Desde: 30/07/2015
Hasta: 30/07/2015
Tipo de Agua: Agua salada
Especies: Redfish
Report from last week's trip to the Florida Keys, just a couple hours drive south into the chain islands from Miami with good friend Gus Montoya. After a couple of weeks of sketchy weather, we saw another small break in the forecast which could mean anything in South Florida but it looked good enough. When planning a trip that isn't too close to home with bad weather surrounding the playing fields, I like to cross reference 2-3 apps & average them out. I also track the weather movements & try to make my own predictions based on empirical experiences. Please keep in mind that safety is priority number one & lightning is always a deal breaker.
After a short ride across the flats & shallow channels, Gus takes me to a spot that he's been scouting. He simply said he spent the last few trips Ver más...Report from last week's trip to the Florida Keys, just a couple hours drive south into the chain islands from Miami with good friend Gus Montoya. After a couple of weeks of sketchy weather, we saw another small break in the forecast which could mean anything in South Florida but it looked good enough. When planning a trip that isn't too close to home with bad weather surrounding the playing fields, I like to cross reference 2-3 apps & average them out. I also track the weather movements & try to make my own predictions based on empirical experiences. Please keep in mind that safety is priority number one & lightning is always a deal breaker.
After a short ride across the flats & shallow channels, Gus takes me to a spot that he's been scouting. He simply said he spent the last few trips chasing tails the whole day. One of the best things to hear as you rig & plan for this quick trip.
As we were getting to one of the islands that Gus had planned to start poling, we quickly see small schools of tails & soon after, large schools of redfish spooked by the only other boat we saw that day while on the flats. It was on the other side of the island. A mutual respect for space & the sport was perfectly displayed as we each kept on our own line. An unspoken language with perfect understanding, it was a beautiful thing really. As huge reds screamed by us, I couldn't help to feel we were definitely in the right spot.
My first few shots were horrific, adrenaline & excitement in tow, I start to get clean shots but the gin clear waters were very unforgiving. I soon come tight with a sighted "no dotty-over slotty" red on 8wt & was soon off to the dance. As I some how manage to free the line wrapped around my ankles & start to get back on the reel, I see the red run hard for the stern. As I begin to high stick over Gus & the push pole, the red decides to run harder, drag screaming & line somehow clearing all. I get the honors of taking his pic & return him a few blocks from home.
After a few snaps, properly revived & released... I get on the pole & start the hunt with Gus on point. We start working the other end of the island & found a huge red I named "Han Solo" as he was all by himself, face down & ass up. Tail all big & wagging like a happy dog but this big pup was right next to a thick group of mangroves with chutes all over the place. As I slide us into position, he starts to turn. Quickly re-positioning, Gus makes a crazy shot that goes around the mangroves & lands next to "Han Solo", he quickly sees the fly & off to the races, darting left & right in a frantic run but not sure where to go. Gus gets the line around some chutes & the red manages to get off but it was a cool take & short fight but awesome to see non-the-less.
The bite slowed down for a bit as we let the flat reset & scouted the neighboring islands. Found more tails but no cigar. We checked out another spot & decided to return to the first flat & found them doing their thing again. Gus & I see 3 huge tails from a distance. As I poled to them, we passed several smaller tails waving as we patiently slid by. Gus lays out a great shot but I think they felt the boat or the line & slowly star-bursted out, leaving a circular cloud of smoke. But, in the center of the cloud was a small clear window with one red sitting still, starring our way then disappearing as Gus must of saw him too & began stripping.
This red was off to the races, taking some nasty drag out on 6wt. Gus manages to get him boat side 5 or 6 times before landing his largest ever. I managed to get a few decent snaps before the revive & release. Both feeling very satisfied with our short trip to the Keys, we start our way back in shortly as the weather started making it's way towards us.
