Charter day!

So I decided I needed to tangle with some bigger fish.  I booked a charter with Captain Shane Smith.  Even though I learned just how poor a fly fisherman I am I really had an awesome day out in the back country with Capt. Shane.  He spent a couple hours in the morning poling me around a flat littered with tarpon.  I mean it was just filthy with fish.  I however could not put a fly in front of them.  At one point we had two schools moving toward each other and I still couldn't get the fly in the right place.  Shane was awesome though.  He never gave up trying to get me a shot.  I wish I could have hooked one just to make him feel better.  We moved on to another flat that was holding a couple really skittish permit and some very willing jacks following a ray.  First cast to the back of the ray produced a very fun jack crevalle.

We moved around a bit chasing barracuda, jacks and other hard pullers.  We took a break from sight fishing and tossed some jigs for sea trout.  After slaying a ton of trout the bite turned off and Shane decided to pull anchor and drift for a bit.  We hit a few schools of big ladyfish and scooped up a couple to use as bait.  Anyone who gets upset at catching ladyfish needs to give their head a shake.  These fish are almost too much fun.  The aerial displays are epic and if like me you are able to hook a big one they put up one hell of a fight.

After lunch we headed back to some flats we visited earlier trying to find some sharks or barracuda.  Shane cut up the ladyfish and dropped them over the side.  I waited patiently for a visit from the man in the gray suit.  Well he must have called in sick.  We found some decent sized barracuda at our next stop but none would commit to eating my lure.  So many follows.  Those cuda have some serious commitment issues.

One more move and finally the man in the gray suit shows up, and he brought friends.  I toss a piece of cut ladyfish and miss slightly behind.  The jacks following the shark didn't seem to mind, good thing too.  Once the jacks started on the ladyfish the shark quickly took notice.  It was one of the greatest takes I've ever seen.  The shark was looking right at me and opened wide and bit down hard.  I never would have thought a fish could be so much fun.  Wow those buggers pull hard, run and head shake with the best.  In the end it ended up at about five feet long.  

A picture and a quick release and I had a smile that lasted all the way back to the ramp.