Fishing Report 10/24/2014

We went fishing at the jetty - at two different spots. We caught Pinfish, Pigfish, a tiny Black Sea Bass and a couple of Rock Blennies. The wind was in our faces so it was hard fishing. NOTE: My ST Croix Tidemaster (with Shimano Symetry) and my Barclay built Epic 686 (with Abel Super 5N reel) was stolen from my truck bed while we slept at the RV campground. BASTARDS!!!! I loved that Epic 686/Abel...

Fishing Report 9/15/2014

Caught three new (to us) species today. Pinfish Sergeant Major - this was a significant event for us as we have spotted these fish but not been able to catch one for the entire duration that we have been fishing at the jetties. BAM!!! Juvenile Grouper - really small guy. He's got big shoes to fill as the King of the Reef. I wasn't expecting this at all (I thought it was another black sea bass). We also caught a bunch of the blennies and Marlon caught something that looked like a juvenile Pompano - but it came off the hook as he almost got it to hand. Lastly - the mullet are starting to stack up for their annual run. The river is getting thick with them and I even saw a bunch of splashing going on as a predator fish (likely a Jack Crevalle) was taking shots at various schools. La took a walk on the beach and reported the birds were diving in pretty close to shore - I'm going to have some fun very shortly (on the fly and on topwater poppers) - oh boy!!!!

Killed It!

Two spots today - mediocre results at the first spot, a virtual slaughter house at the second. Hooked into schoolie bones, tons of snappers, several darts and several BFTs. Even caught a solitary bone on a bread fly - ridiculous fun!!! I saw a hunting pack of HUGE BFTs and a Black Trevally - by the time I tied on a gummy minnow - they had moved on. I'm going back tomorrow!!! BTW - every fish I caught was safely released - crimping down the barbs on the hook and minimal handling allowed for strong swim aways.

Second Spot - Second Chance

I picked up and went back to the spot I was casting at yesterday. I tied on a bread fly and on the first cast, I brought up this feisty big eyed trevally. I focused on getting my timing down on my double haul and also tried more to feel the rod loading. Some of my best and longest casting to date! I saw a few needlefish too, but they weren't interested in the bread fly or the green scud I later tied on (although darts, snapper and some small BFTs certainly were). Over six hours flyfishing today -

Today's Fishing Report - 22 April

Flyfishing in the morning. Caught three schoolie bones, this huge Dart, a pinfish, a two-bar goatfish, and I hooked (and lost) a big Bluefin Trevally - more on that in a second. I caught most of the fish on an Orvis "Meko Special". I am going to start compressing the barbs on the flies I use to make releasing easier. So about the BFT. It was actually the first fish I hooked - I started off with a gummy minnow on the line. I found the magic spot where I normally fish (it was harder to recognize because the tide was not as low). Within a few seconds of wading out, I saw a blue flash - I cast the fly on a short roll cast and it hit it hard. Learning from the last few times I was in this situation, I let the fish take more line than not. It took me around two rocks and drug me out to water that was deeper. I wrestled that fish for 15 minutes and after another rock wrapping, it finally broke me off. The scream that I let go could probably be heard back stateside. 20# test was what that fish broke off - even though I lost, it was an epic battle and I'm getting closer to winning. That Dart was the biggest I've hooked up - it fought almost as hard a decent sized bonefish. All in all - a great day of fishing - hard, and slow between hits, but still great!

Pinfish Take

The tide was as low as I've seen it.

These coral sprigs were in and out of the water as waves lapped in. Good thing for the colonies that the spring lows are short in duration.

This Pinfish was the second fish I caught - just before the carnage started.

Without Fail -

This is the third time I've been to this spot and it has delivered the goods without fail.

Within five minutes of getting set up, I hooked up with this small but feisty Bluefin Trevally. It was cruising through the reformed surf where I cast out in front of it, watched it change direction and WHACK! FISH ON! When I released it, it looked like it was ready for more -

Next I saw a school of Bonefish move in. I cast, got one to chase, wait for it, wait for it, wait for it - SET, TENSION ON, and WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES!!!! It was a big one - bolted at full speed to my backing - straight for the rocks near shore. I brought it back out a couple of times, but it was determined to get to the rocks. You don't get to be a big bonefish by being dumb... it broke me off after the third run. BUT WHAT A FIGHT!!!

I also hooked up a small pinfish. Nasty booger - I waited for it to stop thrashing around so I could get the hook off. By the time it did stop, there was fish poo everywhere - on the sand, all over itself, but thankfully none on me. Hook out, then off you go back to the sea.

Finally - the tide came up (medium tidal swing due to the waxing moon). The bones were not drifting past so I figured they moved in (because I did see a few big trevally patrolling the flats with the increased water depth). I walked back to the beach. I walked the shoreline looking for fish hanging out and I saw this guy - 18" of pure muscle rooting around in the sand between the waves lapping up on the beach...

I cast out dozens of times and it just ignored me. BUT on the last cast, it turned, I saw it take the fly into it's mouth and WHACK! It ran like a race horse and after a long battle, I had my second of three fish needed for making lumpia.

I hooked up to another bonefish while walking back - wrestled it to the beach and just as I got it up on shore, it spit the hook... I ran to grab it, but a wave beat me and the fish swam off (laughing at me I figure - good for it!)

Great fishing day!!!!

"Dang It"

I grew up mostly in Northern Florida.

"Dang" was a word that expressed shock, amazement or the unbelievability of the situation at hand.

In these pictures of the first Pinfish I caught yesterday, I bet it isn't thinking "cheese!" - I bet it's got "dang it!!!" on it's mind.

Flying Down South

Flyfishing this morning down at the Southern part of the island.

I hooked into a bonefish that subsequently broke off not only the fly, but the entire tippet.

After that, I thought I hooked into another one, but instead it turned out to be a pinfish. I caught a second (bigger one). These guys have some fight in them - not as intense as a bonefish but good nonetheless. They even look similar to bonefish in the water - olive/electric green backs, narrow profile, travels in schools, etc.

As I was dealing with the second pinfish I hooked, I saw an entire schools of bonefish breeze on by - like they were waiting for me to get distracted. That was the last I saw of them.

I was walking back along the shoreline and I saw some darts schooling within a few feet. I cast the fly and just pulled the rod back - WHACK! The dart went hysterical for the bitter fly! I landed a fish each time I cast - about ten of them by the time I reached the starting point.

All fish were caught and released.

Awesome fishing morning!