Minnesotans escape the cold, or do they?

Captain’s Blog – January 4, 2010 – Marathon Florida Keys – You’d never guess it by the way they’re dressed, but this group of Minnesotans was fishing in the Florida Keys! 

Peter and Becca Krause fished with me while on their honeymoon a couple of years ago and returned to the Keys with some friends for a little fun.  They certainly never imagined they’d be fishing in the same cold weather gear they wore to the airport back in Minnesota! 

I pushed their trip back a day in hopes of more moderate temperatures.  We set out for what was planned as a three-quarter day charter.  The Krauses had already proven their angling abilities on their first trip with me, so I took them to the patch reefs where I knew the action would be non-stop.  

As I thought, the bite was excellent.  They caught all major snapper species, including mangrove, lane, yellowtail and dog and broke off a big mutton.  They also put a couple of nice Spanish mackerel in the box.  Along the way, they caught a couple of small red and black grouper, which would have had to be thrown back even if they were legal size due to our four-month grouper ban. 

On our way to our second spot, I found a new coral patch which I’ve named Krause Patch.  It was loaded with fish and we had a blast on it.  When the winds kicked up to 25 knots, I moved in to Sisters Creek for some relief.  But the water was too cold and the bite was slow.  We got only a couple of small mangrove and dog snapper. 

The whole group was feeling the cold, but it took the girls to admit it and toss in the towel.  I dropped them off at the new Lazy Days South on 11th Street, where they warmed up with some libations and appetizers. 

So, we called it at a half day charter.  In all, the group kept 30 fish and must have released another 50 or 60.  They had their mackerel cooked at the Conch Republic at the A&B Marina in Key West and say it was fantastic.  Already planning their return, Peter says they’ll most likely come back closer to spring time!  Whenever they do return, I look forward to having them on the SeaSquared again.  Great customers such as the Krauses are what I love most about my job!