Snapper Slam & 2 Keeper Swords — Ride-Along on the Just Cuz

Captain Conan calls me on a Saturday night. “Come ride along tomorrow. It’s gonna be flat.”

He wasn’t lying. Sunday, March 1st — flat calm, not a ripple, the kind of day that makes you wonder why you ever do anything besides fish. Loaded up on the Just Cuz with the Bass Pro crew — general manager Scott, his right-hand man Dan, and a few others. Good people, good vibes.

The Audible

We left the dock with Lindgren Pitmans rigged and ready, plans set for the sword grounds. But Captain Conan made the call on the way out — stop at the Islamorada Hump first. Do some deep dropping. See what’s down there.

When we pulled up, there were boats everywhere trolling for tuna. Nobody getting bit. We went a different direction entirely — dropped the deep rigs down and the fish said yes.

The Hump Delivered

Little to no current on the Hump, which meant the bait was sitting right where it needed to be.

• 6-man limit of snappers — yellow eye and vermillion, box filling up fast
• A pile of bandit rudderfish — steady action on every drop
• Lost a couple big amberjack — the ones that remind you the ocean always wins a few rounds

With the fish box already looking healthy, we pulled anchor and headed for the sword ledge.

2-for-2 on Swords

Got to the sword grounds and found the current ripping. With a box already full of snappers, I looked at Conan and the crew and said, “This might not be possible.” But you don’t come all the way out here and not drop a bait.

Loaded up 12 pounds of lead and sent her down. Hit bottom — immediate bite. Dropped back to reset and the current was so strong it took another 300+ revolutions on the LP just to touch bottom again. Let the bait soak, hit the button — fish on.

She was a keeper. Not a giant, but big enough. When you’re fighting ripping current with 12 pounds of lead and still putting a sword in the box, you take the win.

One more drop. 2-for-2. Second fish about a foot bigger than the first. Two keeper swordfish in conditions that had no business producing.

One More Shot

Did a third drop, because why not when you’re running hot. The streak didn’t hold — but going 2-for-3 on swords after already boxing out on snappers? That’s not a bad day. That’s a legendary day.

The Ride Home

Full fish box. Snapper limit, rudderfish for days, and two keeper swords. Flat calm ride back into Islamorada with the Bass Pro crew grinning ear to ear. Scott and Dan got the full experience — from deep dropping the Hump to sword fighting in the current.

Big thanks to Captain Conan and the Just Cuz crew. When the man calls and says it’s gonna be flat — you go.

Want to experience Islamorada fishing like this? Book your charter on the DirtyBoat →