Hey all,

Just returned from a tirp to Duck Key in Florida US. Met a guy from the UK on the island and ran into him numerous times during the week, although I forget his name. If anybody knows a couple guys that were down there over the week of 1/20-1/27, have him pipe in. Got on a few of these Jack Crevalle the first two days I was there. The wind and tide changed and they were gone after that. Missed 4 shots at Tarpon, one was a solid hook-up that ran me good around the second bridge piling out in the first pic. Had two "mouthers", and spooked one with a poor Ale influenced cast.

Heres some pics.








James

interesting photos james,i have a few questions:-is that a salmon rod you were using.how did you avoid catching the vehicles on the bridge on your backcast
other than that well done,just proves that you don't have to have an expensive guide(good though they are)

jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Its the T&T 12ft12wt. I was fishing a Rio Quickshooter II 12wt line on it. Allows for both overhead and "spey" casts, either way it throws the whole 100 feet of the line easily. The rod was designed for 12wt shooting heads cast over head from beaches for stripers on the East Coast of the US. Its tapered alot like the T&T1208 spey/salmon, except for that it stiffens up quite a bit about 2/3rds of the way up. Gives it the extra punch that spey/salmon rods lack overhead casting. I also landed this Barracuda from a charter boat while reef fishing. I was lucky enough that it was only my Girlfriend and I booked that day and he allowed me to bring my fly rod. Normally they book 6 people, and a fly rod would have just caused headaches in the crowd. The rod performed well although it lacks the butt strength of a normal one handed 12wt needed for heaving the big ones up from the depths. It would be about like a stiff 12ft 9/10 on the AFTM rating system you guys use on salmon rods.

As for the casting, the spot pictured I was fishing is 12-15ft below to road, so casting into traffic wasn't an issue . The tidal rip in the channel was running at a good clip which was great for "spey" style casts. Depending on the wind and direction of the rip, I would switch between overhead and "spey" casts.

Yes, there are plenty of fish to be caught down there without an expensive guide, the reef fishing charter ran $60.00 (about 30pounds or so) per person for 4 hours, a great deal in my mind considering the fun we had. Although next year I plan to hire one for a couple half day trips. We also took home enough yellow snapper for a good couple meals from the charter.


James

thanks james,food for thought.

jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.