Jan 3rd January 3
BRRRR!
We have just been hit by a major cold front, with 30kt winds, highs in the 50’s and night temps in the 40’s. It does not get much colder than this. Needless to say the fishing has shut down. Hell it’s so cold, it almost makes the fishing of just a few days ago seem like a mirage.
Before this front, our weather had been spectacular. Blue skies, E or SE winds, and warm humid air; perfect conditions for winter time permit fishing. I would love to say I had been out there wearing them out, but that would be an untruth. I, like most everyone else, spent the last half of December entertaining out of town family members and enjoying the holiday season. Sometimes it is nice to have a little time off the water.
Still, I was very excited to get back on the water, and Rob Clark from CA gave me the perfect excuse. We fished two days, on the 30 and 31st, and enjoyed spectacular weather, and good fishing. We spent the 30th targeting permit. A falling tide on the Gulf gave us some early shots at backing permit, but a long run to the west of Key West gave us fish. Here we fished the last of the flood thru the fall. With the exception of a slow couple of hours around mid-day (hey I hadn’t fished in awhile) we were into fish all day. The highlight of the day, a 10lb fish that chased down an aggressively stripped merkin knock-off, was Rob’s first permit on fly. We finished the day with a 6lb bonefish and numerous shots at hard-tailing permit.
Not to be outdone that day, Drew and his client, Court Ramsay of Lafayette, Louisiana, caught a pig of a bone in the backcountry. The broad shouldered fish made the 12lb mark easily.
The last day of 2007 greated Rob and I with 77 degree air temps and slick calm conditions. I couldn’t help myself, I had to go tarpon fishing. At our first two stops , we were greated with numerous rolling tarpon. Even better, these were big fish (60-100+). While many single were rolling around, we only targeted the schools, some of which held 50 or more fish. Unfortunately, luck was not on our side. We came tight to three fish, but none managed to stay on for more than a moment.
By 10:30 the wind kicked up a touch, the sun came out, and the conditions were perfect. Again, I couldn’t help myself. We fished six areas for laid up fish, and found them in three. With the blue skies and laid-up fatties, it felt like April.
We finished off our day targeting tailers. While not as crazy as the night before, there were enough to get excited about. By the end of the day, we still hadn’t managed to get a fish in the boat. (Sorry Rob, a Lane Snapper doesn’t count). Still, there aren’t many better ways to go fishless than this.
Happy New Year All. I hope we can share a boat sometime.
John