CELEBRATING 8 YEARS AS THE VOICE OF SALTWATER FLY FISHING
FLY FISHING MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2021
Join us in • MARK HATTER - THE GREATEST TARPON FISHERY OF ALL TIME • JESSE MALES - TYING THE FAT HEAD PALOLO WORM • CHRIS DORSEY - ON FISHING WITH TOM BROKAW, YVON CHOUINARD, THOMAS MCGUANE, MICHAEL KEATON & HUEY LEWIS • ED MITCHELL - SAND EEL MASTER CLASS • ANDY MILL - HOW TO BEAT BIG FISH • AND MUCH, MUCH MORE...
53 MAY/JUNE 2021
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Respected and admired for their strength and power, tarpon are also endowed with a mesmerizing beauty, their silver scales revealing a dazzling array of hues. Photo: Neal Rogers
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the next generation
T&T Ambassadors Jose and Parker Ucan spending time together in their home waters of the Yucatan Peninsula. Legendary guide Jose is patiently imparting his love of fishing to 8 year old son Parker who at such a young age has already landed a Permit on Fly. Handing down our knowledge and passion for the outdoors to the next generation is key to the survival and growth of flyfishing. At T&T we see a world of possibilities out there and believe the next generation should too.
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Maybe it’s a baby permit, but it’s still a permit, meaning we’d take a shot at it given the opportunity. It’s clearly not a “trash can lid” or even a “dinner plate,” but does size even matter when it comes to permit on the fly? Photo: Neal Rogers 6 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
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TM
GUIDE TESTED.
GUIDE TRUSTED. On the Cover: Mark B. Hatter took this Kodachrome photo in the 1980s and sold it to the Orvis Co. for use in its catalog. Mark contacted the folks at Orvis, who generously allowed us to use it for this issue’s cover.
Editor-In-Chief: Managing Editor: Acquisitions Editor: Creative Director: Food Editor: Travel Editor: West Coast Editor: Consulting Editor: Contributing Editors: Historians: Editors-at-Large:
Joseph Ballarini Trey Reid George V. Roberts Jr. Scott Morrison Kelli Prescott Peter McLeod Al Quattrocchi Chico Fernandez Andy Mill, Nicky Mill Pete Barrett, Ed Mitchell Joe Doggett, Mark B. Hatter, Tom Keer, Ryan Sparks, James P. Spica Jr. Copy Editor: Leila Beasley
Creative Contributors: Eric Anderson Pete Barrett David Blinken Monte Burke Luyen Chou Al Dopirak Chris Dorsey Tom Evans Pat Ford JackGartside.com
Jack Gagnon Willard Greenwood Mark B. Hatter Steve Huff Michael Larkin, Ph.D. Jesse Males Dan Malzone Andy Mill Ed Mitchell
John O’Hearn Jonathan Olch Kelli Prescott Al Quattrocchi Tom Twyford Elizabeth Wallace, Ph.D. Earl Waters Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
About Tail Fly Fishing Magazine is the voice of saltwater fly fishing in a bimonthly print and digital publication. We focus on delivering high-quality content, the very best photography, destination travel, reputable commentary, and technical features from the saltwater fly fishing culture. Tail Fly Fishing Magazine began as a digital publication in 2012 and debuted as a print magazine in 2016. Combined, the digital and print versions reach readers in more than 45 countries. In many places throughout the world, fly fishing has become important to both people and the environment. As a method of fishing imbued with values of stewardship and conservation, it connects people with the marine world in significant and positive ways. We, the anglers, are the last line of defense for our outdoor spaces. Tail Fly Fishing Magazine supports the arts and creativity, conservation, and organizations that trumpet this message. We’re grateful for your support and we welcome photographic and written contributions. TFFM is published six times annually, and your print subscription includes the digital version. Subscriptions are available through our website. International subscriptions are also available for most countries. Please contact our general mailbox, admin@tailflyfishing.com, with any advertising, subscription, or submission questions.
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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 11
CONTENTS 18
28
HOMOSASSA: A REMINISCENCE OF THE GREATEST TARPON FISHERY - Mark B. Hatter Tales of Homosassa’s giant tarpon weren’t just fish stories. After the decline of the world’s greatest tarpon fishery, some looked for answers while others simply mourned its loss. Mark Hatter’s history of Homosassa is both a personal recollection and a painstakingly researched analysis, including modern perspectives through the lens of hindsight and insights from the anglers and guides who made Homosassa famous (and notorious). FLY TYING: FAT HEAD PALOLO WORM Jesse Males Backwater Fly Fishing’s Jesse Males returns with the latest creation from his innovative vise. The Palolo worm hatch in the Florida Keys is an iconic event, and Males shows us how to pair natural materials with a very unnatural foam head to match the hatch.
34
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HOW TO FIGHT BIG FISH - Andy Mill Want to catch bigger fish and do it right? Andy Mill shows us the way. In this coherent and concise how-to piece, Mill explains that most of us are probably doing it all wrong—using the wrong parts of our bodies and our fly rods. You may not win five Gold Cups like Mill, but emulating his approach to fighting big fish will make you a better angler. Grab your highlighter; we’re cool with you marking up this article. INSIDE THE BOX - Luyen Chou and David Blinken The striped bass migration is on along the Northeast coast, and this collection of patterns from Masters of the Fly founders Luyen Chou and David Blinken should be in your arsenal when you’re out there trying to intercept the seasonal run. STRIPER REDUX - Jack Gagnon The late Jack Gartside had a legendary sense of humor, a fact that wasn’t lost on Jack Gagnon when Gartside introduced him to coastal striper fly fishing in the 1990s. After Gagnon’s first experience that night, it’s a bit surprising he ever returned. It took him a couple of decades, but when he did get back to the striped bass, it spawned this charming story.
“To me, the sea is a continual miracle; the fishes that swim, the rocks, the motion of the waves, the ships with men in them. What stranger miracles are there?” —Walt Whitman Photo: Christian Hinkle
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SAND EELS - Ed Mitchell When the migratory runs of sand eels and striped bass collide in the Northeast in late spring and early summer, it’s the stuff of magic. To make sure anglers are dialed into it, we turn to Ed Mitchell, who covers everything you need to know—size, color, range, where to find sand eels, and how to imitate them with flies—to help you catch more stripers when the action heats up. GEAR GUIDE - TFFM Staff From high-end reels and travel cases to lighting up the night and keeping your beer cold, this issue’s Gear Guide won’t steer you wrong. ANCHOR AWAY: ON ASSIGNMENT WITH TOM BROKAW - Chris Dorsey Fly fishing with a cast of characters that includes Tom Brokaw, Lefty Kreh, Huey Lewis, Thomas McGuane, Yvon Chouinard, and Michael Keaton, Chris Dorsey provides a behind-the-scenes view of Buccaneers & Bones in this excerpt from his new book, Casting Call. HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF GENETIC VARIATION AND CRYPTIC SPECIES - Elizabeth Wallace, Ph.D. Ever heard of a “golden” bonefish being caught in Belize or Mexico? Ever wondered why those dark bars suddenly appear on bonefish when they’re swimming over grass flats or after you’ve brought one to hand? Geneticist Elizabeth Wallace explains the science behind the answers to these questions in the second installment of a three-part series, focusing this time on genetic variation and mutations. ON THE PLATE: UP IN SMOKE - Kelli Prescott Barbecue season is here. Kelli Prescott fires up the smoker—and our taste buds—with recipes for sticky, smoky beef short ribs. She also shows us how to cure and smoke bacon at home (you’ll never want to eat storebought bacon again). These recipes will make the short list for your Memorial Day cookout.
76 78 84 86
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Q’S BLOCK PARTY MARGARITA - Al Quattrocchi Al Quattrocchi would rather tie flies than squeeze limes, so maybe that’s why his special Margarita recipe doesn’t require any actual limes. Say what? That’s right; this Margarita contains zero limes. But it does include a can of India Pale Ale. Confused yet? No worries—Q has the details for this simple but delicious recipe. NEW LIFE FOR LAKE WORTH LAGOON - Pete Barrett The Keys aren’t the only place to fish in Florida, and thanks to a coalition of partners in Palm Beach County, Lake Worth is returning to past glory. Pete Barrett, TFFM historian and editor-at-large, shares the lagoon’s comeback story—and fishing tips. NIGHT BLITZ - Willard Greenwood This poem taps into the sights, sounds, and smells of Northeast striper fishing, capturing the essence of what draws us to the water. THE FREEZE - THE SCIENCE BEHIND BIG BONEFISH IN THE FLORIDA KEYS - Michael Larkin, Ph.D. If you suspect the quantity and size of South Florida bonefish have diminished in the past decade, you’re not alone. Michael Larkin explains the reasons the Keys have historically harbored big bones, and digs into research to show how 2010’s extreme cold weather and other factors may have affected the area’s bonefish. THE AQUARIUM - Joseph Ballarini Some days on the water are better than others, but sometimes the stars align for a day that’s unlike any other. Hit the water in Puerto Rico with Editor-in-Chief Joseph Ballarini for a tarpon fishing experience he’ll never forget. You probably won’t forget “The Aquarium” either. TFFM TRAVEL GUIDE Find guides, destinations, and more in our travel pages.
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— from the editor
decisions “[T]he choices we make dictate the life we lead.” That quote comes from the 1994 film Renaissance Man. I mention it here because we sometimes reflect on our decisions through the years and too frequently refer to them as “sacrifices.” Higher education can be trying, but it’s hardly a sacrifice. It’s simply a period of time when one engages in intense learning to gain knowledge and insight—maybe even leading to a preferred job. I “sacrificed” some time to educate myself and to make a better living. But it wasn’t really a sacrifice, and it actually sounds egocentric. (These days, with high-speed internet, online classes, and scheduling flexibility, higher learning sometimes seems like a life of leisure.) There are people in this world who follow a calling and dedicate themselves to something that consumes them. Consider artists, or even fishing guides—they work hard but rarely reap the financial gains that are common in the medical, legal, and financial fields. Instead, they follow their passions and do what they love, often sacrificing monetary gain to live a certain lifestyle or work in a certain industry. Others follow a calling to protect and serve—fire fighters, police, and our military. The latter group defends our freedoms, including our fundamental right of free speech, which allows us to publish this magazine. We do so with enthusiasm and pride, knowing that we’re making a contribution to something we love. And sometimes we even get a chance to make a difference in people’s lives.
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We enjoy hearing from our readers and subscribers, but one particular piece of recent feedback was exceptionally gratifying. It came from a reader who’s making a real sacrifice, serving overseas to preserve the freedoms that allow us to pursue simple pleasures like saltwater fly fishing and, yes, even reading magazines about it. You’ll understand the impetus behind this letter when you see the next page. But to those individuals in uniform, doing the hard work and making sacrifices, thank you. This issue is packed with great features and informative articles. We turn our attention to the Northeast and striped bass fishing, and there’s also a writer’s reminiscence about arguably the greatest tarpon fishery in history. Two scientific submissions will add to our understanding of some of the species we pursue. Andy Mill tries to make us better anglers with a great technical fish-fighting piece, and Chris Dorsey shares an excerpt from his new book that includes tales of fly fishing with celebrities like Tom Brokaw and Huey Lewis. I even get in on the action this issue with a story about an unbelievable day of tarpon fishing. As we say each time, this one is better than the last. We hope you enjoy it, and please keep the feedback coming. Sincerely,
Joseph Ballarini, Editor-in-Chief
I’d like to give a big shout out and thanks to Tail Fly Fishing Magazine for the magazines they donated to my squad of soldiers and me deployed overseas in Iraq and Syria. Needless to say, there are not a lot of fishing opportunities here, and the magazines they sent us really boosted our spirits and reminded us of the great fishing we have waiting for us back at home. Thank you so much again, and keep up the awesome work! Tight Lines, Sgt. Peter Jacobs
Military Intelligence Company 1-73 Cavalry 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd
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R E T A I L E R S C A R R Y T A I L
ALASKA Mossy’s Fly Shop 750 W. Diamond Blvd, Suite 114 Anchorage, AK 99515 907-770-2666 mossysflyshop.com CALIFORNIA Bob Marriott’s Fly Fishing Store 2700 W. Orangethorpe Ave Fullerton, CA 92833 714-525-1827 bobmarriottsflyfishingstore. com
Seven Mile Fly Shop 1638 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 (305) 440-3406 sevenmileflyshop.com The Angling Company 333 Simonton St Key West, FL 33040 305-292-6306 anglingcompany.com The Tide 321 Park Avenue Boca Grande, FL 33921 941-964-2417
COLORADO
GEORGIA
Front Range Anglers 2344 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302 303-494-1375 frontrangeanglers.com
Cohutta Fishing Company 39 S. Public Square Cartersville, GA 30120 770-606-1100 cohuttafishingco.com
CONNECTICUT
ORVIS Atlanta Buckhead Square 3255 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30305 404-841-0093 Orvis.com
The Compleat Angler 541 Boston Post Road Darien, CT 06820 203-655-9400 compleatangleronline.com FLORIDA 239 Flies 3431 Bonito Beach Rd SW Unit #205 Bonito Springs, FL 34134 (239) 908-3513 239flies.com Forgotten Coast Fly Company 123 Commerce Street Apalachicola, FL 32320 850-653-1024 forgottencoastflycompany. com
The Fish Hawk 764 Miami Cir NE #126 Atlanta, GA 30305 404-237-3473 thefishhawk.com LOUISIANA Marsh & Bayou Outfitters 2600 Florida St Suite 3 Mandeville, LA 70448 985-869-7335 marshandbayououtfitters.com ORVIS Baton Rouge Perkins Rowe, Bldg. H 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd., Ste. 140 Baton Rouge LA 70810 225-757-7286 Orvis.com
NORTH CAROLINA Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd D5 Cornelius, NC 28031 704-896-3660 carolinaflyfishing.com OBX on the Fly 107 Sir Walter Raleigh St Manteo, NC 27954 obxonthefly.com RHODE ISLAND The Saltwater Edge 1037 Aquidneck Ave Middletown, RI 02842 866-793-6733 saltwateredge.com SOUTH CAROLINA Bay Street Outfitters 825 Bay Street Beaufort, SC 29902 843-524-5250 baystreetoutfitters.com ORVIS Charleston 535 King St, Charleston, SC 29403 (854) 999-4985 Orvis.com Southern Drawl Outfitters 1533 Fording Island Rd Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 843-705-6010 southerndrawloutfitters.com TEXAS Bayou City Angler 3641 Westheimer Rd Suite A Houston, TX 77027 832-831-3104 bayoucityangler.com
MARYLAND
Gordy & Sons Outfitters 22 Waugh Drive Houston, TX 77007 713-333-3474 gordyandsons.com
Mangrove Outfitters 4111 Tamiami Trail E Naples, FL 34112 239-793-3370 mangroveoutfitters.com
Alltackle 2062 Somerville Rd Annapolis, MD 21401 888-810-7283 alltackle.com
ORVIS Austin 10000 Research Blvd - B04B Austin TX 78759 512-795-8004 Orvis.com
Ole Florida Fly Shop 6353 N. Federal Hwy Boca Raton, FL 33487 561-995-1929 olefloridaflyshop.com
MASSACHUSETTS
ORVIS Houston 5727 Westheimer - Suite A Houston TX 77057 713-783-2111 Orvis.com
Florida Keys Outfitters 81219 Overseas Highway Islamorada, FL 33036 305-664-5432 floridakeysoutfitters.com
Orlando Outfitters 2814 Corrine Dr Orlando, FL 32803 407-896-8220 orlandooutfitters.com ORVIS Ocean Reef 1 Fishing Village Drive Key Largo FL 33037 305-367-2227 Orvis.com ORVIS Sandestin 625 Grand Boulevard Ste 101 Sandestin, FL 32550 850-650-2174 Orvis.com
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The Bear’s Den 34 Robert W. Boyden Rd Taunton, MA 02780 508-977-0700 bearsden.com MONTANA Frontier Anglers 680 N. Montana St Dillion, MT 59725 406-683-5276 frontieranglers.com NEW YORK River Bay Outfitters 980 Church St Baldwin, NY 11510 516-415-7748 riverbayoutfitters.com
ORVIS Plano Preston Towne Crossing 2412 Preston Road Suite 200 Plano, TX 75093 972-596-7529 Orvis.com ORVIS San Antonio 7427 San Pedro Ave. Suite 104 San Antonio, TX 78216 210-812-3017 Orvis.com Sportsman’s Finest 12434 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78738 512-263-1888 sportsmansfinest.com
Swan Point Landing 1723 Cherry Street Suite 4 Rockport, TX 78382 361-729-7926 swanpointlandingflyshop.net Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co. 1933 E. Levee St Dallas, TX 75207 888-824-5420 tailwatersflyfishing.com UTAH Fishwest 47 West 10600 South Sandy, UT 84070 fishwest.com 801-617-1225 WASHINGTON Peninsula Outfitters 19740 7th Ave NE, Suite 110 Poulsbo, WA 98370 360-394-1599 peninsulaoutfitters.com The Avid Angler 17171 Bothell Way NE #A272 Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 206-362-4030 avidangler.com WYOMING Lander Fly Shop 305 Main Street Lander, WY 82520 307-438-3439 landerflyshop.com Retail Chains: Barnes & Noble—630 retail locations in the USA Books-A-Million—260 stores in 32 states Bass Pro Shops—95 locations in the USA Dick’s Sporting Goods (select locations)—over 700 stores in the USA Field & Stream Stores—35 locations in the USA Indigo Books—over 200 stores under various banners BAHAMAS Blackfly Lodge Schooner Bay Abaco, Bahamas 904-997-2220 blackflylodge.com CANADA Drift Outfitters & Fly Shop 199 Queen St. East Toronto Ontario M5A-1S2 647-347-7370 Driftoutfitters.com
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homosassa by Mark B. Hatter Captain Earl Waters stripped off 60
said, directing Charlie Madden to do
Madden made his cast. Seemingly
feet of line from the reel and handed
the same drill.
satisfied with the results, Waters fired
me the thick, one-piece composite rod. “Here,” he said curtly. “Cast.”
up the outboard and zoomed south Waters had stopped his pristine,
toward the flotilla of boats spread
teal-green Silver King skiff, with
across the expanse of shallows outside
I unfurled the length of the line after
a coral-colored cap, about a half-
of Chassahowitzka Channel.
a couple of back casts, shooting the
mile out in the Gulf, just outside of
fly straight to nowhere in particular.
the Homosassa River channel. We
It was May 15, 1993. Madden and
were apparently being interviewed
I were, at last, tarpon fishing the
realtime for a skills check.
equivalent of golf’s Augusta National.
“Hand the rod to your buddy,” he
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We were rubes, with about a year of saltwater fly fishing under our belts, and had thin wallets with just enough credit between us to split two guided days at Homosassa and two nights at the storied Riverside Inn. Booking it had not been easy; we couldn’t find a guide who’d take us. Without a history and a bankroll to fund at least a week or more on the water, Homosassa guides were not particularly interested in taking on new clients, especially neophytes. We reached out to David Olsen, former manager of the now-defunct Fly Fisherman in Orlando, Florida, for help. A few days later, Olsen called back: “If you guys can fish May 15th and 16th, I have a guide who’ll take you. Name’s Earl Waters. I vouched for you guys—told Earl you could cast and see fish.” Thus, the on-the-water interview, which had really begun at the Homosassa launch ramp. Our initial introduction at the ramp wasn’t much more than a head nod of acknowledgement that we were Waters’ clients. After readying his skiff, he examined the four-piece graphite rod and Islander reel that Madden and I planned to share. “You can put that rod back in your car,” Waters directed. Reading the perplexed look on my face, he answered my unspoken question. “That rod is too small for these fish.” I was bummed. The four-piece, 12-weight Loomis IMX, stamped
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He suggested they drive up and fish Homosassa, where the weather might be better. “Where the hell is that?” asked Evans.
“DEMO” just above the single cork handle, was my prized tarpon possession. I’d found it in a bin marked “half-price” in a sporting goods store in Denver on a recent business trip. That it was now being relegated to the hotel room, along with the dozen IGFA-leadered flies, neatly fixed in a new leader stretcher rigged specifically for this trip, was painful. In retrospect, I fully appreciate the atmosphere of that morning. Waters expected much, considering his clients and friends included the likes of Al Pflueger and John Emory. Indeed, in Monte Burke’s Lords of the Fly (an extraordinary, must-read compendium on the 50-year history of fly fishing for tarpon—specifically for record fish at Homosassa), the arcing intersection of legendary guides and anglers, chasing tarpon for the better part of half a century, explains it all. Over our two days, Waters became genuinely sociable, and generous with information on all manner of tarpon fishing, even though finding the tarpon proved elusive. Shots were few and far between, but Madden did manage one bite and landed a classically average Homosassa tarpon. Despite the slow action, Homosassa was mesmerizing. It possessed a magnetic draw for Madden and me that could not—and would not—be ignored.
In the Beginning Homosassa, situated on Florida’s Gulf Coast about 70 miles north of Tampa, is legendary. Its legacy of tarpon fishing began about 1970. “When Lefty Kreh wrote about a trip he’d made to Homosassa in The Tampa Tribune, fishing with ‘the MirrOlure guys,’ Harold LaMaster and Kirk Smith, the word got out,” Captain Dan Malzone said in a recent interview. “LaMaster and Smith invited Kreh to fish with them as they chunked lures into the hole around Black Rock, which was stacked thick with big tarpon. I owned three sporting good stores at the time, so
Keys, they had breakfast with Duncan at a local diner. He suggested they drive up and fish Homosassa, where the weather might be better. “Where the hell is that?” asked Evans. “We drove up to Homosassa,” Huff said in a recent interview, “launched the skiff … and never saw a fish all that first day. So the next day we hired a plane from a local airport to fly over the area to look for fish. And we found them … tarpon were everywhere.” Huff and Evans hit the water soon after they landed. “Tom hooked up
naturally, I’d heard about it.
on a big fish,” Huff recalled. “He
“In 1972, Keys anglers Normand
the big fish at Homosassa and
Duncan and Gary Marconi caught wind of Homosassa’s giant tarpon that nobody fished and started fly fishing there. They invited me to fish with them in 1974. In the mid -1970s,
immediately became smitten with wanted to come back.” The following year, Huff and Evans spent three consecutive weeks fishing Homosassa. The flats were
we were the only guys on the water.”
still mostly absent other anglers and
Subsequently, Malzone would fish
had gotten word of Homosassa’s
Homosassa three days each week, Friday through Sunday, the only days his businesses would allow him, for the next several years. In 1976, Florida Keys guide Steve Huff and angler Tom Evans, who would book Huff for 45 straight days, had had a rough spring, nasty weather keeping them dockside more often than not. One windy morning, with a low-pressure system settling on the
skiffs, but record-chaser Billy Pate giant tarpon. Like Evans, Pate had the financial wherewithal to pursue big fish for weeks at a time, and he spent the entire tarpon season chasing records at Homosassa. “On Memorial Day 1977, Pate and his guide (Hal Chittum) were the only ones on the water besides Tom and me,” Huff said. “About three in the afternoon, fish began pouring in from the west by the thousands. Tom
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caught seven tarpon that afternoon,
prevent word from getting out about
nearly a decade earlier. Still, we could
all over 150 pounds. His seventh fish
the massive, frozen carcasses left
no more repel the magnetic pull of
was 177 pounds.”
by Huff for mounting at Pflueger’s.
Homosassa than we could alter the
By 1978, the flood gates had
phases of the moon.
That fish would prove to be a record
opened, and the crowds arrived at
on 15-pound tippet (when the
Homosassa for the next tarpon
At the time, Madden and I couldn’t
IGFA took over record keeping, the
season. Established, venerable Keys
afford guided trips. We considered
15-pound tippet was changed to 16
guides, with their wealthy clients, put
an unguided trip, but the aggressive
pounds, then 8 kilograms when it
Homosassa on the map with indelible
ballet of professionals, constantly
switched to metric, which is actually
ink. In parallel, a handful of young,
adjusting their skiffs’ positions with
17.6 pounds when converted from
local guides from Florida’s west coast
tricked-out dual trolling motors,
kilos).
began carving their own careers at
gave us pause. But our apprehension
Homossassa, each earning individual
lasted only three weeks.
At the end of the 1977 trip, Huff
notoriety. (You can find the the who’s
returned to the Keys “with three
who on guides and anglers in Burke’s
In the second week of June 1993,
frozen tarpon wrapped up in the
Lords of the Fly.)
we returned to Homosassa, having
back of my station wagon weighing
borrowed my dad’s 16-foot Key West
162, 177, and 186 pounds.” Huff had
Shifting Baseline
brought them back to have them
There’s a defining point in time
mounted on the stern and a white
mounted at Pflueger’s Taxidermy.
for everyone who’s experiencing
fiberglass push pole, identifying us,
The 186-pound fish was caught by
an ongoing act for the first time.
even from great distance, as the
Huff, who refused to have it officially
At Homosassa, that moment for
rubes we were.
weighed, “because I was guiding, and
me was 1993. For the earliest fly
it didn’t seem right.” At the time of
fishers, it was 1972. Burke describes
So we poled around the periphery
the catch, Evans was indisposed from
this critical beginning as “Shifting
of the fleet, always maintaining
some bad food and had given Huff
Baseline Syndrome,” an individual’s
at least a quarter-mile distance
the green light to throw at a wad
point of departure from when the
from the nearest boat. There were
of approaching fish. Evans officially
act is occurring. Depending on when
tarpon everywhere. Madden and I
claimed the 15-pound tippet record
and where the departure point
took frequent turns throwing store-
with a tarpon weighing 187 pounds
occurs, one’s shifting baseline could
purchased flies to big tarpon using
in 1981. (Huff and Evans fished
well be the high-water mark for that
my demo Loomis.
together in Homosassa through the
individual’s history if the occurring
1981 season. “Then, Huff fired me,”
act is in decline. In short, it gives real
Just before noon, I got bit—and
Evans said in a recent interview.
meaning to the phrase “You should
learned why the demo rod was a
Evans fished with Dale Perez in 1982
have been here yesterday.” (Huff’s
bad idea. As Madden drove the
and 1983, then settled in with Al
1977 baseline included a day when he
skiff in doughnuts with the single
Dopirak in 1984. Over the decades,
ran his skiff for 20 minutes through
electric motor trying to keep up,
there have been multiple stories
an endless tarpon swarm, the fish
the fish owned me. The fight ended
of tarpon exceeding 200 pounds
“chaining and swirling, making
unceremoniously, about 10 minutes
being hooked and lost on the storied
shapes like the old Ballentine beer
later, with a broken tippet. I’m
waters of Homosassa; to date, the
label.”)
not sure the fish even knew it was
200-pound mark has officially been
skiff. It had a single electric motor
hooked because the rod couldn’t
surpassed just once, when Jim
While Madden and I were struck
generate proper pressure to manage
Holland Jr., guided by Captain Steve
with awe by what we perceived as
the beast.
Kilpatrick, caught a 202.8-pound
an amazing tarpon venue in our
tarpon in May 2001.)
first experience in 1993, we had no
While too poor to buy more guided
idea that the greatest fishing at
trips, we found easy boat credit with
Homosassa had already concluded
long terms. Madden called Winter
In 1977, no amount of secrecy could
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 23
“Tarpon came to Homosassa for a reason,” Huff explained. “Blue crab are high in protein and are a tremendously important food source for tarpon. But the crab needs fresh water to spawn.” Park Marine later that summer and
invited me, he said, because I wrote
tragedy of the commons, mankind’s
ordered a new Hewes Bonefisher with
for magazines. “I want you to
overexploitation of a resource to its
twin stern-mount electrics, replete
write about the Homosassa guides
ruin. Indeed, the white-hot tarpon
with air switches. Two years later
‘beating-up’ the fish,” he said,
fishing at Homossassa, brought to
I arrived at Homosassa with a new
“making it impossible for those of us
public attention about 1978, was
Maverick 16-foot HP, with stylishly
who fish further to the south to get
already in decline for a litany of
different, trim-tab-mounted Lenco
a shot.” (Burke’s book has an entire
reasons, the least of which related to
electrics.
chapter detailing Erra’s shenanigans
angler pressure.
with other anglers on the water and In the succeeding years we became
at the boat ramp. One day I returned
As Central Florida changed from a
frequent Homosassa visitors, always
to the Bayport ramp to find three of
largely citrus-agriculture economy
trying to maintain a respectful
my truck’s tires slashed; Erra was on
in the 1960s to one of service and
distance from the icons with their
the water that day, and I’m convinced
entertainment, boundless real estate
earned deference. On a good day
he was the source of the vandalism.)
development brought bad ecological
we’d surreptitiously celebrate with
decisions and their consequences
beers at the Bayport Inn bar, rubbing
Although it was Erra’s intent for me
to the pristine environment along
elbows with captains like Tommy
to publicly punish what was perceived
Florida’s west coast (as well as
Locke, Tom Mohler, and Jim Webber,
as bad behavior by the guides “up
the rest of the state). Developers
hoping they would ask us if we’d seen
north,” I walked away with more
dramatically increased water
any fish.
clarity about what most of us in the
consumption from Florida’s aquifer,
meeting intuitively already knew:
meaning less freshwater flow, the
Homosassa’s glory days were over.
region’s life blood, to the coastal
In 1995, I wrote a magazine story, “The Holy Grail,” about the
marshes. Compounded by the ever-
Homosassa fishery. In an attempt
Captain Al Dopirak, arguably the
increasing, nutrient-rich runoff
at reverence, I listed the uncodified
greatest of all Homosassa guides,
leaching into the aquifer from
“rules of engagement” we had
attended the Erra summit.
extensive use of fertilizers across the
learned from Earl Waters. It was
state’s belly, it began the death spiral
a call to the unwashed, listing the
“It’s the resource.… It’s gone,” he told
of Florida’s central-Gulf Coast tarpon
protocols of how to fish Homosassa
the attendees. “There’s not enough
fishing by the early 1970s.
without pissing off the pros, who
fresh water. There’re no more blue
were there chasing records and
crab to keep the tarpon around, so
“Tarpon came to Homosassa for
earning livings.
the fish have left. You can’t fault a
a reason,” Huff explained. “Blue
guy who is trying to earn a living by
crab are high in protein and are a
My actualization of Homosassa’s
keeping his client on the few fish he
tremendously important food source
decline came to the forefront in
finds. That’s his job.”
for tarpon. But the crab needs fresh
another magazine piece in 2013. I
water to spawn.”
was invited to a preseason “summit”
Dopirak’s assessment was spot
in Homosassa, organized by the
on. My eventual story attempted
Lower flows from the region’s
notorious angler Bobby Erra, who
to capture the moment; it’s a
freshwater springs has resulted in a
24 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
more saline coastline, reducing the
Despite its demise, Homosassa still
Melancholy Memories
once-abundant blue crab populations.
harbors a few transient giant tarpon.
It’s midafternoon, June 12, 2019, and
For the last 25 years, Dopirak has
I’m poling north on Oklahoma Flat,
“Blue crab are the best indicator for
faithfully and expertly guided Tom
just offshore from Pine Island and
a watershed,” Huff said. “When the
Evans to record tarpon in the ever-
its notorious rock piles, the white
crab are gone, so go the predators
diminishing fishery. Evans landed a
sand beneath me tinted yellow by
that feed on them.”
record 191-pound tarpon on 16-pound
the afternoon sun. I arrived at the
tippet with Dopirak in 2003. In 2010
Bayport launch ramp about noon
Huff shared a story about a 1970s
Dopirak guided Evans to perhaps
after towing the skiff north from
trip up the Suwannee River, north of
the greatest record of all time, a
a deplorable morning on the water
Homosassa, when locals warned of
195-pound tarpon on 12-pound
around Honeymoon Key north of
jumping tarpon presenting a boating
tippet.
Tampa.
around the springs then, you could
Like Huff, Dopirak’s recollection of
I could’ve just gone home, the
read a newspaper on the bottom at
the early years was similar: “When I
likelihood of a push at Homosassa
60 feet.”
first started guiding at Homosassa
being close to nil based on the result
hazard: “The river was so clear
in the 70s, my trim tabs used to trail
of my no-push morning farther
Malzone recalled a time when, “You
blue crab chains, each crab holding
south. But I’m a tarpon angler, and
could barely make headway on a plane
the other’s claw. I agree that fresh
Homosassa was a bit closer than
coming back into the Weeki Wachee
water is the key to life at Homosassa.
home.
River at Bayport on a strong outgoing
It’s a shame we will never again have
tide…. The fresh water flow was that
what we once had.”
The empty Bayport ramp parking
strong. Just about everywhere we
lot was another reminder that I was
fished along the coast, you could smell
wasting my time. But the tide was
the freshwater.”
pushing out, the sky was clear, and
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 25
I had a sandwich and a beer. So I launched. Although the tide was pulling out hard, it didn’t have that “smell of rain” or the velocity of flow that makes your skiff “almost stand still while on a plane,” as Malzone described it. Still, it was Homosassa, once the world’s greatest tarpon fishery for truly mammoth fish. I holstered the push pole, grabbed my beer and tuna sandwich from the cooler, then sat on my platform, scanning the flats for signs of life. The moment was melancholy; Homosassa’s entropy was palpable. Tomorrow, a new angler with a next-generation guide may fish Homosassa for the first time, maybe even getting a shot at a transient fish. It would become that angler’s shifting baseline, another high-water mark for another angler in a fishery that has seen a half-century decay. (Editor’s note: The author thanks captains Steve Huff, Al Dopirak, Dan Malzone, and Earl Waters for graciously answering questions and sharing personal histories, as well as Tom Evans, who also was generous with his time and memories. Thanks also to Monte Burke for his permission to use passages from Lords of the Fly for reference in this article.) Bio: Mark Hatter has been shooting photographs and writing about saltwater fly fishing for more than two decades. He’s a regular TFFM contributor.
26 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT HARRIS
“DROP IN ON MILL HOUSE PODCAST AND CATCH HISTORY IN THE MAKING.” - FLIP PALLOT -
WATCH LISTEN AND LEARN AT MILLHOUSEPODCAST.COM / @MILLHOUSEPODCAST TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 27
28 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
The Palolo worm hatch in the Florida Keys is an iconic event that draws tarpon fanatics from all over the world. In reality, there’s no shortage of fly patterns when you want to mimic this food source. But they’re not all created equal. In this tutorial I’ll show you how I used my Fat Head fly design to create a worm pattern that will have the right buoyancy and profile to make these fish commit. It’s a simple fly that requires only very basic tying techniques and a little patience, so it’s great for fly tiers of all levels of experience. This is a simple way to create an effective fly for tarpon fixed on Palolo worms, and it’s fun to tie.
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 29
30 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
BACKWATERS FAT HEAD PALOLO WORM Materials Hook: Gamakatsu SL12, size 2. Thread: Danville 210 Denier Flat Waxed Nylon, any color. Loop and Weed Guard: 30-pound monofilament. Tail: Red marabou topped with a rabbit Zonker strip, red or off-pink. Body: EP Wooly Critter Brush, tan or sand. Head: 2 mm sheet foam, tan and olive. Adhesives: Zap Gel and Loon UV Clear Fly Finish (thick). STEP 1: Clamp a hook in the vise, attach your thread, and wrap from just behind to the eye of the hook to the bend, laying down a thread base for the fly. Next, use your thread to attach a short piece of 30-pound mono to the back of the hook. STEP 2: Pull the other end of the mono back to the hook shank and tie it in. This will create a small loop at the back of the hook to keep the tail from fouling. STEP 3: Tie in a pinch of red marabou at the bend of the hook. STEP 4: On top of the marabou, secure the rabbit strip by tying in the rear end of the skin. Then tie in another pinch of red marabou to the underside of the fly. STEP 5: Fasten the Wooly Critter Brush to the shank of the hook just forward of the marabou. STEP 6: Wrap the brush forward four or five turns while pulling the fibers back to ensure none get trapped under the wire. Secure the brush with a few thread wraps and trim the excess. Clean up the fly with a half-dozen thread wraps to trap any stray fibers. STEP 7: Pull the end of the rabbit strip forward and secure it to the top of the hook shank. STEP 8: Cut three rectangles from 2 mm sheet foam that measure 1 cm by 0.5 cm. I like to use two tan pieces and one olive piece. These will create the foam head. Poke a small hole through the center of each of the foam pieces. STEP 9: Add a few drops of Zap Gel to the shank of the hook where the materials meet the thread.
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 31
BACKWATERS FAT HEAD PALOLO WORM STEP 10: Slide one of the tan pieces over the eye of the hook and onto the shank. STEP 11: Continue sliding the piece of foam down the shank until it hits the materials. Glue it, and then hold it in place for 8 to 10 seconds so the glue can set. STEP 12: Add a bit more glue to the thread wraps as well as to the first foam piece we set in place. STEP 13: Slide another piece of tan foam over the eye of the hook and place it against the first piece of foam. STEP 14: Add a bit more glue to the foam and thread wraps. STEP 15: Slide the olive piece of foam over the hook eye and up against the second piece of tan foam. Use sharp scissors to cut the edges off the foam head. You may also need to trim a bit off the top and bottom to make sure the hook gap isn’t covered. STEP 16: Add a 30-pound mono weed guard to the front of the fly between the foam and the hook eye. STEP 17: Build up a small head on the fly and whip finish. Use Loon UV (thick) or your preferred UV gel to cover the thread wraps and to lock everything in place. Bio: Growing up in Florida, Captain Jesse Males’ passion for fly fishing was something that developed naturally over time. His quest to follow the fly fishing lifestyle has resulted in his becoming a full-time guide in Costa Rica (506outdoors.com). His fly tying business, Backwater Flies (backwaterflies.com), provides flies for tarpon, bonefish, permit, redfish, and other saltwater species. At the end of the day, all is well with his soul.
32 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 33
We’ve all been there before, hooked
minutes ago. In reality, you never
lose it, we’ll never really fight it with
into a leviathan for more than an hour.
really grasped the fact that this fish
all we’ve got. There’s no way we’re
Your arms are smoked out, your clothes
has been a survivor for 100 million
going to pull hard enough to take the
are drenched, and you’re hoping it
years, it’s a 140-pound tarpon, close
chance of breaking it off. Second, we
breaks off sooner than later—and yet
to 60 years old, and it thinks it’s
really have no idea how to pull hard
you don’t want to lose it.
going to die.
or even what the limit is. When your
Your guide is encouraging, “Come on.
As neophytes, we have to understand
probably just lean back and put a
You’ve got this. Pull harder now.”
a couple of things about how to
bigger bend in the rod. Wrong.
guide says “pull harder,” most anglers
successfully subdue huge fish. First, No, you don’t have “this.” Your
when we finally get the fish of our
The key to catching big fish with
mental composure was gone 45
dreams on and we don’t want to
excessive power is understanding
34 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
by Andy Mill
not only how hard you can pull on
more suitable for feel and lighter
nothing about the subject. But trust
that fish with the class tippet you’re
resistance. If you misuse the rod or
me—it’s useless. That’s why anglers
using, but also understanding the
your body—and usually it’s both at
end up fighting fish for an hour and
anatomical ability of your fly rod as
the same time—the catch you’re
sometimes much longer. That can
well as your body.
hoping for is highly unattainable.
also kill a fish because of the high levels of lactic acid that build up
The tip of a fly rod is used for short
Here’s an example: Leaning back
casts, the middle is for medium to
with a high, big bend in your rod
longer casts, and the butt is used
while trying to subdue a big fish
There is a place for fighting fish
for fighting fish. Your body is similar
does nothing more than bend the
with a high, bent rod tip. When trout
to the rod, with some parts capable
tip, which has zero resistance.
fishing with light 7x and 8x tippets,
of extreme power and other parts
It looks good to those who know
or saltwater fishing with 2-, 4-, and
during long battles.
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 35
The more you understand this and practice it, the sooner you’ll become a great angler capable of catching those big fish that used to intimidate the hell out of you.
36 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
6-pound-test tippets, the sensitive
tarpon have been 16-pound Mason.
tip will help absorb the energetic
I used 16 because the biggest
thrashing of a fish. But that’s not our
tournament in the world required
You may escape a bad mistake fishing
scenario here.
anglers to use it, and I wanted to
with 40-pound class, but you’ll never
keep my feel for that class of line.
pull harder than what I just mentioned,
12 to 18 pounds.
and over time it will prevent you from
It’s also impossible to put a big bend in the upper part of the rod without
International Game Fish Association
using your biceps. That single biceps
(IGFA) fly fishing rules require anglers
muscle holding and lifting the rod
to use 20-pound test or lighter;
I wrote about understanding reel drag
will grow fatigued in no time if you’re
even offshore marlin anglers are
and marking your reel with Sharpies
trying to apply 12 pounds of pressure
confined to this guideline. Tom Evans
or paint in our last issue. But there’s
or more. If you reach up with the
caught his 273-pound blue marlin on
even more to consider. When you
other hand to the midsection of the
16-pound test—one of the greatest
measure drag resistance with your
rod to help, you’ll change the fulcrum
fly records of all time.
line coming straight off the reel, you
becoming a better angler.
get a clean number before you start
and break the rod. For all those guides and anglers
to bend the rod as if fighting a fish. If
You must learn to use the butt of the
who use 30- and 40-pound test, I
you measure how much friction and
rod and lift with your legs, shoulders,
challenge you to the blindfold test.
resistance your guides create with a
and back. If you lift the rod higher
Take four rods with 20-, 30-, 40-, and
well-bent rod, it’s about 20 percent
than 45 degrees from the water level,
60-pound-test tippets and connect
more than with a straight rod. So if
your biceps comes into play. To bend
them to a scale. Stand back and pull
your drag is set at 10 pounds, it’ll now
the rod, you have to bend the elbow.
with a fish-fighting rod position—not
take 12 pounds to pull line off the reel.
a straight rod—for 15 minutes, and
It’s important to understand that
Most of the class tippets I’ve used
see what the scale reads. I suspect
your drag setting doesn’t accurately
for the last 35-plus years catching
none of the rods will pull more than
represent what you think it does
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 37
38 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
when you compare the preset value
air. Don’t let it go back to the ground;
weight will rise and fall easily. Soon,
to a fish-fighting scenario. A fairly
hold it with the bent rod. Take
you’ll lift the rod a bit higher as you
straight rod angle to the fish will be
another step forward, and bend the
pull the fish closer to the boat, but
pretty close to your drag setting.
rod more, again keeping the weight
then very quickly reel down with the
suspended. To keep it off the ground,
rod tip close—and sometimes into the
If you want to take the guesswork
the rod has to be lifted higher and
water—and start the process over.
out of it, you can also set your drag
higher, creating more bend. Take
with your rod bent in a fish-fighting
another step forward. Feel the heat?
angle. You don’t want to set your
The rod tip may be only inches away from the fish’s face when you direct
drag too close to the breaking
Initially, with a straighter rod and
strength of your tippet. You need to
slightly bent arms, the weight will
have a little room for error and the
come up easily, but the closer you
As you practice moving back and
fish’s first run.
move toward the bench, it becomes
forth from the pulley, you’ll find the
more and more difficult as the rod
rod’s sweet spot and the stronger
If you have a tight drag and you have
gets higher and higher. As you do
parts of your body working together.
to clear 30 feet of fly line before
this, you’ll be using more of the
you get the fish on the reel, there’s
sensitive mid-section and tip of
The more you understand this and
a good chance he’ll break when that
the rod. As the rod bend increases,
practice it, the sooner you’ll become
slack is gone and it hits a tight drag.
you’ll see how much more tension
a great angler capable of catching
And if the drag is set too close to
is transferred to your biceps in your
those big fish that used to intimidate
the breaking point and a 100-pound
lifting arm. The rod also has to work
the hell out of you.
fish falls on your leader, it’s over.
harder as the resistance that keeps
Many greats over the years learned
the weight suspended is moved from
If you’re interested in seeing all of
to apply resistance by hanging onto
the butt section to the upper, weaker
this in action, visit YouTube and
and letting go of their fly line with a
part of the rod.
search for “82 & Sunny.” You’ll see a
minimal drag setting.
him into your guide’s hands.
seven-minute film we shot last May Holding the weight in the air
catching a number of fish, including
The fly rod and your body need to
becomes almost impossible, as the
one that taped out at over 172
work together, so I want to tell you
workload on your body is moved from
pounds and caught in 30 minutes.
about the greatest fish-fighting tip
the bigger, stronger muscles of your
I know. This drill matches up your
back and legs to your weaker biceps.
It’s nothing but great music and a
weak and strong body parts, as well
As you keep creeping forward, you’ll
pile of big fish. I hope you enjoy it—
as those of the rod. It’s a revelation
soon realize it’s almost impossible to
and learn even more about how to
that will make you a better angler.
hold the dumbbell off the ground.
catch big fish.
Mount a pulley to the underside of
Now start stepping back from the
Bio: TFFM Contributing Editor, Andy
a workbench. Take the butt section
bench, lowering the rod but keeping
Mill, is one of fly fishing’s leading
of your leader, string it through the
the weight suspended. It’ll be
authorities. He has won more
opening, and tie it to a 12-pound
obvious that the weight becomes
invitational tarpon tournaments
dumbbell sitting on the ground. Now
easier to keep suspended with the
than any other angler, including five
walk back 30 to 40 feet. Straighten
heavier part of the rod now being
Gold Cups. Andy is the author of
your rod to the pulley, and lock your
used along with your body’s larger,
A Passion for Tarpon (Wild River
drag all the way tight so no fly line
stronger muscle groups.
Press). You can listen to the
will come off the reel. Now walk back
fly fishing podcasts produced
until the dumbbell comes off the
With the rod anchored against your
by him and his son Nicky at
ground. As it hangs suspended, take
stomach and with a slight bend in
millhousepodcast.com.
a step forward, bending the rod as
your elbows, you can flex and push
you step to keep the weight in the
back with your thighs. Now the
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 39
by Luyen Chou and David Blinken
varying styles, sizes, and colors— down our patterns and imitate the
weighted and unweighted to cover
Fly fishing the waters along the
color, profile, and behavior of the
the water column. David’s Jellyfish is
coastal Northeast encompasses a
critters on the flats—from small
a Deceiver-style fly tied with splayed
wide variety of species, conditions,
baitfish like spearing and sand eels
white hackles (like a traditional
approaches, and techniques. That
to crustaceans like juvenile crabs
tarpon fly) and a short Farrar Blend
means Northeast fly fishing also
and shrimp. The Little Brown is
wing to avoid fouling. Tied on a
requires a variety of flies.
typically tied to match the color of
Tiemco 800S or Ahrex SA280, it has
the bottom (usually light brown,
great movement, tracks well when
Even when focusing specifically
hence the name), and freshwater
stripped, and is highly visible.
on striped bass, our most popular
hackles are used for a slender profile
coastal quarry, anglers need a diverse
and to encourage lifelike motion,
In recent seasons, the traditional
assortment in their fly boxes to
even when the fly sits at the bottom.
Rhody Flatwing has seen a popularity
address the varied situations they’ll
It’s important to use a light but
resurgence in Northeast coastal
inevitably face.
strong hook like the Tiemco 811S for
waters, its main advantage being the
these delicate flies. As delicate as
wider vertical profile from the single
On the flats, David’s Little Brown is
it is, however, the Little Brown is a
hackle tied perpendicular to the bend.
our go-to fly. Shallow-water bass can
surprisingly durable fly, and can catch
These flies have a lot of movement,
be as wary and selective as bonefish
many fish before being retired.
even when suspended. The Chouser,
or spring-creek trout, particularly
a play on Luyen’s last name, is a
in the crystal-clear waters around
For inshore and nearshore waters,
variation of Dan Blanton’s Flashtail
the east end of Long Island. In
we keep a variety of flies in our
Half-and-Half, tied more sparsely, but
these circumstances, we like to slim
boxes for different applications in
with the signature flash extending
40 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
past the hackle tips and tied with
Beast Fleye, created by Bob Popovics,
sessions have featured some of
brighter colors like chartreuse and
and Jonny King’s Kinky Muddler,
today’s most innovative tiers, who
pink. These flies are particularly
which has bulk and a realistic profile
have generously shared the stories
effective at attracting striped bass
from all angles. It’s critical that
and philosophies behind their
in deeper, stained water, which are
these bulky flies are tied on a strong,
most effective patterns. For more
typical conditions in the New York
wide-gap hook like the Varivas 990
information, visit mastersofthefly.
Bight, Jamaica Bay, and Raritan Bay.
to ensure a proper hookset when
com, or connect on Instagram and
inhaled by large bass.
Facebook @mastersofthefly.
In open waters where migratory bass are found chasing larger baitfish
Bio: Luyen Chou started Masters
like Atlantic herring and menhaden,
of the Fly with fly fishing guide
which have made a spectacular
David Blinken, a frequent TFFM
comeback in Northeast waters in
contributor. Launched in 2020
recent years, large flies are essential.
as a series of Zoom fly-tying
They push a lot of water and can
gatherings, the sessions have
be cast long distances on 9- and
gained enormous popularity. Recent
10-weight rods. Good choices are the
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 41
Striper Redux by Jack Gagnon
Photos courtesy of jackgartside.com
In 1993, when Massachusetts artist Alan J. Robinson released his limited-edition book Trout and Bass, it included 18 flies tied by the renowned Jack Gartside, who was recognized by his peers as one of the most innovative fly tiers of the modern era.
42 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
Part of Gartside’s genius was
I met Gartside while helping at
I was more concerned with the
developing deadly yet easy-to-
Robinson’s booth at a fly fishing
waves filling my boots. When I
tie flies. His Gurgler and Slider
trade show in Marlborough,
realized I couldn’t walk, I yelled
topwater patterns became
Massachusetts. Robinson’s friend
for help.
saltwater standards. Jack’s book
Dale Linder was also attending the
Striper Strategies was described
show. Gartside was holding court,
“Don’t worry!” Gartside replied.
by reviewer Steve Raymond as
joking and tying flies at a nearby
“When your waders are full,
“one of the most remarkable
table. He invited the three of us
you’ll reach neutral buoyancy.”
striper-fishing manuals to see the
to try fly fishing for striped bass
light of day.”
when the weather warmed up.
Linder had more humanitarian instincts. Luckily, he was also
Gartside, who died in 2009, was
On a bright June afternoon, we
strong. He waded over and
one of a kind. He appeared on
waded onto a Newburyport striper
hoisted me up. I leaned forward
the cover of Fly Fishing in Salt
flat. Gartside caught one small
and dumped out the water. I
Waters, making a cast while
schoolie after another while the
headed to shore on wobbly legs,
riding his large inflatable giraffe
rest of us got skunked. Not one to
telling myself, I don’t belong
“Gerald.” When Lefty Kreh was
mince words, Gartside told me my
here. But we weren’t done.
asked his opinion of Gartside, he
retrieve resembled a motion he
Gartside had another spot for
said, “His paint don’t dry.”
associated with self-gratification.
night fishing.
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 43
The evening sun was slipping from
I grabbed the line below the first
from view as the tide came in.
guide, pulled, and got enough slack
We stumbled through the grassy
to free my trapped digit. There was
hummocks and sucking muck of
a momentary tug of war, then the
a tidal flat and arrived at a point.
hook pulled out, and the line went
Gartside walked out onto a rock jetty
limp. Robinson and Linder made a
and started casting. Robinson, Linder,
few casts, but the fish had departed
and I spread out along the shore.
to deeper water. As we reeled up to leave, Robinson said, “Well, at least
I was using a borrowed 8-weight
you had one on.” It wasn’t much
outfit heavier than anything I’d ever
consolation.
used. The sink tip and bulky streamer added another degree of difficulty,
We found Gartside standing where
and I was hesitant to wade out very
we’d left him. He had a fish taking
far in the dark, unknown waters.
drag, but it turned out to be an unremarkable striper, foul hooked in
I’d make woefully short casts, sit
the tail. The walk back to the car held
down on the sand for a while, get up,
another surprise.
and do it again. I sweated, cursed, and caught nothing. Around 1 a.m.,
Gartside inflated a small rubber raft.
the agreed time to depart, I heard
I was puzzled. It looked like a child’s
Robinson and Linder talking as they
pool toy. But it became apparent that
walked back up the beach. Then I
we’d need the damn thing to get back
heard a splash.
to terra firma. A wide ditch that was ankle deep on the way in was now a
There was enough moonlight to see
flowing canal. Gartside assembled
surface swirls of what I suspected
a plastic paddle, handed it to me,
were feeding fish. I slapped out
and said, “We’ll go one at a time.” A
another cast, stripped twice, and got
length of thin rope was attached to
a jolting strike. Slack flew up through
the raft for retrieval.
the guides, but before I got the fish on the reel, a loop of line was yanked
Some experiences enlighten us.
tight around my right index finger.
Others just remind us of the fragility of our existence. I paddled anxiously
The rod was straight out now. So
across the outgoing current as
was my finger. Unaware of my
Gartside yelled, “Row a little faster,
predicament, Robinson started
Jack, unless you want to go out to
yelling, “Let the fish run, Jack! Let
Plum Island!”
him run!”
44 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
Here We Go Again Fast forward to 2017. I’ve lived in Lakeville, Maine, for 18 years. Ed Roberts, who I frequently fish with, lives half the year near Grand Lake Stream, a premier landlocked salmon fishery, and half the year in Florida. Both of us have more than 60 years in the rearview mirror, and like me, Roberts is originally from Connecticut. He’s a stalwart friend with a good sense of humor. Among other things, Roberts timeshared a Battenkill River fishing camp with Joan and Lee Wulff. He made his living as a mechanical engineer, and he’s also an expert rod builder who works with bamboo as well as graphite. It’s not a cliché to describe him as young for his age. Forget white hair as a marker of senescence. For arm exercise, he does hammer curls with dumbbells I strain to lift. When he captained an offshore sport boat on the Connecticut coast, Roberts and his clients fished for everything from sharks to yellowfin tuna. Now he fishes the flats when he winters in Vero Beach, Florida. He also spends a week in Rhode Island every summer, fly fishing for striped bass at night. He invited me to try it. Wading the ocean after sundown? Fishing a channel coming out of
a tidal marsh? I had my doubts.
The house we rent, like our arrival
we fish. It’s silly to think of other
Roberts described a spot where he
routine, has become pleasantly
fishermen as interlopers, but our
rarely encounters other fishermen. To
familiar. Boxes and coolers are
sense of ownership is reinforced by
get down to the water, he hangs onto
emptied into cabinets, drawers,
the solitude we have come to expect
a rope tied to the base of a tree. He
refrigerator. The portable grill goes
once the sun goes down. Half an
says it’s easier than it sounds.
on the table out back. Tackle goes in
hour before dark, we turn onto the
the front room.
familiar grass-crowned two-track. No
I was still hesitant, so he had me try
one else is parked at the sandy dead
the fly rod he uses; the action fit
We sit at a small table on the front
me to a T. He offered to build me an
porch overlooking Narragansett Bay,
identical 9-weight. Okay, Ed, I’m in.
decompressing from eight hours
We suit up and walk in. Crossing
on the road. Roberts lights a cigar
the elevated field, we can see the
Into the Night
end.
while I poke through fly boxes. We
incoming tide filling the back reaches
It’s June 2019—my third trip now. The
decide when to eat. After supper, we
of the marsh. Two herons stand
long day’s drive from Maine includes
assemble rods, check tippets. Tackle
motionless on a distant mud flat. The
the usual stop in New Hampshire for
goes back into Roberts’ SUV.
air still has the low-tide tang of salt
tax-free liquor. We arrive in Rhode Island late in the afternoon.
and clean decay. Fishing at night, we don’t attract unwanted attention to where
The coiled rope is where we left it
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 45
hidden last year, tied to the base
Roberts, next to me now, says, “Don’t
The plug splashes down in the
of a small cedar. The slope I once
let him get around the bend, Jack, or
shallows like a violation, then it’s
imagined as daunting is neither long
he’s gone.”
retrieved back through water we
nor steep. The rope is a convenience,
can’t reach with a fly. The angler’s
not a necessity. Roberts gives it a
I screw down the drag and start
casts cover the area we never fish
test yank before we go down.
walking again as I reel down on
until the tide is visibly moving again.
the fish. The bass thrashes on the
Fifteen minutes later, he reels up,
We walk through ankle deep water,
surface and finally relents in the
and they leave. “Good,” Roberts says.
matted grasses, a mound of bone-
shallows. I grab it by the lower lip and
“The fish aren’t here yet.”
white limpet shells, then down a
beach it.
shore strewn with kelp and a few
Half an hour later we stand up and
expired horseshoe crabs. An old tire,
Roberts points his headlamp beam
stretch. The flow out of the marsh
half-buried in the sand, is a dully
with mine as I kneel to remove
has quickened, fanning a widening
obscene monument to someone’s
the hook. It’s a glistening, thick-
braid of currents out into the bay.
carelessness.
shouldered bass about 2 feet long,
If fish are going to show up here on
with turquoise and green hues across
the outgoing tide, this is prime time.
We stop at the mouth of the rising
its back, and stripes as distinct
Roberts clicks on his headlamp to tie
creek, the surface now a sheet of
as a referee’s. Ten minutes later, I
on a new fly and tells me, “Go ahead.
corrugated chrome in the twilight.
stand over Roberts as he crouches
I’ll catch up.”
I click on my headlamp, check the
to unhook an almost identical fish.
knots in my bootlaces. Silversides
It slips from his hands and fins back
I wade in up to my knees and start
scatter, rippling the surface. Good!
into the depths. He glances up at me,
casting. I’m thinking I need to get the
Bait is being swept in with the
smiles, and says, “I wonder what the
fly out farther when a striper slams
current. Every trip here is planned
poor people are doing tonight.”
it and starts running straight out. I
around the convergence of tides and
tighten the humming drag a bit and
moon. On a clear night like tonight,
As the tide turns, we gravitate to
angle the rod sideways against the
it’s like the sun never quite goes
the lowest reaches of the creek. Fish
fish as line flies off the reel. I look
down.
often stack up along the undercut
back over my shoulder.
bank to intercept bait being swept I start casting near the top of the
out from the marsh. We’ve hooked
channel. The current is quick, narrow
seven striped bass and beached five
enough to cast across. Roberts walks
before the water level drops and the
down to where the creek widens,
outgoing tide takes the fish with
gradually turning into an expansive,
it. They’ll move in near shore again
slow-moving pond.
when the outgoing flow from the
“Hey, Ed!” “What?” “They’re here!”
creek gathers momentum. So now On my fourth cast, my retrieve is
we wait.
stopped dead. The rod bends hard
Bio: Jack Gagnon was a monthly contributor and part-time editor
left, and a streaking fish takes drag
It’s 1:20 a.m. We’re sitting on a grassy
for the Northwoods Sporting Journal
as it runs in with the current. I point
rise, well back from the water’s edge.
(sportingjournal.com) in West
the rod at the fish and begin walking
Waves hiss softly. A waxing moon
Enfield, Maine, for 15 years. His work
down the sandbar. I gain back some
hovers with a few stars as a small
has appeared in Trout, Fly Fisherman,
line and angle the rod back to apply
plane drones overhead. We hear two
Virginia Sportsman, Gray’s Sporting
a little pressure. The fish goes on
voices, then see bow lights. A small
Journal, The Upland Almanac, and
another tear. Line slices through the
boat drifts toward the beach. They
Sporting Classics.
water as my backing knot flies up
drop anchor, then one of them begins
through the guides. The bass heads
casting. We sit quietly out of sight.
for the refuge of the marsh.
46 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
LITESPEED
www.waterworks-lamson.com
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 47
sand From the crest of the dune, we looked
water for swirls or any other sign of
Picking up the pace, I moved toward
out over the calm waters of Vineyard
striped bass feeding on sand eels. We
the birds, peeling line into my
Sound as a light sea breeze rose to
split up to increase our odds. I headed
stripping basket as I went. I spied
greet us. It was hard to imagine a
east. Phil went west.
several swirls clustered in a tight
prettier scene. To our left the sun
pattern out about 50 feet. The bass
settled silently into the west, its
At first, I saw no activity, but up
were there. Flexing the rod, I sent my
orange glow signaling the waning
ahead where the beach took a jog,
sand eel fly into the foray, allowed
hours of a perfect day. The only
I spotted a group of terns diving
it to settle for a second, and began
sound was the hush of gentle waves
into the water. My hopes rose. Terns
my retrieve. The rod bowed with the
against the beach mixed with the call
love sand eels. Most likely they had
weight of a striper.
of terns darting over sandbars.
located a school, and likely there were stripers underneath them. It’s a
Collision Course
We headed down the face of the
classic tactic; if you don’t see swirls,
The coastal fly rodder sees many
dune, out across the beach, and
follow the terns. They will lead you to
combinations of predator and prey,
then over to the water’s edge. Our
the bass.
each staged in its own circumstance
strategy was simple—search the
48 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
and season. But if you had to capture
eels
by Ed Mitchell
the essence of Northeast saltwater
water. At roughly the same time,
a raw clam, it was fantastic—no
fly fishing in a single scenario, my
pulses of migratory stripers are
wonder sand eels are relished by a
pick would be the situation I just
surging up the coast, especially
wide range of gamefish from bonito
described—walking and wading a
on stronger moon tides. Ravenous
and striped bass to weakfish and
long, sandy strand in the ebbing
from the energy demands of their
beyond.
light, terns wheeling overhead, and
northern trek, these bass focus
beneath them striped bass swirling
heavily on sand eels.
What’s in a Name?
on sand eels. During one epic blitz I saw hundreds
Sand eels, more properly called
On Cape Cod and the Islands, the
of sand eels driven up on the sand
sand lances, are not eels at all. They
finest of this fishing usually takes
at my feet. After watching striped
are a schooling fish of the genus
place from late May into early July, a
bass devour these critters for years,
Ammodytes, whose elongated shape,
period when the seasonal movements
it was time for me to try one myself.
with long dorsal and anal fins, gives
of striped bass and sand eels collide.
I picked one up and popped it in my
them an eel-like appearance. There
Sand eels have pushed inshore from
mouth. A bit oily, with a fresh fish
are two species, an inshore variety,
their wintering grounds in deeper
flavor, and a salty tang not unlike
Ammodytes americanus, and an
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 49
offshore one Ammodytes dubius. The offshore variety is more apt to be encountered by boaters, although some North Atlantic-facing shores may hold them, too. The inshore variety is of more concern to fly rodders.
Range and Habitat Ammodytes americanus ranges from roughly Cape Hatteras in the south, northward to the Canadian Maritimes. They are primarily plankton feeders and therefore attracted to areas where plankton is plentiful. Coastal river mouths, salt ponds, inlets of all kinds, bays that face the prevailing wind, and warmwater releases from coastal power plants are typical locations. Since current tends to concentrate plankton, sand eels feed near rip lines, especially those that form where the exiting flow of an estuary funnels over a bar. They are also found where longshore currents travel along an open beach. In all such locations, sand eels seek soft bottoms where they can quickly bury themselves to avoid predation. As their name indicates, sandy bottoms are their preferred habitat. You will also find them over mud bottoms and places where the bottom is mixed rock and sand. A sure bet is any section of coast with nesting terns. Sand eels are a crucial part of the tern’s diet.
Size and Appearance The sand eel is a slim yet attractive
50 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
fish, with a head slightly long for
years have better young-of-the-year
does not mean sunrise. I’m referring
its body, a pointed snout, and large
numbers than others. They spawn in
to “false” dawn, which occurs about
eyes. Adults reach a maximum length
winter, and weather plays a critical
an hour and a half before actual
of 9 inches, but nearshore anglers
role in their reproductive success.
sunrise. In this dim light sand eels
rarely encounter sand eels that
Research indicates a cold December
emerge from the sand to reform their
size. More likely are adults 2.5 to
is best for survival of the young,
schools. And the stripers are there to
4.5 inches. Farther north, along the
while warm winters hinder their
nail them. Expect this bite to last less
open Atlantic coast of Cape Cod up
success.
than an hour and end suddenly when
to Maine, sand eels up to six years of
the sun peeks over the horizon.
age ranging 5 to 6 inches in length
Sand eels within a general area
are more common.
typically segregate themselves by
The most consistent action,
size. This is not to say they never
especially for larger bass, happens
Young-of-the-year sand eels, on
mix, only that there is a noticeable
at night. After the sand eels bed
the other hand, are much smaller,
trend for large and small sand eels to
down at dusk, the action usually
about 1 to 1.5 inches, roughly the
visit different areas, especially in the
goes slack for a time, but about an
size of a paper match. Despite their
spring. For instance, small young-
hour or two after sundown, a good
diminutive size, they are frequently
of-the-year sand eels are a regular
number of sand eels pop out of their
found in large numbers along New
feature on the flats of Monomoy in
sandy safe havens for a plankton
England beaches in June, attracting
late spring, but literally just around
snack. On a dark night plankton rise
great hordes of striped bass. (It is
the corner, in the swift waters of
to the surface to pull in the faint
crucially important in those locations
Chatham Inlet, much bigger sand
light of stars. Feeding sands eels rise
to have a fly of the right length.)
eels are found. On Martha’s Vineyard
too. This action can last until first
you see the same trend. The beaches,
light, particularly on moving water.
Like many marine fish, sand eels
harbors, and ponds on the eastern
(Recognize that fishing at night can
can match their coloration to
end of the island have larger sand
be risky business. If you are new to
different habitats and thereby
eels in June than one can find farther
this game, I strongly urge you to go
better camouflage themselves.
west in Lobsterville.
with a veteran.)
bright silver flanks with a beautiful
Timing the Bite
Late Night Blitz
iridescent sheen and a white belly.
Once you have a place in mind, the
On beaches where the tidal range is 6
But their backs take on various hues.
trick is to be there when the action
feet or more, a high tide at dusk may
Along Cape Cod’s outer beaches, for
happens. The best bets are dusk,
produce an all-out feeding frenzy
example, with the gin-clear water and
dawn, and the middle of the night. As
later that evening. The high water at
light sand bottoms, sand eels often
the shadows grow in late afternoon,
sunset allowed the sand eels to bed
have a light green back (although
schools of sand eels move into the
far up in the intertidal zone. As the
I have seen a few with tan or even
water’s edge to bed down out of
water level drops during the night,
pink backs on Cape Cod). In the more
harm’s way. Stripers instinctually
the sand eels are forced to get up
discolored waters of Long Island
follow them. This may be a slow
and move seaward or be left high and
Sound, sand eels are darker, with
bite, but it can offer several hours of
dry by the ebbing tide. Striped bass
backs varying from olive brown to
decent fishing until sundown, when
sense this and form a line just off the
black.
things go quiet.
water’s edge, ready to intercept sand
Sand eel reproduction goes through
The dawn bite is apt to be far more
can be a furious bite with some of
periods of boom and bust, so some
intense, but also far briefer. Dawn
the best action you can imagine.
Nearly everywhere, sand eels have
eels as they attempt to relocate. This
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 51
I first wrote about it in in the early 1990s. It’s a popular tactic here in the Northeast salt. You’ll come across it from New Jersey to Maine, although it’s far less common as you travel south. The technique calls for putting the cork grip high under your casting arm, pinching down with your upper arm to secure the rod. Typically, the reel slightly protrudes behind your armpit. Next, reach forward with one hand and pull down on the fly line as the other hand climbs to do the same. Make alternating, continuous pulls, one hand after the other. Keep the rod tip fairly low.
Tailing Bass
retrieves are the answer, and in the
If you spend a lot of time night
dead of night, the fly should just
You are essentially hand-lining the fly.
fishing, sooner or later you’ll come
creep back. It’s not as easy as it
When you feel a take, strike by pulling
across striped bass digging up sand
seems. At extremely slow speeds, it’s
down on the fly line with a sharp strip.
eels with their blunt snouts, feeding
difficult to keep tight enough to the
Do not lift the rod. As the fish runs,
in much the same way as bonefish.
fly to detect a take and set the hook.
use the hand under the rod to keep
This is most often found on a shallow
It’s imperative to keep the rod tip
some tension on the fly line while
flat or bar during an ebbing tide.
down during the retrieve to eliminate
reaching across with the other hand
As the bass tip down to excavate
slack in the line.
to take the rod from under your arm.
their food from the sand, their tails
Keep the rod tip low for a moment,
and dorsal fins break the surface,
Saltwater anglers employ two styles
as you clear line from the stripping
particularly as water levels drop. In
of retrieve, and each has its merits.
basket, and lift when it clears.
these situations, the bass are not
The single-handed strip retrieve is
wary, often allowing you to get very
the most popular and well known.
The two-handed retrieve forces
close. Since the bass are tipped head
The index finger of the rod hand
you to strip-strike, an excellent
down, floating flies or suspended flies
pinches the fly line to the rod, while
habit to acquire for many saltwater
should be replaced with sinking flies
the other hand strips down short
adventures, and because you are
that quickly drop. Keep your leader
lengths of fly line, resulting in a stop-
hand-lining the fly, this retrieve is
short. Bass will hit the fly as it bumps
go action. With a weighted fly you
very sensitive to even the lightest
across the bottom.
get a jigging motion that can be very
take. It’s also capable of a greater
appealing, especially in colder parts
range of retrieve speeds, and you can
Retrieve Styles
of the season when fish are sluggish.
produce a steady retrieve, which is
Sand eels are not speed demons, so
It’s also a valuable tool for hopping
how bait often swims. Need more?
fast retrieves are of little practical
a fly along the bottom as in flats
You don’t cut up your damn finger.
use. Moderate-speed retrieves are a
fishing, or for working poppers.
And since the rod is hands-free, you
good starting point during daytime.
The two-handed, hand-over-hand
can instantly use both hands to undo
As the light dims, however, slow
retrieve, in my estimation, is superior.
a tangle or knot.
52 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
Sand Eel Flies Fly tiers along the Northeast coast have long known the value of a good sand eel pattern. One of the first created was Bub Church’s Tandem Sand Eel. It can be seen in Kenneth Bay’s 1972 book Salt Water Flies.
spot, but for general daylight work, a
little wonder that floating flies are
green-over-white fly is a safe bet for
effective. Sliders are usually made
clear water, while black over white is
from foam, balsa wood, or deer hair.
more accurate in discolored water.
They create a V-shaped wake across
Black flies are best in all locations at
the surface that draws the attention
night.
of striped bass, and because it’s the wake that’s attracting fish, the slider’s
Size
size and color are not critical. The deer
A complete box of sand eel flies
hair Borski Slider was not developed
contains patterns from 1.5 to 6
as a sand eel imitation, but in smaller
this essential forage.
inches. That covers every situation
sizes it’s a good choice. The venerable
you’re apt to run into. But because
Farnsworth Fly has been popular for
Construction
sand eels tend to be slender, you
three decades and is now commercially
should take care not to bulk them
available with a replaceable plastic
up as they get longer. The smallest
paddle tail (farnsworthfly.com). Carl
young-of-the-year sand eels are
Harris’ Crick Biscuit is another fine
roughly the width of a paper match,
foam creation and reportedly works
and the biggest adults are rarely
well. It employs an ultra-suede tail
wider than a pencil.
for extra action. It’s available from
Some of the early sand eel patterns were actually developed for sea run brown trout, which also preyed on
Sand eel flies can be exceedingly simple. An excellent example is Lou Tabory’s Sand Eel, one of the first widely known on the East Coast. It consisted of just two materials, a brown bucktail tail, with the hook shank tightly wound with black wool. (In the early years I made a simple fly using a Q-Tip, cutting off the cotton ends, covering the plastic shank with silver Mylar tubing, lashing it
CGH Custom Tackle in New Jersey
Hooks
(cghcustomtackle.com). Harris also
I use standard-length hooks for most
makes a good-looking subsurface sand
of my sand eel flies, and I prefer heavy
eel called the N95 Minnow.
wire hooks such as the Gamakatsu inch flies. The heavy hook helps the fly
Weighted Sand Eel Flies
dig in during the retrieve and tightens
Weighted sand eel flies are important
the leader so you can stay in touch.
in three situations. When plankton
This can be critical in choppy water or
descend on bright sunny days, sand
when using a very slow retrieve. Given
eels follow. Where sun is bright and the
the slim shape of a sand eel, long-
water more than 8 feet deep, your fly
shank hooks make sense, especially
should sink, too. Fast rips, like the ones
with 5- and 6-inch patterns. I use
you see on Cape Cod, are another place
them occasionally but urge caution.
where weighted flies can be essential.
During a protracted fight with large
Sand eels often hang deep out of the
stripers, long-shank hooks are prone
flow, so you need to get the fly down,
to opening. So when using them, take
even if it requires a sinking fly line and
(Steve Farrar’s Blend is an example.)
care when applying pressure.
short leader. Weighted flies also work
Color, Size, and Shape
Sliders
to the hook shank, and adding an eye—nothing fancy, but it matched young-of-the-year sand eels nicely and worked well when moved slowly.) Today’s tiers benefit from a wealth of new materials, especially in the area of synthetic hairs such as Craft Fur and Polar Fibre. Bucktail still works, but the synthetics are more durable and come in a wider range of colors. Flash materials have also expanded greatly, and in some cases synthetic hairs come premixed with flash.
Sand eels have a white belly with an iridescent sheen that can be easily imitated with various flash materials. Since the dorsal color can vary from one location to the next, you can fine tune your fly’s color for a specific
SL11-3H, particularly for 1- and 1.5-
in tailing-bass situations. Where waters are calm, a slider
Make Your Own
is deadly medicine—it is both
You can find a step-by-step look at
productive and fun to fish. The
building my own Dogbar Sand Eel,
strikes are visual and often audible,
constructed in a style popularized
and a slider swinging across a current
by noted Long Island fly tier Glen
brings violent, jarring strikes. With
Mikkleson, at edmitchelloutdoors.com.
plankton coming to the surface at night and sand eels following, it’s
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 53
GEAR Sea Run Fly Fishing Travel Cases Adventurous anglers soon will be taking advantage of relaxed travel restrictions, and if you’re one of them, you’ll appreciate the Sea Run Fly Fishing Travel Case. Made in Italy by Negrini, a company with a 40-year history of manufacturing travel cases for fine shotguns and rifles, Sea Run cases are secure (TSA -compliant), lightweight, and compact—perfect for itinerant anglers. We’re very impressed by the quality of construction and the thoughtful interior layout. The bottom of the case contains recessed, padded compartments for storing reels, spare spools, leaders, fly line, fly boxes, and other gear. A divider wall separates the top of the case, which has space for four to five fly rods plus additional storage. We haven’t been this excited about a new piece of fly fishing luggage in years. (searuncases.com) $499-$569
54 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
VR Reels Salar Perfection VR Reels are uber high-quality reels made in the Ukraine by designer, engineer, and angler Vladamir Rachenko. The Salar (Spanish for “salt”) is one of the finest reels we’ve ever fished. In addition to its incredible functional capabilities, the Salar boasts an impressive aesthetic that cannot be ignored. With a diameter of 5 inches, it retrieves line well, and easily holds 300 yards of 30-pound backing and a 10- to 12-weight line with room to spare—while weighing a mere 13 ounces, not much for a reel of this size and strength. The Salar is cut from premium-grade titanium, which is stronger and lighter than aluminum and other metals. The sealed drag has almost no start-up inertia and is buttery smooth. It doesn’t creep when casting, and the handles and knobs are comfortable and easy to manipulate, even while fighting fish. It’s a stellar reel in every sense of the word and a highly recommended addition if it’s within your budget. (vr-reels.com) $1,800
GUIDE Umpqua LT Large Baitfish Foam The large baitfish box is a new product for this year, but it’s actually a retread from years past. Umpqua brought it back into the lineup for 2021 because it’s an excellent baitfish box that easily holds 18 to 24 large flies, and people—including us—kept asking for it. We like it for tarpon flies, especially backwater and worm-style patterns that run 2 to 2.5 inches and take up a lot of room in boxes. The layout and cut of the foam keeps flies organized and accessible—and spaced the way you want them. The best part is that, unlike many well-made sturdy boxes on the market, this one isn’t heavy. It’s lightweight, has a clear top for instant identification, and packs a highly functional foam. What’s not to like? (umpqua.com) $29.99
ICEMULE Classic A good day on the water becomes a great day when there’s a cold beverage waiting at the end, and the IceMule Classic makes it easy to enjoy an icy drink without sacrificing the space and weight that come with a traditional hard-sided box cooler. The Classic is available in four sizes—9, 10, 15, and 20 liters—and they’re all easily slung over a shoulder or stowed in an out-of-the-way place in the boat. IceMule’s proprietary technology includes a layer of lightweight insulation sandwiched between extremely durable outer and inner fabric layers. An air valve lets you create airspace between the layers for additional insulation, and when not in use, you can deflate the cooler and roll it into a tight bundle for storage—perfect for a far-flung fishing getaway where baggage space is a consideration. Its roll-top design functions like a dry bag and keeps the cold inside. We’ve put ours to the test in tropical conditions and can attest that the beer’s still cold after eight hours on the flats. (icemulecoolers.com) $49.95-$79.95
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 55
GEAR Black Diamond Storm 400 The Storm 400 headlamp is built for all conditions, and even though it’s usually associated with hunting, camping, and climbing, there’s a place for this tool in fly fishing—like one of the nighttime striper fishing excursions featured in this issue. The Storm 400 has a robust waterproof and dustproof housing and casts 400 lumens of light. Its updated user interface includes a secondary switch for easy mode selection, allowing users to toggle between the bright light needed to navigate a darkened path to the shoreline and a dimmer setting for switching out flies and leaders. The device’s “PowerTap” technology provides access to maximum brightness by simply touching the side of the housing. Three low-light color settings—red, green, and blue—are available for those times you’d rather not attract attention. Updated optical efficiency provides brighter light and saves battery. We love the LED battery meter on the side to keep tabs on battery life instead of guessing about the need to change the AAA batteries. (blackdiamondequipment.com) $49.95 Yakima Double Haul Organization isn’t always easy. Remember the days of pushing your rods up to the front window of the SUV, or having them in two parts ready to assemble at the marina? Not anymore. The Yakima Double Haul is not the first of its kind, but it’s a solid investment if you travel by car to fish. This unit is sturdy, ensuring your rods will be protected. It weighs in at almost 50 pounds. It does take two people to set it up, but once installed, it can hold four fully rigged fly rods up to 10- to 11-weight class in a lockable compartment. The Double Haul enables rods to be strung and loaded the day before a trip, minimizing prep time once you’re at the water. Our editor-in-chief enjoys this unit because it saves both time and aggravation. And we like it when the boss is happy. (yakima.com/ products/doublehaul) $699 56 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
GUIDE Sunray Competition Float Fly Line with Overhang Marker We like the Sunray Competition Float with Overhang Marker for a number of reasons. First, the design combines the best aspects of both conventional weight-forward fly lines and integrated shooting heads. The Competition Float sports a 40-foot head backed by an ultra-thin shooting line, much thinner than conventional running line, which allows for longer shoots. Provided you can comfortably carry the entire head outside the rod tip, this line allows for your ultimate distance cast. To aid with this, the Competition Float features an Overhang Marker. Several feet of blue line at the end of the head section lets you know when the entire head is just outside the rod tip—no guessing at the sweet spot. Simply get the Marker outside the rod tip and let it fly. Perhaps most noticeable, Sunray coatings are made from special polymers—not PVC. Designer Tom Bell explains that these polymers lower the impedance of energy as it travels along the line. Analogous to a fly rod being fast, Sunray’s fly lines are fast. The head of the Competition Float is configured as a Spey taper; that is, the bulk of the weight is concentrated at the rear of the head, near the rod tip, for a smooth turnover of both large and small flies. The Competition Float will perform in fresh water or salt in temperatures from 14 degrees to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees to 35 degrees Celsius). The line is ivory in color and gray at the tip— very visible on the water. Welded loops at each end allow for quick attachment of leaders and backing. Available in weights from 5 to 9. (sunrayflyfish.com) $90.70
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 57
by Chris Dorsey Take the cause of saving the
communist states, just to remind the
The concept of the series was
saltwater flats ecosystem, add a
poor bastards what they’re missing.
simple: Celebrate memorable
worthwhile conservation organization
The business approach was part of a
flats fishing throughout the
in need of awareness, and introduce
winning formula developed over years
Caribbean and beyond, the focus
a famous cast willing to help. Those
of avoiding honest work: Support
area of the South Florida-based
were the ingredients that conspired
our planet, help give a worthy cause
nonprofit called Bonefish & Tarpon
to create a decade-long television
identity, have some fun along the
Trust. So little is known about
series with the tongue-in-cheek
way, and get someone else to pay
the importance and fragility of
title of Buccaneers and Bones. The
for it. The last part being the most
these ocean nurseries that BTT
programs have been seen over most
important. Check, check, check—and
was formed by some friends at
of the free world and even a few
check’s in the mail.
Ocean Reef, a community that
58 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 59
There’s always one guy in the room who has an I-didn’t-seethat-one-coming story. Brokaw is always that guy.
sits between Key Largo and heaven
One thing you learn when producing
(closer to heaven) to raise money to
a series like this is that celebrity is
study these fish and the ecological
a funny and oftentimes fickle thing.
ribbon where salt and turf meet. It’s
People tend to live in worlds of their
amazing what can be accomplished
making, constructs they create built
over cocktails and dinner when
around passions, their friend pool,
people such as Tom Davidson, Russ
the entertainment they seek, the
Fisher, Adelaide Skoglund, and Bill
sports they love, and the like. I recall
Legg—some of the founders of the
shooting one season for the series
organization—get together to figure
at Bair’s Lodge, one of the Nervous
out how to save the Earth, or at least
Waters properties on South Andros.
their little piece of it.
I was waiting at a nearby dock for my flats boat to arrive for a day of
Each season, we identified a new
fishing and filming when a couple of
region to showcase, selecting a
local guides not affiliated with our
lodge to house our cast of angling
shoot approached me.
A-listers that included Tom Brokaw, Michael Keaton, Huey Lewis, Liam
“Are you part of the group filming the
Neeson, Jimmy Kimmel, Patagonia
TV show?”
founder Yvon Chouinard, novelist Tom McGuane, Jim Belushi, Lefty
“I am.”
Kreh, and many others. Seeing wellknown individuals sharing a passion
“Love that show, man … who’s fishing
for fishing became a lure to attract
this season?”
angling audiences and, by extension, supporters of BTT’s work.
“We’ve got Huey Lewis … Jim Belushi … Jimmy Kimmel …Yvon Chouinard …Tom McGuane … Lefty Kreh …” He cuts me off. “Lefty f---ing Kreh is on the island?” I’m certain the man would have traded a week of guiding for the chance to meet Lefty. In his mind, there are two folks who can walk on water—Lefty and some guy named Jesus. This season we are headed to Belize and Turneffe Flats, a sprawling lodge compound on Belize’s Turneffe Atoll, the country’s largest marine reserve. It’s a Caribbean getaway famous for its ready access to productive flats fishing as well as diving and snorkeling. We are here to see about the bonefish and permit and judge
60 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
for ourselves if the fishing is as good
I’ve known Brokaw for several years,
to get them talking and see if there
as the rumors of it.
mostly owing to the TV biz and a
were any gems to be mined later
shared passion for chasing fish and
in post-production. I simply asked
I join Brokaw as we strike off with
fowl. I always wonder what occupies
them to share their favorite fishing
guide Dion Young to explore one of
the mind of a man who has been on
story. Keaton went first, followed
countless flats a short boat ride
the front lines of history for much
by McGuane. Chouinard pleaded the
from the lodge. Brokaw’s been a fly
of his adult life, more than 20 years
Fifth, then Brokaw said something
fisherman much of his life, and his
at the anchor’s desk of NBC News.
that tied geopolitics into catching
ranch on Montana’s West Boulder
How does the stimulation of covering
a permit in Belize, and we were all
River gives him as much practice
wars, meetings between Gorbachev
slightly bedazzled by the story. Then
as his challenging schedule will
and Reagan, and standing on the
it was Lefty’s turn.
allow. Still, pitching to trout in a
rubble of what was formerly the
small mountain stream is the minor
Berlin Wall compare to finding a fish
“I remember fishing with Castro and
leagues of casting, for the flats
the size of a calf muscle?
Hemingway in Cuba,” he starts as
demand more. Whenever I head to
matter of fact as a peanut butter
bonefish waters, I tend to spend the
There’s always one guy in the room
sandwich. “I probably should have
first day of the trip working the rust
who has an I-didn’t-see-that-one-
paid more attention to what Castro
off my cast, trying to get my double-
coming story. Brokaw is always that
and Hemingway were talking about,
haul timing down to deliver a fly to a
guy. There was a shoot, early in the
but I was too busy trying to figure
bonefish’s nose at 60 feet, instead of
production of the series, when we
out how the hell our guide was tying
the back of my head.
parked our fishing notables in a
the mackerel on the hook so that we
semicircle of chairs. We just wanted
could catch marlin.”
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 61
As we ease along a bank of
The South Dakota kid delivers a strike
a memory and conversation starter
mangroves, Brokaw is up first and is
and the fish takes it. I’ll be damned.
that will play out in all its glory later
doing some dry casts to straighten
It changes zip codes in an instant,
at the lodge. If not for the evidence
out his line and smooth his cadence
the reel searing as if it’s going to spin
of film, this would surely be a
before there’s a bonefish in sight. It
off the rod. While much of the work
12-pounder. Indeed, when I was just
isn’t long, however, and he’s getting
of the encounter has been done to
a magazine writer—not a TV host—I
instructions from Young, who is
this point, third base isn’t the same
used to catch much bigger fish.
perched like a pelican on the edge of
as home plate. There’s still time for
his poling platform.
rejection. What could possibly go
“When you make a great cast and
wrong, you ask? How ‘bout stepping
hook up, it is rewarding beyond my
“There he is … 10 o’clock … 50 feet
on the line? Wrapping the line around
ability to describe it,” says Brokaw.
… big bonefish … look at the size of
the reel? A wind knot snagging a rod
“Because when they grab it … BANG!
that one!”
guide? Loose line hooking a cooler
They’re gone.” That answers the
snap? Need I go on?
question, I guess, about how meeting
What looks like the dorsal fin of a
a bonefish compares to greeting
small shark knifes out of the surface.
Brokaw focuses on the task at hand.
Then its tail forks out of the water
There’s no premature celebration
as it feeds, in case we aren’t already
because he knows the possible
Therein lies the magic of bonefish, for
aware that this is a brute. Nothing
sources of error are endless and, in
if the fish could look in a mirror they
like starting with a 9-pounder out
any instant, his line could dangle like
would undoubtedly see a barracuda.
of the gate … no pressure, Brokaw, I
a participle. When the fish reaches
They swim the way a peregrine dives,
think.
the boat, the beast of a bone brings
traveling so quickly through water
62 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
Gorbachev.
that they can move faster than the
plenty of reasons to get together
With Brokaw basking in the glow of
human eye’s ability to track them—
apart from the series taping. I once
his recent bonefish performance, it is
shadow or no shadow. All that’s left
had the two of them to my place
my turn to step up and see what the
is the rumor of a fish and a sand
on Montana’s Big Hole River. Lefty
fish gods might deliver my way. It is
contrail in the water. If your fly is in
was nondenominational when it
mere minutes before a single bone,
a fish’s mouth as it streaks off, you’ll
came to fishing pursuits—though
a hefty one at that, begins nosing
be witness to what amounts to the
nothing surpassed his fascination
its way out of the mangroves toward
angling world’s hit and run.
with bonefishing—for it gave him an
us. When it hits 60 feet, I give it a
excuse to hang with the people he
shrimp fly and the fish accepts the
most enjoyed.
invitation, shooting parallel along
“If you tied the tail of a 10-pound bass to the tail of a 10-pound
the mangroves until it decides to use
bonefish,” Lefty once told me, “the bonefish would strip the scales off the bass pulling it backward.” His teachings are often illustrative. One of the most rewarding parts of producing Bucs and Bones for so many years was seeing the
As we enter the lodge, Huey Lewis is holding court, obsessing over his new quest to land a permit. Clearly, it is his new drug and he’s in need of a fix.
friendship—kinship, really—develop between Brokaw and Lefty. The duo became fast friends and found
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 63
In 10 years of fishing for this series, only a handful of permit were ever caught on camera.
64 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 65
my fly line to tie a bow around some stems sticking out of the water. That’s when a really good guide will think quickly, hop out of the boat, and untangle the line, which is exactly what our captain does. The strong fish makes it to the leader—a handsome 7-pounder that fights like he could have been closer to 10. Video again ruins what could have been yet another Moby Dick moment. Brokaw picks up a few more fish and I do the same before we return to the lodge and reconnect with the rest of the traveling troupe of castaways. As we enter the lodge, Huey Lewis is holding court, obsessing over his new quest to land a permit. Clearly, it is his new drug and he’s in need of a fix. As luck would have it, there are few places better than Belize to find the species. The next day, I join Lewis for a permit hunt. The morning breaks partly cloudy and mostly gray, with a good bit of wind … maybe 15- to 20-mile-per-hour gusts. We’re going to have to see the fish’s swordlike tail sticking out of the water if we hope to find one, for the deeper water is margarita murky in the muted light. If there’s one thing that’s never in short supply with Lewis, however, it’s enthusiasm—no matter the weather. An hour into our three-hour tour we spot a pair of fins 60 yards to our left, moving parallel with our boat. The fish look like they’re cruising to a new location but they are the only permit we’ve seen all morning so we ease that way—about 70 feet distant—when Lewis gives them, what else, the news, making a solid cast about 10 feet ahead of them.
66 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
“That’s perfect … wait … strip now,”
Lewis never did connect with a
programming. His company, Dorsey
says our guide.
permit on that trip, but the permit
Pictures, continues to produce a
hooked him. He’s since gone on to
variety of programs for a multitude
land his hard-won permit. Lefty Kreh
of networks, including Building Off
Nothing.
went to fish the flats on the other
the Grid for the Discovery Channel
“Damn, what did I do wrong?” asks
side, undoubtedly improving St.
and Tiny House Big Living for HGTV.
Lewis.
Peter’s back cast. Brokaw continues
This article was excerpted from
to fail retirement, writing another
Dorsey’s new book, Casting Call, a
“Nothing, man … that’s permit
book and training a new Lab. Keaton
celebration of the world’s greatest
fishing.”
is winning every acting award but
fly angling. Writes author Thomas
wishing he could spend more time
McGuane: “The lucid descriptions
In 10 years of fishing for this series,
on the water. Chouinard continues
of the lands, waters, guides, and
only a handful of permit were
to practice social distancing, usually
Dorsey’s own family members
ever caught on camera. In one
with a fly rod. And Montana trout
keep his book from being the usual
case—season eight or nine—we had
and Florida tarpon have joint custody
self-aggrandizing fare of the angler
to bring in a ringer, famed South
of McGuane.
abroad. It is instead an angler’s
Florida permit guide Will Benson, so we could prove to viewers that the
celebration. I put his book down It’s a wrap.
species would actually take a fly. Up
with the feeling that I’d been on these wonderful outings with
until then, the notion seemed purely
Bio: A former editor of Sports Afield,
him.” To order a copy of Casting
theoretical.
Chris Dorsey is one of television’s
Call, along with its companion
most prolific producers of outdoor
DVD, visit wildriverpress.com or sportingclassicsstore.com.
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 67
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF GENETIC VARIATION AND CRYPTIC SPECIES by Liz Wallace, Ph.D.
The incredible diversity among
to marine species, even in the open
species that occur globally are found
organisms has been a subject of keen
oceans.
among microorganisms (such as soil microbes and single-celled aquatic
interest since well before Charles Darwin’s day. During his voyage on
The observations Darwin made during
algae). These microbes disperse to
the HMS Beagle, Darwin kept detailed
the Beagle voyage formed the basis
suitable habitats very easily, and
notes and drawings that documented
for his theory of evolution. Working
sometimes they’re aided unwittingly
the variations he noticed in wildlife.
independently, Alfred Russel Wallace
by people.
developed the same theory, and they One example is goose barnacles
published jointly in 1858; it remains
There may be fewer examples of
(Lepas spp.), among which he noted
the foundation of biology today.
cosmopolitan, globally occurring marine species. In addition to
distinct varieties found in different locations. These barnacles are
As the methods used to investigate
Darwin’s barnacles, others that
pelagic drifters, carried on ocean
species diversity have improved, the
appear to be valid are the giant squid
currents. Today, we recognize seven
number of recognized species has
(Architeuthis dux) and violet sea-
species, two of which are considered
increased, and scientists continue
snail (Janthina janthina). Successful
cosmopolitan, or occurring globally.
to discover far more diversity than
cosmopolitan species must be
But even those two are isolated by
previously realized. There are three
extreme habitat generalists—flexible
water temperature and currents:
possibilities for how many species
enough to survive across a wide
temperate/tropical (L. antifera)
exist within any given group—more
range of conditions.
and Southern Ocean/Antarctic
than we know, exactly how many
(L. australis). Their distributions
we think, or fewer than we realize.
It’s far more common these days to
highlight the existence of barriers
Interesting examples can be found
hear about exciting new discoveries
at both extremes. Most instances of
that reveal more species exist within
68 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
a group than we previously realized.
they remain relatively understudied,
native species’ gene pools through
In biology, we refer to these as
and discoveries of cryptic species are
accidental interbreeding with
cryptic species: distinct species that
frequent (more than 6,000 species are
nonnative species.
are very similar in appearance and
currently recognized).
thus difficult to distinguish visually.
Black basses remain popular subjects In the United States, black basses
for anglers, too. All the excitement
In the first article in this series, I
(Micropterus spp.) are under
surrounding the recognition of
discussed bonefish diversity. With 12
taxonomic revision because of
cryptic species has led to fun new
known species that are remarkably
the identification of cryptics. Of
angling challenges. In Florida, we
similar in appearance, bonefishes are
13 accepted species currently in
have Florida bass (M. floridanus),
great examples of cryptic species.
Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes, ten
Suwanee bass (M. notius), Choctaw
Correct identification of most
are endemic to the Southeast (a few
bass (M. sp. cf. punctulatus), and
bonefishes requires genetic analysis.
have been introduced elsewhere),
shoal bass (M. cataractae). With a
and four species have been recently
good strategy and a fair amount of
described. Many other provisional
driving, you could potentially catch all
Recent headlines reveal other examples of cryptic species. A 2020 study of gentoo penguins revealed four species that were previously thought to be a single species. Similarly, African giraffes have been split into four species. Both these cases used genetic data and other evidence to verify species status (well beyond mere population-level variation). For the gentoo penguins, physical differences emerged after carefully examining museum specimens, and they matched the genetic differences. The giraffes, on the other hand, are true cryptic species—very similar in physical appearance.
four in a single day of fishing in the
BONEFISHES ARE
Florida panhandle.
GREAT EXAMPLES
In the gray zone, somewhere in
OF CRYPTIC
species continuum, lie ensatina
SPECIES. CORRECT
amphibians are known as a ring
IDENTIFICATION OF
from their distribution encircling
MOST BONEFISHES
too hot and dry for salamanders.
REQUIRES GENETIC
geographically and genetically
ANALYSIS.
the middle of the populationsalamanders. These Pacific Coast species; the term originates California’s Central Valley, which is Research has documented distinct forms, some of which possess large physical differences. Despite these differences, some forms can still interbreed. Ensatina
This phenomenon of cryptic diversity
forms exist that soon may receive
remains a favorite study subject
is particularly common among
formal species recognition with
for evolutionary biologists because
freshwater fishes. Once discovered,
ongoing research.
they represent the challenges that
distributions of the cryptic species in
exist in properly diagnosing and
a group tend to be drainage-specific,
The lengthy and complicated history
describing species. These issues are
matching the geologic and geographic
of stocking various black basses
not merely academic; they provide
history of the region they inhabit. This
into nonnative ranges is a source of
critical information for species
makes a lot of intuitive sense—the
considerable difficulty for researchers
conservation. Misunderstanding
evolution of separate species usually
trying to untangle diversity in the
can lead to mismanagement using
requires some physical separation
genus. Across the southeastern US,
flawed strategies, which can have
of populations. Freshwater fishes
substantial efforts are now made to
real-world consequences. We need to
of the neotropics, which include the
preserve the existing native diversity.
use the right tools for the job (and
Caribbean, Central America, and
Stocking activities are carefully
need enough information about the
South America, are the most diverse
monitored and restricted to native
species to know which job needs to
group of vertebrates on Earth. Yet
ranges, preventing pollution of the
be done).
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 69
What about variation within a
skin (chromatophores) that regulate
identification challenging without
species?
pigments. The pigments originate
a lot of experience or a good fish
from different sources—black, gray,
guide. Scientists aren’t yet sure why
We can observe a wide range of
and brown shades are produced by
juveniles of these species are so
variation among members of a single
melanin, while red, orange, and yellow
different from adults, though one
species. Semi-isolated populations
shades are produced by carotenoid
hypothesis suggests it may help
may develop unique traits, either by
pigments from a fish’s diet. Shrimp,
reduce aggressive behavior.
chance or as a local adaptation to
for example, contain carotenoids
differing conditions. Unique traits
that give them a pink-orange color.
There are other adaptations
do not necessarily mean populations
In contrast, white is reflected
related to skin pigments—rapid
are diverging substantially on the
light bouncing off crystals in the
changes in color or pattern to
way to becoming separate species.
chromatophores. Green, blue, and
mirror surroundings or as a form of
Instead, it more often represents the
violet shades are usually structural,
communication (such as flashing).
large degree of natural variation that
produced through light reflection and
These can signal danger and
exists within species. This variation
refraction off of skin and scales.
also are used in competition and
among individuals is important for
Pigments serve two main purposes:
courting behaviors during spawning.
a species’ continued survival; they
sun protection and as camouflage
Bonefishes are well known for
must be able to adapt to changing
from predators. Many fish species
coloration changes depending on
environmental conditions. The
are darker along their back, while
their surrounding habitat—a fish
building blocks of adaptations at
their belly is light. Known as
swimming over seagrass or in deeper
the population level are genetic
countershading, it is an adaptation
water will appear darker with a
variations among individuals.
to avoid predation by blending
greenish tint along its back. That
While genetic variations are fixed
in with the surroundings when
same fish swimming over sand will
in an individual, some interesting
viewed from above or below. Other
appear pale silver. Dark vertical bars
physical traits can vary over time
examples of color morphing can
can sometimes be seen on bonefish
in the same individual. Perhaps
be seen in the drastic differences
swimming through grassy or hard-
the most noticeable are coloration
in appearance between juveniles
bottom habitats. These bars can
changes. Many fishes are renowned
and adults. Many reef species, such
also be found on fish when they
for their color-morphing capabilities,
as damselfish and angelfish, are
are under stress (such as during
achieved with specialized cells in their
famous for this, which makes correct
angling). Chromatophores are part
70 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
of the endocrine system, so they
animals occasionally make news;
new species. Four species of bonefish
can be regulated by hormones such
leucistic squirrels and snakes have
occur in the Caribbean and western
as cortisol, which is associated with
been spotted in the wild. (Florida
Atlantic—extensive genetic analysis
stress response.
angler Johnathon Morris caught a
of fish collected across the region
leucistic red snapper in 2016. Note the
(including Belize and Mexico) have
eye is dark, not red as in an albino.)
not revealed any additional species.
Some variations are the result of genetic mutations. Certain mutations
Similarly, a golden tarpon made the
result in strikingly different
Xanthochromism is another trait that
headlines when it was caught in 2016
appearance from the species’ typical
results in unusual pigmentation; in
in the Tampa Bay area; it was likely a
form. They are usually rare and often
this case red is replaced with yellow.
xanthic individual. FWC staff have also
result in low individual survival. One
Relatively common in birds such as
reported xanthic snook and mullet.
familiar example is albinism—the
cardinals, warblers, and woodpeckers,
recessive version of any one of
it’s also found in insects, fish,
Another familiar trait, piebalding,
several genes prevents the formation
reptiles, and amphibians. The
results in patchy bicolor patterns
of pigments normally found in the
condition is usually caused by a
in animals. Most frequently seen
skin, hair, feathers, and eyes. Albinos
genetic mutation, but diet can
in domesticated animals like cows,
have low survival in the wild; they
sometimes cause xanthochromism
horses, cats, and dogs, piebalding also
stand out vividly against surrounding
as well. Florida Fish and Wildlife
occurs in the wild. This distinctive
habitat, making them an easy target
Conservation Commission researchers
pattern is caused by a mutation in
for predators. The absence of dark
recently caught a xanthic blue tilapia
the KIT gene during development.
pigments (like melanin) also makes
in a canal near Boynton Beach.
This gene regulates how fast pigment
them susceptible to skin cancers and
Have you ever heard stories about
cells migrate in an embryo. The
retinal damage.
“golden” bonefish around Belize and
result is clumped patches of white
the Mexican Yucatan coasts? It’s
and dark. You may recall stories of a
A related phenomenon is known as
likely these are xanthic individuals,
piebald tarpon caught in Florida in
leucism, which results in partial loss
occurring because of a genetic
2014. Reports of piebald white-tailed
of pigmentation. Leucistic animals
mutation or diet. While the exact
deer are fairly common.
usually have blue eyes and may be
cause of this yellow color morph in
white or have patchy coloration.
bonefish hasn’t been documented,
Sightings of leucistic and albino
it’s safe to say they don’t represent a
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 71
ON THE PLATE by Kelli Prescott
UP IN SMOKE: Bacon and Beef Short Ribs It’s that time of year again—the sun is out and my smoker is fired up. With summer just around the corner, I’m using my new smoker as often as possible. (John got me a new pit for Christmas, and I think he also might have had himself in mind.) Endless slabs of smoked beef, pork, fish, and bacon—what’s not to love? While there’s great beauty in a pellet smoker’s ease of use, there’s nothing like the flavor imparted by fresh chunks of post oak crackling and smoldering on a big, offset quarter-inch steel beast. No matter what kind of smoker you have, these recipes are sure to become two of your new favorites.
72 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
Kelli’s Best-Ever Bacon Ingredients
1 tbsp cumin seeds
If you’re still buying bacon, you’re missing out. Homemade bacon is easy, rewarding, and tastes ten times better than what you can buy at the grocery. You control the amount of salt, the level of smokiness, and the thickness of each slice. I developed this recipe when I worked as a butcher at a restaurant. The restaurant and I both still use this formula.
1 tsp pink curing salt
outside air can enter. I like to use
You’ll want your smoker anywhere
a Sharpie to label the bag with the
from 200 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit
The first thing you’ll need is a pork
time and date, so I don’t forget when
for the duration of the smoking
belly. For this recipe I use half of a
I started the process.
process. Once the smoker is heated,
1/2 slab of pork belly 1/2 cup kosher salt
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tbsp coarsely ground black pepper 1 tbsp red chile flakes
whole pork belly and ask the butcher
the pork belly slab goes directly on
for the meatier side. You can easily
After you’ve wrapped up the belly,
the middle rack. Continue to add
double the recipe and use a whole
place the bag in the back of the
chunks of oak, alternating with
pork belly. Bacon freezes extremely
fridge and let the cure work its
hickory or mesquite to maintain the
well, and I warn you, this bacon will
magic. I like to cure it for four days,
desired temperature while varying
not last long in your refrigerator.
but anywhere from three and a half
the flavor profile.
From breakfast to burgers, cubed up
to seven days will yield delicious
for soups, stews, and beans, and even
results.
candied, my bacon is good for just about everything.
Smoke the pork belly for two to four hours until the internal temperature
After your desired curing time has
at the thickest point reaches at least
elapsed, remove the pork belly from
145 degrees and up to 160 degrees.
Mix all the dry ingredients for the
the bag and rinse thoroughly with
cure in a bowl, and then generously
cold water—you want to remove all
Place your finished slab of smoked
sprinkle all sides of your pork belly
of the curing mixture. A few cumin
bacon on a baking sheet to rest
with the cure. You want a generous
seeds, chile flakes, and cracked
uncovered in the refrigerator
amount of cure on all sides, but you
pepper may be left, and that’s okay.
overnight. (Warning: Your entire
don’t want so much that you can’t
Our main goal is to remove all of the
refrigerator will smell like smoked-
see the pork belly through the spices.
salt. After rinsing the pork belly, pat
bacon heaven for a few days.)
it dry with paper towels. Once the pork belly is coated in the
Once rested, it’s ready to slice. Use
curing mixture, place it in a zip-top
Return the pork belly to the
a long slicing knife and take your
bag and remove most of the air. If
refrigerator on a baking rack. Let it
time. Do your best to make long even
the pork belly is too big to fit into a
hang out there while you fire up the
slices that are one-eighth-inch thick,
zip-top bag, you can wrap it tightly
smoker. At this point, you can also
or slice it thicker or thinner to your
in cling wrap and place it in a baking
leave the pork belly to rest uncovered
preference. When the ends of the
dish; you can even use a clean
in the fridge overnight.
belly become hard to slice, I like to
garbage bag and tie it up. Anything works, as long as it’s sealed and no
cube them for soups, stews, bacon I like to use oak to get the fire going.
bits, and more. TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 73
Sti y, Smoky Beef Short Ribs Ingredients
4 large, bone-in chuck short ribs
Marinade
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce 1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup mirin
10 cloves garlic, grated 2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp cracked pepper 1 tbsp onion powder
For the Braise
1 yellow onion, sliced thin 5 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup honey
1 tbsp cracked pepper 1 tbsp onion powder 2 tsp kosher salt
Ask your butcher to cut the meatiest ribs possible. You’ll want them about 8 to 10 inches long and about 3 inches wide. If you’re having trouble finding the right size short ribs, or don’t have a nearby butcher, you can substitute any size bone-in chuck short ribs available at the grocery store—just buy more of them. To prep the short ribs, whisk together all ingredients for the marinade. Place the short ribs in a zip-top bag with the marinade and let them hang out in the refrigerator at least overnight and up to three or four days. Beef short ribs are a heartier cut with lots of connective tissue compared to more delicate cuts, so you can’t really over-marinate them—
74 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
Inspired by one of my favorite meals at State of Grace restaurant in Houston, these decadent, fall-off-the-bone short ribs are the perfect combination of sticky, smoky, and sweet. I serve them shredded, nestled in duck fat tortillas, topped with pickled vegetables and lots of fresh herbs. longer is better.
Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a large baking dish with foil, and
Once the ribs have soaked up the
combine all ingredients for the braise
marinade, it’s time to fire up the
in the dish. Nestle the short ribs in
smoker. Heat your smoker to 250
the braising liquid, and cover with
degrees Fahrenheit, using any variety
more foil. Bake for two to three hours
of oak. Place the short ribs directly
or until fork-tender. Let rest before
on the middle rack.
serving.
Maintain a temperature of 250 to
To serve these sticky, smoky short
300 degrees for four to six hours.
ribs, you can eat them as is, or serve
Every hour or so, give your beef ribs
them with quick pickled vegetables
a spritz to keep them from drying
and loads of fresh herbs. The quick
out. I like to use a 50-50 mixture of
pickles are bright and crunchy and
apple cider vinegar and honey for all
provide balance to the decadent ribs.
of my barbecue needs. Whisk honey
I use a 50-50 mixture of mirin and
into apple cider vinegar to dissolve,
rice wine vinegar. Bring those to a
and pour the mixture into a spray
boil, and then pour the hot liquid
bottle. Whether it’s a pork butt, pork
over sliced cucumbers, radishes,
ribs, brisket, or beef ribs, spritzing
and watermelon rind. Let sit for 30
during cooking will lock in moisture
minutes, and then drain.
and flavor. When the pickles are ready, shred the After four to six hours have elapsed
meat from the ribs, and assemble
and you’ve achieved a nice bark on
your tacos—a big handful of shredded
the short ribs, it’s time to finish them
beef, pickled vegetables, and a
with a braise.
healthy dose of cilantro and mint.
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 75
Q’s
BLOCK PARTY MARGARITAS by Al Quattrocchi
76 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
Ingredients
In pre-Covid days, Janet and I hosted
1 12 oz. can of frozen concentrated
some of our close fly fishing friends
LimeAid 1 1/2 cups water 1 1/2 cups quality tequila 1 large orange—halved, squeezed, and strained
a little get-together each summer for at our Los Angeles home. We call it the annual fishing barbecue, hosted by the Qs. It’s very informal, and we throw some Carolina
1 12 oz. bottle or can of India Pale Ale
ribs on the Traeger and make a batch
Pour all ingredients into a blender
cob, homemade coleslaw, deviled
and blend until frothy. Serve over ice in a glass garnished with a lime wheel. (If desired, salt the rim of the glass before filling it.)
of pulled-pork sliders. Corn on the eggs, potato salad, and ice cream cookie sandwiches round out the menu most years. It’s always been a great way to connect with the friends we would normally only see while fishing, gathering them all in one place. The highlight, however, isn’t the food; it’s the house Margaritas. The simple, foolproof recipe was one my lovely wife stumbled upon many years ago on the internet, and we’ve never needed to look for another. One friend demands them each year and brings a few bottles of top-shelf tequila to ensure they stay on the bar menu. The simplicity of the recipe makes them perfect for this type of gathering. Unlike traditional Margaritas, these are made with beer, which adds complexity and depth when mixed with fresh-squeezed oranges. Because most of the ingredients are used in equal parts, I just use the LimeAid container to measure them. Everything goes directly into the blender for a spin until frothy, and then they’re poured over ice. Voilá. You are now holding Q’s Block Party Margarita.
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 77
New Life for Lake Worth Lagoon By Pete Barrett
The West Palm Beach Fishing Club
is listed on the National Register of
like a tsunami. Fishing and water
is an old-timer. Founded in 1934, it’s
Historic Sites, and also recognized as
quality began a gloomy decline
rooted like a mangrove along the
a Florida Historic Site.
until disgusted local residents,
banks of Lake Worth Lagoon, where
anglers, boaters, businesses, and
its historic clubhouse was built along
At the time of the club’s creation,
environmentalists had finally had
Flagler Drive, not much more than
the historic waters of the Lake
enough. By 1994 a new awareness
a long fly cast to the water’s edge.
Worth Lagoon were home to
for water-quality improvements,
The clubhouse is a treasure trove of
teeming populations of gamefish,
combined with habitat restoration
fishing memorabilia, artifacts, fish
and surrounding towns were in
and enhancement, culminated in
mounts, burgees and pennants, a
relative balance with nature.
the creation of the Lake Worth
library, and a collection of historic
But the post-war South Florida
Lagoon Initiative.
photographs dating to the 1930s.
population explosion swept away
It’s an important part of history and
the beautiful mangrove estuary
78 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
How to Fish Lake Worth
The resilient estuary that had
lake, but his little inlet created an
provided club members with so much
amazing new saltwater habitat of
For all of these restoration projects and
remarkable fishing was in need of life
lush seagrass and water-filtering
islands, an 8-weight rod will do yeoman’s
support, and it arrived through the
oyster beds perfect for Florida’s
work. On calm days a 6-weight is a delight
extraordinary cooperation of town-,
snook, tarpon, jacks, trout, and
for casting 2- to 4-inch Deceivers, Clousers,
county-, and state-government
Spanish mackerel. More sophisticated
EP and Polar Fibre Minnows, and the Eat Me
agencies, along with the club, to
manmade inlets were attempted in
fly designed by West Palm Beach Fishing
embark on a journey to restore and
the late 1880s, and by 1915 the Port
Club member and local fly fishing guide
enhance the Lake Worth Lagoon.
of Palm Beach created a permanent
Scott Hamilton. Any minnow-like flies that
The 21-mile estuary, extending from
inlet that improved it to what it looks
imitate glass minnows are effective for
North Palm Beach to Boynton Inlet
like today.
snook and jacks. Shrimp and crab patterns
on the south, was about to be reborn.
often fool trout and redfish on the flats. Development and construction from
The West Palm Beach Fishing Club is
the late 1940s until the 1980s—
If you like the visual eye candy of surface
often thought of as a big-game club,
dredging, canals, seawalls, landfills,
strikes, try a Gartside Gurgler, Bob’s
but the label is far from accurate.
roads, malls, commercial buildings,
Banger, or any balsa-body popper. At
Yes, sailfishing flows through its
and residential communities—so
daybreak, the chances of scoring a jack
veins; the club was the first to
severely injured the saltwater
crevalle of 10 pounds or more are excellent,
commemorate the release of sailfish
ecosystem that portions of the
but carry a pre-rigged 9-weight for them.
with red release flags that are now
lagoon became oxygen-starved
Good colors include white, chartreuse and
used around the world. But inshore
trenches where nothing lived. Sewage
white, and white with an olive wing. Your
light tackle and freshwater and
polluted the waters, making them
box should hold several sizes to imitate the
saltwater fly anglers have always
toxic. Freshwater runoff and silt
predominant bait, which range in size from
been part of the club’s membership.
smothered acres of precious seagrass
1- to 2-inch glass minnows to 3- to 6-inch
The club keeps records for 38 species
beds, turning the bottom into gooey
mullet.
of popular local gamefish caught by
mud. The loss of spawning sites and
members in 12 categories, including
nurseries for grouper, snapper, tarpon,
The shallow water mandates a floating
12- and 20-pound fly tippets.
trout, snook, and other gamefish
line for most fly fishing, although a floater
caused a severe decline in fishing.
with a short intermediate sink tip or a
Its membership has included fly
full intermediate line can be good at high
fishing notables such as Joe Brooks;
Happily, the once-deteriorating
tide. Tom Twyford, Palm Beach Fishing
Mark Sosin; A.J. “Al” McClane; Curt
waters of Lake Worth Lagoon are
Club president, says many local guides
Gowdy; Lee and Joan Wulff; Stu Apte;
dramatically changing for the
and experienced fly anglers favor simple
Lefty Kreh; Fred Schrier, founder
better, and the West Palm Beach
leaders based on a 40-pound butt section
of the Salt Water Fly Rodders of
Fishing Club is deeply embedded in
tapering to a 12- or 20-pound class tippet
America; and Lou Rossi, founder of
revitalizing the estuary. A lot of credit
with a short length of 25- or 30-pound
the Salty Fly Rodders of New York.
goes to Jim Barry, a life member of
fluorocarbon for the bite tippet to avoid
the club, who also wore many Palm
cutoffs from the snook’s raspy mouth and
“The Lake,” as locals call it, has lived
Beach County hats over four decades
razor-sharp gill plates.
a schizophrenic life, alternating
before his retirement from county
between a freshwater and saltwater
government. His management of the
“Many members of the West Palm Beach
lake as hurricanes opened, then
county’s dredge-permitting program
Fishing Club are enthusiastic fly fishers and
closed, several inlets along the
had a special impact on enhancing
willingly share their Lake Worth Lagoon
barrier islands. Augustus Lang, an
and restoring Lake Worth Lagoon,
experiences at monthly meetings,” Twyford
orchid grower, is generally credited
and he was able to secure permanent
said. “We always welcome guests to the
with opening the first manmade
funding by allocating a portion of
club’s monthly meetings that feature
inlet into Lake Worth Lagoon in
boater registration fees for habitat-
instructional seminars, and also to the
1866. It destroyed the freshwater
enhancement projects.
club’s monthly fly-tying get-togethers.”
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 79
According to Barry, the county’s first
was filled, graded, and contoured to
renewal effort focused on Munyon
form the base structure for a string
Island at the lagoon’s north end.
of new islands. Limestone riprap and
Restoration began in 1997 with a 10-
11 acres of red mangroves stabilized
year project that included removal of
and contained the spoil. An additional
nonnative plants and trees, soil removal,
40 acres of seagrass beds have begun
creation of tidal pools and ponds to
to grow, and there are now 2.2 acres
increase water-flushing, and restoration
of oyster beds to help purify local
of mangrove trees and salt grasses.
waters.
The end result was a 23-acre maritime hammock forest with protection of
According to Tom Twyford, the West
underwater seagrass beds.
Palm Beach Fishing Club president, more material came from Viking
The results are encouraging, with increases in both gamefish and baitfish, enlargement of seagrass fields, and general improvement of the mangroves, oyster colonies, and Spartina grass.
Soon after the success of Munyon
Yachts when they received approval
Island, Palm Beach County expanded
to dredge their facility and agreed to
its efforts into habitat-enhancement
place the spoil on the Snook Islands
projects. The first was the Peanut
project. It benefited the lagoon, fish,
Island/Snook Islands Natural Area
birds, and anglers, as well as the
project. Over 1 million yards of sandy
public and local businesses.
dredge material were excavated from Peanut Island and barged
In 2004, the 7-acre John’s Island
downstream to a deep slough laden
Environmental Restoration Project,
with poisonous hydrogen sulfide.
located across from and slightly north of the Snook Islands project,
“Peanut Island, located just inside
added more habitat. Palm Beach
the Lake Worth Inlet, was filled to
County, aided by the US Army
the brim with sandy dredge spoils
Corps of Engineers and supported
from inlet maintenance and was
by the Audubon Society and the
unable to accept future material,”
Town of Palm Beach, expanded the
said Eric Anderson, senior biologist for
mangroves, planted cord grass, added
Palm Beach County Environmental
a 1.4-acre maritime hammock for
Resources Management. “An anoxic
wildlife, and improved water flow.
‘death hole’ slough at the Municipal Golf Course was selected to receive
Other island-creating projects and
the Peanut Island material. It was
habitat enhancements have been
also much less expensive to barge
built in recent years, including the
the materials than to truck them to
South Cove Natural Area within the
inland sites, and it created the Snook
shadow of downtown West Palm
Islands. It was a win-win for everyone.”
Beach, Bryant Park, John’s Island, Grassy Flats, Ibis Isles, and Ocean
80 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
It launched a new era for the
Ridge. The latest project, now under
Palm Beach County Environmental
construction, is called Tarpon Cove.
Resources Management team to
It’s just south of the Flagler Bridge
create enhanced habitat for fish,
and offshore of El Cid residential
birds, mangroves, oysters, and the
community. Homeowners have
interlocking chain of estuarine life
been happy to put up with the
that was needed to sustain a healthy
construction, knowing the Tarpon
environment. The Snook Islands site
Cove islands will provide a scenic
natural area for birds and wildlife,
anglers, guides, and fly fishers will
Anderson’s research and species
good fishing, and clean water.
tell you they’re excited about the
collection also documented several
new enhancement and renovation
bonefish.
Anderson touted an ironic new twist
projects that restore or create
called the Living Shoreline Project
these natural areas, and they’ve
Each natural area offers unique
that turns bulkheaded shorelines
been experiencing better fishing. To
fishing opportunities by kayak and
into miniature mangrove forests.
keep track of progress, the county
flats skiff, and some by wading.
Semicircular and crescent-shaped
began quarterly monitoring in
limestone riprap structures, as well
cooperation with the Florida Fish and
“Fly fishers in shallow-draft skiffs can
as bench-shaped concrete structures,
Wildlife Conservation Commission
cover a lot more water, and they have
are built along bulkhead areas and
at Snook Islands and Grassy Flats.
the benefit of hopscotching from area
then filled with mangrove shoots.
The results are encouraging, with
to area, working the tide to search
The planters are designed to allow
increases in both gamefish and
out some great fishing opportunities,”
an interchange of tidal water and
baitfish, enlargement of seagrass
Twyford said. “We’re fortunate that
provide ecologically friendly natural
fields, and general improvement of
Palm Beach County is especially
homes for birds, fish, and other
the mangroves, oyster colonies, and
friendly to boating fly anglers, and
wildlife.
spartina grass.
there are numerous launch ramps all along the lake that offer safe and
The cooperation between multiple
An annual Lake Worth Lagoon
convenient launching for flats skiffs.
government agencies, conservation
Fishing Challenge provides friendly
The ramps are well maintained with
groups, local anglers, and the
competition for local anglers and
good docks and excellent parking.
West Palm Beach Fishing Club is a
generates important catch data.
Some ramps require a daily fee or a
remarkable example of what can be
More than 60 species of fish have
seasonal permit.”
achieved when citizens band together
been caught in the competition,
to benefit a valuable estuary.
including snappers, snook, blacktip
Kayak launching is available almost
sharks, several species of jacks,
any place that has water access,
ladyfish, croaker, and tarpon.
but check local parking regulations.
So how’s it working out? Local
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 81
Information on ramps and kayak
The Snook Island and John’s Island
mullet run. The transition between
launching is available at discover.
natural areas are maturing, and their
first light and dawn seems to trigger
pbcgov.org/parks.
seagrass beds are growing steadily.
a feeding spree, but the snook can
As the mangroves increase in size,
be caught any time there’s a moving
There are several tackle shops
more snook, snapper, and jacks use
tide. As the mangroves continue to
that service fly anglers, including
the areas.
grow, the abundant life surrounding
Fisherman’s Headquarters, Lott Brothers, and Tuppen’s Marine.
their roots, boulders, and nearby In the winter, when harsh easterlies
grass flats serve up a buffet of crabs,
blow, I fish the east side of the
shrimp, baitfish, and worms.
Munyon Island has been a favorite
habitat-enhancement areas to
of kayak and wading fly anglers, who
escape the wind. By wading, kayak, or
Jack crevalle are another prized
fish the channels, seagrass flats,
skiff, there’s a lot of excellent fishing,
gamefish for fly rodders, and they
and mangrove shorelines bordering
even when the wind is howling.
grow big in the lake. Many jacks will
Munyon Island, Little Munyon Island,
be palm-sized “silver dollars,” but
and MacArthur State Park, where they
Snook are the premier target for fly
there also are numerous 5-pounders
find increasing numbers of snook,
anglers. Most of them stretch the
that pull hard, as well as much bigger
tarpon, jack crevalle, and sea trout.
tape between 18 and 30 inches, but
jacks that roam the flats, mangrove
bigger fish can be caught on the fly,
edges, and sea walls.
especially in the early fall during the
Snook are the premier target for fly anglers. Most of them stretch the tape between 18 and 30 inches, but bigger fish can be caught on the fly, especially in the early fall during the mullet run. 82 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
IT’S ABOUT TIME . . .
JT VAN ZANDT
BUILT FOR LIFE www.seaholmautomatic.com
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 83
Night Blitz by Willard Greenwood Beach air tastes of salt-weed, wet, expectant, like stripers might be in— and they are. Teeming multitudes converge to massacre menhaden. The jetty extends into the night. I sense huge spawners gliding, on the move, eating the wounded below the fray. The inlet is alive with stripers, my freshwater Clouser returns with a straightened hook. The tide knocks stones off the bones in my feet and small schoolies flit at my toes like bats and sand sucks up around my ankles. Everything stops—raspy inhale— my line drawn out in a screech of suffering gears. Night smothers dusk. Standing house lights and passing headlights dim and flicker enough to show me pulling against darkness and I feel it running headlong, going with the drain of tide. I hear waters break, way out, as I am whispering to myself that I do not want Heaven, just this fish and to be a local legend. 84 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 85
The freeze
The Science behind Big Bonefish in the Florida Keys by Michael Larkin, Ph.D. Fly anglers fish for bonefish in tropical waters around the globe, but the Florida Keys fishery is known as the home of giants. Data support the claim; 66 percent of International Game Fish Association (IGFA) bonefish records came from the Florida Keys. If you take a closer look at the IGFA bonefish records, you’ll find many Keys bonefish that exceed 14 pounds, the biggest registering 15 pounds, 12 ounces.
86 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
Why Do the Florida Keys Have Such Big Bonefish? What makes bonefish grow larger in some areas than others? Dr. Daniel Pauly is one of the founding fathers of fisheries science, and he wrote a book on the factors that influence fish growth. In summary, temperature and diet are the two most important factors affecting growth rates of saltwater fish. Temperature impacts growth
because the higher the water temperature, the lower the oxygen concentration in the water. So with a higher water temperature, fish must use more energy to obtain oxygen to breathe. More energy used to draw oxygen from the water leads to less energy available for other metabolic activities, including growth. The temperature factor is related to latitude because the higher
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 87
latitudes are farther from the Equator and will have lower water temperatures. Each fish species has a range of temperatures where it can live. Because of the inverse relationship between temperature and oxygen, fish from the same species in higher latitudes—within their viable temperature range— will have higher growth rates than fish at lower latitudes. The Florida Keys are on the higher-latitude, cooler-water side of the bonefish’s range; their waters have a higher oxygen concentration than bonefish areas closer to the equator. It’s one of the reasons Florida Keys bonefish have higher growth rates than bonefish in the lower-latitude, warmer tropical areas such as Belize or Puerto Rico. Diet is the second-most significant factor that affects the growth of saltwater fish. There are numerous examples in the scientific literature where fish shift their
88 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
diets from invertebrates (shrimp and crabs) to fish, and it causes an increase in their growth rates. Florida Keys bonefish are an example of this diet shift. The juvenile Florida Keys bonefish’s diet is mostly penaeid shrimp (the same shrimp you buy at the bait store in Florida), but when bonefish reach about 18 inches fork length (about 2.5 pounds), they start feeding on Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta). Why don’t bonefish just eat toadfish when they’re small? Well, they can’t. Bonefish can’t just bite into their prey like a mackerel or shark. They’re suction feeders, not biters. Bonefish suck in their food and then crush it with their bony tongues and the teeth on the roof of their mouths. A bonefish’s diet is limited by the gape size of its mouth. Small bonefish have to develop a larger gape before they can inhale larger prey items like toadfish.
The caloric gain associated with the shrimp-to-fish shift allows an increase in growth rates. A Florida Keys study found the caloric output of a penaeid shrimp is about 120 calories compared to a Gulf toadfish’s 565 calories, almost five times more than the shrimp. Bonefish in other areas don’t display the diet shift from shrimp to fish. For example, bonefish in the Bahamas eat primarily clams and crabs and don’t switch to fish at older ages, so they don’t benefit from the increased caloric gain and corresponding increased growth. The Myth of Florida Keys Bonefish Coming from Deep Water I spent a decade running a bonefish tagging project in the Florida Keys, interacting with many bonefish guides and avid anglers. A frequent topic of conversation were the big bonefish (exceeding 12 pounds) caught on the flats in the late fall, winter, and
early spring. Some guides believed the big bonefish lived in deep water and seasonally arrived on the flats. The tagging data, however, showed otherwise. We tagged more than 8,000 bonefish and had more than 350 recaptures. The big bonefish caught in late fall, winter, and early spring are the same bonefish caught on Florida Keys flats in the summer. The difference is the weight of the fish, which changes because of the bonefish’s reproductive state. Bonefish caught in late fall, winter, and early spring haven’t yet become involved in spawning. Before they spawn, female bonefish will hydrate their eggs, meaning the eggs fill with water before the females join a spawning aggregation. This egg hydration adds significant weight. In some
fish, such as winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), egg hydration can increase the fish’s weight by 40 percent. I’ve recorded bonefish showing a nearly 20 percent increase in weight from egg hydration. For example, I tagged an 11-pound bonefish in Biscayne Bay in August. I measured the length and weight of the fish before releasing it. That tagged bonefish was caught in an Islamorada bonefish tournament the following April. The length didn’t change, but the fish weighed in at almost 13 pounds at the tournament. It increased its weight by 18 percent. Another example is the IGFA bonefish fly fishing record for the 8 kilogram weight class. The record fish weighed 15 pounds, 6 ounces, and it died during the weighing process. The fish was given to me for research, and even though it
was heavy, it wasn’t the longest bonefish I had seen. Its fork length was 28 inches, which is long, but I’ve also recorded Florida Keys bonefish at fork lengths of 29 inches, and they weighed less than the record fish. When I opened up the gut of the IGFA record bonefish, it was full of hydrated eggs, which added to its weight. Male bonefish also add weight during spawning season, expanding their gonads and filling them with milt. The process doesn’t add as much weight as the female’s hydration of eggs, but it still increases weight. The tendency to use weight as a measurement may explain guides’ and anglers’ beliefs that big bonefish live in deep water and seasonally show up on the flats. It’s understandable to use weight, because length is just
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1,600
No Fishing 2010 Fishing Mortality Rate
1,400
Double the 2010 Fishing Mortality Rate
Number of Bonefish
1,200 1,000
800 600
400 200
0
0.1
1.4
3.9
6.5
8.5
9.9
10.9
12.0
Weight (lbs)
13.0
13.8
14.6
15.3
15.9
one measurement of a threedimensional object. But weight captures the entire size of the fish, its only downside being that weight can change significantly over a very short time. The reproductive influences are one way it happens, but a bonefish that has been feeding heavily on the flats obviously will weigh more than one with an empty stomach. Why Is It Now Uncommon to Catch a Big Bonefish (12 Pounds or Bigger) in the Florida Keys? I moved away from bonefish research and took a job in fisheries management more than a decade ago. I left South Florida and moved to the state’s west coast, but I still keep in touch with many Florida Keys bonefish guides and avid anglers. The recent message I’m getting from them is they’re not currently catching many large bonefish (greater than 12 pounds). What happened to these big fish? I propose two scenarios to explain the decline in abundance of the large Florida Keys bonefish. Scenario 1: Fishing Mortality Has Increased. There was a project that evaluated the status of the Florida Keys bonefish population, but it ended in 2010, so I can’t tell you the status of the bonefish population now. But I can tell you that, in 2010, the Florida Keys bonefish population wasn’t experiencing overfishing (too many fish dying each year). In 2010, the population was not at or above a critical
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overfishing level, but it was headed in that direction. (You can find the study and details with a Google search of “Florida bonefish assessment.”) So what would happen to the availability of bonefish at different sizes if the population was experiencing overfishing? I did an analysis that addressed this question as part of the Florida bonefish assessment project. But first, here’s some background. I knew the current fishing-mortality rate of the Florida Keys bonefish fishery. Even though it’s primarily a catch-and-release fishery, there’s still fishing mortality. If a shark eats your bonefish when you’re reeling it in, that’s an example of fishing mortality. Another example is a bonefish dying after being caught and released (exhaustion, gut hooked, too much air exposure, etc.) From studying the availability of size and ages of bonefish in the Florida Keys fishery, the results showed that about 10 percent of the bonefish population die every year from fishing mortality. I already knew a lot of information on both the fishery and the bonefish population: different size and ages of the population by percentage, which size and ages of bonefish are impacted by fishing mortality, bonefish growth rate, and natural mortality rates (from predators and other sources not related to fishing). I put this information into a simulation
to see how it would impact the size structure of bonefish in the Florida Keys. I ran the simulation making three different changes: 1) assuming no fishing mortality rate, 2) using the current 2010 fishing mortality rate, and 3) doubling the 2010 fishing mortality rate. The results showed that, if you increase the fishing mortality rate, the availability of large bonefish decreases in the fishery. So one possible explanation for the current decline in large bonefish could be an increase in fishing mortality. One component of fishing mortality is fishing effort. If the fishing effort increased (such as more people fishing for bonefish, or people fishing more frequently for bonefish), it could lead to an increase in fishing mortality. Scenario 2: The Cold Water Event of 2010 Killed Multiple Bonefish Age Classes, and the Population Is Still Rebuilding. In January 2010, the Florida Keys were impacted by an intense cold weather event that lasted 12 days. The average upper Florida Keys air temperature was 54 degrees Fahrenheit. It resulted in a massive fish kill. The Florida Keys bonefish population was certainly impacted by this event. Guides were calling me during the cold spell to report dead bonefish on beaches and flats. I scoured shorelines in the Keys and collected 146 dead bonefish from just a few square miles. I
always wondered how many more dead bonefish were out there that I couldn’t access (far back in the mangroves or other areas I missed). The dead fish I collected ranged from 7 to 28 inches in fork length. I determined the age of the fish and found a range from one to 18 years, but most of them were one to three years old, showing that certain age classes were more susceptible than others. An examination of the age and weight data shows a 10-pound bonefish being nine years old or older. The possibility exists that today’s current paucity of large bonefish in the Florida Keys could be caused by several younger age classes being wiped out in the 2010 cold event. Several age classes weren’t available to grow up to become big bonefish. The good news is that anglers and guides are reporting lots of 3- to 7-pound bonefish currently being caught in the Florida Keys. As long as we don’t have another cold weather event, these 3- to 7-pound bonefish will eventually grow up to be big bonefish. From the two scenarios here— fishing-induced mortality and weather-induced mortality—I can’t tell you which is more likely; that’s for you to decide. But if we reduce fishing mortality and don’t have another extreme cold weather event, then big bonefish will be back in the Florida Keys.
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 91
The Aquarium
92 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
by Joseph Ballarini
It was a typical day in the small fishing village of Boquerón, Puerto Rico. Captain Francisco Rosario,
Neither of us could imagine what was
living eating discarded food from
affectionately known as “Pochy,” was
about to happen.
the numerous homes along the
our host, and this was my fourth
backwaters. (Pochy has a fly he calls
visit to fish with the unassuming
As we ventured out of Boquerón’s
papa frita, which he says is the only
guide. I traveled there with one of my
launch/marina/bait shop/auto parts
thing the tarpon like as much as the
closest friends, who had landed his
store, the wind shifted 180 degrees
french fries the kids feed them from
first tarpon the previous day. After
and began to rip from the south.
the docks.) Even the sun seemed
jumping six and landing four on our
Reality was about to set in. The
hesitant that day, unable to peek out
first day out with Pochy, we both
tarpon we had seen everywhere the
past the low clouds on the horizon.
conceded the remainder of this trip
day before were nowhere to be found. This was a different fishery—now
could be nothing but disappointing in comparison.
We couldn’t even locate the
ominous and strange.
scavenger tarpon that make their
TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 93
Being a longtime captain and the
Pochy didn’t waste any time and
landed was about 40 in five hours.
former host of a television show,
began poling the northeastern
Grover tends to embellish a bit, so
Pochy was not rattled. He took us to
shoreline. A few snook made an
30 is probably closer to the truth.
places protected by structure in an
appearance close to shore, but none
Nonetheless, it was a lot of tarpon.
attempt to avoid the wind and find
of the tarpon that were the reason
some fish. After a few unsuccessful
for Grover’s visit. We didn’t have time,
During the ride back to Boquerón and
stops, he sat on the poling platform
however, to become disinterested.
later at dinner, Pochy explained that
and stared off to the south for a few
this was one of the rare occasions
minutes before uttering words that
“Do you see them?” Pochy asked in a
when the conditions aligned
no fly angler could ever refuse.
calm, relieved voice. “I thought they
perfectly. The tarpon playground
would be here.”
was created by a combination of an
“I think we can try something that
incoming tide with a big tidal shift
will either be very good or very bad,”
We definitely saw them; there was no
two days before the full moon, as well
he said. “We can go to a place where I
way to miss them. We were suddenly
as the shift from a north wind to a
think the fish will be, but we have to
surrounded by hundreds of tarpon, if
south-southwest wind in early spring.
travel far in the ocean, and the water
not thousands.
is very rough. You probably will get
It doesn’t happen every year, as I’ve
wet, it will be very choppy, and I cannot
They were off the bow, off the stern,
discovered over the last decade. It
promise that there will be fish there.”
rolling everywhere, from 10 feet
was the only time in numerous visits
away to 300 feet. The lagoon was
to Cabo Rojo that I experienced the
With almost perfectly synchronized
packed with fish, most in the 30-
phenomenon. Grover still refers to
voices, Grover and I said, “Let’s do it.”
to 60-pound range, and they were
that little cove as “The Aquarium,”
gleeful, completely oblivious to our
and it remains his first choice when
So we went south into the wind,
presence. We didn’t just teleport to
we discuss a tarpon trip.
toward the tip of Cabo Rojo along a
another country—we teleported to an
rocky coastline through sketchy water.
aquarium filled with hungry tarpon.
There were permit feeding on the
It’s a day I’ll never forget. If I end up with dementia, I hope this is one of
surface, picking off crabs that were
Within five minutes we had our first
the memories my aging brain locks
dislodged from their rocky perches
hook up. It was a modest-sized fish in
onto and makes me relive each day.
by the strengthening wind and
the 30- to 40-pound range. That fish
merciless chop. The lower unit of the
and many others ate a green-and-
Pochy is still there and still guiding.
skiff scraped along the tops of rocky
white, Clouser-type fly. We used blue
His game is a little different after the
peril hidden just below the surface,
and white, green and white silver
hurricanes and some chronic back
undetectable in the agitated water.
Gummy Minnows, anything that
issues that finally caught up to him
After a few spine-crunching drops on
looked like a baitfish that was 2 to 3
after bouncing through chop for 40
the bow and some hair-raising scrapes
inches long.
years, but he remains the best guide
of metal hitting rock, I began to
in Puerto Rico—and one hell of a nice
question our decision. Grover put away
After a few singles for each of us, we
his camera and asked Pochy where
thought a double hook up would be
the life vests were.
fun. It was not a great idea. An even
You can look him up at
guy.
worse idea was the triple hook up we
lighttackleadventuretarponfishing.
It actually wasn’t a long ride, but it
achieved by having Pochy cast from
blogspot.com/.
felt like an eternity. We finally pulled
the poling platform.
into a cove that was shielded from the wind. The water was calm. It was
While rerigging all three rods and
like we teleported to another part of
laughing about fatigued body parts
the world.
and skinless thumbs, we determined the unofficial tally of fish jumped or
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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 95
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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 97
In-Shore Coastal Waters | Bays and Harbors | Catalina | Offshore
Capt. Vaughn Podmore (714) 235-7715 saltyflyhb@yahoo.com U.S. Coast Guard Master 50 ton captain’s license.USCG#04706 DFG#70777
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GO AHE AD, TA K E TH E B OW.
SH O P N E W F IS HIN G APPARE L AT
D U C KCA MP.CO M
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