Tail Fly Fishing Magazine - Issue 60 July/August 2022

CELEBRATING 9 YEARS AS THE VOICE OF SALTWATER FLY FISHING

FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

MONEY CAST SUSTAINABLE STRIPED BASS READING THE WATER SAN PEDRO, BELIZE ASCENSION BAY ONCE A BOY TRIPLETAIL

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JULY/AUGUST 2022 JULY/AUGUST 2022 DISPLAY UNTIL AUGUST 31

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Big migratory tarpon showed up early this year in Ascension Bay, Mexico, just in time for El Palometero 2022. And while it’s always a thrill to catch a triple-digit Megalops atlanticus, excitement grows exponentially when it happens in the final hours of a fly fishing tournament. Photo by Trey Reid

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Fly fishing for permit bruises ego and shatters dreams, but sometimes magic happens. Belize was nothing short of magical during Tail Fly Fishing Magazine’s hosted trip to El Pescador on Ambergris Caye. Photo by Captain Gordy Marin

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The moment of truth arrives under a dark sky on a Belizean flat.

Photo by Trey Reid

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 9

— from the editor

Group Effort We had an amazing spring with our hosted trip to El Pescador in San Pedro, Belize, and the first El Palometero tournament in Punta Allen, Mexico. (Both events are highlighted in this issue.)

The late-April trip to Belize brought together old friends and new friends for five exceptional days of fishing that included four Grand Slams and several first tarpon and permit for our anglers (and an incredible total of 19 permit for the trip).

The tournament in Mexico in May was focused on improving the lives of the residents of Punta Allen.

For those of you who don’t know this place, there’s no Four Seasons resort anywhere nearby. The teethrattling, hematuria-producing road from Tulum to Punta Allen is made from crushed limestone and sand and is usually found in various states of disrepair as a result of infrequent gradings. It covers about 30 miles through dense jungle and breathtaking scenery, but it requires nearly an hour and a half to traverse the distance under good road conditions.

The road will never be paved because it runs through the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, a nearly 1,100-square-mile nature preserve that’s protected from development by the Mexican government and carries a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Sian Ka’an is Mayan for “the place where the sky is born,” and the remote, wild nature of the surrounding area means the fishery at Punta Allen is fairly safe from tourism and pollution.

These conditions limit the number of visitors to the area and also the amount of products and goods that make their way to the village, so life is very simple.

Our efforts, it should be noted, are aimed at improving quality of life but not altogether changing it.

The tournament raised a significant amount of money for the community that will go toward current efforts to improve the town’s playground and elementary school. We’re proud to have played a small role in the tournament’s success, but it was truly a group effort by the participants who signed up, the lodges that hosted us, the restaurants that fed us, and the local guides who put us on the fish.

Special thanks to Chico Fernandez and Tim Borski,

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who traveled to Punta Allen to lend their celebrity to the tournament, as well as Nautilus Reels, 12WT Apparel, Thomas & Thomas, Orvis, Simms, RCI Optics, Cubalaya Outfitters, EP Flies, Patagonia, Duck Camp, Tito’s Vodka, and David Danforth. We appreciate your generosity and support. Thanks also to sculptor Alberto Coppini for designing and creating the tournament trophy, and to Tiziano Rizzotto at Punta Allen Fishing Club, Moises Cordero at Casa Viejo Chac, and Daniel Marquez at Ascension Bay Lodge for their “boots on the ground” work in Mexico to make El Palometero a success.

As we approach our 10-year anniversary in September, the tournament serves as a reminder of why we continue to do this. (Heaven knows it’s not for the paycheck.) It is this great saltwater fly fishing community that comes together and does good things. As we continue to grow, we hope that the success in Punta Allen will allow us to do more events in other deserving destinations that will help protect these communities and allow them to flourish (and honestly, a few more ads in this magazine wouldn’t hurt anything either).

Thanks to everyone who participated. Without you, managing editor Trey Reid and I would have had to wrestle for the trophy since neither of us landed a qualifying permit.

And now, summer is in full swing. The days are long, the fish are eating, and we have another solid issue for you. In addition to the aforementioned recaps of Belize and Mexico, you’ll be enlightened and entertained by James Spica’s ode to flounder on the fly, Don Thomas’ piece on inshore wading for redfish, and Aaron Wood’s touching story that traces our collective fishing addiction to its childhood roots.

You’ll also find technical features on reading water and making the perfect cast—and much more.

As we say with each issue, this one is better than the last.

Joseph Ballarini Editor in Chief

TM

On the Cover:

GUIDE TESTED.

GUIDE TRUSTED.

The waters around Ambergris Caye, Belize, were permit nirvana during the Tail Fly Fishing Magazine hosted trip last April.

Managing editor Trey Reid admires the first of multiple permit brought to hand during the trip. Photo by Joseph Ballarini

Editor-In-Chief: Managing Editor: Acquisitions Editor: Creative Director: Food Editor: Travel Editor: West Coast Editor: Consulting Editor: Contributing Editors: Gear Editor: 60 Historians: Editors-at-Large:

Copy Editor:

CELEBRATING 9 YEARS AS THE VOICE OF SALTWATER FLY FISHING

FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

MONEY CAST SUSTAINABLE STRIPED BASS READING THE WATER SAN PEDRO, BELIZE ASCENSION BAY ONCE A BOY TRIPLETAIL

JULY/AUGUST 2022 JULY/AUGUST 2022 DISPLAY UNTIL AUGUST 31

Joseph Ballarini Trey Reid George V. Roberts Jr. Scott Morrison Jennifer Matsu Peter McLeod Al Quattrocchi Chico Fernandez Andy Mill, Nicky Mill Andrew Ebert Pete Barrett, Ed Mitchell Joe Doggett, Mark B. Hatter, Tom Keer, James P. Spica Jr. Leila Beasley

Creative Contributors: Joseph Ballarini Tim Borski Jackie Bracey John Bracey Ron Clark Titano Cruz Nick Curcione Andrew Ebert Chico Fernandez

Jesse Males Captain Gordy Marin Andy Martin Jennifer Matsu Whitney Palazzi Al Quattrocchi Trey Reid George Roberts Chef Colin Sako

Jorge Salas Rob Schumske Jim Solomon James P. Spica Jr. E. Donnall Thomas Jr. Lori Thomas Aaron Wood Erin Woodward

About Tail Fly Fishing Magazine is the voice of saltwater fly fishing in a bimonthly print and digital publication. We focus on delivering high-quality content, the very best photography, destination travel, reputable commentary, and technical features from the saltwater fly fishing culture. Tail Fly Fishing Magazine began as a digital publication in 2012 and debuted as a print magazine in 2016. Combined, the digital and print versions reach readers in more than 45 countries.

In many places throughout the world, fly fishing has become important to both people and the environment. As a method of fishing imbued with values of stewardship and conservation, it connects people with the marine world in significant and positive ways. We, the anglers, are the last line of defense for our outdoor spaces.

Tail Fly Fishing Magazine supports the arts and creativity, conservation, and organizations that trumpet this message. We’re grateful for your support and we welcome photographic and written contributions.

TFFM is published six times annually, and your print subscription includes the digital version. Subscriptions are available through our website. International subscriptions are also available for most countries. Please contact our general mailbox, admin@tailflyfishing.com, with any advertising, subscription, or submission questions.

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 11

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CONTENTS 18 24

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READING THE WATER - Nick Curcione A lifetime of fishing—first on commercial tuna boats and later with a fly rod in hand—has informed Nick Curcione’s perspective on having the right perspective.

There’s more to seeing fish than randomly scanning the water, and whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these tips and suggestions will help you find more fish.

FLAT OUT FREAKY - James P. Spica Jr. From the pages of the weird-fish chronicles comes James Spica’s piece about flounder. Despite the strange looks he receives from other fly anglers, our intrepid scribe is steadfast in his zeal to tangle with bizarre fish, and when it comes to saltwater fly fishing, we can’t imagine it gets much weirder than prowling the banks of muddy ditches at low tide to cast for swimming doormats.

ONCE A BOY - Aaron Wood Fly fishing for permit is a peculiar addiction, a “luxurious form of self-flagellation” that some might label an obsession. For many, it’s the ultimate evolution of an angling journey. But inside every dedicated permit angler resides a childlike passion that cannot be put off and must be exercised.

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GEAR GUIDE - TFFM Staff We have the guide to the goods you need and want, including new apparel—12 WT sun gloves, Duck Camp pants, and a new jacket from Patagonia that’ll be out this fall—and accessories such as solar-powered chargers and lights. There are also reviews of the Sage R8 Core rod and a new Patagonia rod case in which to store it, as well as brews from a new philanthropic coffee company that supports conservation.

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INSIDE THE BOX: SHRIMP VS. CRAB - Trey Reid The eternal conundrum of permit fishing is whether to throw a crab or a shrimp. We don’t promise to resolve this debate, but we’ll throw in our two cents on the subject and show you a few patterns you’ll want to have in your fly box regardless of which of these artificial crustaceans you like to tie on your leader.

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TRIPLETAIL ON THE FLY - Chico Fernandez Shaped like a giant panfish and inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters around the globe, the tripletail likely isn’t the first species that comes to mind among saltwater fly anglers. But Chico Fernandez loves fishing for them, and in this piece he shares with you all you need to know about the species and how to catch them on the fly.

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BELIZE TRIP DOESN’T DISAPPOINT - TFFM Staff During the Tail Fly Fishing Magazine hosted trip to San Pedro, Belize, the bonefish, permit, and tarpon were almost as accommodating as the staff at El Pescador Lodge and Villas. It was a steady hit parade for the TFFM crew, with numerous firsts, multiple Grand Slams, and more permit in a week than we ever thought possible.

56

ON THE PLATE: WHOLE FRIED SNAPPER - Jennifer Matsu Inspired by an overdue family get-together in Turks and Caicos, Jennifer Matsu shows us how to fry up a whole snapper, a perfect communal dish to share with family or friends while shuffling your feet in the sand after a long day of flats fishing.

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CHERRY BOUNCE AND COCKTAIL CHERRIES - George Roberts Our acquisitions editor always has a vat of Cherry Bounce to serve guests at his Colonial home on Massachusetts’ South Shore, and he shares his take on the popular Colonial beverage that melds the flavors of your favorite rum or whiskey—George prefers black rum—and fresh cherries. He’s also found that the fruit itself makes a perfect addition to Manhattans and other cocktails that call for preserved cherries.

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PUPPY DRUM - E. Donnall Thomas Jr. Giant redfish pulled from featureless waters rightly command the attention of those in search of big fish, but if you’re looking for an experience that’s rooted in more than a bull red, look inshore and follow the lead of Don Thomas. The fish may be smaller, but the inshore scenery is more interesting, and a 6-pound redfish still puts up plenty of fight on light fly tackle.

The fish are abundant, the action is fast and furious, and tailing redfish provide an inscrutable appeal.

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FLY TYING: THE HAPPY CRAB - Jesse Males This realistic crab fly can be tied in a variety of colors and used for species such as bonefish, permit, redfish, golden trevally, and triggerfish. Take your seat at the vise and make this one happen.

PUNTA ALLEN, PERMIT, AND EL PALOMETERO - TFFM Staff It isn’t easy to get to Punta Allen, Mexico, but serious anglers seem to find a way to get there to experience the incredible fishing of Ascension Bay. So did the participants in the 2022 El Palometero, a permit fly fishing tournament that benefited the residents of Punta Allen by raising money for important community projects and shining a light on a special place with a vibrant fly fishing culture and way of life.

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ARE YOU READY FOR THE MONEY CAST? - Jim Solomon A master casting instructor, Jim Solomon likens casting to a trophy fish to athletic competition. In this instructional piece about making the cast when it counts the most, Solomon provides a step-by-step approach to getting the most out of your cast when it matters.

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LAST MAN OF THE SALT - Erin Woodward First-time contributor Erin Woodward uses colorful and poignant imagery in this piece to paint a picture of salty places and people while conjuring forlorn memories that spawn aspiration.

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SUSTAINABLE STRIPED BASS - Al Quattrocchi Our West Coast editor dishes on a sustainable striped bass farming operation off the Baja California coast that’s providing quality seafood in a way that isn’t harmful to the world’s oceans. He also shares traditional recipes for the fish from Chef Colin Sako.

Photo: Trey Reid

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T&T Amassadors Justin Rea and Rob Kramarz in the Florida Keys.

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R E T A I L E R S C A R R Y T A I L

ALASKA Mossy’s Fly Shop 750 W. Diamond Blvd, Suite 114 Anchorage, AK 99515 907-770-2666 mossysflyshop.com CALIFORNIA Bob Marriott’s Fly Fishing Store 2700 W. Orangethorpe Ave Fullerton, CA 92833 714-525-1827 bobmarriottsflyfishingstore. com COLORADO Front Range Anglers 2344 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302 303-494-1375 frontrangeanglers.com Golden Fly Shop 710 Golden Ridge Rd #126 Golden, CO 80401 303-330-1291 goldenfly.shop CONNECTICUT The Compleat Angler 541 Boston Post Road Darien, CT 06820 203-655-9400 compleatangleronline.com FLORIDA 239 Flies 3431 Bonita Beach Rd SW Unit #205 Bonita Springs, FL 34134 (239) 908-3513 239flies.com

ORVIS Sandestin 625 Grand Boulevard Ste 101 Sandestin, FL 32550 850-650-2174 Orvis.com Seven Mile Fly Shop 1638 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 (305) 440-3406 sevenmileflyshop.com The Angling Company 333 Simonton St Key West, FL 33040 305-292-6306 anglingcompany.com The Tide 26 Grouper Hole Drive Boca Grande, FL 33921 941-964-2417 GEORGIA ORVIS Atlanta Buckhead Square 3255 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30305 404-841-0093 Orvis.com The Fish Hawk 764 Miami Cir NE #126 Atlanta, GA 30305 404-237-3473 thefishhawk.com LOUISIANA ORVIS Baton Rouge Perkins Rowe, Bldg. H 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd., Ste. 140 Baton Rouge LA 70810 225-757-7286 Orvis.com

NORTH CAROLINA OBX on the Fly 107 Sir Walter Raleigh St Manteo, NC 27954 obxonthefly.com RHODE ISLAND The Saltwater Edge 1037 Aquidneck Ave Middletown, RI 02842 866-793-6733 saltwateredge.com SOUTH CAROLINA Bay Street Outfitters 825 Bay Street Beaufort, SC 29902 843-524-5250 baystreetoutfitters.com ORVIS Charleston 535 King St. Charleston, SC 29403 (854) 999-4985 Orvis.com Southern Drawl Outfitters 1533 Fording Island Rd Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 843-705-6010 southerndrawloutfitters.com TEXAS Bayou City Angler 3641 Westheimer Rd Suite A Houston, TX 77027 832-831-3104 bayoucityangler.com

Sportsman’s Finest 12434 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78738 512-263-1888 sportsmansfinest.com Swan Point Landing 1723 Cherry Street Suite 4 Rockport, TX 78382 361-729-7926 swanpointlandingflyshop.net Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co. 1933 E. Levee St Dallas, TX 75207 888-824-5420 tailwatersflyfishing.com UTAH Fishwest 47 West 10600 South Sandy, UT 84070 fishwest.com 801-617-1225 WASHINGTON Peninsula Outfitters 19740 7th Ave NE, Suite 110 Poulsbo, WA 98370 360-394-1599 peninsulaoutfitters.com The Avid Angler 17171 Bothell Way NE #A272 Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 206-362-4030 avidangler.com WYOMING Lander Fly Shop 305 Main Street Lander, WY 82520 307-438-3439 landerflyshop.com

MARYLAND

Gordy & Sons Outfitters 22 Waugh Drive Houston, TX 77007 713-333-3474 gordyandsons.com

Florida Keys Outfitters 81219 Overseas Highway Islamorada, FL 33036 305-664-5432 floridakeysoutfitters.com

Alltackle 2062 Somerville Rd Annapolis, MD 21401 888-810-7283 alltackle.com

Grapevine Fly Fishing 122 N Main Street Grapevine, Texas 76051 720.453.6878 grapevineflyfishing.com

Forgotten Coast Fly Company 123 Commerce St Apalachicola, FL 32320 850-323-0266 forgottencoastflycompany. com

MASSACHUSETTS

Gruene Outfitters 1265 Industrial Drive Suite C New Braunfels, TX 78130 (830) 625-4440 grueneoutfitters.com

ORVIS Austin 10000 Research Blvd - B04B Austin TX 78759 512-795-8004 Orvis.com

Bass Pro Shops—95 locations in the USA

ORVIS Houston 5727 Westheimer - Suite A Houston TX 77057 713-783-2111 Orvis.com

BAHAMAS

Mangrove Outfitters 4111 Tamiami Trail E Naples, FL 34112 239-793-3370 mangroveoutfitters.com Ole Florida Fly Shop 6353 N. Federal Hwy Boca Raton, FL 33487 561-995-1929 olefloridaflyshop.com Orlando Outfitters 2814 Corrine Dr Orlando, FL 32803 407-896-8220 orlandooutfitters.com ORVIS Ocean Reef 1 Fishing Village Drive Key Largo FL 33037 305-367-2227 Orvis.com

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The Bear’s Den 34 Robert W. Boyden Rd Taunton, MA 02780 508-977-0700 bearsden.com Kismet Outfitters 204 UPPER MAIN STREET Edgartown, MA 02539 860-944-5225 kismetoutfitters.com MONTANA Frontier Anglers 680 N. Montana St Dillion, MT 59725 406-683-5276 frontieranglers.com NEW YORK River Bay Outfitters 980 Church St Baldwin, NY 11510 516-415-7748 riverbayoutfitters.com

ORVIS Plano Preston Towne Crossing 2412 Preston Road Suite 200 Plano, TX 75093 972-596-7529 Orvis.com ORVIS San Antonio 7427 San Pedro Ave. Suite 104 San Antonio, TX 78216 210-812-3017 Orvis.com

RETAIL CHAINS: Barnes & Noble—630 retail locations in the USA Books-A-Million—260 stores in 32 states

Dick’s Sporting Goods (select locations)—over 700 stores in the USA Field & Stream Stores—35 locations in the USA Indigo Books—over 200 stores under various banners

Blackfly Lodge Schooner Bay Abaco, Bahamas 904-997-2220 blackflylodge.com CANADA Drift Outfitters & Fly Shop 199 Queen St. East Toronto Ontario M5A-1S2 647-347-7370 Driftoutfitters.com Fish Tales Fly Shop Ltd. #626, 12100 Macleod Trail SE Calgary AB T2J 7G9 Canada 866-640-1273 fishtalesflyshop.com

ON TODAY'S FISHING

MENU INSHORE NEARSHORE OFFSHORE TARPON REDFISH TROUT PERMIT SNOOK DRUM

TRIPLETAIL STRIPERS GROUPER ALBIES SHARKS SNAPPER

MAHI YELLOWFIN BLUEFIN AMBERJACK SAILFISH BLACKFIN

LET IT EAT EASTCAPEBOATS.COM

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 17

by Nick Curcione

dreaded every time I had to climb and

action far off on the horizon. The

spend time in that tuna boat’s rocking

viewing advantage afforded by the

Much like hunting, fishing relies

tower. The headaches that resulted

elevated position of the tower was

heavily on visual input, a fact that was

from an hour or two of scanning an

supposed to make that unlikely, but

driven home to me many years ago

unsteady horizon were an added

it did happen occasionally when the

when I began to spend considerable

discomfort. Complaints about this

spotter let his attention lapse.

time offshore fishing in Southern

task were either ignored or laughed

California and Baja. As part of a

at. Instead, you were reminded that

Staying visually alert is good advice

crew on the commercial tuna boats,

your sole responsibility up in the tower

anytime and anywhere you fish, but

everyone was required to pull lookout

was to remain visually alert. This was

it’s a bit more complicated than it

duty on the boat’s tuna tower.

neatly summed up in the directive the

sounds. Similar to hunting game on

hardened skipper constantly yelled at

land, the trick is to know what to look

This was something I disliked

me when it was my time in the tower:

for and how to look. In the fishing

immensely. I have a fear of heights

“Keep your eyeballs on.”

world, it’s part of a process referred

stemming from childhood when I was

to as “reading the water,” and it

stuck at the top of a Ferris wheel for

And pity the poor lookout if someone

involves learning to recognize and

what seemed like an eternity. So I

on deck was the first to spot potential

interpret the signs nature presents

Reading 18 TAIL TAIL FLY FLYFISHING FISHING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

us. It is most exciting when you can

safety, even if you don’t need them

an amber shade would be a better

actually see the fish, of course, but

to improve your vision. Fly fishers

choice. If you have to limit yourself

unfortunately that isn’t always the

seem particularly prone to eye injuries

to one pair, try to select a color that

case. You have to be attuned to less

resulting from imperfect casts, so

is best suited to the type of fishing

dramatic signs that indicate fish

you should always include eyewear as

you do most. (Regardless of the tint,

are likely to be in the area. As any

part of your tackle.

wearing a hat with a dark under-

accomplished guide knows, to be good

brim will improve your vision.) Since

at it you have to spend considerable

And because you’re working in a

polarization doesn’t provide optimum

time on the water.

water-based environment, polarized

visibility at every angle, a useful trick

glasses are a must. They cut through

when you’re having difficulty picking

Historically, anglers and hunters had

surface glare and make it possible

out a particular object or form is to

to rely solely on their eyeballs. Today

to more clearly distinguish objects

tilt your head slightly to one side. This

there are all kinds of eyewear and

in the water. Bear in mind, however,

helps alter the polarization and can

vision-enhancement devices that

that varying water conditions will

provide a clearer picture of what you

enable us to see even in the dark of

require different shades or tints. For

are looking at.

night. It’s always prudent to wear

example, a gray tint may work well

glasses when fishing—for the sake of

offshore, but for shallow-water flats

the

Regardless of your visual acuity, a

Water TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 19

scattered or haphazard approach to

approximately 30-foot intervals, start

feet from where I was wading, I

scanning a body of water is not the

looking farther and farther out to just

thought I caught a glimpse of a

best way to proceed. Although few

about the limit of your vision. Once

reflection on the surface. I wasn’t

anglers do so, a more productive way

you reach this point, start the process

sure if it was sunlight reflected off

to look for fish (or the signs thereof) is

all over again.

of a mangrove leaf, or better yet, the

to adopt a strategy used by search-

tail of a bonefish busily rummaging

and-rescue operations and scan the

This method served me well a while

the bottom for food sources. The

water in a methodical pattern: Begin

back on a bonefishing trip in Hawaii.

sun was intermittently obscured

your search close to your position. At

In the distance, approximately 60

by rapidly moving clouds, so it was difficult to get a fix on the object being highlighted. I began carefully scanning the surface in front of me, gradually increasing the distance, and finally spotted the object in a brief burst of sunlight. The reflection showed movement, which rules out mangrove leaves unless there’s a distinct breeze blowing. There wasn’t, and one of the locals I was fishing with confirmed what I was hoping: The object out there was indeed a feeding bonefish. Now all I had to do was get into position to make the proper presentation with my fly.

If you are in shallow water and can clearly see the bottom, that should be your focus. Whether it’s permit in the Florida Keys, bonefish in the Bahamas, or Northeast stripers on the

20 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

flats, most gamefish are constantly

inclined to track it very far. Too close

present significant wave action—the

swimming; any movement above

or in the wrong direction, and the fish

type that would actually attract

the bottom can usually be readily

will usually spook. Seldom do you get

surfers. This consideration eliminates

detected. If the depth is only a couple

a second shot.

coastlines like those along South

of feet, you’ll also want to be alert

Florida’s Gulf Coast, where the

for surface signs like small wakes and

Sight fishing the surf presents its

conditions are often as placid as you

fins protruding from the water. As in

own unique set of challenges. Similar

find on lakefronts, and sight fishing

the Hawaii experience above, these

to flowing streams and rivers, there

for species like snook is comparatively

visual cues provide some of the most

are currents to contend with—but in

easy from a visual standpoint. Even

exciting moments in shallow-water

the surf this water movement is also

novices generally have little difficulty

fishing, but you have to be on your

augmented by tides, making it the

detecting fish like snook, jacks,

game and learn to deliver the fly

most dynamic environment of all. In

pompano, and sharks that cruise the

quickly and accurately. Fish seldom

common parlance, the word “surf” is

shoreline.

remain stationary for long. And the

a generic term used to denote any

presentation can’t be haphazard: Too

stretch of beachfront facing open

Wave action, however, makes sight

far away from the target, and the fish

water. Here, I’m restricting the term

fishing more challenging. Occasionally,

may not even spot it or may not be

to refer to water conditions that

shore-bound anglers may experience

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 21

shadows on the bottom that you would swear were cruising corbina.

(In this situation, present the fly even if you’re not completely sure of what you’re throwing to; more often than not, you’re casting at a figment of your visual imagination, but sometimes.…) In relatively short order, strong tidal wave action also can change a crystal clear bottom into a murky mess, with stirred up sand particles that obliterate any hope of spotting fish.

Despite all this, waves can be a great help in fishing a coastline. Learning to read the pattern of wave action will tell you a great deal about the conformation of the bottom that you can’t actually see. Tremendous variation exists; most beach dramatic scenes like diving birds

like these, but when a wave rolls in

bottoms are riddled with all sorts of

and breaking fish, but more often

with the accompanying foam on the

depressions like holes and troughs.

the signs of potential fish action are

surface, suddenly you’ve lost sight

Bait such as crabs and small fish tend

much more subtle. A prime example

of everything. By the time the water

to be swept into these depressions,

is tracking the movement of corbina

clears, the fish have typically swum

and that’s where you’re most likely

off Southern California beaches.

away and you have to start searching

to find larger predatory gamefish.

This highly prized surf species often

again.

The way to recognize these bottom

swims the shoreline literally inches

depressions is to observe how waves

from the dry sand. They’re usually

Patches of surface foam can also

roll into shore: Waves tend to break

easy enough to spot in conditions

make things more difficult by casting

over shallow-water areas, whereas

22 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

they tend to roll over deeper sections

importance. Any type of unusual

They literally attacked everything

of the bottom. Once you become

surface disturbance can be a tip-

you threw at them. This was all as a

adept at this, you’ll find yourself

off that fish may be in the area.

result of large pods of small baitfish

spending more time fishing high-

For example, baitfish may reveal

congregated under the carcass; the

percentage productive water.

themselves by means of small

dorado came in droves for the feast.

wavelets or ripples on the surface,

This lasted for weeks until sharks and

In deeper water in which you can’t see

often referred to as “nervous

sea birds decimated the few ragged

the bottom, most of your searching

water.” Color changes can indicate

remains.

efforts will be directed at the surface.

temperature breaks, and fish like

Aside from the fish themselves,

tuna are known to congregate near

To the untrained eye, one stretch of

perhaps the most telltale sign to

the edges where these changes occur.

water may look pretty much the same

watch for is the presence of sea birds:

Any type of floating surface structure

as any other. With a little practice,

frigates, terns, jaegers, seagulls, and

is worth looking at because in open

however, you’ll begin to see subtle

pelicans. One of the laws of nature is

expanses of water it often serves

differences and find more fish. You’ll

that life form follows life form; birds

as a haven for a variety of baitfish

also begin to experience a significant

foraging and diving on the surface

that attract larger predators. I’ve

improvement in your ratio of hookups

are typically feeding on bait. And

experienced some incredible offshore

to time spent on the water. As the

wherever you find concentrations of

action on species like yellowtail and

old saying advises, “Seek and ye shall

bait, inevitably there are schools of

dorado that were congregating under

find.”

larger predatory gamefish ready to

kelp patches not much larger than a

dine on them. If you are fortunate

doormat.

enough to experience it, you’ll agree

Nick Curcione is a writer, instructor, lecturer, and tackle consultant

that the sight of large pods of baitfish

Some of the most incredible action

with more than 40 years of angling

being pursued by the birds above and

I ever experienced with dorado took

experience. He has written several

the fish below is an event that can

place out of Loreto in Baja California.

books, including the Orvis Guide to

blow your emotional circuits.

A whale carcass floated offshore, and

Saltwater Fly Fishing, The Saltwater

although the stench was terrible when

Edge: Tips and Tactics for Saltwater

Other signs may be less dramatic,

you were within casting distance,

Fly Fishing, and Baja on the Fly.

but do not underestimate their

the dorado fishing was red hot.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 23

FLAT OUT

FREAKY Low Country Flounder on the Fly

24 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

by James P. Spica Jr.

“thumb” a winter flounder to land it. I do not recommend putting your

I truly, deeply love weird fish. Lifting

fingers anywhere near the mouth of a

an oddity from the deep induces a

summer flounder, or fluke. Though a

smile and adds a certain spice to a

fluke’s teeth aren’t razor sharp, they

fishing trip. What is that? And, more

are impressive in size and number and

to the point, Why does it look like

are conical—similar to those of the

that?

Atlantic bonito. The summer flounder’s jaw is also markedly more solid and

In redfish country—Low Country—I

strong than that of a winter flounder.

can get some pretty strange looks from other anglers who are looking for

(I’ve heard that West Coast halibut

tails on the flats (adding to the slew

are similarly catchable in the shallows

of strange looks I get from pelicans

during certain times of year and

and manatees). To those accustomed

behave like our Atlantic flounders, but

to 9-foot 8-weights, floating lines,

I’ll have to defer to the West Coast

and weedless crab flies, my 8-foot

experts on that one.)

9-weight, sink-tip line, and heavy, all-black Clouser Minnows with rattles

Flounder love structure. Just because

look odd. That’s the worst possible rig

they’re flat fish doesn’t mean they

for spartina grass!

gravitate to flat, sandy bottoms. They also love current, like most other

Indeed it is: I’m headed for the mud-

fish, and are dominators of the seam:

banked creeks, and I’m hunting for

Where you find structure and a tidal

doormats.

current seam, you will find flounder, lying in wait for so much unsuspecting

Flounder are a supremely weird fish,

prey. Creek mouths, too, are preferred

from their looks to their habits. They

habitat for flounder. Like many other

are an oddity that can be lifted from

fish and many humans, they like their

relatively shallow waters, as compared

food brought directly to them. The

with strange fish of reefs and wrecks.

creek mouth in a saltwater marsh is

Despite the harder fight, coppery

a buffet of crabs, shrimp, and forage

glamour, and sight-fishing-conducive

fish, so flounder have their pick of

behaviors of the red drum and the

tasty delights without having to move

reliability and ubiquity of sea trout,

far. My favorite spots for flounder in

as soon as the outgoing tide starts,

the Low Country are where tidal creeks

I feel the desire to go after the ugly

flow out of marshes through or near

duckling.

rock or concrete structure, so a culvert pipe directing tidal traffic is a surefire

On the Atlantic coast, we have two

spot for a hungry flounder.

main types of flounder: the “winter” and the “summer.” The seasonal

Of course, their design has “ambush”

common names aren’t especially on

written all over it: They’re supremely

point because both can be caught

camouflaged against most bottoms,

pretty much year-round. The winter

whether mud, cobble, or sand. In fact,

flounder has a mouth more like a

their camouflage is another element

bass: It can widen into a bucket

of their aesthetic that I admire. While

shape and lacks teeth, so you can

redfish and sea trout sport a few spots

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 25

and their colors are more coppery and

suit: completely undetectable,

fighting a flounder, the second stage

silvery (and even pale blue) from the

completely deadly.

is the view-and-flip. Once they see me,

crustaceans in their diet, the pattern

they turn and take off running—funny

on a flounder’s back is, with a little

Despite its camo and sneaky hugging

that women sometimes do the same

imagination, more akin to the haloed

of the bottom, it never ceases to

thing—but only after a masterfully

spots on a brook trout’s flank. The

amaze me how far a flounder will

nimble switch of direction like an

range of hues in their camouflage is

move to eat a fly. Their ambush

Olympic swimmer reaching the wall

worthy of at least passing admiration.

doesn’t rely on a certain proximity,

and turning for another lap. Then the

but rather upon the violent element

fight begins in earnest, characterized

of surprise. If they think they’re

by strong surges of bull-dogging at

unsuspected, they’ll rocket up from

a distance once the initial short run

the bottom several feet to nab a meal.

is over. After you’ve gotten it to the

Flounder are the sniper in the ghillie

boat or the bank, a flounder will often Adding to the weirdness of these flat

give a couple more turns and dashes

fish is the consistently bizarre way

before it’s quite exhausted. Then it’s

they fight when hooked. My spirits

time to retrieve the hook—frequently

lift when I know I have one on—and

mangled and occasionally bent—and

I know because the first thing the

send the fish on its way again.

fish does is charge toward me to see what has inconvenienced it. Its first

The simplicity of targeting flounder

instinct is curiosity—or perhaps rage—

also appeals to me. One needs only a

or more likely a mixture of both. If,

sinking line, a short rod (for the lifting

after coming tight, the line jackknifes

of a sunken mat), and a box featuring

toward me, then the prospect of

just two patterns: a black Clouser and

admiring (and occasionally eating)

a white Clouser. That’s the extent of

pure oddity is nearly assured.

it. (I will say, however, that a flounder is usually willing to eat anything dumb

If the approach is the first stage of

26 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

enough to pass it by.) My black and

End of sermon. Back to the ode.

When I’m done for the day, my rod, kayak, and paddle (and usually pants and shirt, as well) are caked with partially-dried pluff mud as I slide back into the launch. I have a foam fly-drying strip covered with mangled and shredded Clouser minnows. I am probably dehydrated. But I’ve danced with weirdness. I’ve admired oddity. white Clouser Minnows are most often

from. Humans benefit from seeing

I’ll be ready again after I shower,

made of Super Hair, a stiff, kinked,

the start-to-finish of their meals, and

down a stiff drink, and tie a few

and partially translucent synthetic

taking an active part in that process

replacement flies.

hair that comes in a hank. Super Hair

is fulfilling, pride-inducing, and often

allows for a very sparse fly—a little

sobering.

goes a long way—but most important, it’s one of the most durable materials out there. Fluke—southern flounder— have some impressive teeth, and since your fly should have some weight and will likely be tapping oyster shells and rocks, fly durability is at a premium.

And the taste! Oh, the taste. Flounder, like other flat fish such as halibut and sole, are light-flavored, flaky, and robust. Flounder is my number one favorite fish for ceviché: delicate enough not to overpower but flavorful enough to shine in the company of lime juice, onion, tomato, and cilantro.

In this fly fishing culture of catchand-release—without question a good thing overall—one can sometimes forget the benefits of occasionally keeping a fish. As I see it (and many may disagree with me), keeping a fish to eat every once in a while promotes two distinct positives: First, it encourages a conservation mindset in the one who takes keeper regulations seriously; you become a small part of a fisheries management plan and more intimately familiar with what it means to legally kill a fish. Second, it’s always good to know where one’s food comes

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 27

Once A Boy

28 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

by Aaron Wood

of sargassum aside to clear a path, I

while renowned for its permit fishing,

climbed atop the bow.

guiding for them requires a resolute

The boy carried a spinning rod in

desire and mental fortitude that

tow as he had each morning, his

“Good morning, my friend,” Marlon

goes well beyond making a living.

gaze set about the water. He was

said, as much to the dog as me.

To succeed, the guide has to need

seven or eight, a saggy tank-top

the process as much as the angler:

revealing an especially lanky frame.

In heavy beach chop, we turned

They guide a fellow addict, a fellow

He trudged sleepily down the beach,

toward the horizon and then north

gambler, a kindred soul with wanton

his toes kicking up puffs of sand, his

for our third and final day in pursuit

dreams of taking the whole damn pot

eyes drawn oceanward, studying,

of permit.

as opposed to just a portion. From

perceiving what opportunities lay beneath.

the moment our first day began, For the angler, permit addiction

Marlon and I got along just fine.

is largely a drug of privilege, paid He disappeared around the far end of

for in vacation days and savings

We jumped from one flat to the

the bay, headed for the local pier. A

accounts. But for Marlon, and other

next for hours, occasionally spotting

chihuahua-something, a creamsicle

permit guides, they have paid for

of a dog, all doused in sand by 6

their passion in sweat equity and in

a.m., remained at my side. Your ride

a currency far more valuable than

will be here soon, her demeanor

money: time. In a fishery like Belize,

suggested, and I knew it to be true.

A panga soon droned toward us and landed on the beach. Kicking a mat

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 29

permit cruising along the blue

a possible afternoon squall dampen

conclusion. I wish I could apologize

water at the edges. As it met the

his enthusiasm, or did it stir his

for this affliction, this fishing disease,

flat it turned turquoise, brown, and

curiosity about the bite before a drop

but to do so would be a waste of your

finally tan, a peculiar spectrum,

in barometric pressure? Did he check

breath and mine.

shallow enough to wade until

his rigging, double-check his hooks

ending at a precipice. Despite this,

for rust or for knots in his leader?

A tail cresting the water snapped

I felt invigorated with each new

Did he grease the reel, work the drag

my mind back to attention. As I

opportunity, as if chances were not

clockwise and then back, and set it

pitched the fly from my hand to cast,

so much a want but an expectation

so purposefully as if setting a pocket

Marlon coolly said, “Permanent, not

given enough time. Every setting

watch to announce the beginning of

a permit,” and I realized it was only a

felt the idyllic location to produce a

time itself?

sea fan waving us by.

Marlon and me, permit are a scourge

I hope not. I hope he slept so deep

I expected Marlon to tell me to reel

that care little for promise, hope, or

and true that his mother shook him,

up for the day when instead he told

money spent.

snarling, “Your breakfast is cold.” I

me to put on my boots. I sloppily

would delight in knowing he would

collected 50 feet of fly line like a

My mind eventually wandered to the

rather sleep, that his mother and

cowboy preparing to wrangle a heifer

boy. I wondered how the fishing was

father told him to occupy his time

and crashed over the edge of the

treating him back on the mainland.

elsewhere or take up a chore, forcing

panga. A soup of waving tails was a

If the pier goers treated him with

him to grab the dusty rod in the

hundred yards away, heading directly

mutual respect, despite his age. If

corner. But no, it never worked this

for us. We sloshed our way to the side

he was unable to sleep last night,

way. His hooks were true and the drag

of their line and I nervously waited

wondering what the next day

precise, for his gaze about the water

for Marlon to give me the green light

promised. Did the uptick in wind and

told me all I needed to reach such a

to cast.

fish to hand, but unfortunately for

30 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Calmly he said, “Okay.”

I drowned my disappointment in

to cast at a moment’s notice.

the hush of the waves with the sun I placed the fly perfectly, a rarity on

setting behind me, my trip nearing

The sight of him was a welcome

the best of days. “Tick…tick…tick…”

its end. I considered grabbing a rod

consolation for three days of hard

Marlon whispered, his hand clutching

and blind casting in the surf, aware

fishing. He was a reminder of the

my shoulder. With the slightest of

that sometimes dumb luck is a better

fire that burns within us, of the

strips, I watched a permit nose up

asset than skill. Instead I surrendered

persistence it demands. Whether

on the fly, one-eighty, and regain

to the words of the ocean, for

permit, tarpon, brook trout, or bluegill,

its composure before returning to

portions of its wisdom are only

it makes little difference. I could not

the school. They passed a few yards

granted to those who opt to stop

help but feel a tinge of envy, as I was

from us, and I sent a desperate

and listen. I peered down the beach

that boy, now older, with fewer years

cast toward them before they

where two dogs were romping in the

ahead of me. I wished I could stop

disappeared.

sand, competing for the attention of

him, impart some cliché unto him.

the boy walking beside them. He did

But as he aged his passion would

“That. Was. Fucking. It,” Marlon

not indulge the dogs, only stopping

persist, conjuring dreams from behind

said, and after three days of similar

momentarily to again study the

his eyelids, driving him from bed at

circumstances, I couldn’t help but feel

ocean.

first light. It would accompany him

the entire process was a luxurious form of self-flagellation.

from good times to bad, remaining As he passed me he did not say hello,

steadfast as friends and family

as he was accustomed to watching

departed. It would drive him mad

“Aaron … need to get back before

foreigners come and go, and

with desire when not exercised, as

dark,” and with that we returned to

tomorrow I would be gone. He carried

obsession only knows itself, and in our

the panga for the ride home.

his rod, a plastic jerk bait dangling

case, only knows water.

from a few feet of line, allowing him

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 31

GEAR GUIDE GUY HARVEY RINGS BY GROOVE LIFE

Wearing a metal wedding band on the job is often a safety hazard—particularly around machinery, electricity, or caustic chemicals. For sanitary reasons, foodservice workers should refrain from wearing metal rings on the job, as they can provide hiding places for bacteria and the potential to spread food-borne illness. Groove Life manufactures several lines of silicone rings that eliminate the dangers of wedding bands in the workplace, including a collection of four handsome designs by world-renowned marine artist Guy Harvey: Tropical Turtle, Slammed, Mahi Skin, and Blue Marlin. These medical-grade silicone bands feature breathable grooves on the inside, keeping your ring finger dry and comfortable. The company offers discounts for military, healthcare workers, and first responders. An impressive 94-year warranty covers for lost rings as well. $39.95 (groovelife.com)

ALL-WATERS COFFEE

Coffee is critical to many of our fly fishing adventures–if you’ve ever been around our editorial staff before they’ve had a cup, you’ll understand–so we were delighted to stumble across All-Waters Coffee Co. It’s damn good coffee, and better yet, the company donates 3 percent of every bag of coffee sold to conservation groups such as Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, Save Bristol Bay, and Wild Steelheaders United. A guide buddy recently returned from a Laguna Madre fly fishing trip with one of All-Waters’ owners and put a two-pound bag of the Bristol Bay Bold in our hands. With a growing number of new coffees being marketed to outdoors enthusiasts, we weren’t sure what to expect. But we found the brew to be strong and tasty, with hints of dark chocolate and nutty undertones.

The company’s other offerings include the medium roast Captains Brew Blend, the medium-dark roast Wild Run Blend, and the light roast Mayfly Blend (proceeds from this version benefit The Mayfly Project, which works to change the lives of children in foster care through fly fishing and mentorship programs). All-Waters Coffee Co. also offers a subscription service that delivers their coffees straight to customers’ doors at desired intervals from weekly to monthly. $15-$35 allwaterscoffeeco.com

32 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

PATAGONIA SWIFT CURRENT JACKET Patagonia touts the new Swiftcurrent jacket as a rugged, waterproof/breathable technical shell outfitted with fishingspecific details and built for steadfast performance and advanced storm protection– tested to withstand the harshest weather conditions. We agree.

While not specifically identified as rain gear, the Swiftcurrent has kept us dry and comfortable on skiffs running full tilt through tropical downpours. Conveniently located pockets both inside and out and adjustable velcro straps to keep out the wind and water– and it’s made from recycled fish nets. The Swiftcurrent will be available in the fall of 2022, and it’s definitely worth the investment. $399 patagonia.com

TAIL TAIL FLY FLYFISHING FISHING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 33

GEAR GUIDE

REVEL GEAR DAY TRIPPER SOLAR PACK We’ve all been there: On the water with a dead cell phone or camera. And Murphy’s Law dictates, of course, that those are invariably the times you land the one you’ve been waiting for. But with no picture, it might as well never have happened, right? The Day Tripper Solar Pack solves that problem. It’s a battery pack that can be charged in civilization with a micro USB cord or in the wild via a built-in mini solar panel.

Sealed in a shock- and moisture-proof housing, the 8,000-mAh battery charges cell phones, handheld GPS devices, portable speakers, head lamps, cameras, and more. Simply plug your devices into one of the two USB outputs and power up from the sun’s rays (even two devices simultaneously). Operational at up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, you can hang the Day Tripper from the included carabiner clip on your backpack or on your boat console and keep it charged all day. It even has a 1,000-lumen LED grid light that will blow your headlight or flashlight away. $49.99 (revelgear.com) 34 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

DUCK CAMP DRIFTER PANT The Drifter is Duck Camp’s signature fishing pant. Made from a two-way stretch nylon fabric with UPF 40+ sun protection, these pants are light enough to keep you cool on the flats but substantial enough to not feel like your pajama bottoms. The moisture-wicking material dries quickly when wet. They sport a variety of zippered pockets as well as a couple of pockets that have cool magnetized snap closures rather than traditional buttons. The articulated knees and gusset crotch provide more room in those important places. Available in three colors and two fits: regular fit for a slimmer athletic cut, and a relaxed fit for, well, you know, those of us who need a more forgiving cut. If you’re looking for a solid-performing pant for both wading and boatfishing applications, we’re sure you’ll find it in the Drifter. $89 (duckcamp.com)

SAGE R8 CORE The R8 Core represents the first release of a high-end, medium-fast action, multi-purpose fly rod in more than five years. Designed to replace the ubiquitous and beloved Sage X, the R8 Core has been at the center of an intense buzz and excitement. While rumors swirled around the development of the R8, Sage says the aim was to produce a rod with maximum versatility using

new revolutionary material technology, including new graphite consisting of high-density fibers with improved sintering. The result combines feel and responsiveness in a smooth, efficient, easy-casting fly rod that will adapt to a variety of casting styles and fishing techniques. We took the 9-foot 9-weight to fish the El Palometero tournament in Ascension Bay, Mexico, and put it through its paces chasing permit on the flats. We paired it with the Scientific Angler Amplitude Grand Slam fly line. Overall, the R8 was a pleasure to fish with. It loads quickly and allows precision at short casts inside 40 feet. With longer casts, we found it takes a bit longer to load than the traditional fast-action, saltwater-specific favorites, but the reward is unparalleled feel with plenty of power. After a few casts with it, our boat partner shelved his favorite “go-to” 9-weight, marveling at the R8 Core’s capabilities. The R8 Core is indeed a freshwater/saltwater crossover, and an R8 Core Salt series is an expected future addition to the lineup.

But don’t discount the upper end of the Sage R8 Core current releases to perform well in a variety of saltwater applications. $1,050 (farbank.com)

12WT SUNWT GLOVE 2.0 12WT Fishing Apparel always combines Teflon-tough resistance to the elements with ultra comfort and performance. The SUNwt Glove 2.0 is certainly no exception. Utilizing lightweight stretch polyester fabric boasting 30+ UPF sun protection, the glove design is as light and unobtrusive as anything we have encountered. Let’s face it: Fishing gloves can be downright uncomfortable, especially in direct rays of the equatorial regions where your hands need sun protection the most. We recently fished these gloves in Ascension Bay, Mexico, and found them surprisingly easy to wear and use. Each finger has a small elastic band at the tip producing a snug fit that eliminates snags or catches. The fit seems almost tight when first donned, but the gloves quickly stretch out and relax to the right feel. Comfortable for all-day use, quick drying, and breathable, the SUNwt Glove 2.0 doesn’t compromise dexterity or function in the slightest. Bravo, 12WT! $29 (12wt.com)

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 35

GEAR GUIDE MPOWERD LUCI LIGHTS Luci Lights have been around for a decade, but the product lineup keeps getting better–and the company behind these inexpensive but powerful personal lanterns continues to make a difference in the fields of sustainability and social impact. Mpowerd offers a range of products, but the small, inflatable solar-powered lanterns that launched them into the market remain the core of their lineup. The Luci Original features a pair of small solar panels on the top of the 5-inch diameter lantern that can be fully charged in seven hours. The lights, which weigh 4.4 ounces, can run up to 24 hours on a single charge, illuminating the darkness with 65 lumens.

Other models feature USB charging ports, string lights, and even a Bluetooth speaker. The Luci Base Light has a USB charging port and shines at up to 360 lumens. We’ve used the Luci Color Essence lights for several years; they’re invaluable for backcountry camping and fishing and have traveled around the world with us on far-flung fly fishing adventures in remote outposts with off-grid electrical situations. Best of all, Mpowerd, the company behind these innovative lights, works with hundreds of NGOs and nonprofit organizations to put their solar-powered lights in the hands of remote communities around the world, where access to affordable, solar lighting truly can change lives.

Mpowered also has a program to distribute products for disaster relief and humanitarian aid around the globe. $19.95-$74.99 mpowerd.com PATAGONIA BLACK HOLE ROD CASE The flexibility of the interior spaces may be the defining feature of this case. The design isn’t rigid, so all of the interior spaces can be customized to fit your gear. It’s a soft case, so it doesn’t afford the protection of a rigid molded frame, but it has accommodated just about everything we’ve needed on a slate of recent trips. It’s perfect for travel, but it’s also great to store and keep your gear ready to go in the car or garage. $249 patagonia.com

36 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 37

) G N I (R

by Trey Reid

38 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Fly fishing for permit is hard enough without being conflicted about what kind of fly to throw, and yet that’s how it starts—deciding which kind of fuzzy bug to attach to your leader. Your decision will be influenced by water depth, type of bottom, wind, current, and other variables. But all things being equal—and reducing the equation to its simplest form—it usually comes down to a dichotomous choice: shrimp or crab?

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 39

There are no absolutes in fly fishing for permit, but certain situations and circumstances may favor one crustacean over the other.

I’m a crab guy. Let’s just get that out

crustacean over the other. As a

or with cruising fish, the shrimp

of the way. We’re all influenced by

general rule, the crab has the edge on

has the edge over the crab in these

our own unique experience, and my

the shrimp when permit are feeding

situations.

experience with crab flies and permit

slowly in shallow water and working

has been favorable. I’m happy to

over the same general area. The slow

Wind conditions and current may

throw a shrimp at them if the crab

stripping motion employed with a

also factor into the choice, especially

isn’t working, but I’m usually going

crab keeps the fly in the zone longer

when fishing from a boat. In

to start with a crab unless a guide or

and gives the fish time to find it and

most situations an angler will be

local knowledge suggests otherwise.

eat it.

approaching a target with the wind

Others’ experience will tilt the

at his or her back, and with stronger

balance in favor of the shrimp, and

Conversely, when most shots are

winds or currents, the forward

they’ll just as fervently commit to it.

at cruising fish or you’re in deeper

motion of the boat will put slack into

water, a shrimp may be the better

the line you just cast. With a shrimp

The point is that favorable experience

choice. The biggest knock on crabs

fly, the faster retrieve allows us to

breeds confidence, and having

from my shrimp-loving friends is

pick up the slack faster and reduces

confidence in your fly is tantamount

that the crab’s natural swimming

the chances of missing an eat.

to success. So use what you like.

action is too slow and that a real crab often evades predation by being still

Fly fishing for permit confounds

But be flexible. While confidence

on the bottom rather than fleeing.

certainty, so there’s little use trying

is important, don’t let it blind you.

“You can’t give it enough action,”

to convince you that a permit will

Refusals or indifference should tell

they say. With a shrimp, the shorter

favor a crab fly or a shrimp fly in any

you it’s time to try something else.

and more rapid stripping action

given angling situation. Who knows

imparts more motion and hopefully

why they do what they do? The best

There are no absolutes in fly fishing

attracts attention and sparks a fish’s

we can do is let experience guide our

for permit, but certain situations

predatory instincts. With more space

choices. And carry a box full of both

and circumstances may favor one

and distance in play in deeper water

patterns.

40 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT HARRIS

“DROP IN ON MILL HOUSE PODCAST AND CATCH HISTORY IN THE MAKING.” - FLIP PALLOT -

WATCH LISTEN AND LEARN AT MILLHOUSEPODCAST.COM / @MILLHOUSEPODCAST TAIL TAIL FLY FLYFISHING FISHING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 41

by Chico Fernandez

approach, at home. So we had to run

and then appeared again by the

upwind, estimate drift direction, shut

floating driftwood.

A few years back, while running our

the engine off, and start drifting. As

skiff across a basin headed for the

it turned out, we came within easy

Still optimistic about our chances to

next redfish flat, we came upon a

casting range. My friend had rigged a

hook it, I put my rod down on the rear

large tripletail floating, as they often

Clouser, and I had a permit crab. From

deck, waited until we had drifted far

do, just under the surface by a piece

the bow my friend made a good cast,

from the fish, cranked up the engine,

of driftwood.

and the fish immediately followed the

and went around to try another drift.

Clouser. It looked as if the tripletail We had left the trolling motor, which

was going to take it, but it didn’t. The

As we got closer on the second drift,

makes for such an easy and quiet

fish disappeared for a few seconds,

it was obvious that the rear of the

42 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

skiff was going to be a better place to make a good presentation. Being careful not to rock the boat, my friend walked on the gunwale to the back

the rod I realized I had a fish on, and

of high jumps, excellent table fare, and

of the skiff. The skiff was becoming

he was sounding fast. But a direct-

very unpredictable. I love fly fishing for

very close to the structure and the

drive fly reel will not yield line while an

them.

fish—too close really. It was going to

angler is holding the spool and handle.

be a short cast. The tripletail looked a

He broke me off instantly.

bit nervous but did not leave. Again, though, he would not take the Clouser.

Because it has a worldwide distribution, the tripletail goes by

Unbeknownst to me, my beautiful No.

many other common names. On

2 Merkin crab with red-banded rubber

our side of the world it also goes

Finally, as the skiff started to drift

legs had been dangling in the water,

by bouyfish, sleepfish, and black

away from the structure, my friend

close to the transom, almost against

perch. In Cuba, it’s biajaca de mar.

made one last cast, and it was a

the engine, where it came to rest when

In other Spanish speaking countries,

good one. The tripletail showed

I put down my fly rod in a rush a few

dormilona, meaning sleepy one, or

some interest and started to follow

minutes earlier. The tripletail raced

viuda dormilona, meaning sleepy

the Clouser with some signs of

past my friend’s Clouser to eat it, nearly

widow. In Japan it’s called matsudai.

aggressiveness. I was sure we would

making off with my fly rod, too.

get the fish this time.

Shaped a bit like a giant freshwater Behind my back, from the bow

panfish, it has a flat, deep body and

The tripletail followed the fly closer

now, my friend spoke with mocking

very small scales. Its dorsal and anal

and closer to the boat. The fish

authority: “A spectacular jump,” he

fins are long and soft, extending back

increased speed, bypassed the Clouser,

admitted, “but you got to let him run,

to the caudal fin, or tail, giving the

rushed toward the transom, and made

Chico.”

illusion of three tails, hence its name.

a big explosion against the engine as he fed on something. I could not

The tripletail, Lobotes surinamensis,

imagine what the fish saw against

is widely distributed, inhabiting

the engine to eat, but I did see my fly

tropical and subtropical waters across

rod catapult over the rear deck. For a

the globe—from Massachusetts to

unlikely fish I’d ever

moment it seemed to be suspended

Argentina in the western Atlantic,

in the air, then started to fall in the

from the Mediterranean Sea to

guess could jump, but

water, tip first—a perfect dive.

southern Africa in the eastern

I’ve had tripletail jump

Atlantic; they’re also found in the

more than 3 feet out

To me, it is the most

I took a long step, jumped, and landed

Indian Ocean, as well as the western

a belly flop on the back cushion, barely

Pacific, and from Costa Rica to Peru in

of the water. It’s just

grabbing the fly reel, which is all I

the eastern Pacific.

spectacular.

could reach, just before the outfit disappeared in the water. As I lifted

It’s a great gamefish: strong, capable

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 43

Juveniles are often mottled yellow

salinity. Adults can be found in bays,

Captain Alex Zapata, with whom I’ve

and dark brown, and sometimes all

estuaries, the lower part of rivers,

fished quite a bit, tells me he’ll see

yellow, often when trying to resemble

passes, and inlets, as well as reefs

them in the southern flats of the

a floating object. Adults are usually

and under patches of seaweed in blue

Everglades in under 10 inches of water

darker, often dark brown or greenish

water. They can be under or around

in spring and summer. That makes for

yellow with a dull silver underside.

any floating object or debris. They’re

very exciting sight casting.

Some even display a bit of gray. I’ve

also found around shipwrecks, pilings,

seen them floating in off-color water,

jetties, buoys, and more.

where they had a fairly light color,

Besides fishing for them on crab-trap buoys, Captain Rob Muñoz also likes

which made them easier to see in

The tripletail is more often a solitary

to fish for them right after the traps

muddy waters. I’ve seen them in many

fish, but sometimes they can be

are pulled out around May 1. “I find

different color variations. To me, they

found in pairs or small schools. While

when the traps are gone, they don’t

are the Calico Fish. The differences in

fishing the flats in the Everglades

leave,” he says. “Instead, they seem to

appearance are related to the tripletail

for snook and redfish, I’ll sometimes

mill around for a while. And I see them

trying to match the environment;

find areas with tripletails all over, in

floating in deeper water, or way in the shallow flats.”

On one of those days Muñoz talks about, we fished with my son Stephen, and they were all over that flat.

I remember several double hookups. One was invited to dinner that evening.

LOOKING FOR TRIPLETAILS The classic conditions are running the skiff on a calm day in summer to inspect every buoy, trap float, floating object, and marker piling.

An electrical engine is ideal for tripletail fishing, but I’m seldom in a skiff that has one. So it’s about calculating an accurate drift that it’s a camouflage from predators and

singles or small groups. And they are

comes within a good casting distance:

prey. And they do such a good job that

usually hungry. It’s not unusual to get

not too far, yet not so close that they

they are often mistaken for floating

a double hook-up. But even in the best

will spook.

leaves or other debris.

areas to fish for them, they are rarely

They can grow big, too, more than

very abundant. They are not found in

If you can, run on the side that gives

large schools.

you the best sun angle to spot them.

three feet long. The IGFA all-tackle

This little detail can make a big

record is 42 pounds, 5 ounces, taken

They are opportunistic eaters, feeding

difference. And while they are often

in South Africa in 1989.

on a variety of prey, including fish,

right against the floating object or

shrimp, and crabs.

very close to it, other times they may

Their habitat is quite diverse, ranging from brackish inshore waters all the

TRIPLETAIL TIMING

way to the ocean. And they seem

While you can catch them year round,

quite indifferent to a wide range in

you see more during warmer months.

44 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

be several feet away from it. Look closely.

If you see a fish but it goes down,

don’t give up. Wait a few minutes,

He is relentless when there is a

then turn around and set yourself up

chance to catch one, even on windy

for another drift. Given time, they

days.

quite often will come up again, and

BLUEWATER TRIPLETAILS Another place you may not have thought about fishing for them is in blue water under patches of seaweed

you’ll get another shot. But chances

“So yes, calm days are much

or any floating object, the same places

are the fish is going to be a bit

better, but windy days have some

you would look for dolphin. It’s not

suspicious, so try to position the boat

advantages,” Muñoz says. “For one,

unusual to see both species in the

for a slightly longer cast. And try real

the tripletails often look lighter, kind

same area.

hard for a good first cast—good luck

of golden-colored on the often muddy

on that one.

windy days, and that makes them

But in the clear ocean water, you’ll

more visible. And believe me, even in

spook them if you get too close. And

Zapata and Captain Paul Tejera both

the wind, they can be there, and they

it’s even worse if you are fishing out of

prefer fishing them on a rising tide.

feed well. Just set yourself up for a

a big sport fisher. So you have to spot

good drift, with the engine idling, and

them at a longer distance. If you don’t

you can still catch them.”

see them, but the patch of seaweed

“I look closely around the channel markers, mostly behind, and often several feet behind,” Zapata says.

or floating structure looks good to “Also, while I know that poling in the

you, try a few long blind casts. The fly

deeper water is harder, especially on

lands much quieter than the heavy

“With the incoming tide, some of the

windy days, if you can pole, it can be

lures that spin fishermen usually

tripletail that were in the channel will

of great advantage. For one, you can

throw at them. You may be surprised

drift in the flat to feed,” Tejera says. “I

make a better, more quiet approach,

when a big tripletail comes out from

like those conditions. Also, calm days

and you’ll spook less fish, get more

under cover and takes your fly.

are ideal because it’s better visibility

hook-ups. But I also find that since

and I can cover lots of ground in a

you are making very little noise, often

Just make sure they don’t see the

short time, often on my way to a

other tripletail that are around will

boat or become aware of it. If so,

tarpon flat. I leave the engine idling.

pop up, and you’ll end up hooking

even if they stay under the debris,

As long as it’s just idling, it doesn’t

fish you wouldn’t have seen with

they probably will not take your fly.

seem to bother the tripletail.”

the engine running or even idling.

And the more you cast to them, the

Remember, where there is one, there

less chance you’ll have. When that

are probably others around.”

happens, it’s usually best to move on

I have fished with Muñoz for many years, and he is a big fan of tripletails.

to another patch of debris.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 45

Any reel that balances your outfit will have more than enough backing for the job.

For the closer casts of structure fishing, a 9-foot leader will suffice.

Under most conditions in the flats, I like a slightly longer leader, usually 10 or 11 feet. But if you are fishing in less than a foot of water, it’s flat

SIGHTCASTING IN THE FLATS

HANDLE WITH CARE

Fishing for tripletails on floating

When you bring one to the boat, I

combination of these conditions—then

structure is fun and exciting. And

think it’s best to use a net, and if you

I go to 12 feet of leader and use my

granted, it is sight casting. But

are not going to keep the fish for

6-weight. Or at most a 7-weight. It will

casting to them in inches of water is

dinner, keep it in the water while you

make the difference between hooking

a very different experience, and it’s by

get ready to take a photo or remove

fish or spooking fish.

far my favorite. And because it’s an

the hook. If not, you’ll have to handle

open-water fight, with no structure

them by hand. Either way, handle

With the 8- and 9-weight, I use

for the fish to tangle my line or cut

with care. They have sharp teeth, very

16-pound tippet, and with the 6- and

me off during the fight, I can fish

sharp gill flaps by the area around

7-weight I’ll go to 12-pound tippet.

them with my favorite 6-weight. And I

the cheeks, and sharp spines. They

And to overcome any abrasion from

just love that.

can really cut you. I know this from

the teeth or gill plates of the tripletail,

experience.

or the abrasion of a snook that may

First, this is a different challenge. If

calm, or if the water is gin-clear—or a

be around the flats, I’ll use bite tippet

they are in just inches of water, you’ll

TRIPLETAIL TACKLE

have to make a good, accurate long

In the open water of a flat, I prefer

maybe 25 pounds if I’m having

cast. Longer leaders are advisable.

a lighter rod, usually a 7- or even a

problems getting hits because of very

Lighter lines spook fewer fish. And

6-weight. But an 8-weight also works.

clear water, but I’d rather use 30.

while the fish may take the fly right

On structure, however, where you

away, it may follow it for a while

may want to pull hard to get them

SINKING OR SUSPENDING?

before taking it, often close to the

out in the open for a safer fight, then

After years of experience with

boat. Then, especially with a light

perhaps an 8-weight or a 9-weight

tripletail in many parts of their range

fly rod and corresponding lighter

may be a wiser choice.

and with top anglers and guides, I find

tippets—please, don’t tell me you are using 9 feet of 40-pound mono; I don’t consider that fly fishing—the fish can make a very long run, well into your backing, and this is exciting.

Not enough? A tripletail will often jump, occasionally several times. To me, it is the most unlikely fish I’d ever guess could jump, but I’ve had tripletail jump more than 3 feet out of the water. It’s just spectacular. If you have never fished for them in inches of water, you’re in for a treat.

46 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

of 30-pound mono or fluorocarbon—

there are still two schools of thought

cast up current, let the current

If I choose to try a weighted fly, it is

on tripletail flies. It’s partly about

bring the fly to him, as it would do

generally in very clear water, where

personal preference but also about

naturally. Then use a slow strip,

I feel a tripletail is less likely to lose

the area you’re fishing and how you’re

often using tiny bumps. Not too fast.

sight of the fly as it goes down.

fishing for them.

Don’t make it too hard for him to catch up to the fly. If it’s a surface

A few years ago, my old friend Captain

One school of thought prefers a

fly, like a small popper, use very small

Frank Catino mentioned to me the

weighted fly that drops in front of the

pops. Often that little noise does the

idea of using a weighted fly and a

fish and dives, so the fish dives behind

trick and he takes it. But whatever

fast-sinking line for times when a

it and takes it. They are usually using

you do, don’t let him see the boat. If

structure well known for holding

Clousers, weighted shrimp, and crab

he is following the fly for a long time

tripletail is not showing any fish.

patterns.

and is getting too close to the boat,

“Usually, the fish are still there, they

pick up the fly, so he does not see

are just deep, probably in high stages

The other school uses suspended flies,

the boat. Then when he gets back to

of the tide, or during flow tide with no

unweighted or very lightly weighted,

his station, try again.”

current,” he said. “Then a sinking line with a weighted fly will go down a few

even poppers and Muddler-type streamers. The theory is that it gives

When I cast to a tripletail, and many

the fish more time to make up its

other species as well, I like to try and

mind. Besides, it’s very exciting to

place the fly just outside the fish’s

Using a heavily weighted Clouser

see a fish take the fly. I’ve caught a

area of awareness, then strip the fly

or shrimp pattern like the famous

couple on poppers and the foam Hot

until the fish sees it. And I find my

Spawning Shrimp, and a 300- or

Lips pattern, and I’ll tell you it is quite

strip for tripletail is usually slow.

350-grain head, I’ve cast on those structures, and occasionally, but not

an experience to see them—and hear them—slurp a surface fly.

feet to where they may be holding.”

If the fish refuses the fly, after the

often, hooked tripletail. But be careful;

second or third try, I change flies.

I’ve also hooked the structure.

“Especially in muddy water, a fly

And I try to make a significant

that you can see, one that stays on

change. So from big to small,

In blue water, I use a fish or a shrimp

the surface, is best, because with a

from black to chartreuse, from

pattern—no crab patterns because

weighted shrimp or Clouser, the fly

crab pattern to fish pattern, or a

I want to be able to move the fly at

goes down,” Muñoz says. “If the fish

combination of several significant

medium speed if I feel I need to, and

does not eat it right away, the fly

changes. I also like to have two rods

that is not natural for a crab. At least

disappears, and the fish disappears.

rigged with different flies, so the

that’s what I think. I don’t know what

You are done.”

first change doesn’t require any

a tripletail thinks.

rigging. The time saved often makes “I’m often fishing for tarpon when we

the difference between a hook-up

HUNGRY?

bump into a tripletail, and I’ve found

or not.

I don’t mind telling you that of all the fish in the Everglades, the tripletail

that a typical tarpon rabbit strip fly in black or chartreuse works great

Most of the time, my favorite flies

if my favorite to eat. I prefer one

for them,” Tejera says. “If looking

are suspended. I love to see the fish

even to a large mangrove snapper. Its

for them, and especially if visibility

take the fly. A small popper can be

white meat can be cooked in many

is poor, a big shrimp pattern, even a

very exciting, but make sure you

ways; you can’t go wrong. Cuban red

crab pattern, works great for me.”

don’t pop it too loud or the fish will

beans with white rice and ripe fried

be gone. That is one reason I like

plantains is to die for. Just be aware

“I like a small fly, tied on a No. 2 hook,

Captain Steve Huff’s Hot Lips. It pops

that they are tough to fillet. I usually

that stays suspended or sinks slowly,

ever so gently. You can’t make it pop

have to sharpen the knife several

especially in inches of water,” Zapata

too loudly. It is one of my favorite

times. But it’s worth it.

says. “If the fish is in structure, I’ll

surface fly patterns.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 47

Belize Trip Doesn’t Disappoint

by TFFM Staff

Whether seeing familiar faces or greeting new ones, it’s a pleasure to spend time with our subscribers. It’s even better when the fly fishing is as hot as it was April 24-30 for Tail Fly Fishing Magazine’s second annual hosted trip to El Pescador Lodge and Villas on Ambergris Caye, Belize.

48 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 49

Our group consisted of fly anglers with varying levels of experience—from first-timers to anglers with decades on the water—as well as two non-angling spouses. The weather was mostly cooperative, and the bonefish, permit, and tarpon were almost as accommodating as El Pescador’s friendly and attentive staff.

It was a fly fishing hit parade for many in the group, including numerous firsts: John Wendt from South Carolina caught his first permit, Reed Nolte from Connecticut caught his first bonefish, and Freddy Miraballes from Connecticut, who hadn’t fly fished prior to this trip, caught his first tarpon and bonefish.

50 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

John Bracey from Arkansas caught his first tarpon and first permit, and our managing editor, Trey Reid, caught his first tarpon. They fished together most of the week and it only got better, with both getting Grand Slams on Day Three and Reid getting a second Grand Slam on Day Four. They stayed on the permit and ended the trip with a nine-permit day; Reid caught eight permit on the week and Bracey had seven. They agreed that their success was less a result of angling skill and more the result of a ferocious guide, alignment of celestial bodies, and blind luck.

Ron Clark from Florida also had a pair of Grand Slams, the first being of his own invention and not recognized outside of this journal. Clark completed the “RC Slam,” consisting of African pompano, bonefish, and barracuda, on the first day, and then notched his first actual Grand Slam during our last day on the water.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 51

Riding a seemingly endless stream of Belikin, Green Carribean cocktails, and chicken wings, we learned about Myron Garfinkle’s love of surfing and flying, Jan Bruch’s passion for nature, and Hilton Bruch’s ongoing skiff-building project, a process we’ve pleaded for him to share with TFFM readers in the future.

Jackie Bracey and Kasey Reid, John’s and Trey’s respective non-fishing spouses, availed themselves of El Pescador’s incredible amenities, including onsite massage, and also ventured out for yoga and a harrowing but highly humorous spin around San Pedro in a golf cart.

52 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 53

54 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Joe Ballarini, our founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief, was the electrified whirling dervish of energy that he always is, telling stories and incessantly tying flies, working on the magazine on his computer at ridiculous hours of the night, and even plying the waters off the end of the El Pescador dock for tarpon before bedtime.

It was a great week of fishing, but sharing it with friends who are starting to feel like family made it even better.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 55

ON THE

PLATE Text and recipes by Jennifer Matsu Photos by Rob Schumske

56 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Snapper

Whole Fried

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 57

I recently traveled to Turks and Caicos for a

Our guide, Edison, has a long family history of

family vacation in which multiple generations

fly fishing. His grandfather was the first licensed

came together for the first time in years

fly fishing guide on the island. He took us on an

because of the pandemic. It was my first visit

hour-and-a-half run. Going 65 mph across the

to the small British territory that lies southeast

flats, it was like we were flying across the edge

of the Bahamas and north of Haiti and the

of the Earth. When we arrived at our destination

Dominican Republic. In addition to hanging out

in Middle Caicos, we were immediately on fish.

with family, I snuck away with my cousin to fly

My past experiences with bonefish were typical—

fish for bonefish, a trip that we celebrated with

speedy and spooky fish. But these bones were

a dinner of whole fried snapper. Upon returning

different, moving calmly and slowly, much like my

home, I recreated the dish, and I’m sharing it

home-team redfish in Galveston Bay. These fish

below for your dining pleasure.

weren’t fearful, and they appeared completely unbothered. What an absolute privilege to see

A barrier reef shields Grace Bay and protects

fish that weren’t pressured. I watched them

the beach, leaving the sea calm and peaceful

methodically hunt down flies and pounce before

and resulting in pristine water. We spent days

taking their typical long and fast initial run.

snorkeling and floating in the ocean. But it was fly fishing that really excited me. My secret

We didn’t see another boat the entire day—peace

hope was that I would fall deeply in love with

for us and peace for the fish. That evening, we

bonefish—after all, bonefish can take you to

sat down for dinner with our toes in the sand and

some of the prettiest water on the planet—but I

enjoyed a simple whole fried snapper—a perfect

just don’t yet yearn for them like I do permit or

dish for sharing.

tarpon. I’ve courted bonefish in Mexico and the Bahamas and looked forward to my first date with a Caicos bone.

58 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Whole Fried Snapper Ingredients

Directions

2 quarts of cooking oil (peanut oil or

of both sides of each fish and place fish into a glass dish. In a

other high-smoke-point oil)

small bowl, combine the last 10 ingredients to make a paste,

1 whole jalapeño

and rub paste into fish. Let fish marinate for 30 minutes at

¼ tsp adobo chile powder

room temperature or up to 2 hours refrigerated. Add cooking

¼ tsp coriander

oil to a height of approximately 2 inches to a large stock pot

¼ tsp cumin

or Dutch oven. Heat oil to 350 degrees (use a thermometer for

¼ tsp turmeric

best results). Dry fish with paper towels and gently lower one

¼ tsp dried oregano

fish into the hot oil for about 7 minutes, turning over halfway

¼ tsp paprika

through cooking and watching that it doesn’t overly brown.

1 tsp salt

Remove fish to paper towel lined sheet pan.

Two whole red snappers, cleaned

With a sharp knife, make 3 or 4 diagonal slits into the flesh

2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp olive oil

Repeat with second fish. Roast jalapeño in a lightly oiled

1 lime, juiced

cast iron skillet, turning to char all sides. Plate fish with lime wedges and charred jalapeño. Serve with avocado slices, cilantro, and warm tortillas.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 59

Cherry Bounce and Cocktail Cherries

by George Roberts

Cherry Bounce is a Colonial recipe that predates the United States (Martha Washington had her own recipe). In New England’s days of old, hard alcohol was used to preserve fruit. Nothing went to waste in those days, so of course the alcohol was consumed as well.

I first decided to make Cherry Bounce as a novelty. My wife and I had purchased a home on Massachusetts’ South Shore that also predates the United States, a Dutch Colonial built in 1765.

I’m not partial to sweet drinks myself, but I thought it would be interesting to serve guests a drink appropriate to the period.

The result was something along the lines of a cherry cordial or schnapps. I was surprised at how many of our guests actually liked it.

The first Cherry Bounce was made with native cherries, many of which are sour even when 60 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

ripe, so sugar was added to the mixture to soften the tartness.

Contemporary recipes call for white sugar, but I use turbinado sugar, a partially refined brown sugar that retains some of its original molasses and has a subtle caramel flavor. I think turbinado is closer to what was probably available to the average household in Colonial times.

I make my Cherry Bounce with rum, which was a staple in Colonial New England, but you can also use American whiskey— bourbon or rye, or whatever your neighbor might distill in his basement.

Depending on what recipe you read, a variety of spices are added to the mix—cinnamon, mace, clove, etc.—but from experience I can tell you that if you’re heavy-handed with the spice, it can overwhelm the taste. I’ve

found that using a good spiced rum will suffice. I like Sailor Jerry, and Captain Morgan will do, but I’ve become exceptionally fond of Kraken, a fairly inexpensive black rum that, at 94 proof, has something of a bite. Allowed to meld with ripe cherries over a number of months—or years—the flavor will mellow to the point that you might comment, as have a number of those who have tasted it, that Cherry Bounce would be perfect drizzled over vanilla ice cream.

In New England, cherries tend to make their first appearance in supermarkets around July. I typically let the mixture sit for at least three months before I sample. I traditionally take my first taste of a new batch on October 31. When a group of trick-or-treaters comes to the door, there’s candy for the kids and a special treat for the adults.

Cherry Bounce Ingredients 2 lbs fresh ripe cherries, washed, stems removed 750 ml spiced rum 1 cup turbinado sugar

Directions Remove the stems from the cherries—leave the pits in—and wash them in a colander. You can use a number of vessels to steep the cherries in the rum, but for simplicity I prefer a large glass jar with a spigot to directly dispense the final product. Add the cherries, rum, and sugar. Make sure the cherries are completely covered by the rum. Stir the mixture once daily until the sugar is entirely dissolved. It pays to use a vessel with a tight-fitting lid—fruit flies love this stuff. As cherry juices meld with the rum over time, the redness of the liquid will deepen. Use the above proportions to make larger batches to fill larger glass jars.

Cocktail Cherries

Despite my early years as a bartender, I never developed a taste for cocktails, preferring to drink my liquor neat. Only quite recently have I developed a taste for the bourbon Manhattan, which is, according to Gary Regan, author of The Joy of Mixology: “Quite simply, when properly constructed … the finest cocktail on the face of the earth.” No argument here.

The customary garnish for the Manhattan is a cherry and, according to some sources, an orange peel (I prefer my peel with a bit of the pulp left intact). The long-accepted American cocktail cherry garnish—the maraschino cherry—is artificially colored with red dye, packed in high-fructose corn syrup, and looks to me more appropriate atop an ice cream sundae. Luxardo cherries, produced in Italy, are a decided step up, but at over $20 for a 14-ounce jar, they’re absurdly expensive in the opinion of this frugal New Englander.

Sticking a bamboo skewer into my jar of Cherry Bounce was a no-brainer. Completely covered in rum, the cherries stay firm and will keep indefinitely without refrigeration. I pack cherries dedicated for cocktails into Ball mason jars. There’s no real need to add sugar to cocktail cherries, but a couple of tablespoons of turbinado will bring the juice one step closer to a simple syrup, which you can then use to flavor cocktails. Or you can simply drink it (we never waste food on the farm). Needless to say, a jar of handcrafted cocktail cherries makes a great gift for any home bartender.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 61

PUPPY

DRUM Inshore redfish may not be the biggest, but they reward anglers in other ways.

62 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

E. Donnall Thomas Jr. Photos by E. Donnall Thomas Jr. and Lori Thomas

horizon and its intensity will have to

flats has left me lacking confidence in

grow before I will be able to see fish

even my most basic saltwater fly rod

below the waterline, but no matter.

technique, so I strip off several piled

Right now I’m looking for nothing

coils of line and shoot off a cast aimed

The Laguna Madre’s polished surface

but their tails, and conditions could

at nothing. Less than perfect, but it

seems otherworldly as it melts

not be better suited to spotting

will do. I hope.

seamlessly into a cloudless sky with

them.

nary a ripple to mar the illusion of

Now I can make out two human

one vast mirror. A lone gull gliding

The warm salt water brushing

figures far ahead in the distance,

high above the water in search of

against my calves as I wade feels

suspended and ghostly in the invisible

breakfast provides the only sign of

like a welcome embrace from an old

seam between water and sky. Absent

life. Somewhere beyond the low line of

girlfriend. The long Montana winter

any sound of outboard motors, they

sand and scrub behind me, a muted

behind us suddenly feels too distant

can only be my wife, Lori, and our old

orange sun is rising from the Gulf

to be measured in miles or days of

friend and host, Dick Negley. Before I

of Mexico. Both its height above the

travel. An overlong absence from the

can confirm this assumption, I notice

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 63

The seductive sight of a redfish’s spotted tail glistening in the sun somehow becomes more than the sum of its parts.

When it reappears moments later,

My tentative pace could have let the

the lack of defined background makes

fish move on and vanish for good, but

it impossible to determine if it has

beginner’s luck must be on my side.

an anomalous spot of something on

moved from its original location.

the water’s surface an indeterminate

However, I can now make out subtle

Finally confirmed as a redfish, the

distance away toward the mainland.

concentric ripples surrounding it and

tail is glowing orange in the sunlight

It looks like nothing in particular—a

realize that I have just spotted my

by the time I reach casting distance.

leaf, perhaps, or a feather. Then I

first redfish.

Experience with bonefish has taught

remember Dick’s parting advice as

me the importance of determining a

I climbed over his skiff’s gunwale:

Accustomed to spooky bonefish as my

tailing fish’s orientation and direction

“If you see anything on the surface,

primary quarry on the flats, I approach

of travel before casting. After

assume it’s a redfish tail until proven

slowly and cautiously—more so than

calculating what turns out to be a

otherwise.”

necessary, as I will learn over the

correct firing solution, I manage a

course of this morning and many more

good (but not great) cast that leaves

Fair enough. Although remaining

to come. I do not yet know that even

my shrimp imitation several feet in

skeptical, I begin to edge slowly

in dead calm conditions of wind and

front of the fish’s presumptive nose. I

toward this definite but unidentifiable

water, redfish will often tolerate more

twitch the line, the tail vanishes, and

something only to watch it vanish.

disturbance than other flats species.

then nothing happens.

64 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Despite concern that the bead-eyed

I acknowledge that it is impossible for

Lots of recent discussion of the

fly’s water entry may have been noisy

an angler living in Montana and Alaska

species within the fly fishing

enough to put the fish down in such

to become an authority on any subject

community has focused on large,

calm conditions, I continue to strip

involving warm salt water, this time

mature redfish offshore. After seeing

slowly. Then my line hand comes

interval has led to experiences worth

the photos and video clips and talking

up against something solid, more

relating. I hope.

to friends who have pursued these

akin to the bottom than a striking

beasts, I understand why: It’s hard to

fish. Years of steelhead fishing, in which encounters between fly and streambed occur regularly, have taught me a simple axiom: When in doubt, assume the best and strike!

Then line starts peeling through my hand in slow but powerful surges as my first redfish leaves me behind.

Because the details remain so vivid in my memory, the present tense seemed appropriate to my description of this event. But all that took place many years and many redfish ago, and I know a bit more now than I did then. While

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 65

deny the appeal of big fish, especially

and other species from skiffs, canoes,

I was. The Laguna Madre contains

when taken on the surface. Offshore

and various inflatable craft—but other

limitless flats as amenable to wading

redfish are on my bucket list.

factors being equal, I’d rather set out

as my favorite bonefish habitat.

on my own two legs.

But I have always found shallow water

In contrast to the sea trout with

and tidal shorelines more interesting

When redfish are the quarry, there’s

whom they share those waters (which

than open water. Years ago, during

no better place than the Laguna

rank among the largest of their

my introduction to flats fishing for

Madre, the long strip of shallow,

species anywhere), inshore redfish are

bones and the company they keep,

protected inshore water lying between

mostly immature and small, at least

I became addicted to wade fishing,

the Texas mainland and its Gulf

in comparison to those that have

which reminded me pleasantly of

Coast barrier islands. At first glance,

migrated into deeper water. While a

hunting big game with a bow. Nothing

I assumed that the bottom would

6-pound red is plenty of fish on light

wrong with a skiff, mind you, other

be too soft to make wade fishing

tackle, they compensate for their

than the impossibility of taking one

feasible, but I was delighted when

“puppy drum” status in other ways.

along with you to distant locations,

Dick, an old friend from Texas I knew

They are abundant, and action can be

which leaves you dependent on others.

from wingshooting adventures on his

fast and furious in the right place on

I’ve had lots of fun fishing for redfish

turf and mine, showed me how wrong

the right tide. Should you be inclined to keep one for dinner, they make better table fare than their larger kin.

Variety is always possible in the form of sea trout, sheepshead, or occasional large black drum. Shallow water and light bottoms provide excellent conditions for sight fishing even if the fish aren’t tailing.

But when they are, as is often the case at first light, fly fishing for redfish becomes an apex flats-fishing experience. The seductive sight of a redfish’s spotted tail glistening in the sun somehow becomes more than the sum of its parts. Tailing redfish

66 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

remind me of bugling elk in that

I had pursued one such telltale gull

off in that direction. Fortunately,

hunting either one becomes vastly

away from the anchored skiff when I

daughter Nicole was alert enough to

more exciting than it would be if the

noticed a honeybee circling my head.

recognize that something was very

quarry weren’t doing what it’s doing.

I found this unusual because I was

wrong, and she directed the skiff

Anglers familiar with tailing bonefish

hundreds of yards from the nearest

toward me. By the time I flopped

will understand this inscrutable appeal.

dry land and had seldom seen bees

over its gunwale, I had sustained well

this far out over open water. In short

over a hundred stings. If I had been

Salt water is never completely free

order, the solitary bee became 10 bees,

allergic to bee venom, I would have

of hazards, which in these waters

which soon became a swarm.

been dead. Who says fish can’t be a

usually comes in the form of southern

dangerous game?

stingrays, the species that accounts

That’s when a warning light belatedly

for the vast majority of emergency

flashed in my head as I remembered

Birds can be helpful in other ways

room visits to remove an embedded

the Africanized “killer bees” that had

on redfish flats, especially when

barb. It was another form of wildlife

recently invaded South Texas. As if

clouds and wind make it difficult or

that nearly killed me, however, on one

on cue, one bee lit on my thumb and

impossible to see fish. On one such

otherwise enjoyable day of fishing the

stung me, evidently issuing an attack

occasion, visibility had deteriorated

Laguna Madre.

order to its companions. I immediately

so badly that we had started to head

had bees all over me, including my

back to the wharf when Lori spotted

By that time, I had learned that a

eyes, nose, and ears. The water was

a vortex of birds circling wildly over

solitary gull picking at food while

too shallow for total submersion. I

the water. To avoid spooking them,

swimming in a straight line is almost

took a bearing on the skiff, closed my

we stopped the skiff well short of

always on top of a feeding redfish.

eyes as tightly as possible, and took

the activity and began our approach

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 67

on foot. Each of us received an

much. On one canoe expedition into

wallowing hog than anything possible

instantaneous strike when our flies hit

the Everglades, snook, tarpon, and

to catch on a fly. “That’s a redfish,”

the edge of the nervous water. When

trout left me just one redfish short of

Russell assured me. “They’ll be chasing

my weighted crab pattern produced

the Backcountry Slam, but damned

little crabs right up the grass. Cast at

a redfish and Lori’s lighter bonefish

if I could catch one despite blowing

the sound, and if you get this in the

fly came home in a sea trout’s jaw,

several reasonable shots.

right place, you’ll hook a fish.”

were feeding at different levels in the

The bottom conditions in most of

The fly he handed me didn’t look all

water column. Trading rods back and

these locations required fishing from

that much like a crab, but it did sport

forth, we each successfully targeted

a boat. While I enjoyed the variety of

an industrial-strength weed guard.

whichever fish we felt like catching

habitat, I did miss the easy wading

When Russell assured me that the

until the party finally broke up.

back on the South Texas shoreline.

fish would not be spooky and that we

we realized that the two species

However, one excursion in northern

could approach them at will, I finished

At some point in a piece like this, a

Florida introduced me to some of the

rigging up and set off into the foliage

discussion of fly patterns has become

most unusual wade fishing I have

toward the nearest sound of splashing

all but obligatory. The good news

encountered anywhere.

water while Lori and Russell headed

is simple, at least for those whose

in the other direction. Twenty yards

idea of a perfect fishing trip doesn’t

After meeting Russell Tharin through

from the commotion, I got off a

involve matching an insect hatch

mutual friends in the bowhunting

decent cast that left loops of fly line

on a spring creek: It doesn’t matter.

community, I quickly recognized him

festooned across the waist-high grass.

Redfish in shallow water are almost

as both a vast source of knowledge

Unable to determine that my fly had

always actively feeding on something

regarding saltwater fly fishing and

even hit the water, I made a short

and will hit almost anything presented

one of the most accomplished casters

strip with my line hand, which at least

accurately. Refusals are rare as long as

with whom I have ever fished. As

confirmed that the weed guard was

the cast hasn’t spooked the fish, and

an add-on to a spring bowhunt for

working effectively. My second twitch

I’ve caught redfish on virtually every

hogs and turkeys nearby, Lori and I

came up solidly against something

pattern in my saltwater collection,

arranged to meet him near the mouth

clearly more substantial than

including surface poppers.

of the St. Johns River during a period

spartina. Then my line was racing

of high spring tides. He explained that

away toward the river as I floundered

While most of my redfish experience

redfish would be following spawning

along in awkward pursuit.

has taken place on the Texas Gulf

crabs up into the flooded spartina

Coast, I have also successfully fished

grass, but when we stopped paddling

Despite the ensuing chaos as I paused

for them around Florida and into

and stepped out of the canoe, I still

frequently to free my line from the

southern Georgia. (Their range

couldn’t quite believe what he was

grass, I eventually caught up with

extends much farther north, but since

suggesting that we do.

the 6-pound redfish and landed it

warm weather is such an important

in open water. Lori and I then spent

part of their appeal for me, I haven’t

Fishing the spartina, it turns out,

the remaining two hours of daylight

pursued them above that latitude.)

meant just that. The growth was

stalking noises, laying fly line across

The variation in habitat found

so dense in the area he pointed me

the foliage, and catching redfish.

throughout this range has taught

toward that I couldn’t even see the

I easily could have spent an entire

me how adaptable redfish can be

water. In response to my skeptical

day thus engaged if only nature

to different environments including

look, Russell simply raised a hand in

had allowed it. Impending darkness

backcountry mangrove wilderness

a request for silence and pointed to

wasn’t the only limiting factor. We

in southern Florida, expansive flats

something deep in the sea of grass.

had arrived at the peak of the flood,

containing multiple varieties of fish

and as the tide dropped the sloshing

in the Indian River Lagoon, and oyster

“Hear that?” he asked. I did, sort

stopped as fish retreated back into

beds near Jacksonville. Sometimes the

of, although the sloshing I finally

the river. When we regrouped back

fish came easily, at other times not so

identified sounded more like a

at the canoe, Russell explained that

68 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

there are only a few times during the

wasn’t the only time I relied on my

The strike came with such surprising

tide cycle when the water rises high

ears to help me get flies in front of

speed that I nearly missed it. Larger

enough to bring the fish that far up

them.

than the usual puppy drum, the

into the grass.

double-digit fish did just what I needed One lazy summer day, Lori and I were

it to do when it ran straight back down

I felt profoundly lucky to have been

fishing the edge of a channel running

the drain, under the skiff, and out into

there for one of them.

through a large system of tide flats

the open channel, where it proved

near the Florida/Georgia line. Since

easy to land. After releasing it, we

While sight casting is a well-

the bottom was too soft and muddy

continued along the bank and stopped

established technique for taking a

to wade, we were drifting with the

to listen and cast up three more

variety of saltwater gamefish, my

tide in a friend’s skiff. Water visibility

drains, each of which produced a nice

experience with “sound casting” has

was poor, and the current was too

fish. If I hadn’t heard that first one

been limited to reds. That wild and

deep for tailing fish. Consequently, we

wallowing like a hippo, the afternoon

crazy evening in the spartina grass

were limited to casting at structure

likely would have been a bust.

along the channel’s grassy bank, hoping to spot a wake or get lucky like

One of these days, I’m going to get

the proverbial blind hog and stumble

organized, head to Louisiana, engage

across an acorn.

one of the guides whom friends have recommended, go offshore, and try

As we passed the mouth of a narrow

to catch big redfish. To deny the

tidal drain, I heard a familiar sound

appeal of such a game plan would be

arising from somewhere out of sight

churlish. In the meantime, however, I’ll

near the drain’s first bend upstream.

return to friends in Florida and Texas,

The passage was too narrow to admit

do some wading, and hope to find

the skiff, and when Lori bailed out

redfish tailing, sloshing, or otherwise

in a game attempt to wade, she

revealing their presence. They may

foundered so deeply that I had to lean

indeed be “puppies,” but I love the

over the gunwale and pull to extract

inshore waters they inhabit and

her. Out of better options, I sent a

can’t think of a more inviting calling

long cast up the drain to the bend and

card than the sight of a redfish tail

hoped for the best.

glistening in the sun.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 69

70 TAIL FLY FISHING FISHING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

By Jesse Males

The Happy Crab is a great realistic crab fly that can be tied in a variety of color combinations and used to target a variety of species like redfish, bonefish, permit, golden trevally, and triggerfish. In this tutorial we will tie it in a color pattern commonly fished over sand for bonefish.

Materials:

White thread 210 Denier Gamakatsu SL11-3H #4 Orange Arctic fox tail hair Pearl Krystal Flash Black or Orange epoxy eyes Medium pearl Cactus Chenille EP Claws EP Foxy Brushes blue/black and tan Blue and white Crazy Legs

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 71

72 TAIL FLY FISHING FISHING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

Step 1: Lay down a solid thread base.

Step 2: Secure lead eyes to the top of the hook shank. The size of the lead eyes will vary depending on the water depth you plan to fish. For fish that prefer the fly to be directly on the bottom, it’s best to err on the heavy side.

Step 3: Tie in a pinch of orange Arctic fox tail hair.

Step 4: Trim the Arctic fox hair so that just a small hot spot remains.

Step 5: Tie in two short strands of Pearl Krystal Flash.

Step 6: Secure a black epoxy eye to each side of the hot spot.

Step 7: Tie in one end of medium pearl Cactus Chenille.

Step 8: Palmer the Cactus Chenille around the hook shank so that you create a ball of chenille right at the base of the fly, and then tie it off and trim. This typically takes 3 to 4 wraps.

Step 9: Tie in one EP Claw to one side of the hook shank.

Step 10: Tie in another EP Claw to the opposite side of the shank.

Step 11: Secure the end of a 1.5-inch wide sand-colored Foxy Brush to the fly.

Step 12: Palmer the Foxy Brush around the hook shank 4 to 5 times and tie it off. You want to make sure not to use too much of this material, as air will get trapped in it and prevent the fly from sinking; you want just enough to build the body and no more.

Step 13: Secure the end of a 1.5-inch wide blue/black-colored Foxy Brush to the fly.

Step 14: Palmer the Foxy Brush around the hook shank 4 to 5 times and secure it between the lead eyes and the hook eye.

TAIL TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 73

Step 15: Trim the excess Foxy Brush and build up the head of the fly.

Step 16: Trim the bottom of the fly flat.

Step 17: Trim the top of the fly flat, and slightly trim the sides tapering backward.

Step 18: Tie in two legs on one side of the fly, securing them between the lead eyes and the hook eye.

Step 19: Fold the other two legs over and secure them on the opposite side of the fly.

Step 20: Trim the rubber legs to the desired length. (I prefer them short for this fly.)

Step 21: Cover the thread with UV Gel and cure it.

Check out @backwaterflyfishing on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more great fly tying and fly fishing media.

74 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Benny Blanco, renowned conservationist, guide, & Orvis ambassador, with his hands on the manual transmission of his client's destiny. Everglades National Park, FL.

HOW TO ECLIPSE THE SUN WITH A UPF RATING OF 50+ EVEN WHEN WET, PRO SUN SYSTEMS BLOCK 98% OF HARMFUL RAYS 100% OF THE TIME In real-world flats scenarios, you're just as likely to be in the water as you are standing on a poling platform well above it, so we've built the PRO Sun Systems with the industry's highest UPF 50+ rating to protect against constant sunburn even when wet.

On the flats and in the skiff, damp gear also chafes and chafed skin ruins days, so our quick-dry PRO Sun Systems lift moisture out and away from your skin.

Premium gear systems designed around legendary technologies.

Learn more at orvis.com/pro

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 75

Punta Allen, Permit, and El Palometero

by TFFM Staff

ostensibly to bounce over the

remote fishing village with a vigorous

potholes, habitually swerving and

fly fishing culture.

Punta Allen, Mexico, the gateway to

dodging, their passengers jerking

Ascension Bay, lies at the end of a

and bobbing like rag dolls in the

And for participants in the 2022 El

ragged unpaved road. Riddled with

hands of hyperactive children.

Palometero tournament, there was the added reward of giving back to

potholes and often impassable for days after foul weather, the road

The best bet might be hitching a

the community and people who make

alternately runs along the Caribbean

ride on a panga through the lagoon

it possible for anglers from around

coast and through dense jungle

system and bay on the leeward side

the globe to pursue their fly fishing

on the eastern edge of the Sian

of the long, narrow peninsula.

dreams on Ascension Bay.

protected natural area and UNESCO

But just as water always finds its

The tournament took place May

World Heritage site. The drive south

way to the lowest point, serious fly

12-14 on Ascension Bay out of Punta

from Tulum typically takes about two

anglers find their way to Punta Allen

Allen, the “Permit Capital of the

hours, but if you’ve rented a car from

to fish Ascension Bay.

World,” where Italian sculptor Alberto

Ka’an Biosphere, a 1.3 million-acre

Coppini’s stainless steel permit

one of the Cancun agencies, don’t even think about telling them you’re

Many rewards lie at the end of this

statue serves as a shining beacon

driving their car there.

particular journey. Innumerable

to permit addicts that’s as bright as

miles of pristine flats and mangrove

the Punta Allen lighthouse. The 2022

A taxi or shuttle might be worse.

shorelines. Some of the planet’s

El Palometero brought together 28

Drivers employ a strategy of driving

most prolific waters for bonefish,

anglers from around the world to raise

faster than conditions call for,

permit, tarpon, and snook. A small,

money for the town while fly fishing

76 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 77

for prizes and bragging rights. The

behind a common goal of showcasing

purpose was supporting Punta Allen’s

their community to visiting fly

residents through infrastructure

anglers, creating awareness of the

projects, including a new community

town’s needs, and raising funds for

children’s playground and a covered

infrastructure improvements that

pavilion for town events.

will benefit local residents.

Walt Durkin of Tampa, Florida,

Joseph Ballarini, editor-in-chief and

president of the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing

publisher of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine,

Club, was crowned El Palometero

got behind the event and provided

champion after catching five permit

international exposure and connections

over three days. He took home a

to many industry resources, spawning

bronze trophy sculpted by Coppini,

support in the form of both financial

custom fly fishing gear, and the

and logistical assets.

coveted white satin lucha libre cape.

Walt’s guide won a new Stiffy push pole

Many members of Punta Allen’s fly

and sunglasses from RCI Optics.

fishing community worked together to contribute aid and counsel to El

“My guide, Alex, found us a lot of fish,

Palometero. Victor Barrera of Victor’s

and that was our key,” said Durkin,

Fly Fishing Club (victorsflyfishingclub.

who plans to return next year to

com) assisted with boats and guides.

defend his title. “He was also good at

Rubi León and Moises Cordero of

sighting fish and giving me direction.

Casa Viejo Chac (casaviejochac.

We worked well as a team, which was

com) supplied lodging and guides

also important. I thought I had as

as well as two banquets at their

good a chance as everyone else and

family’s beachfront restaurant.

just got lucky.”

Tiziano Rizzotto and Pascale LeBlanc of the Punta Allen Fishing Club

Derived from palometa, the Spanish

(puntaallenfishingclub.com), fixtures

word for permit, a palometero is

in Punta Allen for decades, provided

someone dedicated to catching permit.

lodging and guides; Rizzotto also

It’s a title often applied to guides

kept the tournament organized by

who’ve shown deep understanding of

coordinating logistics among guides,

the species and dedicated themselves

boats, lodges, and participants.

to pursuing permit while sharing their

Daniel Marquez of Ascension Bay

experience, culture, and way of life with

Lodge (ascensionbaylodge.com), a

visiting anglers.

Texas native who’s lived in Punta Allen for eight years, provided

El Palometero has raised about

lodging and guides and assisted with

$20,000 for the community. The

complicated logistics.

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is

78 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

dedicated to empowering remote

El Palometero also benefited from

fishing communities around the

the support and physical presence of

world to host their own fundraising

fly fishing industry luminaries Chico

events to improve quality of life. The

Fernandez, IGFA Hall of Famer and

2022 El Palometero also united Punta

saltwater fly fishing pioneer, and Tim

Allen’s fly fishing lodges, restaurants,

Borski, a celebrated fly designer and

guides, and community leaders

artist. Fernandez shared stories with

tournament participants every night,

also donated their time and artistic

founded by Rizzotto, LeBlanc, and

regaling the room with tales from

talents to support the cause.

Puglisi in 2014. That tournament

his more than 60 years of fly fishing.

brought Coppini’s permit statue to

Borski mentored an angler to his first

Every fly fishing lodge in Punta

Punta Allen in 2015 and continued

permit on fly and also caught a blue

Allen has been invited to participate

annually until 2018. After a three-

tarpon.

in El Palometero, so tournament

year hiatus, it returned this year as

organizers say next year’s event

the rebranded El Palometero.

Tail Fly Fishing Magazine set a

is on track to surpass the 2022

record that had nothing to do

El Palometero, as well as its

“Of course, the tournament wouldn’t

with fishing: Five members of the

predecessor, the Ascension Bay

have been a success without the

editorial staff were in the same

Permit Tournament, which was

participants themselves,” Ballarini

place at the same time. Ballarini was joined by managing editor Trey Reid, food editor Jennifer Matsu, gear editor Andrew Ebert, and the aforementioned Fernandez, the magazine’s consulting editor.

Generous sponsors played an integral part in the tournament’s success as an event and as a fundraiser for the community: Tito’s Vodka, Thomas & Thomas, Enrico Puglisi Flies, Simms, Orvis, 12 WT, RCI Optics, Nautilus Reels, Cubalaya Outfitters, Patagonia, and Duck Camp. Artists Coppini, Borski, and David Danforth

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 79

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 81

said. “They showed up and took part in something very special, but they also bought raffle tickets and auction items to help us achieve the goal of raising money to improve the quality of life in this special community that’s unlike any place on Earth.”

Punta Allen proved its singularity from start to finish during El Palometero. As the opening party was kicking off at Restaurante Vigia Grande, a permit tailed in the surf just beyond the open windows overlooking the Caribbean. Three days of fishing concluded with another party in the town park, where scores of Punta Allen’s children smashed piñatas in the image of El Palometero himself, their smiling faces a joyful reminder of the purpose of this event.

“I encourage our readers to get involved one way or another in this effort, whether that’s participating in next year’s tournament or donating to the cause in other ways,” Ballarini said. “I also hope our readers will support the companies that support our fly fishing community and El Palometero. If you see their ads in our magazine or their logos on the El Palometero shirt, then you know they’re active in our community and our outreach programs. We also hope even more of Punta Allen’s lodges will join us next year for this important and entertaining event that’s doing so many good things for the local community.”

Progress updates on community projects funded through El Palometero will be published in future issues of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine and at elpalometero.com.

82 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 83

ARE YOU READY FOR THE MONEY CA$T?

by Jim Solomon Photos by Al Quattrocchi and Jorge Salas

84 TAIL FLY FISHING FISHING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

Staying calm and focused when a

Casting under pressure is the same

Millman. Needing a 9.4 for California

tarpon or permit is within casting

as competitive sports. As a collegiate

to secure the victory, Millman turned

distance is a tough task for most of

gymnast, I had the opportunity to

to his coach while awaiting his turn,

us. Hands and knees start shaking,

know one of the great competitive

“Don’t worry, Coach. I’ll get it.” With

breathing becomes faint, and often

gymnasts, Dan Millman, who

total focus and confidence, Millman

the cast dumps short of its intended

recovered from a shattered leg

performed a spectacular routine

target. You just missed that one

caused by a motorcycle accident

and scored a 9.4 to give the team

chance to catch a trophy, the sole

to help Cal-Berkeley win the 1968

championship to Cal.

chance to hook up to a difficult fish.

NCAA championship. With perennial

In other words, you didn’t have the

powerhouse Southern Illinois leading

physical and mental skills to make

by 1.3 points going into the final

what we call the “Money Cast.”

high bar event, it came down to

TAIL TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 85

The example of Millman’s intense training and preparation to overcome adversity should be an inspiration

$tep 1: Educate Yourself

ability to correct them yourself when your instructor is not around.

Understanding breeds confidence.

to all of us anglers for preparing

A lot of casting anxiety is created by

ourselves to mentally and physically

a lack of understanding. You really

make that one cast to a fish of a

need to learn the fundamentals

lifetime. I like to think of it as being

of the cast. Understanding stroke

“in the zone.” From the conscious

length, slack, stopping the rod, proper

mind into the subconscious, it’s a

acceleration, and rod tip path during

Many anglers do not practice much,

cast where your muscle memory

the cast are critical. Mel Krieger’s

and when they do, it usually is not

takes over and your mind is totally

book The Essence of Fly Casting is

with the right rod, line, leader, and fly

focused on the presentation. There

one of the best books I have read

required for their destination species.

is no self-doubt, no anxiety; pressure

about the fundamentals. You also can

And they usually practice only on

is on simmer. I believe the following

find a good instructor and put in the

days when there’s no wind, which is

steps are critical to placing oneself

time to learn the right techniques—

usually contrary to the environment

“in the zone.”

to understand mistakes and the

of their destination. If you are going

86 TAIL FLY FISHING FISHING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

$tep 2: Practice the Right Way

to target permit, get a 9-weight

proper techniques for these casts.

Learn how to cast tight loops into

rod with the right fly line, a 12-foot

You don’t want to ingrain bad habits.

the wind with good line speed. Again,

leader, a weighted permit fly (do

a good instructor will help you with

not cut off the hook; make sure the

The most important cast to practice

these exercises.

hook point is bent up into the hook

is the basic pickup and laydown

shaft for safety), and always make

cast from 15 feet to 40 feet with

I also like to practice blindfolded

sure you are wearing protective eye

a change of direction. Go to a local

with a friend calling out distance

wear and a hat. Pick a windy day (15

casting pond or any calm body of

and direction of a target based on

mph or higher wind) and go to your

water to practice this cast. Learn

the clock. This form of practice is

local park. Once at the park, look for

how to pick up and lay down the cast

extreme but makes you feel the

random targets—leaves are great.

softly when there’s no wind. You need

timing and line management of the

Force yourself to “cast around the

to learn to pick up the line off of the

cast. Graig Nettles, famed Yankee

clock,” which will require you to learn

water before making the back cast

third baseman, had his coach crush

an off-shoulder cast, a Belgian cast,

versus ripping the line and spooking

line drives down the third-base line so

and a reverse cast. You will need a

fish. I like to use an underhanded

he could practice his game-winning

good instructor to teach you the

flip cast that presents the fly softly.

outstretched catch—a great example

TAIL TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 87

Maloney likes to think of catching a fish as a “pleasant nuisance.” of extreme practice. My coach always

you are not standing on the line,

they are destined to lose. You need a

said that the big meets are won

check wind direction, make sure your

balanced self-image. Making a great

in the gym with the right kind of

hat is on tight, and the line is not

cast and being rewarded with a fine

practice.

wrapped around your reel butt. Focus

fish breaks the ice and puts you more

your mind on the environment and

into the zone.

Great athletes practice mental

anticipate what changes you may

visualization, and you should as well.

have to adapt to. And for God’s sake,

When you combine the

Spend time on your sofa visualizing

breathe! We all forget to do this.

understanding of casting

the different casts you would need to

Take a deep breath, exhale, and then

fundamentals with practicing

perform with the wind at your back,

make the cast. The nemesis of most

correctly, a solid process, and a

in your face, and against your casting

casts under pressure is rushing the

balanced self-image, you will have

shoulder. Practicing the right way

forward cast. Breathing will slow you

a much better chance of making

develops a good “casting toolbox” and

down and remind the body to relax.

that cast of a lifetime and landing

inspires confidence. Learn to love the

Musicians like to say, “Lay it on the

a trophy. But also remember that

process of practicing. You don’t want

backside. Don’t rush the beat!” This

there’s always a chance that the fish

to be up on the bow questioning

should be your game plan. Having a

of a lifetime may not be interested—

yourself because you’re unprepared.

process breeds success.

regardless of your great cast. Still,

You want to be a rote caster whose muscle memory takes the reins so that your mind is on the target—not on your inadequacies.

$tep 4: The SelfImage Game

there’s always that eternal hope that will give you another shot.

Jim Solomon lives in Los Angeles.

We all blow casts. We all make

He is a certified Master Casting

mistakes. None of us is immune

Instructor through Fly Fishers

because we’re all human. But

International, an avid angler, and

it’s important to learn from our

teaches casting techniques through

mistakes. Putting too much

a program called The Fly Zone. He

emphasis on the catching, I believe,

suggests the following books: With

Pro golfers have an ingrained process.

leads to failure more often than not.

Winning in Mind by Lanny Bassham

They visualize the shot, align to the

The great casting instructor Michael

and The Essence of Fly Casting by

target, focus on the ball, waggle a

Maloney likes to think of catching a

Mel Krieger.

bit, breathe, and then swing. Casting

fish as a “pleasant nuisance.” Michael

is the same. Whatever process you

is more interested in his casting

use to prepare for the cast, make

presentation than the catching,

sure you do not deviate. The process

which results in a lot of fish landed.

$tep 3: Develop a Process for the Money Cast

forces your mind into the moment and away from anxiety. Check that

If your self-image is so wrapped up

you have the right amount of line

in the catching, chances are you will

outside of the rod tip to load the

fail. If a pro athlete is thinking only

rod, make sure coils are proper and

of winning instead of the process,

88 TAIL FLY FISHING FISHING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

Last Man of the Salt

by Erin Woodward

Mortality stains hands mahogany red, Calloused mind, tarnished soul.

Death has ushered old friends to places unforeseen that I may never know.

Faded photographs stare at cobweb-laced corners, encumbered from my dreams.

I long for where the mangroves sway and orchids bloom, phthalo sky and skiff-deck dew, to the place my shadow bends, foregoing salt and wave.

Solace found in final cast recompense my sins alas.

Erin Woodward is an outdoor writer and poet living among the rolling hills of America’s heartland with his wife and three children. His work has appeared in Gun Dog, Project Upland, Free Range American, and Field Ethos. He can be followed on Instagram: @pursuit_nature.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 89

Sustainable Striped Bass I love to fly fish for striped bass just

He also grows striped bass in clean

This amazing fish farm operation

as much as I love to eat them. They

saltwater pens over deepwater

was originally started by Ito, Eric

are great gamefish and amazing

currents off Ensenada, Mexico. The

Pedersen, and an Icelandic group of

table fare, especially when they are

warmer southern Pacific Ocean

investors in 2005 after trying to farm

prepared correctly and are in the 4- to

temperatures, ranging between

yellowtail, halibut, and white sea

6-pound range.

55 and 73 degrees, allow these

bass. When they discovered striped

fish to grow quickly. Most fish are

bass were their best choice, they

I recently made friends with Rex Ito, a

harvested at the perfect eating

began developing this enterprise in

Californian and marine biologist who

size from 4 to 6 pounds. Valued

2009. Their operation currently yields

specializes in aquaculture and has

by high-end sushi restaurants and

around 4,000 tons of bass grown in

pioneered sustainable fish-farming

fine-dining establishments, the fish

more than 60 pens.

practices, from shrimp farming in

are ice-packed and shipped fresh to

Ecuador to growing giant bluefin

customers within 24 to 48 hours of

The quality, freshness, and taste

tuna in floating fish pens off Mexico’s

ordering.

of these fish compare to nothing I

pristine waters.

90 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

have ever tasted. They have a clean,

Prepared by Chef Colin Sako Photography by Titano Cruz Text by Al Quattrocchi

crisp, white flesh that melts on your

operation stems from it being the

that champion sustainable seafood

tongue. Their beautiful palette comes

first sustainable farm to grow

products.

from what they are fed and how they

striped bass from eggs to maturity in

are harvested. Most wild stripers feed

saltwater pens.

on oily prey like menhaden, herring,

For these recipes, Sako cleaned, scaled, and fileted the striper into

and sardines. These farmed stripers

The striped bass featured here is the

two pieces. He prepared each filet

are fed all-natural fish proteins

exact sustainable product provided by

separately, one as sashimi and the

made from fish trimmings with no

Shima Suzuki, which is a brand of Ito’s

other in the traditional Chinese

antibiotics that come directly from

parent company, Prime Time Seafood.

steamed method. This second

British Columbia. When they are

approach is simple to do at home and

harvested, they are dispatched using

Another good friend, Chef Colin Sako,

one of my favorite ways to eat striped

the Japanese method called Ike Jime,

has prepared the stripers in two ways.

bass.

which keeps these fish fresh longer

An avid fly angler, Sako fishes all over

with no acid buildup in their flesh. Ito

the world. He and Ito consult with

says the success of this fish farming

numerous high-profile companies

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 91

ASIAN HOUSEWIFE STYLE STEAMED FISH INGREDIENTS 8 oz. favorite white fish, approximately 1 to 1½ inches thick 1 cup green onions, cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces 1 cup cilantro tops

Set up steamer with enough water to steam fish for 15 to 20 minutes. Season fish generously with salt and pepper. Add leftover ginger rinds, green onion bottoms, and cilantro stems into the steamer and lay fish on top. Cover steamer and turn heat on high.

As soon as steam comes out of the steamer, set timer for 11 minutes. After timer goes off, remove from heat. Do not lift cover.

Heat sesame oil in small pot until it reaches the smoking point and remove from heat.

½ cup fresh ginger, julienned (or use a microplane)

Quickly plate fish and cover generously with ginger,

2 cloves garlic, minced (or use a microplane)

green onions, cilantro, and garlic. Pour hot sesame

½ cup sesame oil

oil all over, add soy sauce over the top, and serve.

½ cup soy sauce sea salt to taste freshly ground black pepper to taste steamer large enough for fish 92 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

Notes: Be careful when drizzling hot oil, as it may spatter. Any fish may be used in this recipe. Serve with steamed rice.

SESAME AND SHISHO SASHIMI INGREDIENTS 8 oz. favorite sashimi-quality fish, sliced as thinly as possible 12 pieces fresh shiso leaves, cut chiffonade, as thinly as possible ½ cup fresh toasted sesame seeds ½ tablespoon quality sea salt 1 lemon

Slice and arrange sashimi on a platter. Grind sea salt and sesame seeds together with mortar and pestle. Sprinkle generously over sashimi. Add shiso leaves. Finish by microplaning lemon zest over sashimi.

Add a mixed green salad for a nice lunch. This meal pairs well with white burgundy, champagne, or French rosé.

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 93

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CONNECTED WITH FISH AGAIN…

PHOTOS: @JESS MCGLOTHLIN MEDIA

WITH FLATS AGAIN… WITH FRIENDS AGAIN… WITH FAMILY AGAIN… WITH FUN AGAIN!

WE’RE OPEN AND MISSING YOU! GET CONNECTED AT EL PESCADOR

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TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 97

98 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE 99

FLY FISHING MAGAZINE

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