Season Ending "O-fish-al" Report

To sum it up in one word:  Disappointing!  (And you can throw "frustrating" in there too!)

Our fishing season (and time in Stuart) started earlier and ended later than it has in previous years.  Winter was much colder and for a longer period of time.  The winds created such rough and high seas for many consecutive days that we couldn't fish.  And it seemed as though Spring skipped right by us.  By mid-May we were experiencing Summer-like temperatures and weather patterns.  No wonder the good fish aren't around.  I want to go where it's cooler too!

Our mornings started early in order to avoid the railroad bridge.  We spent hours covering what seemed to be a million miles of the Atlantic Ocean hunting for fish.  Some days there were very few boats on the water.  Other days (especially the weekends) we were competing for space with a thousand other boats.  Yes, we've caught fish - but not always the kind we want to keep.  (Big, fat bonita and pesky, annoying ramoras, and sneaky sharks, along with many mystery bites.)
 
I guess we got spoiled last year:  we managed to have double hook-ups every time we went out (and those fish were BIG).  And there were more "signs".  (Not the neon "Fish Here" signs, but big patches of weeds, flotsam and jetsam, baitfish, splashes, and birds.)  And so we started this season anticipating we'd have similar results.

While the freezer isn't stuffed like it was last year, we did manage to get a few keepers in the boat.  (Cobia, Mahi Mahi, King Mackerel and Snapper)

On a positive note,
* Many days we were able to find live bait
* We tried several new techniques - drifting with balloons and live bait, putting a bait down deep,  running a bait way back down the middle.
* The Nauti Nole is outfitted and organized the way we want.
* We noted a major milestone - 1100 hours on the engines.
* We successfully bottom fished a few times.
* We both caught sailfish and saw numerous free-jumpers.
* We covered new territory (South and East).
* We participated in the Lady Angler tournament.
* We saw many different kinds of turtles and birds.

We also had many opportunties to get together with family and friends:  family wedding in DelRay, two trips to the Keys, multiple dinners with NC friends in S. Florida, a trip to Naples and hosting folks at the "Fish Camp".

So, that's the report.  Still disappointed we didn't get a record-breaking dolphin but the year isn't over and we'll probably be back in the "winter".