Rickenbacker 2009 -10-11-12-13-14-15 Fishing Reports Only

[sweetmerlin]

Hey xtremeh18!

Yea, it's like exercising in the morning before going to work. It's not easy waking up early but I do the best I can to squeeze some fishing time. Even one hour before work keeps me happy all day .. except today was a little bit frustrating not being able to land the hook benders. I wish there were crappie jigs out there with strong hooks the quality of a mustad else I'll just have to try to tie some myself.

[xtremeh18]

Hey sweetmerlin!

lol.. that's cool man, enjoy it! I know the feeling man, last week I got broken off. Just curious what setup (rod, reel, line) are you using for the macks?

[snapperfanatic18]

Just my 2 cents..keep it light! That way, you get more bites and keep it fun!!! Landing a mack on 15lb+ gear isn't appealing...12lb outfit and smaller...you will lose some fish cuz some of the bigger macks will let you know who's boss...lol

[xtremeh18]

Just my 2 cents..keep it light! That way, you get more bites and keep it fun!!! Landing a mack on 15lb+ gear isn't appealing...12lb outfit and smaller...you will lose some fish cuz some of the bigger macks will let you know who's boss...lol

I agree with you... What I use for macks is a 7ft medium rod, 4500 reel, and 12# mono.

[sweetmerlin]

Hey guys! Good day

Yea, I use a light tackle for Mack fishing on crappie jig. It's a lot of fun! I have been very well taught by great people from this forum and I am very thankful for their help. I use 6.6" Matsuo rod and spinning reel combo from walmart for $19.99 lol and it's got 8 lb mono test from trilene. I use 40 lb test mono for leader.. I used to use fluorocarbon but I find the mono much cheaper and it's softer on the guides when using uni-to-unit knot because mono stretches while the fluorocarbon isn't flexible and keeps the double uni knot quite nice and tight. But yea light tackle is absolutely the best way to go for catching Macks.

Xtremeh18, I sent you a personal message a while back and it should've gone through to your email account with which you registered on the forum. Have a look and get back to me if you can't find it. It should be under the heading "support from Boatlessfishing etc.. etc.. message from sweetmerlin"

Cheers

[xtremeh18]

Hey guys! Good day

Yea, I use a light tackle for Mack fishing on crappie jig. It's a lot of fun! I have been very well taught by great people from this forum and I am very thankful for their help. I use 6.6" Matsuo rod and spinning reel combo from walmart for $19.99 lol and it's got 8 lb mono test from trilene. I use 40 lb test mono for leader.. I used to use fluorocarbon but I find the mono much cheaper and it's softer on the guides when using uni-to-unit knot because mono stretches while the fluorocarbon isn't flexible and keeps the double uni knot quite nice and tight. But yea light tackle is absolutely the best way to go for catching Macks.

Xtremeh18, I sent you a personal message a while back and it should've gone through to your email account with which you registered on the forum. Have a look and get back to me if you can't find it. It should be under the heading "support from Boatlessfishing etc.. etc.. message from sweetmerlin"

Cheers

Wow, not only are you killing the macks out there but you are doing it on a Walmart combo! Mad props to you! I also switched from the fluoro to the mono, plus half the time I have fished out there the water hasn't been 100% clear. I noticed that the mono to mono uni-knot was tighter, compared to the fluoro.

I just looked but I have nothing from you? I'll send you one and you can reply back to it.

[HJared]

I love expensive tackle I'm a snob

[sweetmerlin]

I am eyeing for a light ugly stick + penn reel... but one day I'll get me a decent tackle!

[snapperfanatic18]

Penn are great reels, they're just on the heavier side. That's why I love stradics... lightweight and smooth....I have 3 4000's...but, you don't have to have them in order to put a hurtin on inshore species...

[sweetmerlin]

Was at the Rick on Friday between 6-8 AM and on Saturday between 6 AM and noon. Friday was absolutely horrible. 25+ mph winds, turbulent and milky water and bit of rain. Landed an 18" landyfish on gotcha. I thought it was a Mack...what a disappointment when I brought it close to pier and realized it was a ladyfish. There were only three fishermen and we all left around 8AM.

Saturday was very calm. Heavy fogs, no wind, no major water movement, warm around mid 70s and very slow action. The live bait regulars were all there and I believe I may have seen snapperfanatic that day 3 Macks came over the rail around 11AM. I landed a small one on crappie jig, then a guy to my left landed another one with live pilchard on popping cork and my buddy fishing at the second handicap ramp landed the biggest one of the day around 17-18" FL with live pilchard on popping cork. After that action died down. I spotted a few shrimps come up and then disappear or ride seaweed while I was there.

Overall, mack fishing has been really slow at the Rick this past week. I hope it will pick up soon tho with the drop in temperature.

[snapperfanatic18]

Yea, saturday was slow...i pulled out all the tricks and nada..probably casted about 4,593 times after seeing a few macks chase my lures and live dines, but nada..not a typical day i would be out there since it was dead calm in the am til the wind picked up a lil after 9am...water had somewhat of decent color, but ultimately, lack of consistent wind imo ruined the day...maybe tues might be good..merlin, i was all the way at the end. Its where i always fish

[sweetmerlin]

Was at the Rick couple of times this week but I didn't post any report out of tiredness and all but action was pretty bad. I was out today too between 6AM-12 PM. It was windy, very choppy water and murky water all around. All the live/bait regulars that I see on normal days didn't bother showing up and that was a good thing for them. I played a bit with xrap and I managed to hook a decent sized Mack at around 8 AM but it came off and for me that was the only action that happened. The wind started blowing harder and life was miserable but some people were venturing the weather. A guy was working the crappie jig with several sinkers attached retrieving it parallel to the pier to his right. He landed two 12-13" spanish macks. Him, his friend and his kid, landed several decent sized blue runners just below the bridge with shrimp. They had a lot of fun.

[k5523915]

hey sweetmerlin, having fun is all that matters.. sometimes you will be surprised by the bad weather conditions.. few guys stayed behind last Friday at the park when there was storm and supposedly "tornado warning".. they caught a 10lb cuberra and two nice snooks.. they often say only the persistent and tough fishermen get rewarded

[sweetmerlin]

Indeed

[kblue]

any shrimp run?

[snapperfanatic18]

Nah, from what i heard, i few, but no real run...

[gruntking]

shrimp ran hard last night saw a couple pics of full buckets

on that note i have a frame net for sale

[Rare]

on that note i have a frame net for sale

I might be interested if the price is right....

[gruntking]

i think 250 would be fair

[lasthope]

I'll give you $10 and a handy

[Rare]

Fk that....too damn high unless Lee made it then its a good price.

[gruntking]

dude its made from her pubic hair

[Rare]

She went into her special stash. I dont want to know the details on how or why. That is a special made net price is steal

[gruntking]

I'm not talking about the one I just got I'm talking about the Death Star

[Green Tide]

dude its made from her pubic hair

Holy crap, Lee is a girl!!!!!!!!!

[sweetmerlin]

It's been a little bit more than two weeks since I have last been to the Rick so I went out today from sunrise till 1 PM. Action was very slow. Only this small one came over the rail around 11AM on crappie jig and was injured. The second dorsal fin was ripped and missing. Maybe got attacked by another fish or hit a motor blade. Measured 13" FL. It's also been a while since I've seen the bait regulars and it seems Mack action is very slow to non-existent. These days, I am only seeing people fish the bottom and maybe one or two fish the top water. It kinda makes sense since there's been streaks of W wind and the water temp has been below 70.

TLDR: Mack fishing still not good at the Rick.

With the Miami Boat Show going on at Key Biscayne, there is heavy traffic from Rickenbacker causeway till Mast Academy.

[gruntking]

went by the rick today on a sea trial couldnt help but laught at this one guy fishing on the end thinking he was going to catch with all the boat traffic

[sweetmerlin]

Yeah lots of boats around... particular the end... there were quite a few there fishing during heavy boat traffic.. I was smh.

[sweetmerlin]

Been a while since I last went fishing. Was at the Rick at sunrise until 3PM. Caught 9 Macks but lost three on the hoist and my 40 lbs mono test leader got cut once by a "dino" mack in one single strike . Around 15-20 Macks came over the rail today. Mine were caught on crappie jig. Others were caught on fresh shrimp, live and dead pilies.

I met this Cuban Papi again at the Rick and I was fortunate to learn a new technique from watching him on how to consistently land 19"+ Macks with dead bait. I will give it a go someday.

Here's the pic.

[xtremeh18]

Good job sweetmerlin!

It seems like today was a good day for both of us.