Spindlebeak Storm Bounty?

FLORIDA KEYS SKIPPERS REPORTING INCREDIBLE SAILFISH ACTIONISLAMORADA, Florida Keys - By noon Thursday (Dec. 22), Captain Alex Adler, skipper of the Kalex, had already caught and released seven sailfish off Islamorada in the Florida Keys."It's the best sustained sailfish bite in the history of the Keys," said Adler, who is not known for fish tales or exaggerations.Two days earlier, on Tuesday, Adler's anglers released 20 sails. "First the ballyhoo were matted like I've never seen since the 1970s, then these baby sardines came out of the Gulf (of Mexico)," said the 48-year-old Adler, who has been in the sportfishing business since he was 18.Speculation is that Hurricane Wilma's jaunt through the Gulf of Mexico in late October might have pushed massive populations of juvenile sardines into the Gulf Stream and around the Florida peninsula.The Keys are the primary beneficiary."It's an extraordinary thing," said Captain Paul Ross, skipper of Relentless. "There are hundreds of square miles of sardines out there from Key West to Ocean Reef."Ross said his anglers have been releasing seven to 10 sailfish every day. "They've had size too," he added. "We're getting 50- to 70-pound fish, even in close [to the reef edge]."Adler said everyone has been taking advantage of the hot sailfish bite."From Keys bridges, motorists can see backcountry skiffs (boats less than 18 feet) along the outer reef edges because the water has been so calm," Adler said. "Whatever it takes to get out there, people are doing it."In Florida Bay, Spanish mackerel have been plentiful with many large fish being caught.In the Lower Keys and Key West, the massive amounts of bait have created one of the best blackfin tuna and kingfish bites in years."There are acres of blackfin tuna out there coming in on a tremendous amount of bait," said Captain Mike Weinhofer of Compass Rose charters in Key West. "The kingfishing has been phenomenal too."Perhaps the best news is that the captains agreed the bait is here to stay for a long time and the fishing should remain very strong."It's a phenomenon," said Adler.More details on the Florida Keys are available at www.fla-keys.com or by calling 1-800-FLA-KEYS (800-352-5397).###FOR MEDIA INFORMATION ONLY: Contact: Andy Newman/Carol Shaughnessy 1-800-ASK-KEYS (800-275-5397) or (305) 461-3300www.fla-keys.com/media