I woke up really early and wanted to get some time on the flats before Jess got up.  The skies were overcast and the wind was whipping, not the ideal conditions; however, I still wanted to get out and find some tails.

I went to the small section of the town flats that has some white sand.  The sand would provide a little relief trying to spot cruising shadows.  The low tide conditions would also allow tails to break the surface.  I tied on a size 6 Mini Puff and went to work.  Within 50 yards of the shore, I came across a pack of tailing bones.  I fired off my first cast of the day, and it was too close for comfort.  The pack of bones scattered in every direction.  Luckily, within another 50 yards was another pack of tails.  This time I took my time getting into an optimal position.  The pack was working into the wind at the edge of the sand and the turtle grass.  I paralleled them at 50 feet away making several casts to the edge of their group.  One of my casts landed softly right into the middle of the pack, and I was convinced that it was going to spook the entire group.  However, the pack continued to feed, I began to work my fly, and I felt the tug of a bonefish.  A strong strip set started a great fight.  After about 5 minutes I landed him, snapped a quick pic, and got my line reorganized.  Upon immediately turning around, I saw around 20 bones cruising my way.  I made one quick false cast, and my fly landed right in their path.  The lead bone of the pack slightly spooked, but he calmed down and the entire pack kept coming towards my fly.  Small twitches of the mini puff enticed a fish in the back of the pack.  A nice run and the fish was ready to be landed.  Both fish were in the 6-7lb class.

After I caught those two, all signs of bonefish were gone.  I decided to wade back towards shore.  I found one more bone tailing tight to the shore.  I snuck my way into position and made several presentations into his vicinity; however, it was not meant to be, and I eventually spooked him.  I was on the flats for about 90 minutes and decided it was time to head home.  I went home to find Jess still sleeping.  It was a great start to the day.

With a full moon tonight, the tides have been extremely exaggerated at both high and low. One might think to just walk further out to find the bones during extreme low tide; however, that is not the case. The bones I have been seeing are all in ankle deep water, and these are in the 7-10lb class. Sometimes, if you are looking into the glare, all you will see is a “torpedo” wake coming at you. The low tides have also allowed me to see more trails of mud from feeding bonefish. Today, I successfully followed several mud trails to tailing bonefish.

My first attempt to a tailing fish was refused.  So was my second.  I decided that my size 6 bonefish scampi was not doing the trick today.  The night before I had tied up a fly designed for large and highly pressured bonefish, Doc Hall’s Tailing Shrimp.  It’s a very simple pattern I tied in size 6.  I decide to give it a go.  I found another large tailing fish, and it took three separate presentations before the tailing bonefish noticed my fly.  I saw him finally turn towards my twitching shrimp pattern, I dropped it, and the fish’s nose went into the turtle grass. I felt the tug, and a quick strip strike sent the bonefish off into a panic.  The fish had 3 nice runs ranging from 50-100 yards.  I knew this was bigger then my fist bonefish just by how long it took to land.  After about 7 minutes, a nice 7-8lb bonefish was at hand.  After I released the fish, it was only about 30 minutes until dead low tied and I didn’t see any more mud trails or tails poking through the surface.  It was a great morning of stalking the flats and I can’t wait to do it tomorrow!

Good luck to the rest of the MKFF crew going down to Sanibel Island!

The past two days have been overcast and windy down here in Green Turtle Cay.  However, there was about an hour break in the weather today.  I decided to hit the “Town Flats” which are about 5 minute walk from our cottage.  The calm conditions and slight sun poking through allowed me to see some tails breaking the surface close to the shoreline.  I targeted the closest tail with size 6 Gotcha and after a few casts I hooked up.  The bonefish immediately headed for deeper water and broke my tippet off.  I couldn’t help but feeling sorry for myself, but I decided to keep my head up and find  more tails.

About 50 yards off shore, I spotted about 3 tails mudding up a small area.  This time I tried a Size 6 bonefish scampi.  I made a stalky approach and shot off an easy 40 foot cast.  Soft landing, very slight twitches of the fly line, and I felt the unmistakable tug of fish inhaling a fly.  A hard strip strike and I knew I had the fish this time.   It took a few moments before the bone knew he was hooked up, but once he figured it out, it was off to the races.  Within about 5 seconds, I was 100 yards into my backing, hoping this fish would slow down soon.  It seemed like he was never going to stop.  A small drag adjustment and I eventually started to fight the bone back until I could see my fly line again, but once I had reeled in all of my backing, the bone had one more run in him.  After another 100 yard run into my backing, the beast had tired and I finally landed my first bonefish!  The fish had great colors and was about as long as my arm.  It felt amazing, I had finally figured this puzzle.  I snapped some quick pics and set the fish free.  After I landed that bone, the weather turned again and I didn’t see any more tails breaking the surface.  I decided to head back for lunch and celebrate in classic Bahamian style, washing down conch fritters with Kaliks.