Seeing these fish is so amazing, but catching them can be difficult for many reasons- super skinny, crystal clear water, fish moving unpredictably as it is on the hunt, and the incredible amount of floating weed that moves in on the incoming flats in the summer. We have used a # of different flies for them and Dave has continually been updating his design. I quickly (or, Dave would say slowly) reeled up the 6 wt. I was using for reds, and grabbed the 10 wt with his latest creation. The fish was ambling towards us – on a zig-zag pattern – and right when she got close – Dave said “now’s your shot” – and I went to cast right when the fish slammed a pod of mullet! Damn! And, to make matters worse – a redfish grabbed at my tarpon fly. What a mess. Luckily – the redfish got off – and I got the line stripped back in. I was in overdrive – started to recast – would have been a desperation shot since the tarpon had moved away (missed the mullet) and resumed its hunt. Dave told me – (in no uncertain terms) to hold my fire and wait for my shot. Fish was sort of going away from us at that point – Dave cranked on the push pole (mind you temps were in the mid-90’s/Humidity about 1000%) and got us to within about 80 feet. It was a 90 degree shot but he said “go for it” – the fly, for once, zinged out there and then landed very softly just off to the side in front of the fish, I did one gentle strip and WHAM! Fish on.
Gotta be careful what you try for on hot hot days! Man I had no idea the fight I was in for. The fish was in such skinny water that it couldn’t jump and expend any energy quickly. It tried to jump one time – came ½ out of the water and I knew I was in trouble. Its back was WIDE and its mouth BIG. I think it was actually good for the fish and bad for me – it ran well into my backing across the flat – we’d get on the fly line, I’d fight it awhile – it would win and go away again – then it just started wagging its way around the flat – tugging us along behind. Dave would stake out, the fish would give a burst of energy and off it would go again. After every run I’d increase the drag but this fish didn’t seem to care. After about 40 minutes, 2 near blackouts, Dave having to pour cold water over my head and down my throat, as he says my whining about the cramping in my arms and back – I got the fish turned and to the boat. She was at the leader a few times and I was very worried about her because of the heat and the sharks I had seen in the area but she still had a lot of umph! She rested near the boat for a little while and then I could tell she was going to surge again so rather than handle her – I just bore down on the line and popped her off. Line broke right at the hook so I think given the conditions it was about the best we could do for her. And, thank goodness I was using a Pacific reel – can’t imagine trying that with anything with a smaller arbor.
After Dave and I both drank an amazing amount of water and got some rest, we resumed red-fishing – but the tide had come in quite a bit during that time. He wanted to try a new area and that sure paid off – we found a bunch of NICE snook laid up underneath some mangroves (I need to work on my casting under low trees) and then found a school of about 40 redfish that all ranged in size from about 24” – 30” – they were in crystal clear water and refused 3 different flies before we unlocked the door with a spoon fly. Of course, the smallest fish in the school ate – charged the fly right when the biggest fish was going for it - but I think it was about all I could handle after that tarpon experience. It was still a nice 24” fish. Could have stayed there and fished the school a bit more – but decided to move on and see if we could find some more snook. Hit a couple spots but it was getting late and hot(ter) – water temps were 92 degrees plus – and we headed back to the dock. On the way found a football sized school of fish slamming the surface – both took out fly rods and caught more ladyfish and jacks than we could count. Couldn’t believe it but didn’t see one tarpon anywhere in sight.
Overall that tarpon was the best fish I’ve ever caught: given the visual image of that fish meandering across the flat in clear water, the take, the fight etc. I’ve caught bigger fish (dave says this was a 90+ lb fish), fish that jumped more etc. and the take with sailfish etc. is very cool but this was an amazing package. I feel sorry for people who think they have to catch #’s of fish – for me it’s definitely quality over quantity.
What a day!”
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