Conditions right for dolphin

[Sam]

Anglers who love fishing in the Atlantic complained often during March because stout winds whipped up heavy seas, making it tough to fish in anything but a large boat.


But when the wind is from the northeast, especially when the ocean warms in the spring, those who love to fish for dolphin often brave the waves or head offshore as soon as the wind subsides.

The bite was especially pronounced last April 29. As the wind howled from the northeast, anglers on drift boats such as the Samana in Jupiter and the Miss Blue Heron in Riviera Beach found bright blue water and plenty of dolphin, including many larger than 20 pounds.
April and May are prime months for dolphin fishing off Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. The combination of favorable winds and warming water sets the stage for red-hot mahi mahi fishing.

Even during March this year, northeast winds have produced some strong bites.
On the morning of March 19, Jupiter guide Mike Linville took two teenage brothers, Casey and Will Roohan of Maryland, to a spot in about 200 feet of water south of Jupiter Inlet. Linville drifted live Spanish sardines in an area where the ocean current flow was strong.

In half a day of fishing on Linville's 31-foot boat, Whatever's Bitin', the brothers released a small blue marlin and two sailfish and caught a 40-pound dolphin. They also caught five dolphin in the 10-pound range and three 35-pound kingfish. They were in the right spot at the right time with the right bait.
"Mom died 10 years ago to the day," Linville said. "It was almost like my mom was with me that day."

During the last week of March, the wind was calmer and more easterly, but blue-water anglers were finding dolphin.
Three anglers fishing with Linville — Ruth Eppig of Ohio, her son, Dave, and his friend, Nick Lux — caught five dolphin up to 15 pounds, two kingfish and released an African pompano using live sardines in 120 feet off Jupiter Inlet.
Linville often catches dolphin by drifting live baits on triple-hook rigs similar to those used on drift boats with dead bait. He hooks the bottom hook through the snout of the live sardine, leaving the others exposed above the bait.

Linville adds weight above the leader to take some baits deep, and he keeps spinning rods rigged with 4/0 hooks and 50-pound-test fluorcarbon leader ready to pitch at dolphin the instant they appear. "You've got to have everything ready to go," Linville said. "Dolphin come and go. If you don't get them, the guy on the next boat will."
Linville also advises dolphin anglers to keep an eye out for birds, especially frigate birds. The sea birds with large wings often follow game fish, soaring on air currents as they wait for the fish to chase flying fish and other baits to the surface. When the fish appear, the frigate birds swoop down and snatch them.
"If you see frigates diving and hovering, almost every time there will be dolphin with them this time of year," Linville said.
Anglers fishing with Glenn Cameron on the Floridian off Fort Pierce were catching dolphin up to 40 pounds by trolling ballyhoo in 150 feet of water. Smaller dolphin were scattered southeast of St. Lucie Inlet, Stuart guide Joe Massaro said.

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