How to Fly Fish in Florida's Saltwater

Article no.3 - Hooking, playing, landing and releasing saltwater fish with a fly rod

rticles one and two of this series dealt with selecting the right tackle and fly patterns to fish in saltwater. This article deals with 'fishing' with your selections. Let's get right to the action! When fly-fishing in the salt, we are doing one of three things: Casting, Fishing or catching.

Casting:

While standing on the bow of your skiff, make the longest cast you can make. As soon as the fly touches the water, lower your rod tip to the surface of the water, strip line back with your left hand, and when all the slack has been removed from the fly line, at that point, you are ready to begin fishing.

Fishing:

With your left hand, begin to pull the fly-line in short, fast jerks, like this; STRIP-STRIP- STRIP, while never allowing the fly to completely stop. STRIP-STRIP-STRIP ------- STRIP-STRIP-STRIP until there is approximately thirty feet of the fly-line left on the water. At this point, it is time to cast again, so make your back cast, your false cast and shoot a little line, another back cast and your forward cast back out on the water. As soon as your fly hits the water you drop your rod tip to the surface of the water, pull the fly-line with your left hand to remove all slack again, and when you have a straight fly line between your left hand and the fly, you are fishing. STRIP-STRIP-GULP!

Now You're Catching!

Set the hook with one final, sharp strip and immediately clear the line at your feet on the deck. This is your first concern. Nothing else, clear that line. The fish will surge away, so all you need to do is keep a light hold on the fly-line, make sure you are not standing on the line at your feet and let it run out through the guides of the rod. Many times the fish is not big enough to clear all the line, so when he stops, you can land him WITHOUT the reel, just by stripping him in, but in the case of a big fish, you will need to put him on the reel. Assuming you have a big fish and the line has been cleared, and now you have the fish on the reel as in conventional tackle, everything from there on out is much like what you are used to in regular fishing. When the fish surges, you apply drag by putting your left palm against the exposed flange on the reel (flanging), and letting off and winding when the fish is not surging . Keep a deep bend in the rod when fighting the fish, and lift him with the rod, then reel down and lift again. Never reel while lifting the fish with the rod and if he decides to make a sudden surge, just let go and begin flanging him again. One on one with a big fish in this fashion can be quite exciting and quite rewarding, once the fish is at boat side.

If your fish is a jumper, in the case of a Tarpon or Lady fish, you will need to bow to your fish as it jumps. This is a simple process that can seem quite difficult in the heat of battle, and if it is not performed correctly and at the right time, you will end up scratching your head and wishing you had another chance to perform this simple task. In a nutshell, when the fish jumps, thrust the rod forward and down, throwing slack to the fish. When the fish goes back into the water, regain your slack and continue fighting the fish . You must be ready, because your fish may do this several times and each time you will have to bow. Timing is everything, and this process works on all fish, even the black bass. Try it the next time any fish jumps on you with any type of tackle.

Landing:

Big fish have a tendency to surge at boat side, so make sure your adversary is played out (but not to utter exhaustion, because we are going to release him and we want him to recover). Lay your rod down, (because the length of a fly-rod makes it hard to do it any other way), take hold of the twenty pound bite leader and control the fish from the leader, with your other hand around the tail or other strategic location (depending on the type of fish in question) and hoist him aboard. You will not need nor should you use a dip net. Put him on your lap or somewhere comfortable and have your fishing companion shoot photos of your trophy with the fly still in his mouth. Nice photo! Another, with the fly gone, this time, a nice on the bow pose! Shoot more, showing the attributes of the fish: Spots in the case of the Redfish, or hold that Snook way out so he'll look huge. Jump out of the boat, and get photos in the fish's environment, as you release it. Be creative!

Look at this fish and realize that this is not your nemesis, not your employer, not your enemy, but an equal that has just gone toe to toe (or fin to fin ) with you, and given you lots of enjoyment in the process. When you hunt, there is no way to seal the deal without the final kill. The animal never looks as big, or as grand once it has been dealt a final blow and many times it is anti-climactic for the hunter.(Not to mention, that's when the real work begins.) Not so for the release fisherman! He has the authority to spare his opponent. To release to fight, swim and spawn another day! If you are hungry, by all means, keep your dinner. God gave us 'Dominion over all creatures' so we could make those choices. But please, don't keep these fish just so the neighbor can see. Exercise your authority and let most of them live.

Captain "Z" Zeigler is a full time Saltwater fly fishing guide, F.O.W.A.member (outdoor writers guild), lecturer on the flats and flycasting instructor. He represents: Hewes Flats Boats, Yamaha outboards, Shimano, Billy Pate and Tibor fly reels, Stren fishing lines, Scientific Anglers fly lines, J.W.A. and Assoc., G.Loomis fishing rods and many plug and plastic bait manufacturers.

He can be reached at his own website from Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River flats, Florida, or by email at Captain_Z@msn.com

Please send your comments on this or any other article in the TFN Web-zine to the Editor at editor@the-fishing-network.com