So Paul casually walks in the shop here in Virginia after many years and lets us know he's fishing in Montauk. After some polite conversation and so good old-fashioned ribbing, he departs with the anticipation of catching his first false albacore, otherwise known as little tunny, albie, fat albert, and my own personal favorite - Charlie Tuna.
Not only did he land his albies, but a bluefish blitzkrieg made keeping his flies intact difficult (not that there's anything wrong wtih that).
Here's to goot mates, good weather, and good fishing. Cheers!
We got a few photos sent to us from Montana with some great fish and big smiles from Cleve. A hawg brown, good bow, and some fish slime and squeals from his daughters, who apparently love fishing.
The Super 7 large arbor is for 7 and 8 weight lines. The reel holds 200 yards of 20 lb backing with a WF 8 floating line. A great (and very generous gift) for any redfish, bonefish, striper, or steelhead angler. Price: $2,000
Bonefish & Tarpon Unlimited is a 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization based in South Florida with a worldwide presence. The organization supports or collaborates on research projects throughout the Caribbean and Pacific with a goal to protect and enhance both species by gaining a better understanding of their biology and ecology.
To purchase: please visit our New York retail store, or call (800) 255-5488.
LOCATION: Mid Bay
SPECIES: Stripers, Spanish Macs and Blues
UPDATE: September 15, 2009
FISHING CONDITIONS: Not much has changed with my reports except the weather pattern and cooler water temperatures. Frequently it is a Northerly with Easterly influence. This is a clear sign of fall coming. Cooler water will place more feeding fish in the tributaries and that is often where I am fishing now rather than on the main portion of the bay. There are still great numbers of nice Striped Bass, mixed with blues and Spanish Mac's, even occasional larger fish up to 28 inches. Good feeding on silversides and bunker.
WATER TEMPERATURE: with this new cooler weather, low to mid 70's
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker, silver sides, and spot.
"MUST HAVE" FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
-Poppers, poppers, poppers.
-Crease flys
-Larger deceiver patterns that have look and size of 3 to 4 inch bunker
-Bay Anchovy pattern, which you might also fish under a lure as a dropper behind the half and half or behind a spinning lure.
-Blue and White, half and half
-White over white, half and half.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: most commonly I use short (6 foot), straight sections of fluorocarbon leader material for fly or spinning. I use 9 to 12 foot tapered leaders for smaller flys fished in shallow water.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: with the exception of when I am targeting big game species I always provide the same basic outfit. 9 foot 9 weight Tip Flex Rod, paired with a light weight large arbor reel.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: I use two types when fly fishing on the Bay. I use multi-tip fly line with interchangeable tips in floating, intermediate, slow sink and fast sink. These allow quick change opportunity coupled with the 15 foot length which even when used with the fast sink tip can be "picked up" off the water easily. The most common line I use is the full, fast sink line in 9 wt line size to allow me to fish the entire water column even in the deepest of areas.
SPINNING REEL OUTFIT: I have selected short, six foot to seven foot, medium fast action rod with 2500 F1 series Shimano Stradic reel. This will be spooled with braided line of either 14 lb test for lighter lure applications or 25 to 30 pound test for heavier.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Mostly finding fish in small schools now and we are finding short fast strips are working to get good bite. This applies to lures and flys, top water or sinking. The silverside bait is frequently small and this short quick pull seems to get the best reaction. Although mostly smaller fish we are still landing some of the largest
blue fish of the season as well as Spanish Mac's. I am still moving to areas that are in stronger current like drop offs and edges near channels. This is the time of less and more. With less boat traffic, less angler pressure, less daylight there is more time catching fish each trip.
COMMENTS: 8 out of 10 trips we are still bringing over 100 fish to the boat.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Every day has been good, incoming or outgoing tides, early or late. Tight lines!
Subscribe to this blog's feed