Creatures of Habit

A cold snap brings strong northeast winds that whip the western boundary of the Gulf Stream into a rolling countercurrent. Small-craft warnings are raised, and locals used to warm-weather pampering scurry to find appropriate clothing.

This is the time of year when generations of anglers descend on South Florida for the winter sailfish season. During the following three months, fishermen from Fort Pierce to Key West will brave the brisk air and challenging seas to participate in one of bluewater fishing’s most iconic and enduring traditions.

Recreational billfishing was born here, and for decades, the pursuit of sailfish has enamored devotees of the species. The true believers include Nick Smith, one of the most accomplished billfish anglers in the world. He’s 80, and he’s been at it since he was 15.

“My father hired Capt. Bob Hayes, skipper of out of West Palm Beach,” Smith says, recalling how he’d only ever caught fish from a dock. The captain’s son “explained how I was supposed to sit in the chair, hold the rod with my thumb on the reel spool and feel for the tap that would signal a bite. Then feather the spool to drop back the bait so the fish could eat it, put the reel in gear and get hooked up. My first bite went off like clockwork, and what ensued was the greatest thing I ever saw. The fish began jumping, pulling drag, putting on a display. It was incredibly exciting, just spectacular! The fish was so beautiful, it took my breath away.”