Landlubber's Luck

Some of the world's best saltwater fishing is to be had in the warm waters off Florida's coast. Shrewd hands usually wait until late spring, when the big runs of bluefin tuna, tarpon, blue & white marlin begin. But for the professional small-boat skipper the best fishing time is now--when the tourists are running.

This year, from Stuart to Key West and around the Keys to Shark River on the Gulf, some 300 swivel-seated, outriggered fishing boats, some fresh from Coast Guard duty, are regaining their prewar business. Boat rentals are up from $40 to $60 a day. Most boats carry four fishermen, a captain and mate; the best are comfortable cabin boats. For the opening of the 99-day Metropolitan Miami Fishing Tournament this week, all Miami-berthed boats are duty-bound to parade, with flags flying, down Biscayne Bay.

In Miami, the average fisherman, a landlubber, dashes down to Pier 5 before 8 a.m. He buys a box lunch at the Trade Winds Restaurant (which also cooks the fish he catches), goes goose-bumpy at the thought of hooking a 50-lb. sailfish (which are accommodating enough to bite the year round), hires a boat, or joins a party that wants to split expenses. Then, begoggled and suntan oiled, and supplied with rod, reel and heavy 24-thread line that experts would blush at using, he is lugged to Gulf Stream fishing spots. Captain or mate tutors him in the "drop back" sail-fishing technique (i.e., when a fish hits the bait with its bill as if to stun it, the fisherman counts slowly up to ten, then puts his reel in gear and hauls, back to set the hook).

When luck has been good, the boat churns back to dock about 5 p.m., flying a white flag from an outrigger, denoting that a sailfish has been landed. The first shore stop is usually Pflueger's taxidermist, whose charge for mounting sailfish is up from $10 to $12 a foot. The small-fry albacore, kingfish, bonito, dolphin and snappers (averaging from 6 to 12 Ibs.) are mostly extra gravy for the skipper--to sell, filleted, at 50-c- a Ib.

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