Tagged : Sailfish

The "Sailfish Capital of the World" has lived up to its name again this year!  Stuart was named to the 2021 "Best Winter Fishing Destinations" nationwide, according to the blog FishingBooker. It was the only Florida city to make the list. FishingBooker is an online marketplace for booking yacht charters for recreational fishing.

The website hyped Stuart's sailfish season, saying people from all over the country should flock to the city during the winter season to test their fishing skills.  The reason Stuart is unique to other places on this coast is that the Gulf Stream comes very close to shore here and can be reached within 10 miles. For anglers, that means that you have a chance of reeling in a Sailfish on a four- or five-hour fishing trip! In

According to Men’s Health Magazine, Stuart ranks No. 6 on their list of 58 Charming Towns You Haven’t Heard of but Should Visit ASAP and we couldn’t agree more. This Martin County gem sports a variety of reasons why it should be on your list of places to visit this year!

For a community with a population just under 16,000, the pretty little coastal town of Stuart has made quite a name for itself. 

Named the 2008 "Most Beautiful City in America" Stuart came out on top after being evaluated based on the categories of Tidiness, Environmental Awareness, Community Involvement, Heritage Preservation, Urban Forestry, Landscaped Areas, Floral Displays and Turf & Groundcovers. 

When it comes to recreation, the Stuart beaches are plentiful and uncrowded.

The Sailfish Challenge is leg two of a 3-leg sailfish tournament series called Quest for the Crest which attracts elite billfishing teams from all over the globe to South Florida. A $2 million purse in the midst of peak sailfishing season provides for a highly competitive layout, and teams go all-in to become deemed the #1 sailfishing team in the world.

February 19-23, the Sailfish Challenge will be hosted from three checkpoints- Government Cut in Miami, Hillsborough Inlet in Pompano Beach, and Palm Beach Inlet in Palm Beach.

The tournament also boasts a unique ‘Coin Challenge’ competition that randomly assigns teams in groups by color to see who can release the most sailfish in the tournament!

This year, the kickoff party will be at IGFA

Established in 1935 by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club, the Silver Sailfish Derby is the oldest running sailfish tournament in the world. Limited to 50 boats, the 2020 Derby is sold out.

The Silver Sailfish Derby is a tournament with a massive amount of history, credited with developing the red release pennant and as one of the front-runners in promoting catch and release. Ernest Hemingway was a Derby trophy sponsor at one point, and the only time the tournament didn’t run was for three years during WWII.

The Derby features a two-day, Thursday & Friday, fishing format - a measure that was taken to avoid competition with weekend anglers and to foster increased tournament participation.

The 2020 Schedule of Events are as follows:

Wednesday,

Winter is finally here in South Florida (well, kind of), and each cold snap is bringing us closer and closer to the sailfish bite heating up. This is when a special species migrates to South Florida - sportfishing teams in the pursuit of billfish, the tournaments, and the large amount of cash that can be won (and spent) along with it. Whether you're a kite fishing team on a pampered SeaVee or playing bait-and-switch from a custom sportfish, here is the 2019-2020 line-up of sailfish tournaments in South Florida.

Dust ‘Em Off Sailfish Warm-Up

Date: November 6th – 10th, 2019

Location: Palm Beach, FL

Website: https://www.dustemoffsailfish.com/

Pirate’s Cove Sailfish Classic

Date: December 5th – 8th, 2019

Location: Pirate’s Cover

The game offshore this weekend goes to sailfish, snappers, and gaffers. Sailfish are strong just in time for the Dust ‘Em Off Tournament, with releases in the double digits off of Palm Beach. Kite fishing with live goggle-eyes or blue runners in 100-300’ should entice a few sails. While dolphin schoolies are abundant, a few gaffers have been chasing ballyhoo and bonita strips in the 150-600’ range. Trolling with small feathers during lowlight should help you catch a few football-sized blackfin tuna, and the smaller ones can be used to catch wahoo. If you're thinking of heading to the Bahamas for the first time, read "How to Cross From Florida to the Bahamas By Boat".

Large mutton snapper have been pretty hot lately, with plenty of yellowtail action on

Sailfish are biting from Stuart to Boca in the 150-300’ range, with a few boats releasing 10+ sails. Try kite fishing with hearty live baits like goggle-eyes or blue runners. Trolling with small feathers during lowlight should help you catch a few football-sized blackfin tuna, and the smaller ones can be used to catch wahoo, which has been hot due to this mild cold front, especially in the Bahamas. If you're thinking of heading to the Bahamas for the first time, read "How to Cross From Florida to the Bahamas By Boat".

Fair numbers of snapper have been prevalent around 100’ off of Jupiter, with a few cobia here and there as well.

The cold front has slowed snook down a bit, but mullet are still running. Live mullet or top water plugs at low-lighted

The bite was scarce last weekend, but it seems to have been picking up this week due to the full moon. A few wahoo are starting to show up from the full moon and mild cold front, especially closer to the Bahamas. Around here, 150-400’ is where wahoo have hooked up along with blackfin tuna. Troll with small feathers during lowlight for tuna, and use the small ones to catch wahoo. Another option is to pick up a local favorite Junkanoo Lure and high speed troll in a zig-zag pattern. Sailfish are also coming out of the woodwork, and kite fishing with hearty live baits like goggle-eyes or blue runners is your best bet.

Kingfish and large mutton snapper have been eating sardines near 120 – 200’, and yellowtail snapper has been showing up in strong

Photo Credit: @SouthFlorida_Sailfishing

A few sailfish have been chasing flying fish relatively early in the season. Saturday or Sunday’s forecast of north winds may contribute to the bite a little, and a good bet at getting them to eat would be kite fishing with a hearty bait like goggle-eyes or blue runners in 200-400’ of water. Small dolphin have been pretty consistent offshore, as well as football-sized blackfin tuna. Target both by trolling with small-skirted bonita strips at depths of 120-500’.

Kingfish and large mutton snapper have been eating sardines near 120 – 200’, and yellowtail snapper has been showing up in strong numbers.

Inshore, the mullet run is still hot, and snook, jacks, tarpon, ladyfish, and redfish aren’t far behind

The 65th Stuart Sailfish Club Light Tackle Tournament will be held December 5th-8th to benefit the club’s scholarship fund. Every year, the Club provides scholarships to five Martin County students furthering their education in the fields of Marine Science, Marine Biology, or Marine Conservation.

The tournament includes two divisions; Light Tackle and the Treasure Coast Championship. The event includes a kick-off party and nightly festivities. All registered participants are provided a daily breakfast, a lunch to go, and a BBQ on the dock each night, followed by the awards banquet dinner on Saturday, December 8th.

Receive 10% off by registering before November 23rd online.