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January8-11201417amazingcatchtotals.Itwasagoodyearclassofjuvenilesailshtheyearbeforeheexplains.Andwehadabsolutelyidealconditionswithperfectwaterqualityalightnorthwindandcalmseas.FloridasnetbanyearsearliercertainlycontributedtotheabundanceofbaitandtheswordshlonglinebanoffthesoutheastFloridacoasthadlimitedbenetforsailsaswell.Finallywehadsomeofthebestlivebaitsailshanglersontheplanetassembledandtheycertainlycapitalized.Alotofboatswerecatchingfourshatatime.Thecrewsaresonely-tunedandorchestrateditsincrediblewhattheycando.TwogeographicfeaturesfurtherenhancethePalmBeachareaasasailshmecca.Thewarmandnutrient-richGulfStreamcomesclosesttotheshorethanatanyotherpointinitslongconuence.ThewesternedgeislocatedacouplemilesoffthebeachjustsouthoftheBoyntonInlet.TheContinentalShelfisalsothenarrowestoffshorefromPalmBeachCounty.Thesefeatureshelpconcentratebaitbutthekeyisguringoutwhatdepththesailsharefeeding--variancescanchangerapidlyinshortdistances.ThatswhykiteshingwithseaanchorsissopopularhereTwyfordexplains.Seaanchorsslowthedriftsoyoureabletokeepthebaitsinthestrikezonelongerandthekitesallowanaturalpresentation.Capt.GeorgeMitchellofJupiterisoneofthemanykitebaitmastersandaregularonthehighly-competitivetournamentcircuitincludingtheDerby.ThelatelegendaryskipperCapt.BobLewiswashistutorandMitchellhasbeenrunninghisownboatsfor26years.Hecurrentlyrunsa36Yellowncenterconsolewithtriple300-hpYamahafour-strokeoutboards.Thewalk-aroundlayoutaffords360-degreeshabilitywhichisanimportantfeaturewhendealingwithmultiplehook-ups.Idealsailshconditionsareasoutheastwindat10to15knotsinthedaysimmediatelyfollowingacoldfrontMitchellsays.Ilikeabeam-seadriftandIcoverallthebaseswithavarietyofbaits.Thekiteskeeptheleadersoutofthewaterandthebaitsswimmingtightonthesurface.Whenthesailsarepouringthroughyoucanreallyexcel.WevehadsomeincredibledaysintheDerby.Thehook-upsweresofastandfuriousyoucouldntcallinareleasetoTournamentControlbecauseofconstantchatterontheradio.Thesedaysthesailshbaitofchoiceisalivegoggle-eyebutMitchellsaysseveralotherspeciesareequallyeffectiveincludingpilchardssardinesandcigarminnows.IllneverforgetBobsayingBeforesailshategoggle-eyestheyatebluerunners.Andbeforebluerunnerstheyateballyhoo.BeforethatitwaspinshandbeforethattheIndianswerecatchingthemonchickenfeathers.Sailshhaventchangedtheshermenhave.MitchellshesPennInternational16conventionalreelsspooledwith20-poundProSpecuorescentyellowmonolamentonthekiterodsor12-poundlineonthePenn8500Spinsherpitchbaitoutts.Hekeepsaconstantwatchonthesurfacespread.Ialwaysshonebaitshortenoughtoseehimheexplains.Hismovementwilltellyouwhattheothersaredoing.YouwatchthereactionKiteshingallowscenterconsolesliketheDoubleDiamondtobecompetitivewithmuchlargerbattlewagons.Livegoggle-eyessuspendedunderakitehasproventobehighlyeffective.