Big wahoo makes for a happy Father’s Day
EdLeitner celebratedFather’s Day by finally catching the type of fish he’dbeen hoping for when he bought his boat Reel Rugged.
“I purchased my boat a year and a half ago, after not having a boat for 37 years,” said Leitner, of Oakland Park, whose boat name is a reference to his business, E & E Carpet Service and Sales. “Iwas catching barracudas … nothing grandiose.”
That changed dramatically on Sunday, as Leitner and his son-in-law John Jansenn landed a 51-inch wahoo that they estimated at 45 pounds.
“When I gaffed it, I could barely get it on board,” Leitner said.
His original plan was to go out Port Everglades Inlet and head south, but Leitner said at the last minute he decided to turn north instead.
He started trolling in 150 feet and within minutes, the wahoo hit a skirted ballyhoo.
“I let my son-in-law take over for a while, and it kind of tired him out,” said Leitner, adding that the fight lasted 25-30 minutes.
“While hewas fighting it, once the fish got close enough, it saw the boat and screamed out line. That told mewhat it could be. WhenI saw blue stripes as it came back to the boat, I was a happy guy. It made my day really fast.” the only tuna fishing with her father. The 24 anglers caught a total of142dolphin.
Everglades closures: Because of highwater levels from recent rains that have forced wildlife to seek refuge on tree islands and levees, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has temporarily restricted public access to the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor, Holey Land and Rotenberger wildlife management areas in Palm Beach, Broward and Miamicounties, but fishing from boats is allowed in canals. Call the FWC at 561-625-5122.
Pier clean-up: The Anglin’s Pier Underwater Clean-up is 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday in Lauderdale-bytheGold Coast Scuba is offering volunteer divers a free T-shirt, a free air fill and a free barbecue following the dive at the Surf & Yacht Club on ElMar Drive. In addition to beach divers, whomust bring a pair of sea snips and gloves, non-diving volunteers are neededto haul buckets containing fishing line and other debris collected by the divers onto the pier. The section of the pier where divers are collecting debris will be closed to anglers. Call Gold Coast at 954-616-5909.
World Cup: The Blue MarlinWorld Cup is July 4, with teams around the world fishing for eight hours in their respective time zones for a winnertakecash prize for the single largest blue marlin. The base entry fee is $5,000 per team and the optional Big Blue Challenge is $8,000. The entry deadline is 5 p.m. July 2. Visit blue marlinworldcup.com or contact tournament director Fly Navarro at 561-310-9214 or fly@blue marlinworldcup.com.