brunch.
You can see by the look on Island Boy's face that he could not wait to wear that shirt.

Caught from a kayak

photo by Danny V
This 6 foot sand shark was caught in the ocean from a kayak!!!!
"Dave, here are a couple of pictures of the sharks from Myrtle Beach that I got from my kayak.
I fished 5 days just in front of the Hotel and landed about 50 sharks and plenty of spanish mackerel. Most of the sharks were sand bar sharks and I landed about 15 that were in the 6 and 7 foot range. I was snagging live bunker and the sharks were all in the school of bunker. I would snag one and just let it swim free and the sharks would find the bunker in a matter of seconds.
The bigger sharks would pull me around for 15 minutes or so before getting tired of pulling me around. I was able to get the hooks out of about 90% of the sharks, but if the hook was in too deep I would just cut the leader."
Here are a couple of pictures.
Danny V

Pacific Halibut

Wesley Sgroi and and Ed caught this nice halibut while fishing in San Francisco Bay right under the Golden Gate Bridge. Ed and Wes are tounament bass fishermen.

Gracie O'Rourke

Gracie does not like to get her hands dirty. I guess I will be putting the bait on the hook for her.

Breaking News

Brothers Jim and Mickey Walker from Miami went solemnly out to sea today aboard the "SEA WALKER" to spread the ashes of their beloved father. Moments later they hooked up with this beautiful 50 pound bull dolphin which helped brighten their day.

[ Jim if you send your email address to keysmon@gmail.com I will send you the pictures]

Backcountry Snapper

photo by keysmon
My friend Juan and I spent a few hours backcountry fishing Monday, but only managed to catch one Mangrove Snapper.

Fishing With Don And Jean

Don and Jean Vetromile of Hammer Point had a good day of backcountry fishing aboard "Pre Mix Time" with Jean's cousin Bill catching over 40 various size trout with a few of them over 23 inches. Little cousin Nicholas had the big catch of the day right off the Vetromile dock.

Photos by Don or Jean

June Ladies Luncheon

Gus IS Back

Captain Gus Ramirez caught this 25 lb. bull while fishing with Captain Carlos aboard Wahoo VIII. They also caught about 10 more dolphin in the 10 to 20 lb range. This was the first time offshore for Gus since his knee replacement.

3 WEEKS IN JERSEY

Pat and I were in New Jersey for the last 3 weeks, but we are back in the Keys again and will be posting more fishing info.

This house belongs to our friends Linda and Sal in Colt's Neck New Jersey. This sign was put up by the Mayor and the Historical Society while we were there. Sal donated the original land deed from the King of England to the Township where it is being displayed. Pat and I stay in a cottage on the property which was once a very large farm.


click to enlarge

May ladies Luncheon

The May Hammer Point Ladies Luncheon was held at Hog heaven in Islamorada. Oops, your right Sue, Ben Franklin did discover electricity. Click on picture to enlarge.

Dock Party

The Leekeys had a dock party and look who showed up. They must have had a few Bloody Marys

Monster Snook

Last Month I posted a picture of Eric Moreno with a 22 pound Snook he caught while fishing with his dad Ramiro and Captain Wagner out of Islamorada. I finally got the rest of the pictures and here they are.
Captain Wagner said they have to be careful releasing fish in the area they were at because Bull Sharks would come along and make a meal of your fish, or your hand. After he safely released the fish and they started to leave the area they heard a big splash and saw what was left of Eric's fish come floating to the top of the water.

Eric's Big Snook

Captain Wagner releasing the Snook as he comments about how careful you have to be so a shark does not grab your fish or hand.
That is a nice piece of fish.
Eric and Ramiro also known in the Keys as "THE REEL DREAM TEAM"
The Moreno family with what is left. Since the shark put the snook into the slot it was now legal to take it home. The slot is 28 inches to 33 inches and this Snook was originally 40 inches. By the way for all you fisherman: next year the Snook stamp will be 10 dollars unless, of course, you are old like me and Gus, then you don't need a license or a stamp. Lucky us.

Tonights Meal

photo by Sue
Pilot Captain Jerry Leekey of Ellington Court went a few miles off shore with his buddy, fellow pilot Captain Reagan along with Vance and Mike. Reagan managed to spear the Mutton Snapper in forty feet of water.

Photo by Sue
Jerry's son Mason shows off the catch

A Good Day Backcountry

Captain Gary Salyers from Camelot Court scored with trout, redfish and snook while fishing with Captain Brian Premaza from "Back To Business" charters. Captain Brian is one of the more productive fishing Captains in the area and he will give a discount to Hammer Point Fisherman. Check out his website at: www.captbrianpremaza.com
Gary took this picture of a mother dolphin teaching her baby how to catch mullet in one of the Hammer Point canals.

Dolphin Cleaning Time

Harold cleans a few of the many fish he and his buddies caught off Key Largo.

2nd Annual Hammer Point Dolphin Derby

Click to enlarge

CONNIE THE HOSTESS

It was a great weigh-in party at the home of Mike and Anna and Connie and Joe Ancheta . There was plenty of food and fun. I don't know how many people were there, but I would guess well over one hundred. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make this a successful event.



Scott and Mike the organizers.



Feedy Time


The Playground

The "DREAM" Team

photo by Keysmon
The Dream Team led by Captain Ramiro aboard "Eric's Dream" took 1st place in the 2nd annual Hammer Point Dolphin Derby. The crew from left to right Jim, John, 1st mate Eric, Ramiro and Julian who caught the winning 26 pound 1 ounce dolphin.

At the weigh-in

phoyo by Keysmon

Captain Ron from Hilson Court holds up a few of the nice size dolphin he caught with the "Captain Ron" fishing team. Ron is a Coral Gables firefighter.

Hammer Point Dolphin Derby Tote Board

Everyone watched with anticapation as the names went up on the tote board. There was a total of 18 boats entered. The last boat in turned out to be the winner.