3wt7X
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2008
- Messages
- 667
We vacationed in the West Palm/Boca area last week and I took a couple trips with the fly rod. Here is a quick summary as a point of reference for anyone headed down there in the future:
June 22, 2022: Offshore fly fishing charter (Fly Fishing Extremes- Capt. Hamilton). This was a spectacular trip. The ocean was not in great shape. After two days of a 15-20 mph north wind, the weather was in the process of transitioning to a south wind and the ocean was churned up pretty good (3-5 foot rollers). It did not feel dangerous in anyway, but it was not comfortable to make long casts in. To adapt, we dropped fast sinking lines with Clousers/Baitfish patterns down to the reefs and stripped them back in varying retrieves. The fish variety was amazing! Off the top of my head, (Yellow Jack, Yellowtail Snapper, kingfish, false albacore, bar Jack and a big Jack Crevalle.
We later ran out to the deep water wrecks and lost a couple of giant fish that we could not control. UU fish as they were unidentifiable and uncontrollable in the Captain’s words. We had a small school of Mahi show up and we were able to get one in the boat.
At the end of the day, Captain brought out a fast action 3wt and put me on a reef with a bunch of bar jacks. It was a blast fishing such a tiny rod out in the Ocean.
The fish of the trip was the Jack Crevalle. It was about 22 lbs and kicked my butt for about 30 minutes during the fight. The raw power of those fish is impressive and it inhaled the fly. Needless to say it was a bit of a blood bath when boated.
(Inshore/surf fishing)
I explored the surf a bit with the fly rod as well. Really rough conditions as the sargasso weed was terrible in the surf and on the beach for the majority of the trip. I did not spot any Snook, but had a couple nice visual hits from needlefish. I just could not connect.
(Drift fishing)
I took my daughters on their first drift boat trip. It was pretty special. I helped my youngest hook her first Mutton Snapper, then she caught a yellowtail on her own. My oldest caught a nice yellowtail snapper then almost had the rod pulled out of her hand by a big cuda. I will always remember the look on her face, when it first hit. After a twenty minute fight with a little help supporting the rod from Dad, she landed it. The picture says it all on that fish.
Great times all around and I hope you guys/gals enjoy the write up and pictures.
June 22, 2022: Offshore fly fishing charter (Fly Fishing Extremes- Capt. Hamilton). This was a spectacular trip. The ocean was not in great shape. After two days of a 15-20 mph north wind, the weather was in the process of transitioning to a south wind and the ocean was churned up pretty good (3-5 foot rollers). It did not feel dangerous in anyway, but it was not comfortable to make long casts in. To adapt, we dropped fast sinking lines with Clousers/Baitfish patterns down to the reefs and stripped them back in varying retrieves. The fish variety was amazing! Off the top of my head, (Yellow Jack, Yellowtail Snapper, kingfish, false albacore, bar Jack and a big Jack Crevalle.
We later ran out to the deep water wrecks and lost a couple of giant fish that we could not control. UU fish as they were unidentifiable and uncontrollable in the Captain’s words. We had a small school of Mahi show up and we were able to get one in the boat.
At the end of the day, Captain brought out a fast action 3wt and put me on a reef with a bunch of bar jacks. It was a blast fishing such a tiny rod out in the Ocean.
The fish of the trip was the Jack Crevalle. It was about 22 lbs and kicked my butt for about 30 minutes during the fight. The raw power of those fish is impressive and it inhaled the fly. Needless to say it was a bit of a blood bath when boated.
(Inshore/surf fishing)
I explored the surf a bit with the fly rod as well. Really rough conditions as the sargasso weed was terrible in the surf and on the beach for the majority of the trip. I did not spot any Snook, but had a couple nice visual hits from needlefish. I just could not connect.
(Drift fishing)
I took my daughters on their first drift boat trip. It was pretty special. I helped my youngest hook her first Mutton Snapper, then she caught a yellowtail on her own. My oldest caught a nice yellowtail snapper then almost had the rod pulled out of her hand by a big cuda. I will always remember the look on her face, when it first hit. After a twenty minute fight with a little help supporting the rod from Dad, she landed it. The picture says it all on that fish.
Great times all around and I hope you guys/gals enjoy the write up and pictures.
