On day one I took Glenn out back for a days flyfishing for Tarpon. The wind was a bit gusty and we had no luck with Tarpon but had a lot of action on the 9 weight Fox Trek flyrod catching Poor Mans Tarpon, ladyfish, also had fun with Spanish Mackerel and Mangrove Snapper on fly as well. There is always some fun and fishing to be had of some kind on any given day.
Day 2 dawned calm and clear and full of promise. Today Tom Hutchinson and Walt Robinson joined me and we fished the Cape Sable area of Everglades National Park. We saw Tarpon freejumping and rolling once in awhile so anchored my skiff and did a lot of casting and dredging. Tom and Walt each had a couple takes and each landed Tarpon on the fly. Tom used the Fox Trek 12 weight flyrod to land his Tarpon, The Tarpon were in the 70lb class.
Tom with his Tarpon caught on fly
On day 3 Glenn joined Tom and Walt as yesterday had been so good to us but today July 4 was a washout literally. Windy and it got stormy, We saw a handfull of rolling Tarpon but sadly no takes. The winds picked up and we had quite the stormy afternoon.
Day 4 we decided it being windy and cloudy that we would use First Growth, our 30 foot offshore boat, and take the family out for Blackfin Tuna and Dolphin fish. We caught plenty of football sized Tuna for sushi fest and located 3 schools of Dolphin which were lots of fun. It was a rough day, 4 to 6 foot seas but everyone hung tough.
everyone got in on the action aboard First Growth a 20 vessel with twin 150hp yamahas.
Days 5,6 and 7 we stayed with offshore fishing as it got better and better. We caught some nice Dolphin on fly, also caught was an outstanding Skipjack Tuna about 20lbs caught by Jackson Keith using a Diablo 550/Permit Trek combo. This was a real battle, The reel holds 300 yards of 15 lb Horizon Braid and the first run took most of the line. Jackson did a great job and landed the Tuna after a half hour battle.
This 20lb Skipjack Tuna made a 250 yard run and took 30 minutes to land using a Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo great catch Jackson
The next day on the same rod and small lure Jackson hooked up with a 30lb Bull Dolphin which was also an epic battle on the Permit Trek/Diablo 550 combo. To top it all on the last day "Action Jackson" landed an estimated 40lb Bull Dolphin using an EOS 30 Fox Trolling reel coupled with the Tarpon Spincast Trek rod. A great catch, this boy had some great fishing.
The Fox Trek Permit rod and Diablo 550 spinning reel is the perfect mid action combo
Keenan helps Jackson hold a 40lb Bull Dolphin that ate a trolled ballyhoo. the new EOS 30 reel and the Trek Tarpon Spincast rod combo makes a great trolling outfit
During the 4 days of offshore fishing we did a lot of what I call running and gunning. I slow the boat and scan the sea and sky for birds using my binoculars. Then when birds are sighted take a compass course to them and then put out a spread of trolling baits. We used Fox EOS reels for this rigged with ballyhoo and the lighter Permit Trek rods and Diablo 550 reels for trolling light lures and casting baits to the school sized fish.
The last day offshore we did not have a fish by noon but all afternoon we found set after set of birds all of which were on Dolphin fish. Some were Slammer sized, 20 lbs and up and the rest were all gaffer sized. A great day was had with 7 slammers and 25 gaffer dolphin.
colorful catch
Ann Robinson with a Schoolie Dolphin
On day 8 I took Dr. Glenn out for his last chance at catching a Tarpon on fly. The weather was perfect. Slick calm and hot, We ran to Cape Sable and immediatey found rolling Tarpon, Glenn caught one about 60lbs to start with.
2 Tarpon were released on the last day on fly by Dr.Glenn Scott
Then around 1 pm while slowly stripping his fly, hooked a monster of a Tarpon. After a 2 hour battle in blistering heat Glenn had an estimated 130lb Tarpon along side the boat. What a battle and what a way to end an 8 day fishing trip to Islamorada. Glenn is a veteran fly angler and really has the patience and skill to make something like this happen. Glenn jumped another fish off early and ended up 2 for 3. Congratulations Glenn on a great job of angling.
Dr.Glenn Scott used the Fox Trek 12weight flyrod to catch an estimated 130lb Tarpon in the backcountry
So of course now that I have a few days off the weather and fishing has really gotten good again. Tarpon come out of the woodwork when the seas get flat. This coming Tuesday we are off to Las Vegas where Fox Sport Fishing will be showcasing all their Tackle at the ICAST tackle show. We will be talking to retailers and distributers from around the world. I can not wait to tell about all the great fish we have taken using Fox Trek rods and all the new Fox Reels.
Tight lines and good fishing.
Captain Skip Nielsen
No comments:
Post a Comment