Tail Fly Fishing Magazine Issue 34 - March/April 2018

March/April 2018

F LY F I S H I N G M A G A Z I N E

Permitopia Gangsters & Hitmen Salt Marsh Secrets Andros’ West Side First Billfish Royal Slam Mosquito Borne Diseases Broke & Fly

34

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experience counts for everything

Nick Bowles, owner of Ocean Active in Dubai, flyfishes the Arabian Gulf for some of the biggest and toughest fish in the Ocean. Hardcore professionals like Nick are testing our products to the limit every day and push us in our pursuit to build truly great rods. Their knowledge, expertise, and understanding are passed to our craftsmen, who strive for perfection and uncompromising performance in every rod we make.

To us, Nick and his fellow professionals are our unsung heroes. We salute you.

introducing the new t&t exocett ss & exocett series. remarkably light. extraordinarily strong.

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T H E R O D YO U W I L L E V E N T UA L LY OW N

www.thomasandthomas.com HANDMADE IN AMERICA

The moment of awe when the seven year old son of Tail contributor Michael Larkin admires his first permit during a successful outing in Biscayne Bay. Photo by Bobby Gibson

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Thomas & Thomas ambassador John Wolstenholme doesn't let a bad weather system deter him from keeping his eyes on the prize in the Seychelles.

Photo by Alec Gerbec

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This toothy Caribbean barracuda poses for a photo with Florian Schaffner before heading home.

Photo by Jรถrg Fleddermann

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Finding roosterfish is all about locating bait. Even when you do find them, sometimes they are just not in eating mode for one reason or another. One Sunday morning, I decided to trek an hour past my usual spots to find a good-sized rooster crashing the beach upon my arrival. I got off my quad, and this ended up being one of four landed that day over the course of six hours. Despite what you may see about these guys being a 'DIY fish,' they require lots of time and resilience.

Photo by Kyle Banashek

Does this photo even need a caption? The Florida Keys are alive and well. Come on down and fish.

Photo by Zachary Lipshultz

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Poling along the mangroves for juvenille tarpon is about as much fun as you can have with a 9-weight.

Photo by Neil Kreyche

TAIL FLY FIS HI NG M AGA ZI NE 1 1

gladesdeclaration.org

Tens of thousands have signed.

Add your name today and stand up for the future of Florida’s water.

Rick DePaiva ph

oto

TM

Editor-in-Chief Joseph Ballarini Creative Director Shawn Abernathy Consulting Editor Alex Lovett-Woodsum Managing Editors Rock Dawson, Arthur Lux Food Editor Kelli Prescott Publishing Consultant Samir Husni, Ph.D.

Proven. Performance.

Senior Contributors Bob Branham Pat Ford Mark Hatter Ruben Martin Peter McLeod Jonathan Olch George Roberts Greg Thomas

On the Cover

The majestic sailfish is the perfect balance of beauty and brawn, which cements its place among the elite gamefish of the world. Photo by Pat Ford

ABOUT Tail Fly Fishing Magazine provides a voice for saltwater fly fishing culture in a bimonthly print publication. We focus on delivering the best photography, destination travel, reputable commentary and technical features from the saltwater fly fishing lifestyle. Tail began as a digital publication that debuted in September 2012 and has been in print since September 2016.

In many places, 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.

Tail Fly Fishing Magazine supports creative expressions that heighten our appreciation of fly fishing and encourage us to look at it in new ways.

The magazine strives to provide content that reflects our mutual fascination with all aspects of saltwater fly fishing. We are grateful for your support and we welcome photographic and written contributions.

Tail Fly Fishing Magazine is published six times annually. Subscriptions are available for $48 per year.

Prices vary for international subscriptions. Please contact us with any advertising, subscription or submission questions.

2300 Alton Road Miami Beach, FL 33140 WWW.TAILFLYFISHING.COM 305-763-8285

Creative Contributors Shawn Abernathy Joseph Albanese Jose David Bravo Alvarez Joseph Ballarini Drew Chicone Rock Dawson Pat Ford Bob Lewis Kelli Prescott

Photography Joseph Albanese Bobby Altman Jose David Bravo Alvarez Joseph Ballarini Kyle Banashek Jรถrg Fleddermann Pat Ford Alec Gerbec Bobby Gibson Matthew Grove Peter Husted Cory Kendrick Neil Kreyche Bob Lewis Zachary Lipshultz Jesse Males Kelli Prescott

To the thousands of anglers who put their trust in our reels, and our reels in their hands [ day after day and year after year ], WE THANK YOU!

www.3-TAND.com 203.345.7000

info@3-TAND.com

I N LOV I N G M E M O RY O F J O HN C . MEL FI

ISSUE 34

CONTENT

20

Lined up: Our Favorite Fly Lines

22

Inside the Box Cory Kendrick

26

Salt Marsh Secrets

by Joseph Albanese

34

Mosquito-Borne Diseases: A Threat for Traveling Anglers

by Joseph Ballarini

38

Broke and Fly Interview

by Shawn Abernathy

48

Permitopia

by Anonymous

56

Tapped: Beer Reviews

60

On the Plate

by Kelli Prescott

64

Fly Tying: Chicone’s Tuscan Bunny

by Drew Chicone

72

Andros' West Side

by Bob Lewis

78

Gangsters and Hitmen

by Jose David Bravo Alvarez

84

Billfish Royal Grand Slam

by Pat Ford

96

An Angler Opines

by Rock Dawson

34 56 78

22 64

60 96

38

72 48

84

26

No rod has ever silenced all the variables.

No engineer has ever found a way to transfer back cast energy directly into forward accuracy.

No angler has ever erased all the doubt from his or her mind.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

TAIL FLY FISHI NG M AGA ZI NE 1 5

photo Matthew Grove

16 TAI L FLY F I SH I N G M AGA Z I NE

letter from the

EDITOR Many comment on social media or send emails expressing surprise that the editor of Tail took their call or responded directly to their general email. I try to be accessible to everyone, and though I don’t spend my entire day on the phone or emailing customers, there’s a lot in it for me.

If you’ve ever emailed us or called with a specific question about gear or travel, you probably got a response from me, and an enthusiastic one as that.

There is always a certain excitement that goes with planning an outing, and it’s often one of the best parts of the trip. I love to live that vicariously through others.

I recall planning a trip to Cabo San Lucas with the late John Melfi. After numerous conference calls with Grant Hartman and other authorities making sure we had all of the flies, lines, terminal tackle and everything else we needed, John was prepared. It turns out that he didn’t bring any sun protection but he had a small duffle bag of fly tying materials, including popper heads, that he thought we could use. He was right, we needed them.

John tied his wounded baitfish popper just before launch on the last morning, which caught us a 150 lb striped marlin. The fly remains in a shadow box in my office today and is a part of a memory that I will always cherish (and exudes a scent that will never go away).

Honestly, the pre-trip preparation is one of the most exciting parts of any adventure because it starts when you book the trip and doesn’t really end until your return home. Your actual trip might only last a week but you’ll be stoked pre-tripping for months.

As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t get to travel as much as in the pre-Tail days. This woeful admission won’t be changing at least for the next year or so as we continue to grow and prepare to launch the “other” publication (info coming this summer, please don’t call the office). I offset my lack of pre-trip excitement by talking with all of you.

I live vicariously through the many anglers who have reached out for advice and gear. I enjoy the appreciation from the novice anglers looking for sound advice for a first outing, but really love talking to the veteran angler.

There is nothing more challenging than fine tuning the arsenal and plan of an angler who has been there and been successful already. Most of them are looking for specialty items like specific flies on specific hooks that they just can’t buy.

I’ve spent the last several months readying anglers for trips to the Caribbean, Australia, Baja, the Florida Keys and the Indian Ocean. I don’t recall a winter where I tied as many roosterfish flies, none of which I would ever throw. I feel like a general preparing his troops for success, planning for all possible scenarios. We’re rarely perfect, but it’s so much fun trying to be. Relish the time before a trip, it is so fun and will probably create as many or more memories than the journey itself.

On that note, Tail #34 is preparing to take you on the billfish adventure of a lifetime, to the Seychelles to meet some gangsters, and letting you in on the secrets of the marsh. Drew Chicone provides a step-by-step for the hard-to-duplicate Tuscan Bunny fly from his new book.

I also thought that everyone should be safe out there, so I did a little piece on mosquito-borne diseases and how you can protect yourself this year. This issue is a good one so make some room on the book shelf, you’ll want to keep it handy.

Enjoy.

Joseph Ballarini Editor-in-Chief

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G E T TA I L AT T H E S E R E TA I L E R S 18 TA I L FLY F I S H I N G M AGA Z I NE

ALASKA

GEORGIA

TEXAS

Mossy’s Fly Shop 750 W Diamond Blvd Suite 114 Anchorage AK 99515

Blue Ridge Fly Fishing 490 E Main Street Blue Ridge GA 30513

Bayou City Angler 3641 Westheimer Rd Suite A Houston TX 77027

COLORADO

The Fish Hawk 764 Miami Cir NE #126 Atlanta GA 30305

Fishing Tackle Unlimited 8723 Katy Freeway Houston TX 77024

IDAHO

Fishing Tackle Unlimited 13831 Southwest Freeway Sugarland TX 77478

Crested Butte Angler 229 Elk Avenue Suite A Box 1777 Crested Butte CO 81224 Front Range Anglers 2344 Pearl Street Boulder CO 80302

Jimmy’s All Season Angler 275 A Street Idaho Falls ID 83402

CONNECTICUT

LOUISIANA

Fishing Tackle Unlimited 12800 Gulf Freeway Houston TX 77034

The Compleat Angler 541 Boston Post Road Darien CT 06820

Old Towne Fly Shop & Outfitters 4009 Pontchartrain Drive Slidell LA 70458

Gordy & Sons 22 Waugh Drive Houston TX 77007

FLORIDA

MASSACHUSETTS

Black Fly Outfitters 11702 Beach Blvd #109 Jacksonville FL 32246

The Bear's Den 34 Robert W Boyden Rd Taunton MA 02780

Sportsman Finest 12434 Bee Cave Road Austin TX 78738

Bill Jacksons’s Shop for Adventure 9501 US 19 N Pinellas Park FL 33782

NORTH CAROLINA

Forgotten Coast Fly Company 123 Commerce Street Apalachicola FL 32320

Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd D5 Cornelius NC 28031 NEW YORK

Florida Keys Outfitters 81219 Overseas Highway Islamorada FL 33036

Urban Angler 381 Fifth Ave, 2nd Floor New York NY 10016

Flounder Creek Outfitters 515 Garden Street Titusville FL 32796

OHIO

Harry Goode’s Outdoor Sports 1231 E New Haven Ave Melbourne FL 32901

Mad River Outfitters 813 Bethel Road Columbus OH 43214

Swan Point Landing 1723 Cherry Street Suite 4 Rockport TX 78382 UTAH Fishwest 47 West 10600 South Sandy UT 84070 TENNESSEE Fly South Fly Shop 115 19th Ave South Nashville TN 37203 WASHINGTON

RHODE ISLAND

Gig Harbor Fly Shop 3115 Harborview Drive Gig Harbor WA 98335

Ole Florida Fly Shop 6353 N Federal Hwy Boca Raton FL 33487

The Saltwater Edge 1037 Aquioneck Ave Middletown RI 02842 USA

The Avid Angler 17171 Bothell Way NE Seattle WA 98155

Orlando Outfitters 2814 Corrine Dr Orlando FL 32803

SOUTH CAROLINA

Bass Pro Shops over 80 locations in the USA

The Angling Company 333 Simonton St Key West FL 33040 West Wall Outfitters 787 Tamiami Trail Port Charlotte FL 33953

Bay Street Outfitters 825 Bay Street Beaufort SC 29902 Charleston Angler 654 Saint Andrews Blvd Charleston SC 29407 Charleston Angler 1113 Market Center Blvd Mt Pleasant SC 29464

Dick's Sporting Goods over 86 locations in the USA Field & Stream Stores over 25 locations in the USA

JOIN TODAY. PROTECT TOMORROW.

BTT is a membership-based organization,

and our members are our lifeblood. Since our founding in 1998, we have grown to include concerned anglers from over 20 countries, researchers from throughout the world, and guides committed to working with BTT in order to educate anglers and gather data while on the water. The generous support of our members is critical to our mission: Conserve and restore bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and habitats through research, stewardship, education and advocacy.

We have celebrated many accomplishments, but there is still much more work to do.

Please help us in our mission by joining and urging your friends, guides, lodges, and fishing clubs to join. Please go to www.btt.org and click “Join BTT� to become a member today.

TAIL FLY FISHI NG M AGA ZI NE 1 9

LINED UP Orvis Hydros Tarpon Not a bad choice for tarpon since it has a specialized taper for turning over big flies and shooting line quickly. The Hydros Tarpon is one of the better and higher end lines in the Orvis catalog. It behaves very similarly to the SA and is similar in feel and casting. It is true to weight and pairs well with the Orvis rod selection. It’s a line selection without a lot of hype, and the one to use if you are fishing an Orvis rod.

Monic All Weather Covert Clear

GEAR GUIDE

At first we thought it was hooey, but this line is made from a completely different polymer than conventional fly lines. It is somewhat revolutionary as it can be used on Northeastern stripers in the fall and Bahamas bonefish in the summer. While it sinks a bit, as all the clear lines do, it floats very well comparatively. It seems to be a little on the heavy side but by no means will you over-line with this one. Pairs well with stiffer rods.

Fly lines have come a long way, and the technology is continuously evolving. They have become specialized for species, climate, color and any other variable that is within control. One very important part of the equation is the standardizing of line weight (actual weight in grains) which makes pairing lines to rods much easier. An angler may prefer a specific brand of line, but that brand may not be a good match for the particular rod they have chosen. Some rods may really be more like an 8.5 or a 7.5 instead of a true 8-weight, so if the line is true to weight, you could be over or underlining your rod. We wanted to share some observations to help you find the best pairing and optimize your outing.

RIO Bonefish This is the first line that many saltwater anglers buy, and for good reason. The taper and texture of the line make it easy to cast and it holds up well in the tropics. It’s a softer line that does not have a lot of memory.

It’s a staple for many anglers because of the taper and ease of casting on many different rods but also because it’s durable and lasts. Pairs well with many rods.

Scientific Anglers Frequency Boost SA has been around making lines since the 1940s, and they have several mid-priced lines and some high-priced lines as well. This one is mid-priced and is a little heavy, which will load your rod faster but will probably limit the amount of line you can carry during a cast. Some anglers intentionally overline rods to increase distance, and this line will do that automatically for you.

Airflo Ridge Clear Tip Tropical Short When fishing for ultra spooky fish, a long leader is key, but it can make it tough to turn a fly over. The Airflo Clear Tip Tropical Short comes with 12 feet of clear fly line that seamlessly connects to the colored line section. The line pairs perfectly with standard rod sizes and casts like a dream, and gives you that ultra-stealthy presentation to fish. This is our go-to line at Tail for fishing big oceanside tarpon.

Scientific Anglers Mastery Since SA has been making lines for over 70 years, they know a thing or two.

The taper allows big flies to be turned over with ease, and delivers little ones with control. The box might change from time to time and they might tweak a detail here or there, but this is a good line if you're not sure. True to weight and pairs well with many different rods.

Airflo Super-DRI GT We like this line a lot because there aren’t many that we know of with a 50 lb test core. You may never need it in routine situations, but a big giant trevally is not routine. This line was designed specifically to stop a GT before hitting obstacles or dropping off the end of a reef. It is a little heavy because of the core but still casts well and has a nice feel. You don’t have many choices for GT lines so if you're going to the Seychelles, grab a few of these.

Pairs well with stiffer rods.

RIO DirectCore Flats Pro This is a new utilization of Rio’s SureFire technology used in their freshwater lines. The core is a no-stretch, no memory monofilament that is hyped to lay perfectly straight on the water, and it does a pretty good job of that. All line makers make the no-memory claim but let’s face it, all lines have some degree of memory. For the surprising price tag well over $100, it actually did not disappoint. Flats Pro also utilizes three colors, which can help estimate casting distance and control line better. Pricey, but depending on the level of your game, it could be worth it. Pairs well with many rods.

Monic Clear Intermediate Sink Monic lines have a nice feel and cast very well. We used an 11 for tarpon and the line was easy to manage and had very little memory. This particular line sinks a little quicker than expected, which Monic is aware of. Ultimately the drop is not much faster than other intermediate lines and this could make a great option for tarpon and other species that you need to reach in the middle of the water column. Pairs well with stiffer rods.

Cortland Precision Liquid Crystal This is a polyethylene line that is soft, pliable and easy to cast, and is one of the very few floating clear lines on the market. Clears are preferred by many anglers chasing spooky fish like permit and tarpon. Pairs well with many rods.

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Our featured box this issue was shared with us by Cory Kendrick of Vance, Alabama. "I’m really focused on Gulf fishing for redfish since that’s most of what we have up here. With such a small shoreline and inside fishery, there’s a lot of pressure. Well known patterns are usually rejected pretty quickly. I was experimenting when I made the Elf, but something about those goofy looking ears makes the fish rush this fly. The ears are minnow fins I ordered from Pat Cohen at rusuperfly.com.

The other thing I learned through experimentation is that greens, browns and gray get more eats than the other colors we use here."

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Salt Marsh Secrets

by Joseph Albanese

S

ome of the best fishing on the Striper Coast takes place in the skinny waters of the salt marsh. These labyrinths of unassuming meadows and sinuous creeks hide an environ of never-ending decay and genesis. As the water recedes, you can catch the telltale odor of expired life. But further examination reveals the beginnings of existence springing forth from that odiferous muck. Marshes act as nurseries for many species of gamefish and prey alike. Everything from Atlantic menhaden to weakfish begin their life cycles amongst the flora that comprise these islands. It is this vegetation that allows these atolls to exist, their roots binding the soil against the corrosive action of wind and tide. Invertebrates can be found in abundance as well; from the mollusks so familiar at local markets and restaurants to benthic worms that provide an all-you-can-eat buffet for stripers when the moon urges them to hatch in droves. It is this smorgasbord of bite-sized offerings that draws predators out of the relative safety of deeper water.

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This habitat can provide some of the best angling you are likely to encounter in the Northeast, but there are some stars that need to align for that to happen. As the water is shallower, everything is magnified.

The tidal stage, position and intensity of the sun, and even the importance of the color and composition of the bottom is exaggerated. Typically, cordgrass is found in the low-lying areas and salt hay in the high marsh, providing cover for the young-of-the-year to grow. The exposed grasses offer overhead cover from terns, gulls, and wading birds. The emergent stalks afford crevices in which to hide from finned predators. But this protection is far from perfect, with certain conditions conspiring to leave these hapless creatures exposed. When this happens, the combination of bait and predators leads to a feeding frenzy of epic proportions.

When these variables all line up, there is lights out fishing for hungry migratory striped bass.

I have found the magic number to be 64 degrees. The fishing has broken wide open when the water temperature hits that number, according to my logs. It seems to be just warm enough to stimulate their metabolism, but not warm enough to make them sluggish. The action seems to be white hot until the temperature hits 70 or so, although you can continue to catch fish in the back when periods of high tide coincide with dawn and dusk. There are usually a few days a month that can be productive even in the warmest months.

You want to take advantage of the tail of the flood tide in the height of summer; those ocean currents bring in cooler water with gamefish floating in along with them. Fortunately, bluefish don’t mind these warmer temps, and can keep rods doubled over when the stripers are on a heat-induced hiatus.

Light is also important. In the dog days of summer, the noonday sun is almost sure to chase predatory fish to the sanctuary of deep water. The early season is an entirely different animal though, as water temperatures haven’t reached their seasonal

28 TA I L FLY F I S H I N G M AGA Z I NE

peaks. Referring back to the magnifying effect of the shallow early season waters, temperature can change as much as 10 degrees in a day, depending on the timing of the colder ocean waters rushing in.

And no matter the month, nighttime is the right time. Gamefish, and stripers especially, take advantage of the lightgathering potential of their larger eyes and feed nocturnally. This feeding occurs at all phases of the moon, but I have had the best luck on the new and full. The new moon always seems to outperform the full, even though both have an equal effect on tidal heights. I can only hypothesize that the darkness afforded by the absence of the moon makes predators more reliant on other senses and they strike more often as a result.

Earlier I mentioned the substrate—that wasn’t for effect. As oyster and other mollusk shells decompose, they turn into a fine, dark sediment that combines with the existing bottom. This creates a dark mud that absorbs light energy more effectively than a sand bottom, or even a lighter colored mud bottom.

These areas will heat up faster than the surrounding earth, and can be the first hotbed of activity in the early season.

This knowledge can be used to the angler’s advantage when prospecting for areas of ideal temperature. Early in the spring, before the turbidity caused by boat propellers and the algae blooms of summer, visibility and therefore light penetration is good. Noting these areas is important, as early in the season a few yards can mean all the difference.

In stark contrast to the deeper waters of the Atlantic proper, most salt marshes are shallow; averaging four to six feet on all but the steepest of tides. As such, stealth is the key. You may be able to get away with a blaring radio in 90 feet of water, but that has no place in the marsh. Even the simple act of dropping something on deck can be enough to put the fish down.

Your approach should be as cautious as possible, coming off plane well in advance of the area you plan to fish.

TAIL FLY FIS HI NG M AGA ZI NE 29

If possible, turn your motor off without shifting out of gear and drift into place, as the clunking of your boat’s transmission is a proven way to scare fish. If you have a trolling motor or push pole, this is definitely the time to use it. Likewise, wading anglers will also benefit from a healthy dose of creep. While you don’t need the same surreptitious approach that is required by wary trout in chalk streams, you will benefit from some sneak, trying not to crush shells underfoot or dislodge clumps of dirt. Just be careful, as the mud seems bottomless in spots.

Tide stage is of the utmost importance.

Someone once said there are two good times to go fishing: when it’s raining and when it’s not. This is true to a degree; you can’t catch them on the couch and you have to make the most of your

3 0 TA I L FLY F I SH I N G M AGA Z I NE

opportunities. But to put up big numbers in the marsh, you need to time the tide almost perfectly. I have found that under most circumstances, the best time to fish the salt meadows is an hour before the peak of high, staying until you run out of water. The exception to this rule is a moon tide, when the water rises far enough above the grass that the stripers are no longer confined by the channel edges and can fan on top of usually dry grass in pursuit of baitfish. This is not to say you won’t pick up a fish here and there, you just won’t connect like you will when the high marsh starts to drain, concentrating food sources in the deeper channels as the creeks empty.

While most of these fish will be in the 22to 32-inch class, there are opportunities to tangle with some truly outsized

bruisers in single-digit depths. You should match your tackle to the size of the fish you’ll likely encounter, with a little extra backbone in case you do battle with a heavyweight. While you’re not dealing with rocks or bridge abutments, there are plenty of structures for fish to break you off on: old pilings, pieces of scuttled vessels, and any number of manmade objects conspiring to break your line. A nine or 10-weight will serve you well, as they can punch bulky poppers into a headwind and have enough oomph if you do happen to find yourself connected to a larger specimen. This is an instance where you will want a reel with a solid drag. I used a Pflueger Medalist for years, applying pressure to the spool to stop extended runs, but the abundance of sealed-drag reels on the market negates the need for such practices. As the water

T o put up big numbers in the marsh,

you need to time the tide almost perfectly. I have found that under most circumstances, the best time to fish the salt meadows is an hour before the peak of high, staying until you run out of water.

TAIL FLY FIS HI NG M AGA ZI NE 31

Nothing is more exciting than watching a

30-inch fish smash a hunk of feathers being pulled across the surface.

is shallow here, a floating line is best, but a slow-sinking intermediate will work.

I used to bother with tapered leaders, but no longer. I run six to 10 feet of 15-pound fluorocarbon. If the fish are finicky, I’ll tie my own leader with a sixfoot butt of 15-pound and a three-foot tippet of eight or 10 pounds.

As far as flies go, I prefer top water stuff.

Nothing is more exciting than watching a 30-inch fish smash a hunk of feathers being pulled across the surface. The Gartside Gurgler is a fantastic choice, as it moves a ton of water and is very easy to cast. Hard-body poppers are a close second, with deer hair divers also in the mix. I don’t often use subsurface flies, but I will throw a crab pattern every now and then. These are particularly useful deaddrifted in the earliest part of the season,

as the naturals are lethargically emerging from the mud and other bait types haven’t arrived yet. Clouser Minnows and Deceivers are also good choices, but I only resort to them when I know fish are around but I can’t coax them to the surface. Toss Clousers when thin-profile baits such as sand eels and spearing are present, turning to Deceivers when wider species such as menhaden dominate the forage base. As far as retrieves go, I always start gentle. If finesse doesn’t produce, I’ll ratchet it up a bit, creating louder pops.

Don’t be afraid to cast to the same spot a few times, sometimes you can get an aggravated strike from a fish that may not like your fly.

The shoulder seasons of the spring and the fall are ideal for cashing in some explosive fishing in these exciting expanses

of water interspersed with grassy shoals.

Most of the pleasure boaters haven’t put their boats in yet, or have already taken them out, so you’ll have some solitude.

There may be some additional challenges posed by the shallow depths, but the rewards are made just that much sweeter.

Sixty-fish tides are well within the realm of possibility with a little bit of planning and forethought. Take care to note the conditions, and make your fishing plans accordingly. You may have to use a sick day; time and tide wait for no man, as the old truism notes. If you can line up all of these variables, you can take part in some of the best fishing you’ll likely experience—or at least some of the most exciting. Fair winds and tight lines.

M

OSQUITOBORNE DISEASES

S

by Dr. Joseph Ballarini

A THREAT FOR TRAVELING ANGLERS

Many of these diseases are preventable by taking protective measures before being exposed. Since so many saltwater anglers travel to areas where mosquitoes are endemic, this information could help you prevent serious health issues. Even if you do not travel to remote places, some of these diseases can be contracted within the continental United States. In our globalized society, there is even a phenomenon known as airport malaria when a mosquito simply enters a plane and travels to places where it should not be. It feeds on an unknowing person who in turn contracts malaria or any other mosquito-borne disease. This is a rare but frightening reality.

The following is a comprehensive but not entirely complete list. It contains the most common mosquito-borne illnesses contracted around the world.

ome key facts from the World Health Organization:

34 TAI L FLY F I S H I N G M AGA Z I NE

Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases.

They cause more than 700,000 deaths each year.

More than 3.9 billion people in over 128 countries are at risk of contracting dengue. There are an estimated 96 million cases per year.

Malaria causes more than 400,000 deaths every year globally, most of them children under five years of age.

C ZD ZIKA VIRUS

DENGUE

DESCRIPTION A viral illness that presents with symptoms of fever and severe joint and muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. Joint pain can be debilitating and can vary in duration, which is very similar to dengue. After a mosquito bite, the onset of symptoms of chikungunya usually occurs between four and eight days, but can present in two days or as far out as 12 days. Symptoms can be very mild and the infection may go unrecognized, or misdiagnosed in areas where dengue also occurs. Most patients recover fully, but in some cases, joint pain may persist. Rare cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints. Serious complications are uncommon, but in the older population, it can lead to longer duration arthritic pains and rarely, death.

DESCRIPTION Zika is also a viral disease, but the symptoms are usually mild and can include mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for up to seven days and seem like an ordinary virus. Zika infection during pregnancy is particularly bad because it can cause microcephaly and other fetal brain malformations, so if you are planning to get pregnant, it should be a consideration if you are traveling to an endemic area. In rare cases, Zika is also a cause of Guillain-Barré Syndrome - a neurological condition that can lead to paralysis and death.

DESCRIPTION Flu-like symptoms occur 4-10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito; high fever accompanied by severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands or rash may occur. It is also called “breakbone fever” because of the excruciating joint pain, which I can attest to, having contracted dengue in the Maldives in 2013. The disease can develop into a more severe form, which is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some Asian and South American countries. Symptoms of severe dengue include decrease in temperature, severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, fatigue, restlessness and blood in vomit. Medical care is critical for the first 48 hours after symptoms appear to avoid complications and risk of death.

(CHICK-GUN-GOON-YAA)

GEOGRAPHY North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Chikungunya is in over 60 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Originally believed to be isolated to the tropics, mosquitoes carrying this virus have spread to Europe and the Americas.

There was an outbreak in northeastern Italy in 2007, and outbreaks in France and Croatia in 2008.

WHAT YOU CAN DO There is no specific vaccine or treatment for chikungunya. Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms, using anti-pyretics, analgesics for pain and fluids to maintain hydration. There is no commercial chikungunya vaccine. You can protect yourself with repellents, clothing that covers exposed skin and use of nets when sleeping.

GEOGRAPHY Outbreaks of Zika virus have been recorded in Africa, North and South America, Asia and the Pacific. Female mosquitoes carrying the virus are found in over 130 countries. 62 countries and territories have reported mosquitotransmitted Zika virus in the last five years. There has been a rise in local Zika transmission in the USA since 2015. The World Health Organization announced a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on February 1, 2016. Mosquitoes infect humans but this one is also transmitted via sexual transmission from person to person.

Zika has been detected in blood, saliva, semen, spinal and other body fluids.

Mother to child transmission in early pregnancy has also been reported and causes fetal demise.

WHAT YOU CAN DO There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available. Personal protection with repellents, clothing that covers exposed skin and use of nets when sleeping can help prevent infection.To reduce the risk of sexual transmission and pregnancy complications related to Zika virus infection, people living in, traveling to, or returning from affected areas should practice safer sex, and consider abstinence or condoms.

MOSQUITO

CHIKUNGUNYA

GEOGRAPHY Dengue is endemic in more than 128 countries, with 3.9 billion people at risk.

It is found in Latin America, the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia. Dengue is widespread throughout the tropics, in rural and urban areas. Recently, cases were reported in Florida, the Yunnan province of China and in Japan. Dengue is very also common in Central and South American countries and has been reported in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Malaysia and Vanuatu.

WHAT YOU CAN DO There is no specific treatment or vaccine for dengue. Early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates to below 1%. A dengue vaccine has been licensed in a few countries by some National Regulatory Authorities for people 9-45 years of age living in endemic settings, but is not recommended for travelers who visit these endemic areas.

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W MY MALARIA

YELLOW FEVER

MOSQUITO

WEST NILE

DESCRIPTION West Nile virus can cause a fatal neurological disease. Approximately 80% of those infected will not show any symptoms, but after 3-14 days, 20% of people infected may develop symptoms of severe disease including headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, bleeding, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. People over 50 years old, and the immunocompromised, are at highest risk.

GEOGRAPHY The female Culex is 1 of 3 of the most common mosquitoes to be found worldwide, except in the extreme northern parts of the temperature zone. West Nile virus is found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia. The Culex also transmits Japanese encephalitis.These mosquitoes feed on infected birds and transmit the disease to humans and horses. They bite from dusk until dawn. In 1999, a West Nile virus circulating in Israel and Tunisia was imported to New York, producing a large and dramatic outbreak that spread throughout the continental U.S. in the following years.

WHAT YOU CAN DO No vaccination exists for humans.

Recommended personal protection and mosquito control includes repellents, clothing that cover exposed skin, window screens, and destruction of breeding sites, especially polluted water bodies. Treatment for patients with neurological type of the West Nile virus includes hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections.

DESCRIPTION Symptoms appear seven days or more (usually 10-15 days) after the bite of an infected mosquito. The first symptoms are fever, headache, chills and vomiting. These symptoms may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria. There is one particular type of malaria that is concerning and fatal called P. falciparum malaria. It can progress rapidly to severe forms of the disease, especially in the immunocompromised. Severe P. falciparum malaria is almost always fatal without treatment. Travelers are susceptible to this type unless they have had some type of exposure and immunity.

GEOGRAPHY In 2015, more than 3.2 billion people were at risk, and ongoing malaria transmission was found in 95 countries and territories. Sub-Saharan Africa carries a disproportionately higher share of the global malaria burden, with 88% of cases and 90% of global malaria deaths. P. falciparum is the most prevalent parasite in Africa and is responsible for most malaria deaths globally. The Anopheles mosquitoes are the primary vectors and bite mainly at night, from dusk to dawn. If you’re going to western Africa for a record tarpon, bring your bug spray.

WHAT YOU CAN DO Antimalarial medicines can be used to prevent malaria. For travelers, malaria can be prevented through chemoprophylaxis, the act of treating yourself prior to contracting the disease. This is a common practice when visiting places like Western Africa, Central America and South America.

DESCRIPTION After 3-6 days many symptoms begin, including fever, muscle pains, backache, headache, shivers, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting. Roughly 15% of patients enter a second, more toxic phase within 24 hours. Symptoms of this phase may include high fever, jaundice (yellow discoloration of your skin from bilirubin building up), and abdominal pain with vomiting. Bleeding can occur almost anywhere but mainly from the mouth, nose, eyes or stomach.

Blood usually appears in the vomit and feces as well, and kidney function can deteriorate rapidly. Half of the patients who go into the toxic phase die within 10 to 14 days, the other 50% make a full recovery.

Yellow fever can be difficult to diagnose and is confused with severe malaria, dengue, leptospirosis, viral hepatitis or other hemorrhagic fevers, like West Nile virus and Zika.

GEOGRAPHY Yellow fever is found in Africa and Latin America, in urban, jungle, forest, semi-humid conditions, and around houses. In May 2016, an emergency committee of the World Health Organization called for intensified national action and international support for yellow fever outbreaks in Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The sylvan yellow fever (AKA jungle yellow fever) occurs in Central and South America, Trinidad, Brazil, and Argentina and is carried by infected monkeys.

Mosquitoes infect monkeys and then go on to transmit the disease from monkeys to humans, and from human to human.

WHAT YOU CAN DO Vaccination is available for humans and if you did time in the military, you were vaccinated. A single dose of vaccine provides lifelong protection against yellow fever disease. If you aren’t sure, you can take a smaller dose of the vaccine (1/5 dose) which provides 12 months of immunity.

Sources: CDC - Washington DC www.cdc.gov The World Health Organization - www.who.org

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38 TAI L FLY F I SH I N G M AGA Z I NE

by Shawn Abernathy photos by Peter Husted and Jesse Males

I

f you are an angler on a budget and still trying to live the fly life, you are definitely not alone.

Peter Husted and Jesse Males make up the film group Broke and Fly. Their message is simple and one that resonates with a lot of anglers: get out there and fish, without breaking the bank. Tail got a chance to sit down with Broke and Fly and catch up on their most recent project along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

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The real surprise for me came when I got back and was looking through all the drone footage, and saw the actual amount of reds that were in the water, many that we didn't see from the boat.

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Tail: Tell us about Broke and Fly. How did you guys come up with the concept for it?

PH: I’m living in Denmark, but have family in Florida and Bahamas on my wife’s side.

Peter Husted: Broke and Fly came together after Jesse and I spent a week in Guadeloupe. We hit it off and decided that we'd like to fill the gap in fly fishing film where you'll get some sweet fish porn while being entertained and getting a good laugh. We came up with the concept because after doing the Guadeloupe film, we needed to have our own platform just for Broke And Fly. Jesse Males runs Backwater Fly Fishing and I have Water's Edge Media, but we decided that we wanted to start a joint project and that's how BAF came to life.

JM: I am from Central Florida, but now currently spend most of my time in Costa Rica.

Jesse Males: I think for me it just made sense to create Broke and Fly Productions after the trip. I mean, since the fishing there was crap we pretty much had to rely on cheap Canadian whiskey to get us through the week. That obviously allowed us to hang out and shoot the shit and we got along really well. Instead of figuring out whose platform we were going to share the video and photos from, we just said screw it, and created BAF! T: That's awesome that both of you met on a trip in Guadeloupe and decided to create films of your travels. Where are you guys from?

T: What inspired you guys to pick the Gulf Coast for your next outing?

PH: For me, it was the chance to make another project come to life, at a low cost. After all, we are Broke and Fly and do this out of our own limited funds. We both had a desire to fish the Gulf Coast and wanted to do a good ole road trip, so we took a look at a map and started planning. After presenting our idea to people we wanted to have on board, they took to it and went all in helping us out. We had some logistical problems in Louisiana and stood without somebody to fish with just before before kickoff, but Justin Albarado of Rougarou Outfitters came through and turned out to be a great guide and a good friend. I’ve heard about southern hospitality, and felt that all throughout the tour and from all of the people we came in contact with.

JM: Once we started doing a road trip for the next project, we knew it had to be low cost...since we are broke and all that.

So we thought if we hit up some of our friends in the fly fishing scene, rented a

car, and put the pedal to the metal, some cool things would happen. The Gulf Coast seemed to be the perfect place to land all the inshore species we would want: redfish, snook, tarpon, and more.

T: The gulf coast is known as a very productive fishery for redfish. What were some of the highlights of fishing all the way from Texas to Florida along the Gulf?

Oh, and give us some “lowlights” of the trip too.

PH: I was really blown away by the Louisiana marsh. The days we spent there with Justin Albarado from Rougarou Outfitters were awesome. We had a lot of fish there and it seemed like Justin couldn't get us into a place that didn't have reds in it. The real surprise for me came when I got back and was looking through all the drone footage, and saw the actual amount of reds that were in the water, many that we didn't see from the boat. We had some rough days at the start when we got up early, fished all day and drove to our next spot in the evening.

That resulted in about 10 hours of sleep divided between the first three nights.

On top of that, I had just landed from Europe when we started, so I was already jet-lagged.

JM: Since we obviously had redfish on our mind during The Gulf Coast Tour, pursuing big bull redfish in LA

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My favorite part was meeting new people along the way who turned into friends after a day on the water.

was something were all looking forward to. We had already fished extensively in Florida, so we knew what to expect from that area. However, Texas and the LA marsh were new territory. Knowing that redfish behave differently between the east coast and west coast of Florida, we could only imagine how they would behave in other states. To our surprise, the differences were insane. In Texas, they behave very similarly to those in the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian Rivers systems. They are a little spooky, but still very fishable. When we landed in the LA marsh, we were surprised to see redfish that acted like they didn't have a care in the world. They were happy to swim up to our boat and eat any flies, from poppers to baitfish and slider patterns. Overall, we were stoked to see that amount of diversity come out of one fish species. Lowlights included tons of driving and total exhaustion at times. We were literally fishing all day and driving all night for nine full days. It was insane.

T: Louisiana is an outstanding fishery and you captured some great footage from

your trip there. The one thing about that section of the gulf coast is that each area has its own distinct culture and the fish sure behave differently in each area as well. Besides the fishing, what were some of your favorite parts of the trip?

PH: My favorite part was meeting new people along the way who turned into friends after a day on the water. Everyone took us in and did their best to make us comfortable. I guess that’s what the whole southern hospitality thing is all about.

Besides that, it was an excellent chance for Jesse and me to get face-to-face time, discussing our future plans for Broke and Fly over beers.

JM: After what we experienced in LA, it is difficult to stop thinking about the fishing. However, when I do stop thinking about big hungry redfish bellycrawling all over the marsh, I immediately think of the insane BBQ that Justin Albarado whipped up for us. No lie, I would have lived in a tent outside his house forever just to continually grub out at his place. Obviously the trip was

centered around different fisheries, but the different people we ran into in each place made the trip the success that it was.

From Texas to Florida, we were in solid company the entire time!

T: Sign me up for that too! You guys fished a lot of different fisheries on your recent trip. What were some of the major similarities and differences you found with fishing each one?

PH: I liked the different species we had the chance to target on this trip. We had excellent fishing for reds in Texas and Louisiana, in wide open spaces where we were surrounded by marsh for miles. A couple of days later, we were hooking up with everything from bluegills to baby tarpon in big lakes or backwater canals.

We had everything but flats on this trip.

JM: The inshore fisheries from Texas to Florida were similar only in that they hold redfish. However, the fish themselves behaved extremely different everywhere we fished. The fish in Texas were skittish but fishable, the redfish in Louisiana

TAIL FLY FIS HI NG M AGA ZI NE 4 3

were so bold they would often be just feet from the boat and still eat the fly after three crappy presentations (laughs).

And the redfish in Florida were their typical stubborn selves. A great cast is important, but at the end of the day, they eat whenever they want. After catching redfish the entire trip, by the time we got to Florida we decided to mostly target snook and baby tarpon.

T: Have you guys thought about where you are going next?

PH: Yeah, we have had a few people contact us about doing stuff for lodges, and some seem like interesting opportunities, but since we're Broke and Fly, we can't throw our money after that.

After shooting countless of hours of film, we still need to sort through it when we get back, and that's before we even start editing. Making film is a process that takes a lot of time, which I think people don't realize or totally think about. The only thing we can promise is you're probably gonna enjoy it.

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JM: While our future after The Gulf Coast Tour is fairly open ended, we are weighing our options at the moment. We have had some different lodges reach out that offered to have us stop by for our next film project; however, we are still waiting to see what else comes up. One of the main goals of Broke and Fly is to present an experience that any fly angler with just about any budget can make happen. Not all of us can drop five to eight thousands dollars on a fishing trip, or for gear for that matter. I know Peter and I can't. So we are trying to figure out the best way to bring sponsorship into the mix without losing our initial take on the whole thing. Keeping these trips relatable and doable for the average dudes is super important.

T: Saltwater fly fishing trips can become expensive very quickly, but it doesn't always have to be that way. Do you guys have any tips for budget-minded anglers who want to experience the salt?

PH: I think that these days since you can

do a lot of researching online, you've got a great start there already. First off, you gotta figure out what it is that you want to catch. Target that specific species and get all the knowledge about the fish and areas they live. Use online groups and you'll often find that people are willing to share their tips and tricks. I've done a lot of DIY, which is the cheapest way to go fishing anywhere, but if you're new to it, go the extra mile and get a guide. If you're up front with the guide and say that you want to land a fish, but also wanna learn what your options are in the area, they almost always wanna share fly patterns and their extensive knowledge about the water and fish. But remember that they have honed their skills and worked hard to be the best they can with customers, so they're probably not gonna show you their hotspot.

stay cheap, the best advice I can give you is to learn how to paddle. For the past 20 years I have fish almost exclusively out of kayaks or canoes. These are great tools for any angler trying to get into places without having to spend thousands of dollars on a skiff, gas, maintenance, etc.

A canoe is the perfect tool for accessing baby tarpon hotspots or sneaking up on redfish on the flats. Also, since you don't move fast, this slows down the mind and allows you to focus more on the area you are in at each moment. Talking with people in Facebook groups is a great way to get local info on a specific area, but nothing beats getting your boots on the ground for a little R&D!

JM: I have spent years fly fishing all over the state of Florida and now have over two years under my belt exploring saltwater fisheries down in Costa Rica.

If you are like me and trying to DIY and

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PERMITOPIA

by Anonymous

Permitopia exists, and I know where it is. It’s a place where these fork-tailed devils are everywhere, happily swimming around and flapping their tails with reckless abandon. Chasing prey over coral, sand and grass flats, these fish literally swim up to check you out as you pole through the shallow water! I’ve been there and seen it with my own eyes. These permit have never seen a fly, they have never played tug-of-war with an angler, and they are slightly less spooky than permit in other places.

These are uneducated fish, as dumb as permit get, which unfortunately for anglers, is still pretty damn smart.

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Permitopia is not easy to find, not easy to get to, and even harder to stay at. It requires international flights, national flights, hours of local transportation, and then you still have to find someone to carry you out to where the permit play. It’s out of civilization’s grasp. This is not a vacation: there are no cocktails with umbrellas, no ice cold beer, just pure, hard fishing. Hours in the sun, and absolutely zero resources outside of what you bring in your boat. There are no luxuries. There is no shower, no bed, no kitchen, no toilet. You’re on your own out there. So, you'd better be prepared.

Food, water, shelter, extra fuel, tools, and a really big, well-equipped first aid kit are essential. It’s not for everyone. Your skin gets crispy with salt after the first day. It’s just seasoning for the sandflies and mosquitoes that invade in swarms from dusk until dawn. Deet is perfume and stops only the weak. The rewards, however are what fly fisherman dream of,

for those who can endure the suffering.

Time your tides right and it can be an overwhelming display of untouched fishing fantasy. Sickle tails slicing through the surface everywhere, in all directions.

Shot after shot after shot at permit. That’s where the mental battle starts: with so many fish around, so close, you start to get crazy thoughts in your head. “This is going to be easy, look at all the permit.”

It doesn’t take long for you to be dealt a dose of humility. It is permit fishing after all. Even here you have to be at peace with failure. This is what drives us; these failures are punctuated by fluttering hearts and surging shots of adrenaline. Permit anglers are among the few that consider failures a success. Just seeing permit and blowing a cast is a success. The failures of a follow or a tail tipping up on your fly turn into legends told boisterously around the campfire as a bottle of warm rum makes its rounds.

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Permitopia doesn't just hold lots of permit, it holds big permit that will test the condition of your heart when you see them.

Permitopia doesn’t just hold lots of permit, it holds big permit that will test the condition of your heart when you see them. They cruise onto the flats, their backs clear out of the water, traveling alone or in small groups of two or three.

These fish are truly intimidating. They change the chemistry in your body. You feel a huge rush: all the hair on your body stands up and a breeze cools your temperature noticeably. The mental battle is in full swing and the permit is already way ahead. Now, with adrenaline in your system, your heart elevated, blood pressure up, sweat beading down, you have to focus. How do you get a shot at this fish of a lifetime? This giant holy grail? The hunt begins as you try to put yourself in position without alerting your prey. Stealth is required. You have

decisions to make and you must make them fast. Where is she going to go?

How far will she be when you cast? How fast will she be moving? Is she spooky or curious? The answers to all these questions are constantly changing as she displays her schizophrenic behavior, darting around, turning on a dime, slowing to feed. When do you take your shot? Do you wait for the perfect shot? Will it come? Should you just cast when you get any shot? It might be your only one.

Nothing tests your nerves, focus, confidence and skills like a big permit in casting range.

You go for the shot, your gut convincing your mind it’s time. You judge your distance, trying to false cast as few times

TAIL FLY FISHI NG M AGA ZI NE 5 3

as possible while still being precise. Fly line loads up and soars through the guides. Nothing else exists as this moment fills the universe. It’s pure bliss as your fly travels through the air, your eye on the permit. You launch your fly full of hope and confidence, and it lands with a gentle plop a few feet in front of her and a foot or so to the side. You try to hold your mouth right, your body frozen, hoping this will help. She changes course slightly and heads straight towards your sinking fly. THIS IS IT! This is not a test. Your heart feels like it’s going to explode. STAY FOCUSED! She starts tipping up, BOOM! adrenaline again.

Your focus sharpens, trying to keep the connection with the fly without spooking this mythical animal. The only thing that matters now is you and the fish. Her giant tail comes out of the water and you feel the line tighten. Whatever, you do, don’t trout set. You set the hook hard, and then pull up on the rod for an extra jab. Your entire line flies behind you. A three-inch snapper beat your target to the

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The only thing that matters now is you and the fish. Her giant tail comes out of the water and you feel the line tighten. fly and is soaring through the air on the ride of its life. Heart sinking, you turn to the permit, and all you see is a big wake heading straight for deep water. She’s gone. It’s over. Everything came together for another epic, successful, failure. What do you do with the snapper, this destroyer of dreams?

I know what I did. Put it on a stick, cooked it in the fire and ate it whole.

Permitopia exists. I know where it is. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

Nobody Does It Better

888.512.8812

www.tflats.com

reservations@tflats.com

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BEER

Here at Tail, we are out to help you keep your whistle wet with an appealing array of brews. In this issue, we have selected some of our favorite beers that we have discovered. One of our favorite things to do at Tail is to always try the local beer when visiting a new destination, and we thought we'd share some of our current favorites.

All Day IPA Brewery Name: Founders Brewing Co. Website: foundersbrewing.com Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Beer Type: American Session IPA Appearance: Golden amber Aroma: Citrus, lemongrass, melon and pine Flavor: Citrus, lemongrass, juicy melon with nice piney bitterness

ABV: 4.7% Final Thoughts: This brew is certainly a session IPA with an ABV that allows for it. Clean, crisp and refreshing, it’s a really strong contender on warm summer days both under the sun and in the shade when you finish up.

PC Pils Brewery Name: Founders Brewing Co. Website: foundersbrewing.com Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Beer Type: American Pale Lager Appearance: Light golden straw Aroma: Citrus, grassy hops, pine Flavor: Pale malt, citrus, light pine ABV: 5.5%

Final Thoughts: This is a crisp, clean, easy-drinking rendition of a Pils. Not necessarily what you’d be expecting from a more traditional pils brew but a very refreshing, drinkable rendition.

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Rubaeus Brewery Name: Founders Brewing Co. Website: foundersbrewing.com Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Beer Type: Fruit Beer Appearance: Raspberry red with a nice creamy head Aroma: Raspberries with mild grain Flavor: Raspberries and mild malt ABV: 5.7%

Final Thoughts: Overall this is a good fruit beer. Not too sweet and not too sour but sort of that middle ground that makes it easy drinking and refreshing but not overwhelming.

A Slice of Hefen Brewery Name: La Cumbre Brewing Co. Website: lacumbrebrewing.com Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Beer Type: Hefeweizen Appearance: Hazy golden color with a thinner white head Aroma: Wheat, caramelized malt, cloves, banana and vanilla Flavor: Bready wheat with banana,

caramel and citrus undertones ABV: 5.4% Final Thoughts: Very tasty hefe. Goes down easy, not too filling and refreshing.

Overall a strong representation of the style and definitely a good thirstquenching brew after outdoor activities.

Beer Brewery Name: La Cumbre Brewing Co. Website: lacumbrebrewing.com Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Beer Type: American Lager Appearance: Clear golden color with nice fluffy white head Aroma: Subdued crackery grains and floral hops Flavor: Biscuit malts, grassy hops and

slight citrus twang ABV: 4.7% Final Thoughts: Overall a very tasty rendition of the lager style. Good carbonation, easy drinking and a manageable ABV make this a great warm-weather beer to keep in the cooler for before, during, or after a warm day on the water.

Project Dank Brewery Name: La Cumbre Brewing Co. Website: lacumbrebrewing.com Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Beer Type: American IPA Appearance: Mildly cloudy pale golden with a creamy white head Aroma: Dank weed, spice, floral notes and a citrus kiss Flavor: Dank weed, floral, citrus and a

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peppery spice finish ABV: 7.5% Final Thoughts: Very aptly named beer and quite tasty, with a soft feel that makes it amazingly drinkable. Might not be what you want when sitting out in the sun, but a great beer at the end of the day or during a break on those not-sowarm early spring days.

ON

THE PLATE

by KELLI PRESCOTT

by Kelli Prescott

Skillet Seafood Paella 1 medium yellow onion, halved and sliced thin 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed, drained 2 lemons, sliced thin 1/2 cup parsley chopped finely 1 bunch green onions, cleaned, cut in half 1/2 lb chorizo crumbled, without casing (chopped bacon also works) 1 tsp saffron threads 3 cups short grain rice 6 cups shellfish stock (chicken or vegetable works) 1 lb large shrimp (9-12 count), whole about 10-12 little neck clams (rinsed) 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp olive oil 1.5 tbsp smoked paprika garlic powder, to taste salt, to taste cracked pepper, to taste

Paella is an awesome Spanish dish featuring bright flavors and fresh shellfish. It only takes about 40 minutes from start to finish. You’ll need a saucepan on a back burner to heat the stock with the saffron, and one large skillet to cook the paella. Saffron really gives this dish a fragrant pop of flavor and color, but if you absolutely must, just use paprika, it will still be delicious!

Add the saffron threads and stock to a saucepan and bring to a simmer, cover and keep hot until ready to use.

Take a large skillet and turn the burner on. Get it nice and hot! Cook the crumbled chorizo until crisp. Remove the chorizo and set aside, then add 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil into the pan with the chorizo fat.

Add your sliced onion, a sprinkle of garlic powder and the 1.5 tbsp of smoked paprika.

It may seem like a lot of paprika at first, but remember, this is going to flavor the entire dish!

Adding it now allows it to cook into the oil and infuse all of its delicious smoky flavor.

Once the onions become translucent, add spinach, tomatoes, and chorizo, sprinkle with a good pinch of salt and cracked pepper.

Cook about 1 minute, then add the rice.

Continuously stir the rice mixture until the grains start to look opaque and a bit toasty, about 3-5 minutes. Add the stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Let the rice simmer until it’s nice and tender. This will take about 15-18 minutes.Next comes the fresh seafood and finishing touches.

This recipe also works nicely with 2 oz chunks of halibut or redfish. Mussels in place of clams will work as well. If you're feeling adventurous,

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like I often am, you can even use octopus. Feel free to use any kind of shellfish or seafood, don’t feel limited about the variety either. You can use one or two kinds of protein, or use them all!

Nestle the clams into the rice and cover for about 8-10 minutes or until most of them pop open. If any of them don't open, you can toss them.

While your clams are popping open, take the remaining 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp oil and heat in a medium skillet. Once it’s sizzling hot, add your shrimp and green onions. Sprinkle with a good amount of salt, cracked pepper and garlic powder.

Don’t stir them! You want nice color on the shrimp. Let the edges start to visibly build a sear before you give them a toss. After you toss the shrimp, take the lemon slices in your hand and give them a squeeze right over the pan.

Drop the squeezed slices directly in the pan and add the parsley. (You can add one more pat of butter and ¼ cup of sherry wine to turn up the flavor even more, if you dare.)

The clams should be ready now. Take the lid off of the paella, then transfer the contents of your shrimp pan directly on top. Make sure you get every last drop of buttery lemon goodness that those big shrimp produced.

It should smell all kinds of good in the kitchen right about now! Grab a big spoon and dish up portions of the paella for dinner. Garnish with lemon and a little more parsley if you care to.

Enjoy.

Southwest Chicken Pasta Salad 1 lb of dry orecchiette pasta (any type of shell or orzo works) 2 ears of yellow corn 3 poblanos, roasted, deseeded/ peeled and diced 1 jalapeno, roasted, deseeded/ peeled and diced (2 or 3 if you like it spicy) 2 red bell peppers, diced 1 bunch cilantro, chopped 1 bunch green onions, chopped 1.5 cup of mayo 1 cup of sour cream 1/3 cup lime juice 10 oz crumbled queso fresco (any fresh crumbly cheese, feta works) 3 cups shredded chicken (leftovers or rotisserie) garlic powder, 2 tsp cumin, 3 tsp salt, to taste cayenne, to taste

Pasta salad is one of my all time favorites - easy, delicious and always customizable. It’s great to eat the next day, room temperature or cold, and it’s awesome to take along on the boat for a hearty lunch.

Using rotisserie chicken makes this version extremely stress-free and quick to put together.

Another great protein option is sautéed shrimp, but use whatever you have on hand, or feel free to make it with just the vegetables.

First of all, we need to get the oven hot to roast the peppers, so set it to 450 degrees.

While the oven is getting hot, bring a large salted pot of water to a rolling boil.

Cover a sheet tray with foil and place the poblanos and jalapenos on top, pop them in the oven to roast and remove when tender. Once the peppers cool off, you can slice them down the middle and scrape the seeds out. Then dice ‘em up and set aside!

While the pasta is cooling, you can prep the rest of the veggies and shred the chicken.

Start by microwaving your corn in the husk, three minutes per ear. Then clean and slice it off the cob. Chop your red bell peppers, cilantro, and green onions.

In a large serving bowl add mayo, sour cream, and lime juice. Stir to combine.

Add all of the chopped veggies, corn, cilantro and peppers to the bowl. Add the chicken and pasta. Mix it all up so that the creamy dressing coats the noodles. Season with garlic powder, cumin, salt and cayenne.

Taste as you season to make sure the flavor is right where you want it.

Crumble the queso fresco right on top and gently stir once more to combine. That’s it!

Serve up portions in bowls, and enjoy!

Add your pasta to the boiling water, cook until al dente, then drain and let cool.

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Asian Beef Street Noodles 1 pack of vermicelli rice noodles (8 to 12 oz pack) 1 green bell pepper, sliced thin 1 red bell pepper, sliced thin 1 medium yellow onion, halved and sliced thin 1.5 lbs well-marbled chuck steak cut into slices 1 inch thick 3 tbsp butter 3 tbsp sesame oil 1/3 cup lime juice 1/3 cup honey 3 tbsp sriracha 1 tbsp grated ginger garlic powder, to taste salt, to taste 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds 1 bunch green onions, chopped 1 cup cilantro, chopped

Asian street noodles are always a hit at my house. They’re super craveable and make umami easy. In this recipe I call for chuck steak, a cheaper way to get the flavor of ribeye—but typically I use any leftover barbecue pork I have. Pulled pork or sliced rib meat off the bone work perfectly! Really, any protein in your refrigerator can be subbed in. The idea of street noodles is throwing together what you have and making it mouthwatering.

For instance, if you don’t have bell peppers on hand, don’t worry. If you’ve got carrots, snap peas, mushrooms, those all work too. Feel free to use those vegetables instead, or, in addition to the recipe I’ve provided.

First prepare the rice noodles according to the package. Get a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and toss noodles in. Cook only a few minutes until al dente, then drain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking. Set your noodles aside.

Now, take a large saucepan and get it hot! Medium heat works perfectly. Add 1 tbsp of sesame oil and 1 tbsp butter, then add onions and peppers. Cook a couple minutes. Add your slices of chuck steak, grated ginger and season with a good sprinkle of salt and garlic powder. Cook until beef starts to brown.

Add remaining butter, sesame oil, honey, sriracha, lime juice and sesame seeds. Stir until sauce combines.

Toss in your noodles and stir to coat. Cook until noodles are hot, then finish with green onions and cilantro.

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Crispy Lemon Herb Fish and Green Bean Salad 4 salmon portions (6 to 8 oz) (any thick fish fillets will work) 1.5 cups panko bread crumbs 1/2 cup parmesan, grated 1/4 cup parsley, chopped 2 lemons, juiced 2 tbsp olive oil salt and cracked pepper, to taste For Salad: 3 cups green beans, whole, cleaned 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 1 red onion, halved, sliced thin 1/2 cup parsley chopped 1/2 lb bacon, chopped, cooked until crisp For Vinaigrette: 1/3 cup olive oil 2 tbsp whole grain mustard 2 tbsp honey 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar garlic powder, to taste salt, to taste cracked pepper, to taste

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. While the oven is heating, take your salmon portions and place them in a bowl. Add olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

In another small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs, parmesan and parsley. If you don’t want to use another bowl, you can use a ziplock bag or just sprinkle each on top separately.

Put your green beans in a bowl with a damp paper towel and microwave six minutes. This will steam them just enough to get a head start on the cook time.

For easy clean up, line a sheet tray with parchment paper (foil also works).

Parchment paper has a tendency to curl around the edges. Simply take a little cooking spray and hit the bottom of the sheet pan before lining it. Now it will stick!

Place the salmon portions on one side of the sheet tray. Top each portion with the breadcrumb mixture and press down lightly so that it forms a nice layer. This will become a yummy crust once cooked.

On the other half of the sheet tray, place the green beans, season with salt and cracked pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Pop the sheet tray in the oven and cook until fish is done (about 12 to 15 minutes).While the fish and green beans are cooking, you can prep the rest of the ingredients for the green bean salad.

In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients for the vinaigrette: olive oil, honey, whole grain mustard and apple cider vinegar. Be sure to add a few pinches of salt, garlic powder, and cracked pepper as well. Whisk to combine.

Add the halved cherry tomatoes, cooked bacon pieces, red onion and parsley to the bowl with the vinaigrette.

When the salmon is ready, pull the sheet tray from the oven. Add the green beans to the bowl with the vinaigrette and toss to combine, taste for seasoning levels, then you're good to go!

Serve up salmon portions right on top of the salad and enjoy. Leftover green bean salad will become one of your new favorites! It’s awesome to eat room temperature or cooked in a skillet until tomatoes are tender.

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DREW CHICONE'S

TUSCAN

BUNNY It has been said that some flies are tied to catch fish and others to catch fishermen. The peculiar-looking Tuscan Bunny fly is most certainly the prior of the two. Although the jagged and asymmetrical shaped head is not much to look at, this element—like the rest of the elements that make up the fly—is by design. At first glance, the fly’s modest list of materials and simple construction may be mistaken for a hastily-thrown-together mess of fur and foam. The evolution of this pattern actually took place over three years and it is a culmination of purposely-selected materials and techniques for applying them. Thousands of casts, hundreds of refusals, and countless hours of testing and tweaking—that is what it takes to transform a mélange of natural and synthetic materials into a reliably productive fly pattern.

The target species of the Tuscan Bunny are ambush feeders with an upward-facing morphology—tarpon and snook—whose eyes are positioned closer to the tops of their heads. The position of their eyes makes it easier for them to see their prey at eye level or overhead in the water column. When looking up for food, darker colors that silhouette against a light sky background are easier to see and therefore increase your chances for a strike.

Wrestling these saltwater bruisers requires a stout hook that is not easily straightened, soft yet durable materials that move effortlessly in the water and—last but not least— something to keep it all suspended just under the surface. Oh, yeah, and did I mention it must push water irregularly to aid the swimming action of the fly? It can’t become waterlogged or come down with a heavy splat—and it shouldn’t foul!

This sounds like a tall order. But it can be accomplished by combining a few familiar materials with some bizarre techniques. Put it all together with a long, slow strip and the occasional “tip waggle” and you will find even the most persnickety eaters will find this rabbit recipe irresistible.

MATERIALS Hook: Owner Fly Liner, size 3/0 Thread: Black Danville 210 Denier Flat Waxed Nylon Body: Purple rabbit hair dubbed in a loop Tail: Purple magnum Zonker strip; 20-pound Mason hard monofilament Head: Spun 2mm foam strips

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STEP 1: Cut a two-inch piece of magnum rabbit Zonker strip.

If you use a thinner cut of Zonker, the tail of the fly will break off after a few casts. You really need the extra width for durability.

STEP 2: Using a thin bodkin or needle, poke a hole through the middle of the strip about three-quarters of an inch up. The thinner the needle the better. You want a tiny hole.

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STEP 3: Remove the bodkin and immediately slide a three- to four-inch piece of 20-pound monofilament through the hole.

STEP 4: Start your thread at the point of the hook and wrap back eight to 10 turns. The thread should hang between the point and the barb.

STEP 5: Tie down the end of the monofilament adjacent to the front of the Zonker strip. The rabbit hair should be pointing backward. The monofilament should be tied directly on the top of the hook shank and curve slightly up.

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STEP 6: With a series of tight wraps, tie down the tip on the Zonker strip and wrap back to the bend of the hook. Make sure the strip is centered directly on top of the hook—not off to one side or the other. This is very important, and will affect the way the fly tracks in the water.

STEP 7: Pull the mono down to the hook shank and tie in on top of the rabbit strip. The strip should be centered on the loop and slide freely up and down. The loop should hang about three-quarters of an inch off the back of the hook, and it should not pull the strip up or down.

STEP 8: Pull the excess monofilament up, kinking it, and trim away the excess. This will keep your thread wraps from sliding off.

STEP 9: Cut a second piece of magnum Zonker strip slightly longer than the first, approximately two and a quarter inches.

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STEP 10: Using your index and middle fingers of your nondominant hand, pinch the one end of the Zonker strip. Pinch the opposite end using your ring finger and thumb and stretch the strip so it is taut.

STEP 11: With your dominant hand, stroke the rabbit fur opposite its natural direction to make it stand up away from the hide. Pinch only the fur in a large bulldog clip.

STEP 12: Position the strip in the bulldog clip so no leather is pinched. There should be a small gap between the leather strip and the edge of the clip.

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STEP 13: Using a sharp pair of scissors, cut away the leather strip, being careful not to pull the hair out of the clip. Try to keep all the hair even on the cut edge.

STEP 14: Once the strip is removed, there should be approximately an eighth of an inch of fur sticking out beyond the edge of the bulldog clip. Set the clip aside.

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STEP 15: At the bend of the hook create a six- to eightinch dubbing loop. Make sure the loop is large enough to accommodate the size of the bulldog clip you are using. A little extra room makes this procedure much easier. Make sure to make at least one wrap around both legs of the loop to close the top of the loop. Advance your thread to the middle of the hook shank.

STEP 16: Using a dubbing twister, crochet hook or a bent paperclip, catch the end of the loop and pull taut.

STEP 17: Slide the bulldog clip between the two legs of the loop. Pull the loop tight to secure the hair and carefully open the bulldog clip to release it in place. The cut ends of the hair should protrude approximately an eighth of an inch beyond the closed loop.

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STEP 18: With the loop pulled tight, make 60 to 80 turns with the dubbing spinner. This will lock the hair tightly in place and flare it in every direction.

STEP 19: As you impart the loop with twists, the loop will shrink in length. Here’s how it should look before palmering.

STEP 20: Palmer the loop forward.

STEP 21: With each forward wrap, pull the rabbit fur from the previous wraps back and out of the way to avoid trapping the fur.

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STEP 22: Once the entire loop of fur has been palmered around the hook shank, tie off the dubbing loop, and cut away the excess loop.

STEP 23: Pull the hair collar backward toward the tail, and wrap the thread backward five to six turns over the hair to secure. Using your thumb and index finger, carefully compress the fur collar backward toward the bend of the hook.

STEP 24: Cut a sheet of 2mm closed-cell foam into approximately eighth-inch strips. Try to make them as uniform as possible. You can use a metal ruler and a razor blade, but it is far easier to run the sheet of foam through a pasta cutter if you have one available. Cut the eighth-inch strips of foam into 12 one-inch pieces. Stack them in a neat pile and spin them on to the head of the fly in the same way that you would deer hair.

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STEP 25: Start with two loose wraps, and then slowly pull tight to secure. Do not over-tighten your thread or you will cut through the foam.

STEP 26: Advance your thread by weaving it through the splayed foam to the eye of the hook. Make several turns in each position before advancing. Once you reach the eye of the hook, make 15 to 20 turns to create a thread dam. This will compress the foam and secure it in place.

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STEP 27: Pull all the foam backward toward the tail of the fly, whip finish and cut away the thread. Apply a thin application of Loon Outdoors Fly Finish Flow or your favorite head cement to the exposed thread at the eye and on the underside of the fly to secure in place.

STEP 28: Trim the head of the fly to a tapered cone shape.

Start by cutting any strips that worked their way around to the bottom of the fly in the gape of the hook flat and as closely as you can to the hook shank without cutting your thread wraps. This will ensure that the fly rides level in the water and the foam does not impede the gape of the hook. Line your scissors up with the eye of the hook and make angular cuts around the head of the fly. Do your best not to cut any of the rabbit hair collar. This creates a tapered cone-shaped head.

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Below: Finished Tuscan Bunny.

27 BIO: Drew Chicone of Fort Myers, Florida is one of today's top young fly designers. This article is from a 900-page threevolume set on original patterns for bonefish, tarpon and permit called Top Saltwater Flies by Wild River Press. It’s the largest tying-instruction series ever published on the subject. To order online by credit card go to www.topsaltwaterflies.com or telephone 425-486-3638.

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Chicone’s Tuscan Bunny: 2017 IFTD Best in Show Saltwater Fly Pattern.

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ANDROS' WEST SIDE

by Bob Lewis

Experience “The Land of the Giants.” As anglers, we have all heard this before. The combination of big fish in a remote area with little pressure. It seems these days, saltwater fly destinations are getting farther and farther away, with many traveling around the globe, deep into the Indian Ocean, to find “untouched” fisheries. However, as a fly guy lucky to call Cape Cod my home, there is such a place with a direct flight from Boston, under three hours away.

It certainly is no secret that the Bahamas is a world-class bonefish destination. There are many great islands, fishing clubs and thousands of square miles of flats. Andros Island is the largest in the Bahamas chain, yet it remains the least populated. It measures 100 miles from north to south and spans about 45 miles from east to west at the widest point. There are miles and miles of flats in the middle bights that run through the Island and offer great fishing and good places to shelter on windy days.

photo Bobby Altman

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There are productive flats within minutes of most lodges, but if the dream of a double-digit bone tearing line off your reel is what you seek, a trip to the west is a must.

There are several different opportunities around Andros. During the months of November and December, large schools of three to five pound bones populate the area. If you are interested in catching lots of fish, this is the time for you. However, as the water cools off in the winter months, the large schools of smaller fish are less frequently found on the flats. BIG bones, which are more tolerant to the cooler water temps, cruise up onto the flats and offer shots at the fish of a lifetime. Late February and March is a good time of the year to target large bonefish. The larger bonefish are typically found on the west side of Andros, which is a longer run on the skiff but well worth the effort.

Many of the lodges are located on the north, east and south parts of Andros.

The west is now considered a national park and mostly consists of remote flats as far as your eyes can see. There are productive flats within minutes of most lodges, but if the dream of a double-digit

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bone tearing line off your reel is what you seek, a trip to the west is a must.

In early 2017, I was invited to fish for four days with Captain Warren Marshall, a fly guide from Cape Cod. He has been traveling to Andros for 20 years and it didn’t take long for me to jump on the chance to escape the snow and cold in the Northeast. There are direct flights from Boston to Nassau and the final leg is an easy 15-minute puddle-jumper flight from Nassau to Andros. Warren joined me from his winter abode in the Florida Keys and had a short flight over from Miami.

There is a framed picture of Warren holding a 15-pound bonefish that is displayed on the wall at the Andros Island Bonefish Club. He has caught his share of big bones over the years, but one of the reasons he keeps going back is the chance at another sought-after fly species, the mighty tarpon.

There is a reasonable chance to come across tarpon while traveling through one of the passes to the west side, so it is always a good idea to have an 11 or 12-weight rod rigged and ready to go.

Warren also carries a stretcher box with tarpon flies already tied to a leader. He makes his own leaders which consist of an 80 lb shock tippet, 20 lb hard mono class tippet tied with a bimini twist at both ends, and a 50-60 lb butt section. Warren has found that the tarpon on Andros are very likely to eat a well-presented fly.

On the second day of our recent trip, we entered Loggerhead Pass, the final waterway to the west side flats. Right away we spotted rolling tarpon. I cast our first drift through and although we had lots of life around us, there were no takers. I handed Warren the rod and said, “Show me how it’s done.” He decided to make a fly change and tied on a simple cockroach pattern. It didn’t take long.

Within minutes of our second drift, a smaller tarpon took a sip of the fly.

Luckily for Warren it missed, and shortly afterwards, a larger tarpon inhaled the fly and immediately went crazy with an aerial show.

After about 20 minutes of jumps and runs, our guide Danny, had us up on the flat, so the 70-pound tarpon could be released in the water. This is one of the things that makes a run to the west side worthwhile: a shot at a perfectly-sized tarpon to start the day. It was clear that Warren and Danny had done the dance before, and they worked together to land the beautiful fish.

Once you clear through the pass, you can start looking for large bones. My favorite area is a very expansive ocean flat called, “Wide Open.” It has all the life you would expect, such as lemon and nurse sharks, stingrays, turtles and barracuda.

On the nearby beaches, we also spotted wild pigs, iguanas and flamingos. We were lucky to have a close up visit from a rare sawfish, which has a long snout lined

with teeth on both sides. It looks exactly like a hedge trimmer. At first we thought the approaching silhouette was another of the many sharks meandering around the flats, but our guide quickly identified the endangered species gliding past our skiff.

I asked how these fish actually use their snout to capture prey and he described lateral swipes of the “saw” through schools of baitfish, which will cut some fish in half and leave others wounded.

Our first morning on the Wide Open flat was extremely productive, with many six to seven pound bonefish running us into our backing. It was in this same area that Warren landed his 15-pounder years ago. On this day we spotted many fish in the double digit range, but found them spooky and unwilling to eat our flies.

Perhaps it was the too perfect weather.

There was a clear blue sky, full sun, no wind and not a ripple on the surface.

A few times when we thought we had a large fish’s attention, a smaller bone would dart out of nowhere and pounce

on the fly.

In my experience, fishing for monster bones feels like targeting a totally different species from their younger brethren. If you cast a fly in front of a school of smaller bonefish, you can be fairly certain that at least one will aggressively eat that fly. Larger bones tend to travel as singles or doubles. It seems the bigger fish are more wary and stay farther away from the boat. On several occasions, a large bone at a range of 60 to 80 feet darted off for no apparent reason. You need a long, accurate cast and even then you should be prepared for rejection, even when everything goes perfectly.

Many bonefish anglers carry dozens of fly patterns, and bonefish guru Dick Brown and others have written entire books dedicated to the subject. However, Warren is convinced the only fly needed on the west side of Andros is the “Super Gotcha.” It is typically tied on a number two hook and for Warren, less is more.

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photo Bobby Altman

He scoffed at my added features, such as rubber legs and egg sacks. Warren prefers a basic super-sized gotcha with pearlescent Mylar tubing, sparsely tied tan craft fur and a few pieces of Krystal Flash. I have to admit, I caught more fish with his flies.

A great set-up for bonefish is typically a seven or eight-weight. However, on the west side of Andros, I find that a nineweight is a better all-around rod to handle the wind, long casts and larger flies.

Since the west side is about an hour's boat ride from the east side, some anglers camp out for a few days to extend their fishing time on the water. The Andros Island Bonefish Club has been doing this for many years and head guides Shawn Leadon and Danny Newbold lead groups on trips set up through their operation,

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Andros Outdoor Adventures. The typical camping trip is four days, as that is about how long it takes to run out of food and fuel.

There is also a virtually untapped fishery on the east side of Andros. Less than a mile out, the depth drops off to 6,000 feet in an area referred to as the Tongue of the Ocean. There is a large rip visible from shore. At this reef line, there is a tremendous amount of life. Species such as yellowfin tuna, mahi, sailfish and marlin are plentiful. There was a spear fisherman staying at our bonefish club who wanted to take a monster cubera snapper. We spoke with the cousin of a local guide who recently purchased a 25-foot Parker Sportfish so he could start taking anglers out to this area, which

offers a whole realm of possibilities for anglers.

In addition to the spear fisherman staying at our lodge, we had a group of bird watchers and trackers. As it turns out, a piping plover tagged in my home town of Cotuit on Cape Cod had been recently discovered on a beach on Andros.

It’s amazing to think about a tiny bird making the same—though much more treacherous—trek as a bunch of fly fishing fools.

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G

angsters and Hitmen

by Jose David Bravo Alvarez

The tides define the tactics, the chatter of walkie talkies providing a real-time glimpse into the intensity of this multifaceted operation with many moving parts. Success requires a precision plan designed to minimize error and chance in the hopes of intercepting and hooking an elusive and highly sought after prey. Our guides are the gang, Cosmoledo is their neighborhood, and the anglers are their hitmen. Or at least that is how we see ourselves.

On your first trip to the Seychelles, prepare to have your guides scrutinize your entire set up. They will re-tie all your knots, exchange your leaders for stronger ones and stow all of the magnificent flies you imagined yourself using in pursuit of these monster fish. The Seychelles offer such big and powerful species that guides won’t waste your time or theirs with inadequate tackle. They do have a point, though. I have always fished with IGFA legal leaders, however looking back now, I’m certainly glad I didn’t on this trip.

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Cosmoledo, or Cosmo as the South Africans call it, is not only a prime fly fishing destination, but also a very special place for the guides.

That’s why Alphonse Fishing Company hand picks their guides each season to ensure the highest caliber and most experienced guides are patrolling the flats day after day. Every single guide gained my admiration and respect throughout the week with their sheer knowledge and professionalism. How could they not? It was these guides who put me on the highly desired giant trevally (GT). And what a fish it was, a 46-inch bus of a GT! Giant trevally in the Seychelles are not for the faint-hearted. You are not toying with an innocent fish. You are picking a fight with an aggressive adolescent teenager that, when hooked, will run you into any coral head in its path or use its sheer strength to peel backing off your reel and break your line, making you feel used and abused.

Giant Trevally in the Seychelles are not for the fainthearted. You are not toying with an innocent fish. You're picking a fight with an aggressive, adolescent teenager.

Even though the target for this trip was the notorious GT, I couldn’t avoid being seduced by the hypnotic colors of the triggerfish. As many do, I overlooked triggerfish for quite some time. I ignored my wife’s plea to try and catch one of those “pretty” fish. I always sought what I perceived to be the most badass fish, but what I didn’t realize was how particularly difficult triggers are to catch. Be warned, if you are planning to go after them, make sure you bring enough flies and leaders. They will both be destroyed when fished. Hooks will be bent, leaders cut or snagged and chewed up in the corals. The tireless frustration associated with pursuing this fish over the week certainly changed my opinion of them. They now have my full attention and my wife is quite pleased.

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“REEL IN AND LET’S GO!”

the Seychelles can provide.

For passionate anglers, the most dreaded moment is the time of the day when the sun is setting and you have that sinking feeling that the fishing day is coming to an end. It’s the terrible anticipation of hearing your guide utter that dreaded phrase: ”Ok, reel in and let’s go.” In Cosmoledo, this fortunately doesn’t happen, and you eventually drag yourself off the water, exhausted.

While aboard the catamaran, there are many weird and interesting rules that have been established over the seasons.

Don’t even think of drinking your beer with your dominant hand, because if someone spots you, you must drink it all in one shot. Also, remember to never, ever leave your drink sitting near the edge of the table. You will feel like a teenager again and you may even end up swimming at 3 a.m. with the Lone Star’s house pets: hundreds of hungry GTs waiting for scraps to fall from the boat. In the morning, you are up again to pursue these famed fish for another glorious day.

There is nothing more you can ask for after a day of heart-pumping action tangling with giant trevally, bonefish, permit and triggerfish. That is, until you are received by your host, Daniel, with a tantalizing and delicious snapper freshly caught and cooked by a local chef: the perfect ending to the day, sharing stories and adventures that only

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BILLFISH ROYAL GRAND SLAM

by Pat Ford

U

ntil recently, no one had ever caught all nine species of billfish on a fly. It’s a feat that not only requires legendary skill with a fly rod, but an incredible expenditure of time and money too. Back in 2015, Rufus Wakeman of Jensen Beach, Florida, decided to try to catch all nine species on fly, and he wanted do it within 12 months.

Rufus began his quest for the royal slam in April 2015 when he caught an Atlantic blue marlin on fly in the Dominican Republic with Capt. V.J. Bell aboard the Fully Occupied, which is what gave him the idea. No one had ever caught all the species of billfish on fly in the same year before this for good reason–it’s nearly impossible, and quests of this nature do not always go as planned. In his first venture, Rufus spent five days in Isla Mujeres in May and never caught an Atlantic sail. He then went to Hawaii and booked Capt. Kevin Nakamura on the Northern Lights for five days, hoping for a spearfish and possibly a small Pacific blue marlin. An hour into his five day charter he hooked a spearfish, only to have it pop off when he stepped on the fly line. In the next four days he never got another shot.

From Hawaii he went directly to Exmouth, Australia, where he had caught several black marlin on non-IGFA fly tackle the year before. This time the weather gods got him. He spent seven days of his 10 day charter on the dock watching the wind blow 30 knots. The three days he actually could fish, he never raised a black marlin. Rufus’ Hawaii-Exmouth vacation in 2015 set a new standard for fishing trip misery!

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Rufus began his quest for the royal slam in April 2015 when he caught an Atlantic blue marlin on fly in the Dominican Republic.

Rufus went on to catch his Pacific blue with Nick Smith aboard Old Reliable on September 12, 2015, then followed it up with a striped marlin the next day.

He followed his epic trip to Costa Rica with a white marlin in Destin, Florida in October. In February, 2016 a second trip to Isla Mujeres got him the Atlantic sail. Then it was back to the bank for another expedition to Exmouth and Hawaii for black marlin and spearfish.

This time, the fish gods smiled on him and he caught both. On March 14, 2016 Rufus’ spearfish completed his slam of the eight "catchable" billfish. It took him 11 months….but he still needed a swordfish.

There are only three people in the world who have caught swordfish on IGFA regulation fly tackle, and two of them were in Africa. IGFA rules allow a 20-

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lb maximum tippet strength and only 12 inches of shock. Twelve inches of heavy mono is not a lot of insurance when you’re fighting something that can weigh over 300 pounds and has a three-foot point on its face. For decades it was thought to be impossible to catch a blue marlin on a fly rod, but with today’s hi-tech rods and reels nothing is impossible…except maybe swordfish.

Swordfish would probably eat a fly like any other billfish, if you could show it to them. The problem is that during daylight, they live in 1500 feet of water and only come up to the surface at night to feed…when you can’t see them. Rufus sought out the advice of IGFA Trustee, Marty Arostegui of Coral Gables, Florida.

Marty and Rufus had been friends for years and Marty is the only person in the US to have caught a swordfish on a fly,

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It was only natural that Marty was the first person Rufus went to when formulating his plan to catch a swordfish on fly.

and his story is unique.

In August of 2003, Marty was fishing in his own boat off Miami with Bouncer Smith as his captain. Unbeknownst to Bouncer, Marty had decided to try to catch a swordfish on a fly that night.

He’d tied up several double hook, footlong flies with tiny cylume lights in the middle to give them the luminescent appearance of a squid. He had a 14-weight rod, and an Orvis reel with hundreds of yards of braid as backing.

He selected an 800-grain shooting head to get the fly down. It was a calm night and conditions were perfect as they began drifting live baits in 1,000 feet of water.

Bouncer about fell off the fly bridge when Marty stepped to the stern and began casting, but he laughingly said, “Marty’s boat, I’m just driving it.”

Marty began casting as far as he could and let the fly sink until he guessed that it was 30-40 feet down. His retrieve was a series of short jerks then a pause. About an hour into the trip, he got a bite and missed it. Bouncer recalls thinking it

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must have been a tuna. Then an hour later he got his second bite and this time it about jerked the rod out of his hand before peeling off over 400 yards of backing. Everyone figured it was a tuna or a foul hooked shark, but Marty hung on and eventually landed a 40-pound swordfish. His prize was 46 inches long – one inch under the legal limit, so after a number of high fives and photos it was released…but history had been made.

It was only natural that Marty was the first person Rufus went to when formulating his plan to catch a swordfish on fly. Marty couldn’t have been more helpful and gave Rufus advice, sample flies, and cylume lights, and wished him well. He also made a note to self: “I’ve already got a swordfish and several other species of billfish on fly. I should try this.”

After about $15,000 in charter fees for driving around the ocean at night, Rufus had to settle for being the only person to catch all the "catchable" billfish on fly in one year, which was a pretty amazing feat in itself. Now it was Marty’s turn, and

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Rufus gave him his contacts in Hawaii and Australia.

Marty was a member of the Miami Beach Rod and Reel Club back in 1990 when Tim Choate presented a program on fly fishing for sailfish in Costa Rica. I’d been fishing with Tim for sailfish on fly since the late 70s and I convinced Marty to book a few days on the Magic, and offered to join him. Marty landed several Pacific sails on fly that first trip, and they weren’t the only the fish that were hooked. There is so much excitement in teasing a billfish to the boat with a hookless bait. When the fish is sufficiently ‘hot’, the teaser is jerked out of the water, the boat shifts to neutral and the angler casts the fly to what hopefully is a very big and very frustrated billfish. The strikes occur 30 feet behind the boat and they are spectacular! It’s difficult not to get addicted.

Marty’s next adventure was for marlin in 1993. In 1984, I had caught several white marlin on fly in La Guaira, Venezuela and even set an IGFA record on 8-lb tippet with a 73-pound fish. It only took one Rod and Reel Club program on La Guaira for Marty to book a trip with Capt. Carlos Hernandez aboard the Gigi.

On November 4, 1993 Marty not only released several white marlin on fly, he also added an Atlantic blue marlin to his list of conquests. In 1994, Marty went back to La Guaira and caught more white marlin and added an Atlantic sailfish on fly, before getting sidetracked. As a retired physician and successful businessman, Marty, like many of us, needed some motivation and goals. He loved to travel and fish exotic places, so he decided to see how many IGFA world records he could accumulate in the remote areas of Central and South America. Over the years, this project took Marty all over the world and allowed him to accumulate 440 IGFA World Records, 240 of which are on fly.

Many of them are for critters few people have ever seen, but that just added to the fun. When Rufus officially announced

that his personal quest was over, Marty took inventory and went to work. He already had five species of billfish on fly, including the impossible one.

Capt. Jake Jordan runs an amazing sailfish on fly tournament at Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala every January, and Marty is a regular entrant. Jake is a master at catching billfish on fly and he and Lodge owner Capt. David Salazar quickly took Marty under their wings. The boats and crews operating out of Casa Vieja are perfectionists when it comes to fly tackle.

All of their leaders are tied to IGFA specifications, so everything is by the book. Both Marty and Rufus have caught dozens of Pacific sails on fly out of Casa Vieja and both have hooked monstrous blue marlin, but the best place in the world to catch a Pacific blue marlin on fly is around the seamounts 100+ miles off the Costa Rican coast. Marty knew that Rufus did it with his friend Nick Smith. He also knew that every summer, Jake Jordan organizes blue marlin on fly expeditions to these wondrous spots.

In June 2016, Marty took advantage of Jake’s expertise and joined him on the seamounts, catching his first Pacific blue marlin on fly. Now he had six.

At Rufus’ recommendation, Marty booked a trip to Hawaii for spearfish with Capt. Kevin Nakamura and then with Capt. Jono Shales in Exmouth for black marlin. In March 2017, Marty began five days of fishing with Capt. Nakamura.

On March 3rd, he raised his first spearfish and caught it, after which they never saw another spearfish. Marty then moved on to Exmouth. Again his first day was spectacular, and he landed two black marlin on fly before the weather moved in and he never got on the water again.

Now he only had to find a striped marlin to be the first person to record a Royal Slam.

There are several places where it’s possible to catch a striped marlin on fly, but Cabo

San Lucas is probably the most reliable.

The best time is supposedly in the fall, but Marty had some free time in June, so he booked a few days with native Capt.

Jaime Reardon. Jaime runs a panga, but his knowledge of his local waters is unmatched. The only problem turned out to be the weather. When Marty arrived, the seas were much too rough for the panga and, at first, it looked like he was in for a “Rufus experience.” Then Minerva Saenz came to his rescue. She owns Minerva’s Baja Tackle and set him up with Capt. Pimi Fiol on the Minerva II. The Minerva II could easily handle the rough seas, but captain and crew had literally no fly fishing experience. The first hours were spent with Marty explaining that the teasers had to be hookless, the mate had to tease the fish up to the stern and the captain had to take the boat out of gear, all before Marty could even cast.

He’d even brought his own teasers, but he let the crew pick the colors. It didn’t take long for the mates to pick up the teasing technique and on June 7, 2017 Marty caught his striped marlin on fly, completing his slam and a feat that had never been done by anyone before. The first person to congratulate him was none other than Rufus Wakeman.

I love catching billfish on fly, but when I started in the late 70s, there weren’t any precedents to follow. I caught my first sailfish on fly in Cozumel in 1978 and in February 1980 I set the Florida state record for sailfish on fly, which still stands, primarily because no one kills sailfish anymore. Back in those days we were using Fenwick 12-weight rods and FinNor ‘wedding cake” reels that were the size of today’s redfish reels, but five times as heavy. We started out with full length floating fly lines and 12-lb tippets only to find that the speed of a sailfish would snap the tippet on the first run just from the weight of the floating line. Most of the captains had never fished fly before and more than once they backed down too quickly and sucked my fly line into

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the props. It was a slow process regaining line with a reel that brought in three inches of line per turn of the handle. I eventually figured out that a 30-foot sinking shooting head followed by 150 feet of fluorescent monofilament was much more productive. The line drag and ‘belly’ were minimal and the captain could see the bright monofilament from the bridge. Marty and Rufus both used that system for all their catches. As the years passed, fly rods evolved into powerful graphite weapons that can catch anything that swims. Reels got bigger and more efficient to the point that they now handle 400-pound blue marlin effectively. Jake Jordan has developed tactics and fighting techniques that have literally changed the game. Surprisingly, nothing has surpassed 20-lb Mason Hard monofilament for a class tippet.

Today, catching a billfish on a fly is not

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all that difficult. We’ve discovered that Pacific sailfish are the easiest to tease and they hit flies with abandon. The best place I’ve found to catch your first billfish on fly is Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala. Their captains and crews are outstanding and their fly rods are rigged to perfection. If anyone feels the urge to catch a billfish on fly, Guatemala is the place to start. One trip will give you the basics and after that you’re on your own.

That’s pretty much how Marty and Rufus started. Whatever the future holds, Marty and Rufus have made their marks in the history of fly fishing. It will likely be quite some time before their feats are repeated!

Bio: Pat Ford grew up in the New York-New Jersey area, fishing for most anything he could find. His talent for sports photography became apparent during his years as a Journalism major at

Notre Dame. He wrote his first article for Salt Water Sportsman magazine in 1969 and has continued to provide stories and photos to every sport fishing publication ever since. Over the years Pat has held over two dozen IGFA world records and for a decade was the chairman of the Golden Fly Invitational Tarpon Tournament, which is held annually in Islamorada. He is a Founding Member of the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and on the Board of Trustees of the American Fly Fishing Museum in Vermont. Now as a retired Miami trial attorney, he is the author of The Best Fly Fishing Trips Money Can Buy (Stackpole 2006) and Fly Fishing Daydreams (Skyhorse 2011). Pat’s tarpon photography is displayed in Andy Mill’s A Passion For Tarpon (Wild River Press 2010). To see more of Pat’s work check out his website: www.patfordphotos.com

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An Angler Opines Th e Pas s ion th at D r ive s Us

by Rock Dawson

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I

vividly remember the first bonefish I ever caught on my own.

It was a tiny specimen and it wasn’t a particularly difficult shot. Nearly any fisherman worth his salt would have scoffed at it, but it was the fish and me. No guide, no mentor, no bystanders, just me and the sand flat I was wading. I picked the fly, I spotted the fish and I made the cast all alone. It was an amazing experience and one I’ll never forget. I had read, studied, tried and failed, caught a fish with a guide but never on my own.

Hundreds of bonefish later, I still remember that one as clearly as if it were yesterday: a moment in time that’s frozen in my memory bank forever.

The experience of catching that first bonefish alone and the passion that drove me to it are the same things that drive most fishermen. My odyssey literally took years; dreaming, saving, reading, practicing, planning and failing. Not everyone is willing to make that type of investment in a fish, but for those who are, there is nothing finer than that block of time: spotting the fish, making the cast, the brief effective strip, the eat, the fight, the successful release and the ensuing flood of adrenaline and emotion at the realization that only you made it all happen. It turned out to be the only fish that I caught on that particular day, but my smile could not have been any bigger had I landed 10 double-digit fish; nothing could have dampened my elation and profound feeling of accomplishment.

Over time I have come to realize that this drive or passion or whatever you want to call it is what produces great fishermen, great guides and great stewards of our environment. It's the realization that every time you see a beautiful cast, a beautifully hand-tied fly or fish with a great guide, there are stories of challenges, failure and perseverance behind them.

Ultimately, our passionate pursuit of fish makes us realize that we must also preserve them and their environment. The idea that “things will take care of themselves” is simply not true (just think about your cast). As responsible anglers, we must learn from our mistakes and those of others. Just as we spend hours trying to perfect a cast, a knot or a fly, we need to dedicate our time, efforts and money to conserving what we have and remediating what we have disturbed.

The longer we fish, the more we find that none of it really comes easily. Some days you catch fish and some days you just punch your ticket, but every day you add to your experience, hone your skills and have the opportunity to help the fish you so fervently pursue. We can’t allow our spirits to be flattened by setbacks beyond our control. We must continually draw on our passion for the fish we love to drive us forward, not just to become better fishermen but to ensure the survival of the fish and their habitats so that one day we can be proud not only of the fish we catch but also of those we have saved.

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