Muttons before the Front

Got a chance to fish with my two sons Willi and Danny so I jumped on the oppurtunity and picked them up Sarurday afternoon on the way to Long key bridge .We were joined by my wife Maggy and Danny's girlfriend Kim .I kept hearing from everyone that the fishing was gonna be off the chain right before the cold front arrived and I wanted to see for myself if there predictions were right.We left later then usual to avoid the mid day heat and also because i spent all morning trying to find fresh snapper bait(pilchards).I was in touch with our friend Ross DeMarzo who was going to meet us on the bridge .Ross who lives in the keys an was hearing from everyone about how hot the fishing was on the bridges lately was eager to get out and try his luck.We packed up all our gear including two bicycles and arrived by 3 pm.

My two sons and I-L-R Will,Me and Danny
On the way to the bridge we stopped at the Reel McCoy the charter boat at Bud and Mary's marina where my fishing buddy Kiki works and picked up a freshly caught blackfin tuna carcass and some tune loins for dinner. Thanks Kiki you always come thru for me.Out on the bridge Ross ,Rory (phishinfanatic)and a buddy were already there and into the Mutton snapper.They were getting them on fresh small jack chunks and cut pieces of grunts.

Rory and his friend with one of there Muttons

We got into the action very soon after arriving .A nurse shark destroyed my big fresh tuna carcass and i walked her down to the wall to release her and retrieve my $8 Mustad 16/0 hook from her jaws.Not long after that we started getting our share of the mutton snapper action.

My son Danny and I with one of our Muttons
The snapper were not big but 90 per cent were keeper size ranging from 17 to 24 inches.We fished and hung out and drank a few cold ones before preparing a feast for dinner for family and friends.Fresh Tuna,and Salmon Sushi/Sashimi and and freshly caught Mutton snapper lime ceviche was part of what i prepared to make this fishing trip with my two sons a memorable one.


Rory and I with the freshly prepared Sushi and Ceviche

Later that night the wind started blowing hard and i set up two pop up tents for the wife and and the boys,Ross cauhght some nice muttons but had to leave early but we continued catching an occasional mutton casting out far with our surf rods .Once the current switched to incoming it was late and the wind was starting to make the fishing uncomftable so we secured our gear and turned in for the night by one in the morning.

the wife and my son's girlfriend Kim with a nice Mutton
Overall we had a nice family outing and the fishing was'nt too bad either.We ended up with some nice snappers for the table and memories to last for a long time.