Unorthodox fly/kayak fisher experiences personal best today…

[abcarias]

Deciding to abandon (for today) my quest to catch a tarpon from the yak, I fished for reds first thing this morning. I found a small group with bait catching a 28 ½" (weighing 9 ½ lbs on the boga) and a 19 very quickly. With my 10 weight loaded I threw a clouser in the same hole and landed what I measured as a 26 ¾" red. (my largest to date with a fly)… Enter the marine patrol. “The Man" visited me checking my license and life jacket and noticed my stringer. He asked to see the fish and measured it at 27 ½. I was pins and needles at this point. My measuring stick is a decal upside down on the side of the yak and difficult to hold and measure a fish that size ( I know flimsy excuse). I think what may have happened is that “the man" pinched the tail together then measured (I had not). Anyway, I was offering to let the fish go (half dead at this point) and he said he would not ticket me but to be careful next time. I was appreciative but frazzled. I figured I should call it a day. As I was paddling back to the landing I noticed birds diving ( how quickly my shame disappeared). I had to paddle out and investigate. The wind was getting real bad. As I approached I could see a malay of several pods of fish feeding. I tried to paddle up wind so I could throw my fly down wind and it wasn’t happening. The fish were moving very fast and I couldn’t do much in my tandem sit inside yak. After several attempts to catch up and throw, I decided to leave the fly line all the way out and paddle through the schooling fish, bonanza!!!! I hooked up immediately. This was my first experience trolling with a fly rod (forgive me purists fore I have sinned). I hooked up this way 10 to 15 times catching blues, trout, lady fish, and even big jacks. When a fish hit the clouser, I would throw the anchor down and strip him in. Often the fish would jump off and another would hit as I stripped in. Sometimes I could through the fly out right after catching a fish and the school would still be there. It was a blast!! Anyway, I have been trying to figure out how to catch fish with a fly from the yak and today I may have found a new method. Try it but please don’t tell Lefty, Flip, Cheeko, or Stew that Steve told you to do so.

I haven’t purchased my digital camera yet but I did take along an old 35 mm with film in it that was probably bad it was so old. If the pics turn out I may post later. The big red I released was a beauty and my personal best for size. Just might try’m again in the morn.

My special thanks to the marine patrol who showed understanding and aloud me to call it a good day fishing!! It pays to be respectful of these guys!!!

[GIT-R-WET]

It pays to be respectful of these guys!!!

[Eerman]

I think starting in July, the man pinches all the fishies tails. Glad he was understanding and gave you a pass. Sounds like a fun way to troll to me.

[2true]

I choked today with the redfish too.

I caught a small but keeper "whiting".

When I looked at it when I was leaving and noticed a spot on it's tail. I am like hmm,....... i did not know whiting had spots on their tails. It dawned on me it was a small red bout a foot long. (already dead) DOH.

[tin can]

The new regilation, affective July 1, is indeed to measure with a pinched tail.

Glad the man gave ya a break.

[abcarias]

I forgot to measure my fish both ways. How many inches does it add to the measurement to pinch the tail of a big, say 26 inch red?