Capt. Brandon Simmons | 76 Sailfish in One Day - Keys Record Breakdown | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 335

Captain Brandon Simmons runs the Into The Blue boat at Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys and recently set the unofficial Keys record for most sailfish caught in a single day with 76 releases during an incredible February migration. On this How 2 Tuesday episode, Brandon joins Tom to break down exactly what happened that day — but more importantly, he reveals the specific techniques, rigging strategies, and preparation tactics that any angler can use to maximize their opportunities when sailfish conditions align. From belly-hooking pilchards to the exact leader setup that helped them land fish after fish, Brandon shares the details that separate a good sailfish day from a record-breaking one. If you've ever wanted to dial in your sailfish game or understand what it takes to capitalize on peak conditions, this conversation delivers.

The Day Everything Lined Up: 76 Sailfish in February

When Brandon describes the conditions that led to 76 sailfish releases, he talks about something Florida Keys captains wait for all year: that perfect alignment of strong east wind, Gulf Stream current running close to shore, and sailfish migrating down the coast in February. They had 300 sabiki pilchards — massive baits the size of his hand — a crew of experienced Keys fishermen including Sam Alazzo, Lee Gahagen, and Ben Zidane, and Scott Martin's Freeman boat. But what happened in the first 30 minutes tells you everything about how dialed in the conditions were. Brandon reveals they caught eight sailfish before they even reached the clean blue water, with fish tailing down waves in the nasty green water, saving energy as they migrated. The crew never experienced a slow period all day, and Brandon caught almost every release on video. The full story of what those conditions looked like and why they're so rare starts at 2:35.

The Approach That Changed Everything: Side Angle Casting

Most anglers would roar up on tailing sailfish and cast into the waves ahead of them, but Brandon and his crew learned something critical early that morning. When they pitched baits into the waves with fish swimming toward them, the sailfish would sink out by the time they reached the boat. So they switched their entire game plan. Brandon explains the specific angle of approach that kept fish in the strike zone — coming from the side and almost behind the fish, giving a downwind cast out in front of them so the sailfish never saw the boat. This adjustment, combined with finding fish on the powder side of the edge where green water meets that hard line of clear purple-blue, turned every presentation into a high-percentage shot. The positioning details matter, and Brandon breaks down exactly where that edge is and why sailfish stack up there. The technique for approaching and casting to sailfish without spooking them starts at 7:33.

The Rigging System: Why 30-Pound Fluorocarbon and Small Circles Worked

When you're trying to land 76 sailfish in a day, your 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 leader — the legal IGFA length for a released fish. The hook is shockingly small: a six or seven-ought circle hook. But here's where most anglers go wrong with the hookset. Brandon explains that you don't wind tight and come back hard on a sailfish. Instead, you open the bail, point the rod at the fish, let them eat for about seven seconds, then close the bail and wind nice and easy with the rod tip low. The circle hook does the work, coming down into the corner of the mouth just like keeping a tarpon from gulping air. The knot connection between mono and fluoro is a simple uni-to-uni or small Albright — one knot, low profile, casts through the guides with ease. And at the end of the fight, Brandon just wraps the 30-pound leader around his hand (or pulls his sleeve over for protection) and pops the fish off. The complete rigging breakdown and hookset technique starts at 9:30.

The Secret Bait Hook Placement Nobody Talks About

Right at the end of the conversation, Brandon drops what might be the most valuable tip of the entire episode: belly-hook your pilchards. Not through the nose, not through the back — through the belly. Brandon explains that belly-hooked baits swim away from the fish, you can't see the hook as much, and they got significantly better hooksets this way. The bait paddles harder, which actually fires sailfish up rather than making it too easy. A pilchard that's working hard to escape triggers that predatory response. Brandon's preferred bait is a big whopper pilchard or razorbelly — baits that stay on the surface better and swim harder than ballyhoo or goggle eyes. It's a small detail that made a massive difference on a day when every hookup mattered. Brandon's belly-hook tip and bait selection strategy comes at 21:03.

Final Thoughts from Tom

What I love about this conversation with Brandon is how practical it is. Sure, 76 sailfish in a day is an extreme outcome that requires perfect conditions, but every single technique he shares applies to regular days when you just want to maximize your opportunities. The belly-hook tip alone is worth the listen — it's one of those small details that separates guides who consistently produce from anglers who wonder why their hookup ratio isn't better.

Brandon's approach to rigging and preparation is what struck me most. Six rods minimum, simple knots you can tie fast, and a hookset strategy that works with circle hooks instead of against them. These aren't complicated tournament secrets — they're smart, repeatable systems that work whether you're targeting your first sailfish or your seventy-sixth of the day.

If you fish offshore in the Keys or anywhere sailfish migrate, this episode gives you a blueprint for making the most of your time on the water. Listen to the whole thing — Brandon's got the kind of experience that only comes from putting in the days, and he breaks it all down in a way that's immediately actionable.