AZHunter
Iowa Boy At Heart
Despite Hurricane Alex (then a tropical storm), we were able to have a little bit of success on last week's fishing trip in Cancun. Apparently, the week before we got there was amazing and bonefish were all over the flats. The storm had everything very choppy and the winds weren't favorable for a try at bonefish and permit, so we were "forced" to go after tarpon and snook. Our guide found some good, fairly secluded coves/lagoons in the mangrove islands. Right off the bat, we had a nice tarpon (about 25 lbs by the guides guess) in front of the boat, but, also right off the bat, my lack of casting my 9-wt fly rod for over 6 years showed. After some good refresher lessons from my guide, I got back into the groove and was able to put some good line out. As we were cruising along the mangroves, I saw a snook take my fly. I quickly found out that fly fishing for trout and fly fishing for snook (other salt water species, too, for that matter), are nowhere near the same. You're not supposed to pull the rod up on the hook set (as part of the hook set). Strip setting is the key and you have to keep the rod tip down. I would loved to have known that before the snook disappeared. A short time later, we found a small pod of tarpon, about 10-15 lbs each. We maneuvered the boat around to where I could cast to them (with my limited technical ability) and after a few adjustments, I watched one of them take my fly (what a cool thing to see)! I did a quick strip set, which was followed by the guide shouting "set the hook, set the hook, set the hook!!", which was followed by me shouting "I got him!", which was followed by the tarpon jumping and throwing the hook! I aslo noticed I lifted my rod tip in true trout fisherman fashion again! :thrwrck:The guide was bummed, but I was still thrilled to see all that transpire in front of me. A short pep talk by the guide revealed that with a tarpon's bony mouth, you have to strip set 5 or 6 times...and keep the rod tip down.
Shortly after that, we took off across some deeper water to another mangrove island, but not before a run through some of the flats so my wife could do some spin fishing for baracuda or what not. After some quick tips from the guide and 3 misses, Minnie finally hooked up. I don't care whose rod it is, I love the sound of line peeling off of a reel. After a quick drag adjustment and ~ 15 minute fight, Minnie landed a huge baracuda. I'm guessing somewhere in the ballpark of 20 pounds...and very toothy! It was great to watch her fight that fish on light saltwater tackle and she had a blast.
The mangrove island did not produce anything so we headed back across the open water, which was not as calm as it was earlier since the winds picked up. We were going against 2-3 foot waves in a 21 foot flats boat. Somewhere about halfway across, the guide says "excuse me, can you help me bail water". I turned around and it was kind of scary seeing that much water and watching it come over the transom (Very high pucker factor). We got enough water bailed out to make it to calm water and then spent the next 20 mintues cleaning out the rest of the water. We then headed over to another mangrove island and hunger finally set in so we had a quick lunch in the shade of a mangrove channel. After that, we proceeded through the channel into a sort of "keyhole" opening and at the back of the keyhole a tarpon was boiling. After 4 or 5 attempts, I made a beautiful long cast to the very back of the keyhole and watched in awe as that tarpon took my fly. All I remember after that is hearing our guide shouting "set, set, set, set, set!!" and me stripping in line hard and keeping the rod tip down. I finally had a fish on and it jumped 3 times! Every time, I did it all correctly and finally, after about 15 minutes, boated my first tarpon. :way: It was a baby tarpon, as far as tarpon go (ballpark of 5-6 pounds), but it was my first tarpon and it was the first fish on that fly rod (finally)!
And then abouit 20-30 minutes later, as we were making our way through a narrow mangrove tunnel, a branch snagged my rod and broke the tip. Strangely, I wasn't even angry. Those were the only two fish we caught that day, but it was still a great day and I'm looking forward to my next trip. And my rod is being sent back to Orvis today for repair. Thanks for endulging me on the lengthy story.
Shortly after that, we took off across some deeper water to another mangrove island, but not before a run through some of the flats so my wife could do some spin fishing for baracuda or what not. After some quick tips from the guide and 3 misses, Minnie finally hooked up. I don't care whose rod it is, I love the sound of line peeling off of a reel. After a quick drag adjustment and ~ 15 minute fight, Minnie landed a huge baracuda. I'm guessing somewhere in the ballpark of 20 pounds...and very toothy! It was great to watch her fight that fish on light saltwater tackle and she had a blast.
The mangrove island did not produce anything so we headed back across the open water, which was not as calm as it was earlier since the winds picked up. We were going against 2-3 foot waves in a 21 foot flats boat. Somewhere about halfway across, the guide says "excuse me, can you help me bail water". I turned around and it was kind of scary seeing that much water and watching it come over the transom (Very high pucker factor). We got enough water bailed out to make it to calm water and then spent the next 20 mintues cleaning out the rest of the water. We then headed over to another mangrove island and hunger finally set in so we had a quick lunch in the shade of a mangrove channel. After that, we proceeded through the channel into a sort of "keyhole" opening and at the back of the keyhole a tarpon was boiling. After 4 or 5 attempts, I made a beautiful long cast to the very back of the keyhole and watched in awe as that tarpon took my fly. All I remember after that is hearing our guide shouting "set, set, set, set, set!!" and me stripping in line hard and keeping the rod tip down. I finally had a fish on and it jumped 3 times! Every time, I did it all correctly and finally, after about 15 minutes, boated my first tarpon. :way: It was a baby tarpon, as far as tarpon go (ballpark of 5-6 pounds), but it was my first tarpon and it was the first fish on that fly rod (finally)!
And then abouit 20-30 minutes later, as we were making our way through a narrow mangrove tunnel, a branch snagged my rod and broke the tip. Strangely, I wasn't even angry. Those were the only two fish we caught that day, but it was still a great day and I'm looking forward to my next trip. And my rod is being sent back to Orvis today for repair. Thanks for endulging me on the lengthy story.
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