Drifter
04-11-99, 12:56 AM
Fellow Fishheads,
I just got in from the Florida Keys and thought I'd sit down and type a little (sort of) trip report before hittin' the sack. Let me preface this diatribe by saying I should mail the Caddis Swap entries sometime this week. Thanks for your patience. I also tried to catch up on the Board ramblings. I see a new C&R thread is going strong as well as a barbless hook debate. I see Owl is keepin' things jumpin. Ole Man.....how's that old Civil War injury doing? Something about a lead ball in the mouth or some such? Anyway here it is…..
Saturday afternoon (04/03/99) we coasted into the Fiesta Key KOA Campground along with some close friends. After pitching camp and eating supper, I headed for the flats. With about 30 minutes of daylight left, I had a large fish (????) chase a Clouser, but I missed the fish. No other strikes. Meanwhile my oldest son was busy reeling in Mangrove Snapper from the jetty.
Sunday, we rented a boat and went out into Channel Five in search of tarpon. The tarpon wouldn't cooperate so we settled for more snapper and an interesting mix of fish whose identities were unknown to me.
Monday, we joined a friend who has a 26' foot fishing boat and headed for some wrecks off the coast. On the first cast, my oldest son hooked into a 36-pound amberjack. He needed help reeling in the monster from the 242-foot deep shipwreck. Shortly thereafter, I hooked into an amberjack, and after about 15 minutes, boated the fish (about forty pounds). After a quick photo, the fish was revived and released. I didn't revive until about 6 o'clock that evening! Whew! Trolled for dolphin with no luck, and drifted for sailfish. Had one sail cruise our lines but he didn't take. All-in-all, a great day.
Tuesday and Wednesday, I fished the grassy flats around the campground and caught snapper on the flyrod as well as barracuda. Author's Note--There are currently several large 'cuda near Islamorada, which have a Jack Edward's Clouser firmly attached to their toothy jaw. I tried wire tippets but didn't get many strikes. Without the wire tippet,.....lots of strikes and lots of lost fish.
Thursday I witnessed a phenomena, the likes I have never seen. I waded onto the flats of Lower Matecumbe Key at first light. Actually before dawn as there was a waning moon to give me a head start. I was about 50 feet from shore in about 10 inches of water when I heard it. Splash! Over to my right. Then "Splash" again. This time on my left. Then again in front of me. Eight-inch baitfish known locally as "blue runners" were literally jumping from the water, followed by a long slender flash. The tarpon were everywhere. These fish were easily 20 to 50 pounds. Could this be the beginning of the tarpon spawn I had read about! Some were chasing fish to within fifteen feet of where I stood. They were in water so shallow, their tail would protrude. I was so excited, I had trouble tying on a fly. For the next 20 minutes, I casted to these magnificent fish with no success. This type of fishing seemed to require the stealth of a deer hunt, but yet a delicate presentation similar to that of fishing over a rising trout. And it lasted about as long as a typical Georgia duck hunt, with the action ceasing when the sun begins to rise. As soon as it had started, it was over. I waded back to the beach, sat in the sand, smiled, and smoked my last Don Diego #1. Now I know why Hemmingway loved this place. Such a variety of fish to be had in such a small area. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets with all the pastel coloring. Beautiful water. Good cigars.
I learned a new retrieve (for me at least). Saw a tarpon fisherman cast his line. When the fly had landed, he quickly placed the rod under his armpit area, and began rapidly jerking the line toward him with both hands. This retrieve was faster than a one-handed retrieve and made the fly "skitter" across the surface. This seemed to simulate the "blue runners" quite well.
We had to reluctantly head back north Thursday afternoon and did a quick stop at Kennedy Space Center. Saw a Titan rocket launch (Dept of Def satellite) on Friday. Awesome! Ate some gator tail and frog legs at The Lone Cabbage Fish Camp on the St. Johns River near Titusville. After the meal, we went on an airboat ride and saw an abundance of wildlife. I highly recommend this place as it is one of the last surviving authentic "fish camps."
Anyway it was a great trip and I can't wait to get back.
The Drifter
I just got in from the Florida Keys and thought I'd sit down and type a little (sort of) trip report before hittin' the sack. Let me preface this diatribe by saying I should mail the Caddis Swap entries sometime this week. Thanks for your patience. I also tried to catch up on the Board ramblings. I see a new C&R thread is going strong as well as a barbless hook debate. I see Owl is keepin' things jumpin. Ole Man.....how's that old Civil War injury doing? Something about a lead ball in the mouth or some such? Anyway here it is…..
Saturday afternoon (04/03/99) we coasted into the Fiesta Key KOA Campground along with some close friends. After pitching camp and eating supper, I headed for the flats. With about 30 minutes of daylight left, I had a large fish (????) chase a Clouser, but I missed the fish. No other strikes. Meanwhile my oldest son was busy reeling in Mangrove Snapper from the jetty.
Sunday, we rented a boat and went out into Channel Five in search of tarpon. The tarpon wouldn't cooperate so we settled for more snapper and an interesting mix of fish whose identities were unknown to me.
Monday, we joined a friend who has a 26' foot fishing boat and headed for some wrecks off the coast. On the first cast, my oldest son hooked into a 36-pound amberjack. He needed help reeling in the monster from the 242-foot deep shipwreck. Shortly thereafter, I hooked into an amberjack, and after about 15 minutes, boated the fish (about forty pounds). After a quick photo, the fish was revived and released. I didn't revive until about 6 o'clock that evening! Whew! Trolled for dolphin with no luck, and drifted for sailfish. Had one sail cruise our lines but he didn't take. All-in-all, a great day.
Tuesday and Wednesday, I fished the grassy flats around the campground and caught snapper on the flyrod as well as barracuda. Author's Note--There are currently several large 'cuda near Islamorada, which have a Jack Edward's Clouser firmly attached to their toothy jaw. I tried wire tippets but didn't get many strikes. Without the wire tippet,.....lots of strikes and lots of lost fish.
Thursday I witnessed a phenomena, the likes I have never seen. I waded onto the flats of Lower Matecumbe Key at first light. Actually before dawn as there was a waning moon to give me a head start. I was about 50 feet from shore in about 10 inches of water when I heard it. Splash! Over to my right. Then "Splash" again. This time on my left. Then again in front of me. Eight-inch baitfish known locally as "blue runners" were literally jumping from the water, followed by a long slender flash. The tarpon were everywhere. These fish were easily 20 to 50 pounds. Could this be the beginning of the tarpon spawn I had read about! Some were chasing fish to within fifteen feet of where I stood. They were in water so shallow, their tail would protrude. I was so excited, I had trouble tying on a fly. For the next 20 minutes, I casted to these magnificent fish with no success. This type of fishing seemed to require the stealth of a deer hunt, but yet a delicate presentation similar to that of fishing over a rising trout. And it lasted about as long as a typical Georgia duck hunt, with the action ceasing when the sun begins to rise. As soon as it had started, it was over. I waded back to the beach, sat in the sand, smiled, and smoked my last Don Diego #1. Now I know why Hemmingway loved this place. Such a variety of fish to be had in such a small area. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets with all the pastel coloring. Beautiful water. Good cigars.
I learned a new retrieve (for me at least). Saw a tarpon fisherman cast his line. When the fly had landed, he quickly placed the rod under his armpit area, and began rapidly jerking the line toward him with both hands. This retrieve was faster than a one-handed retrieve and made the fly "skitter" across the surface. This seemed to simulate the "blue runners" quite well.
We had to reluctantly head back north Thursday afternoon and did a quick stop at Kennedy Space Center. Saw a Titan rocket launch (Dept of Def satellite) on Friday. Awesome! Ate some gator tail and frog legs at The Lone Cabbage Fish Camp on the St. Johns River near Titusville. After the meal, we went on an airboat ride and saw an abundance of wildlife. I highly recommend this place as it is one of the last surviving authentic "fish camps."
Anyway it was a great trip and I can't wait to get back.
The Drifter