Seventy-six sailfish releases in a single day is the unofficial Florida Keys record, and Captain Brandon Simmons set it during a February migration aboard a Freeman boat. Brandon runs the Into The Blue boat at Hawks Cay Resort, and rather than just tell a war story, he broke down the repeatable techniques behind it: the side-angle casting approach that keeps the boat out of a sailfish's sight line, a simple 30-pound fluorocarbon circle-hook rig, and a belly-hook bait trick that produced better hooksets all day long.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen to the episode now.
Captain Brandon Simmons and his crew set the unofficial Florida Keys record with 76 sailfish releases in a single day during February, fishing alongside Scott Martin on a Freeman boat. He describes a perfect alignment of strong east wind, Gulf Stream current running close to shore, and sailfish migrating down the coast that made the day possible.
February and March are prime sailfish months in the Florida Keys, when the Gulf Stream current moves close to shore and runs to the north along the coast. Strong east winds combined with that current create ideal conditions as sailfish migrate down the coast, tailing down waves to conserve energy.
Large pilchards, such as whopper or razorbelly pilchards, are Brandon's preferred bait because they stay on the surface and swim harder than ballyhoo or goggle eyes. He belly-hooks them with a small circle hook so the bait swims away from the fish and hides the hook better, which he says produces superior hooksets.
Brandon runs at least 15 feet of 30-pound fluorocarbon leader connected to 20-pound monofilament mainline. Fifteen feet is the legal IGFA leader length for a released sailfish. The 30-pound fluorocarbon is strong enough to land fish quickly but light enough to break off when you grab the leader to pop the hook.
Open the bail and point the rod at the fish, letting it eat the bait for about seven seconds. Then close the bail and wind nice and easy with the rod tip low, rather than winding tight and coming back hard. The circle hook sets itself in the corner of the mouth as you apply steady pressure with the rod tip low.
Sailfish work on both sides of the edge where green shallow water transitions to powdery water and then meets a hard line of clear purple-blue offshore water. Brandon found most fish on the powder side of that edge, anywhere from 80 to 200 feet deep depending on where the Gulf Stream current was running.
What I love about this conversation is how practical it is. Seventy-six sailfish in a day is an extreme outcome that requires perfect conditions, but every technique Brandon shares applies to regular days when you just want to maximize your chances. I wanted him on because his approach to rigging and preparation, six rods minimum, simple knots you can tie fast, and a hookset strategy that works with circle hooks instead of against them, are smart, repeatable systems anyone can use, whether it is your first sailfish or your seventy-sixth.
Brandon described the alignment Keys captains wait for all year: strong east wind, Gulf Stream current close to shore, and sailfish migrating down the coast in February. They had 300 hand-sized sabiki pilchards, a crew of experienced Keys fishermen, and Scott Martin's Freeman boat. He said they caught eight sailfish before they even reached clean blue water, with fish tailing down waves in the nasty green water to save energy. They never hit a slow period all day. Hear why those conditions are so rare in the episode.
Most anglers roar up on tailing sailfish and cast into the waves ahead of them, but Brandon's crew learned early that fish would sink out by the time they reached the boat, so they changed the whole plan, approaching from the side and almost behind the fish for a downwind cast out in front, so the sailfish never saw the boat. Combined with finding fish on the powder side of the edge, every presentation became a high-percentage shot. Listen to him break down exactly where that edge is.
Watch the full episode or listen now to hear the rest.
To land 76 sailfish in a day, the rigging has to be simple, strong, and fast to retie. Brandon runs 20-pound mono mainline for casting ease connected to at least 15 feet of 30-pound fluorocarbon, the legal IGFA length, with a six or seven-ought circle hook. The hookset is counterintuitive: open the bail, point the rod, let them eat about seven seconds, then close the bail and wind easy with the rod tip low and let the hook do the work. Hear the full rigging and hookset breakdown.
Near the end Brandon dropped what might be the most valuable tip of the episode: belly-hook your pilchards instead of nose- or back-hooking them. A belly-hooked bait swims away from the fish, hides the hook, and paddles harder, which fires sailfish up rather than making it too easy. His preferred baits are whopper pilchards and razorbellies that stay on the surface and swim harder than ballyhoo or goggle eyes. Hear his belly-hook and bait-selection strategy in the conversation.
The day after this one, what struck me most was that the belly-hook tip alone is worth the listen. It is one of those small details that separates guides who consistently produce from anglers who wonder why their hookup ratio is not better.
If you fish offshore in the Keys or anywhere sailfish migrate, this episode gives you a blueprint for making the most of your time. Brandon's experience only comes from putting in the days, and he breaks it all down in a way that is immediately actionable. Listen to the whole thing.
Listen to the entire conversation here.
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Captain Brandon Simmons runs the Into The Blue boat at Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys, specializing in offshore fishing and sailfish tactics. He set the unofficial Florida Keys record for most sailfish caught in a single day with 76 releases during a February migration, fishing alongside professional bass angler Scott Martin and an experienced Keys crew. His favorite fish to catch is sailfish, and he is known for his sight-casting techniques and live-bait presentations for migrating pelagics. You can find him on Instagram at @captainbrando.
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