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Baby Tarpon
In the Naples area
there are very few wade fly fishing locations where you can get a fly
over these great game fish from land. I have located and fished
excellent areas where Baby Tarpon frequently can be seen rolling and
'laid up' (resting). These "Babies" can range from a few pounds to over
50 pounds. Persistence, correct fly selection and accurate casting plus
hook setting
concentration are necessary for a fly angler to cast to and hook these
fish. But the reward is a spectacular aerial fight worthy of the title
"Silver King".
Jack Cravalle
These strong and
voracious fish often roam the inner estuaries in schools, sometimes
cornering baitfish in coves and crashing on them either singly or in
groups of several fish. Amazingly fast, the Jack is also surprisingly
strong and has remarkable endurance when hooked. They come in all sizes
and if they are present in large numbers they can give any angler a
memorable day...and a sore arm! Jacks aren't always easy to fool and can
be very selective on the baitfish of the day.
Speckled Sea Trout
A reliable resident of
the Passes and estuaries, especially near grass beds, this Trout is as
scrappy and strong a fighter when hooked as their Northern brothers.
They often will school together in the channels ambushing minnows, and I
have caught dozens of them in a single outing. They often take up
positions in current flows similar to locations Rainbow Trout prefer.
The average size "Speck" is about 15 inches but they can reach 2 or
three pounds or more and over 20 inches in the passes. Beware the tooth
in their top jaw!
Snook
Always wary, often
selective, and a battler when hooked, the Snook is a difficult-to-fool
game fish and worthy of the respect of all fly-rodders. The Snook is
always my primary target when I fish the Passes. They will take up lies
wherever the optimum ambush location is on any tide, often staying in
one location throughout an entire tide. They will cruise the mud flats,
suddenly charging small bait fish, and giving their location away. They
have incredible eyesight and that lateral line is one huge sensor! Snook
in the passes can be as big as 30 inches. Beware the gill plates...razor
sharp! Butterfly
Peacock Bass
Miami has miles of canals where you can fly fish for these exotic game
fish. Springtime brings the fish to the spawning beds where they become
fiercely territorial and they will attack a small Clouser or Deceiver
without mercy. A
six-weight rod and floating line is the recommended armament and these
fish will give you a great fight. |