The new boys Robin, Geoff and Chris quickly settled in but unfortunately the weather didn't. It’s still great temperature wise but with strong winds and slower tides the fishing on days 7,8, & 9 has been tough.

Lemon Geoff was hurtful to Cruncher on the first night, well morning actually. Geoff set his alarm incorrectly and it went off at 4.11am instead of 6.11 am it woke Robin up who asked the time and was told it was time to get up and with that shot out of bed and started to get dressed. At the same time Geoff got back into bed. Nice words were exchanged.

The last three days have produced few fish but several firsts were still achieved. Chris the Wrasse whose biggest fish to date had been a small ray was introduced to Permit on a very tough rough day whilst fishing with Captain Manny and Robber. Both had a double hook up and the smile on Chris’s face tells it all. Obviously Chris and Robber must both be terrorists because they both wear the same silly headgear.

The A team with Captain Keith were tackling the off shore Hammerheads with our new stand up and fight outfit.

This set up is made for men, unfortunately Lemon Geoff made first contact with an 11 ft specimen and proved he was a mouse as one could hear cries of pain several miles away. With this outfit and the drag set to sunset no mercy is given. Sadly, Harry Hammerhead had read a different book and tore off two hundred yards of 80-test line on serious drag with ease. Sunset drag is set on this outfit that you cant physically pull any line off, however Harry can.

Cruncher was concerned that our beastie outfit would be pulled from Geoff’s hands so instructions were issued that translated meant that if you are pulled overboard you must instantly throw the rod and reel back to the crew before any rescue attempt can be made. Geoff’s back was going so Cruncher took over only to instantly suffer some serious back pain. Fortunately a tackle failure resulted in no more pain, the shark wrapped the trace and it parted.

Keith who has more experience just kept his distance, but when a smaller specimen appeared a mere 8ft beast he did stick the hooks in it. After a shorter battle the leader was in the guides and a release was official. A few seconds later Little Harry didn't like it and quickly smoked 100yds off the reel. Another wrap of line and it was gone but it was an official release.

It was a similar story on day 8, but day 9 the crew had a cunning plan.

Baitfishes were hard to catch and even the second option of buying some from the bait boat was considered. You think that bait in the UK is expensive, Robber negotiated a price for 12 Goggle Eyes (scad) this was $75. Not a good deal at £4 each when bonitoes are thick and every toothy critter likes them. (Two weeks earlier they were $100 a dozen whilst the World Sailfish tournament was on)
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So it was plan B, which was Tarpon Fishing in the harbour.
Robbers team hooked three and landed 1 this was after a long battle with Geoff having to get some support from Cruncher, it's a good job we are in Key West, lets just call the picture Down and Dirty - a fishing term!!! (Where is Robin’s hand?)

Robber had hooked a monster mystery fish and quickly passed the rod to Geoff, as he knew this would be painful. After 35 minutes of some serious pulling around the boat channel Geoff was close to collapsing, Robber and Cruncher came to the rescue with a drink and moral support. After another 10 minutes the hook pulled, it may have been the best thing because Geoff was now looking very badly.

Over on the Windy Day with Captain Jack Kelly, Chris the Wrasse hooked his first ever Tarpon and was soon being pulled around the harbour, with loads of coaching from Keith a steady battle was taking shape. 35 minutes later a very happy Chris had his first Tarpon release.

Robber told a little lie by telling Chris that he had taken a picture of the Tarpon as it leapt out of the water, this is an older picture but they all look the same anyway.

Plenty of dinner fish were caught and once again the crew pigged out on Shrimp and Yellow tail snappers, followed by Key Lime Pie.

It's a tough life, but some ones got to do it and Keith and Robber think they are best suited so as to protect fellow anglers from the pain we endure.

The weather forecast for day 10 looks fantastic, Harry is back with Robber and Cruncher with Captain Jack and a trip to the Gulf wrecks is planned.
Keith, Chris and Geoff are going offshore so it should be a good report.

That's all today from Paradise; watch this space for day 10’s report.

The teams were up bright and early for day 6 of the Great Adventure.
Harry and Robber Marlow had decided it was time for sharking on the famous Laveda flats. This is a fantastic location for catching big sharks. Miles of flats running towards Boca Grand channel, the perfect location for the Apex predators.
Captain Manny was our captain who used to commercially fish for Bull sharks on these flats landing several around the 400-500lbs.
Those days have long gone, but Captain Manny used to fish an 80lbs stand up and fight outfit, truly man against beasts.
The waterway is about 5’ deep for several hundred yards then falling away towards Boca Grand Channel. Crystal clear and any big shark looks like a mini submarine.
We hung 3 Bonito over the side and started to scan the water for black and brown shapes.

It was more than an hour before the first visitor arrived and we could clearly see it in our chum line.

We played the Jaws music as one does in these situations and soon had our first Lemon Shark around 100lbs.

Fishing the Daiwa Kensaki 20-30 rods with 6500 Catalina reels this is a perfect outfit for catching sharks on the flats.

More and more Lemons started to come from nowhere and a couple of very big bull sharks cruised out of range of our drifted balloons.

Harry and Robber were also into several black tip sharks, these are so fast it is unbelievable and three were released averaging 80lbs each.

The Jaws music was turned up and suddenly the Biggest Lemon Shark any of us had ever seen including Captain Manny was in the chum line but it didn't want to play.

Then Robber hooked a Jack Crevalle about 10lbs and had a great picture what a pretty fish.

Pretty or not it was good shark bait and was soon on the end of the hook.

The next couple of minutes were manic as sharks appeared from nowhere and chased the Jack all around the boat.
Then the Big Lemon made no mistake and instantly cut the Jack in half, seconds later it ate the head part with Robbers hook in it.

No mistakes and the battle was on, within seconds 300yds of line had smoked off the reel, good job it holds 400 yds.

One hour and fifteen minutes of some very serious pulling with some even more serious drag and the beast was along side our boat. It was a little angry and at one stage rammed the boat.

The light was difficult and Harry refused to go in to the water to take a good picture which Robber thought was a bit mean. No amount of incentives would change his mind.

The beast was alongside the boat and Captain Manny estimated this fish to be between 230-250lbs and the biggest Lemon shark he had ever seen.

These fish are extremely dangerous and even Manny kept his hands away from those teeth whilst releasing it.

What a day, more 100lb plus lemons and a couple more black tips and it was time to go. Two very tired anglers made it back to Key West.

Back over the reef Keith, Crispy and Garry Grouper had two nice sailfish; Garry is seen with Captain Bill, and one of the nicest skippers you could meet.

Several good Bonitos and another Tuna made for an exciting day for the B team. Photographs are in short supply.

Both Teams had a great day and retired early, tomorrow Crispy and Garry leave for England and Robin Morley (Cruncher) Lemon Geoff and his brother Chris the wrasse join us for the second week in paradise.
Robin who is Sales Director at Daiwa sports has always been called Cruncher we believe he got his name for copying someone in the Beano Comic.

Lemon Geoff makes brilliant sandwiches so we don't want to upset him and his brother Chris only fishes for wrasse.

The weather forecast is not good for the next couple of days and with slowing tides we do expect a lull in the action but the crew will keep fishing hard.
Watch this space.

Another magnificent sunrise and the crew were all set for another adventure.

Sandwiches have been made by Crispy Duck for the team; the week started badly regarding sandwiches but after some coaching Crispy got his act together.

The big rolls consisted of a bit of everything including meat, well lets put it this way although they all should have contained meat more than one didn't.

Harry was most upset yesterday as worse than no meat it was no sandwich.

The A team was with Captain Manny and comprised of Robber Marlow, Keith and Harry.

The B team was with Damon and consisted of Crispy Duck and Garry Grouper.

The A team quickly caught some class baits consisting of pilchards cast netted by Manny, then some threadfin Herrings on the way out to sail fish off the reef.

It turned out to be pretty quite with very little activity.

After a couple of hours it was off to the secret permit patch that few white men know about. (Manny is Cuban)

There were plenty of permit there and the team quickly had 2 triple hook ups.

Unfortunately every permit looks the same so not very exciting pictures.

The fish really do scrap and certainly test your tackle to the limits.

First you have to spot the fish and then cast a jig with a crab attached at them.

Then hang on as they try to make the coral in 50’ of clear water.

Then it was back over the reef to see if we could find any tunas or sails, unfortunately nothing so it was back to the barn for ice creams.

The B team did a lot better with Captain Damon, both crew members had several big amberjacks over the submarine wreck in 220’ of water, some around 60lbs.

These are proper back breakers and for most anglers 2 or 3 is enough.

(That's 2 or 3 in a lifetime, not in a day or a single holiday)

Then a quick look at the Permit Patch (the one that most white men know) and the duo quickly landed 5 out of 7 nice permit.

To finish off a spot of yellowtail snapper fishing where the crew caught their limits.

So the B team won the top team of the day award and had the choice for the ice cream to go with the Tuna and kingfish supper expertly prepared by Keith and Crispy.

We have had some readers writing back and telling us this must be great fun.

In this picture Robber is almost being pulled over the side with a monster that is breaking his back.

Our top tip for anyone who is thinking of doing this is  “don't leave it too long because if you do you will not be fit enough to do it”

Tomorrow is Day 6 and its going to be a serious sharking day for Harry and the Robber, watch this space.

It isn't only the News of The World that can bring you a selection of sordid stories. The cat is finally out of the bag and the whole world can understand the pain and humiliation of being part of our Keef's little expeditions. It was obviously Roy's day today....A picture tells a thousand words !!

Wide-eyed and bushy tailed the crew was ready for another big adventure in Key West.

The weather was still hot but the wind was howling and both the A team and the B team opted to start in Key West harbour for Tarpon.

The A team was captained by Chris Garcia and consisted of Garry, Crispy and Harry the Rat.

The B team was with Captain Jack Kelly and his crew was Robber Marlow and Keith.

What a difference a couple of days make, out in our normal starting area we couldn't get a bite, yet two days previous every run down you got hit by a mackerel.

These are not like UK mackerel as they have very sharp teeth as Harry can verify as he lost 20 hooks in 20-drop backs. They bite through 50lb flouro like cotton.

Both teams gave it am hour and we decided it was time for a move.

Down to the point of Key West Harbour where we had always had good sport in the past.  The difference is that they are normally bigger fish and the tide can run at 6 knots through a 30’ deep shipping channel.

Crispy, Garry and Harry were soon into fish and the boat has to follow them to stand any chance of landing them. Some fish you land over a mile away from where you hook them.

Keith and Roy were trying very hard and couldn’t buy a bite.

They tried every Indian trick they knew to no avail.

Things were looking bad as its not often that this duo take a beating.

Robber tried yet another Indian trick and immediately hooked a huge tarpon that leapt about 15 feet into the air only to break the hook in half.

A new hook and next drop another hook up that tore off towards Cuba only to throw the hook.

Third drop down and within seconds no mistakes as a monster did a 9-point jump with a double twist and headed for the ship channel.

Soon 300 yards of line had gone and we just dropped off our anchor buoy in time to prevent being spooled out.

The ship channel is a nightmare to play big tarpon as it has several ledges like underwater cliff faces where it has been dredged out to allow for the ocean liners to gain access to the dock. Luckily, Captain Jack knows this place backwards as he has fished Key West for over 30 years.

Soon the fight turned into an epic battle as the Tarpon zig zagged over the ledges on both sides of the channel.

Roy had now set the drag at Sunset (for those that don't know that is serious drag) and the strain was showing.

Forty minutes had passed and finally the mighty tarpon showed itself at close range, Captain Jack put this one at 120lbs plus, certainly the biggest so far.

It was another 10 minutes of serious pressure before we leadered the fish and made the release. Unbelievable how these fish can fight.

Back to the point, but the tide had turned so Keith and Roy opted for an afternoon’s shark fishing on a flat east of the North West Channel.

The A team had similar ideas and set off to their secret location.

Keith and Roy soon had a couple of smallish lemon sharks then the unbelievable happened.

A tarpon actually took Roy’s shark bait a piece of bonito attached to a 6/0 hook and 3’ of wire.

After a short battle 50lbs of Tarpon was released, another first for the dynamic duo.

A little later more Tarpon were spotted in the chum line but this time the pair were ready and some generous tarpon chum was dispatched into the swim.

The plan was interrupted when a nurse shark well over 150lbs decided to eat Keith’s bait. That was a no contest, as this species doesn’t fight much.

Tarpon were actually tailing in front of us but wouldn't eat our hook baits.

Roy spotted what looked like a small Tarpon off to the side and made a perfect cast.

Instantly it ate the bait and headed off towards Key West over the flat, which is about 4’ deep.

It was pretty obvious that this was bigger than first thought and very quickly we were off the buoy and in hot pursuit.

Robber used the usual “Keith we need some photos of you” trick and passed him the rod.

40 minutes later and a good mile away from where we hooked it we released an 80lb plus Tarpon that had certainly had its wheatabix.

The A team also went sharking and had several sizable Lemon sharks and a couple of small bull sharks (small is under 100lbs)

Several were caught with baits on the kite, seeing the sharks attack the bait on the surface is unbelievable.

We have a casualty in the Team, Garry Grouper has a thick lip, and rumour has it he is turning into a Goliath Grouper as punishment for sticking a big hook into its lip last big adventure.

Another fantastic day in paradise.

Everyone shattered and after a good meal at the Rusty Anchor it was early to bed for the crew.

What will Day 5 bring? Watch this space.

I guess that before the cops come round and seize my computer to check out the porn I should explain what's happening in that first photo. A tarpon has gone under the anchor rope of either their boat or a boat anchored nearby. The only way to keep playing the fish is to hang over the bow and pass the rod under the anchor rope. It's nice if somebody keeps hold of your ankles to stop you doing a header into the ocean. I've seen tarpon do this trick 4 or 5 times during a fight. Of course, if it had been Harry the Rat hanging over the bow, a bee would have stung Robber and he'd have had to let the Rat drop into the ocean in the hope that there was a big shark nearby.

Robber Marlow reports computer problems, so we seem to have slipped a day, perhaps he'll catch up later.

The team was up early today but the wind had picked up and this called for a change of plan.

The A team consisting of Crispy Duck and Garry Grouper joined Captain Jack for a days shark fishing in Jew Fish Basin.
I'm not sure if this name is politically correct. The Jewfish has had its name changed to the Goliath Grouper but I guess that Goliath Grouper Basin doesn't really roll off the tongue, so I'll leave it here until contacted by the PC Police

Again readers have asked how Garry got his name. Unlike Crispy who ate the whole of the Duck, Garry actually is a nice person and got his name by landing a Big Goliath grouper on light tackle a couple of years ago.

Their day went to plan and some fantastic sharks were released off a channel in the flats. This is exciting fishing on heavy spinning gear and you can see the sharks coming towards the boat from hundreds of yards away.

Crispy landed the biggest shark he had ever caught and both of them had fish over 100lbs consisting of Lemon Sharks, Dusky sharks and Bull Sharks.

We cannot verify that Crispy had one over 200lbs, as we have not got a reliable witness and no photographic evidence, we have to cover ourselves for legal reasons and to protect the afflicted. (I think that is the small print)

Talking of pictures, I mentioned that Harry was in serious bother. More later.

 

The B team consisting of Harry, Keith and Roy opted for some off shore fishing.

Harry the rat thought he had picked the dry side of the boat going out but he still got very wet and was not happy with Robber and Keith who wouldn’t let him in the dry area.
These boats have a tiny wheelhouse which is really only big enough to keep the captain dry. Marlow, as is his way, always manages to squeeze inside, in much the same way that he's always on the side of the boat where the chum is being thrown in when you're tarpon fishing !!. Anyhow, the secret for people who can't squeeze into the the wheelhouse is to pick the "dry" side (a relative term) of the boat whilst it roars out to the deep water. On a windy day tons of water are thrown into the air to land on the poor anglers trying to hide behind the skipper and Marlow....it's often a futile exercise !.

Over the reef in around 170’ there was a colour change and we all drifted our free lined baits in hope of a sailfish.

To cut the story short we hooked 5 and boated two, this all happened between the time we were trying to capture a huge Hammerhead shark that kept circling the boat looking for The Rat's wallet.

 

Harry the hammerhead was about 10’ long so it was a substantial fish, we managed to get it to eat our 12lb Bonito as if it was a small roach, unfortunately before we could set the hook it decided to run the line around the prop so it was end of story.
Robber doesn't mention who had hold of the rod at the time....what's the betting that they'd given it to Harry the Rat. If he'd been pulled in, The Rat would have been eaten by Harry the Hammerhead and all evidence, together with Robber's mortgage would have been lost for all time. I bet they were urging him on...let him have it Harry....make sure the hooks well inside his mouth...you can just imagine the disappointment when the fish was lost

Then we had a golden hour with all three of us landing a Tuna each.
The biggest was over 30lbs so these again were substantial fish especially on 20 lb test spinning outfits.

To finish the day off Robber had a dinner sized Dolphin giving the B team an off shore slam.

Someone needs to tell Keith that it's REALLY DIFFICULT to look through sunglasses when they're in that position. If he were to rest them on his nose he'd find it much easier

Back to the serious bother concerning Harry. It was so serious that Damon, Keith and Robber promised never to mention the felony on land, however it can be mentioned in dispatch.

 

Everyone knows we have only 3 golden rules that we all abide by on our big Adventures :
Rule 1 Always put your sunscreen on before you go fishing.
Rule 2 Always check your drag on your reel.
Rule 3 Always listen to the Captain.

We now have another Rule.
Rule 4 Always put the memory card back in your camera (one guess who didn't)

Robber Marlow risked life and limb to bring on board the two sailfish for a rare on board photograph, plus everyone posed with their Tunas in a rocking boat.

We must have taken 50 great pictures; well they would have been great if the camera had its memory card in. To make matters worse Harry told us the camera cost three grand and always takes a brilliant picture.
I guess that sorry tale confirms what we always knew - Money can't buy sense !

Anyway another fantastic days fishing followed by Crispy Ducks fish curry.
He had been on about making this special curry since leaving London and had even smuggled in the spices to make it. Everyone agreed that it was brilliant and afterwards we all pigged out on Key Lime Pie to build our strength for tomorrows adventure.