Calm Seas in the Gulf of Mexico
The jetty is his treadmill
Fly rod a tool fore & aft the heel
Rock show many scars.
Of carbide laced treads.
For the Gilled One he leaps.
It is the silver king which he seeks.
Feisty jack crevalle on fly
On the third day of a successful Texas Tarpon Hunt with a score of 1/6, the poon eluded me the 3rd day and just before a strong warm front hit. The full moon certainly have the seas roiled up and will be so for the next few days. Looks like the break from the winds will come Thursday and I am looking forward to getting back on the water.
Doubled up with jack crevalle blitz
Saturday afternoon’s clients absolutely tore up the jack crevalle fly fishing with top water popping flies and glass minnow or bay anchovy flies. The action was nonstop with many double hookups on these little young of year jacks. I absolutely lost count of how many fish we caught. Kudos to Eric and Dakota for not letting the wind get the best of them and holding fire until the boat was in good position! Their quick and short casts with few false casts had these guys hooked up constantly. It was great unhooking one fish from the port side then having another one to unhook already boat side on the starboard.
A few days prior the tarpon were feeding well, and 2 have been jumped while blind casting. Don’t hesitate to methodically and thoroughly work a likely area. You never know, a 4-footer might just surprise you! Also remember to check every hook for sharpness when you tie it onto your leader and check it frequently while fishing. Lost fish shouldn’t come from dull hooks!
Some dates are available for charters on the flats for big redfish with a single angler, or near shore trips up to 2 anglers using fly and spin gear as provided. Feel free to give me a call (361-500-2552) or email (ken@kenjofly.com) for more information.
Jack Crevalle Blitzing near shore the Texas Gulf Coast
The phone rings while sitting in the truck at the airport fully loaded with enough fly fishing gear, food and water rations for two people for four days. The restless ringer on the phone indicates that a fishing buddy has landed at Corpus Christi International Airport. “You ready for this?” I ask and Captain Natereplies, “READY AS EVER!”
Heading to Fly Fishing Heaven
First things first! Get to Wal-Mart and purchase a non-resident fishing license for the tourista. “You better get the annual, you WILL be back!” We promise each other there are no doubts. If this winter’s fishing season is as good as it has been lately, it would be a good idea to change your return flight now and stay a few more days to be able to enjoy some decent weather after these gale force winds and small craft advisories lift. Good luck with surviving that cold front!
Nonetheless, we were going NOW, before the North storm hits with 30-knot winds freezing anything wet and we are running out of daylight since the flight landed around noon. Hot on the throttle of the old Chevrolet, all 4 wheels engaged and spinning like mad men, we head off-road in search of tarpon on foot in the South Texas Coastal Bend area.
There is nothing like rigging rods and leaders in the truck as it barrels down the dirt road leading to a dead end like most fishing trips, it is a rough road going nowhere and makes tying knots a true challenge of any skilled fly-angler.
“What are they eating?” he says with courage. “Baitfish in 3-6 inch sizes,” I tell him. “Here, use this, tie it on good, and it wouldn’t hurt to add a bimini twist to the class tippet.”
As we arrive and park, we scramble to find stripping baskets and then he turns to me and I see him grab a medium weight spin rod. I protest necessarily and inform him that if he’s going to use a spin rod, “You’re going to want a bigger rod!” Laughs are exchanged with a wink or two and we start to lace up, strap on, and close any open zippers with grueling anticipation of the approaching storm which could shut down our world-class fishing spot faster than an American Banker can foreclose a delinquent home-owner in America.
“Where do we start casting?” I am asked as we head in the direction of the rocky terrain most people call the jetty. “Hold your fire!” I respond with encouraging patience, “We are almost to the honey hole!”
City of Granite – South Texas Jetty
Within minutes of arriving on that special granite rock which would become our perch and our shelter from the tormenting winds and rain we see fishy stuff going on and the excitement builds. It is soon to be learned that those giant granite rocks will also become our refuge for the next four days. Our eyes are already stinging as the winds grow and white water spray begins coming over the jetty showering us, we scan the water surface for all 360 degrees looking for the tell-tail sign of megalops.
Almost covertly, a soft plastic flies from its 7’6″ cannon of a spin rod rigged with 30-lb braid and lands in the water with a big splash. “Are you sure this lure isn’t too big?” Nate says.
“Hell no! Keep it in the water, work it good and hold on when you snag a rock,” I respond.
“What rock? OH DAMN! That rock just moved!” Set the hook, wait for the screaming drag to slow to a dull roar and try your best to reclaim the long length of line that was just stolen from the spool minutes ago. “Done!”
Howdy!
First fish landed, a respectable red fish measuring just inside the slot limit. We release the fish quickly back into the water which is beginning to churn like a butter bucket strapped into the tea cup ride at Disney world.
Then it happens again, another nice redfish takes the soft plastic yummy bunny and this time the redfish is just over slot limit. Back it goes like 99.99% of all fish we catch. The sense of urgency increases and our motions begin to accelerate as we hop over a few more granite obstacles searching for another safe spot to stand with advantageous positioning.
Then I hear someone familiar scream. “TARPON! It just rolled! There! Quick! CAST! CAST! CAST!” we yell to each other. “Damn! No takers.” Cast again, this time with a little bit of frustration. “What are they eating?” our eyes strain to try to identify any visible bait in the water.
Telling myself to keep calm, I prepare for another cast of the fly line and launch it out into the open water as if it were a hot grenade with only a second remaining before detonation.
Count to 15 while recovering from a small bird’s nest in the running line. Stripping line in slowly, the last of the slack is removed from the 80 feet of fly line in the water and contact is made with the fly. Slow long pulls, short strips, and toss in a few A.D.D. twitches, a tap is felt in the line, however slight, I set the hook and immediately the silver king erupts from the water like a government missile sent on its one-way mission. “TARPON!” I scream at Nate, “You should have grabbed your fly rod! HAHAHAHA!”
Estimated at 50 inches of Pure Rock Fury
As the first school tarpon is released into its watery lair, the sun begins to set on our environment and we notice that the tarpon are feeding more actively and the pressure is building. Suddenly we see a large shark in the distance also get airborne and the image of a 200-300 pound shark is burned into our minds as we imagine it trying to eat a tarpon from our hands rock-side. I hand the fly rod to Nate and say, “Here! Use this! It’s your turn homey”.
Off it goes the 3/0 tarpon fly flings about and lands in the water. Strip, strip, strip, And SET! Nate’s virgin tarpon launches itself into the air in desperate attempts to throw the razor-sharp Tiemco hook to no avail and soon Nate has landed his first tarpon on the fly. Snap some pics and off it goes quickly before Mr. Shark decided to join us on the rocks for a cocktail!
So as night falls and the tarpon continue feeding at our feet, Nate and I take turns with the fly rod and we land a total of three more poons, once of which took its rightful place as my personal best and Nate was lucky enough to mark two more species (the tarpon and redfish) off his bucket list. We retire for the night not wanting to wear out the fish too much, and of course, allow them to continue to feed on their own uninterrupted.
Fly Fishing Tarpon into the night in the South Texas Coastal Bend
With the flower of sugar cane made into a welcoming beverage, we shed our saltwater soaked clothes and prepare a sandy dinner of steak and hot chili peppers on an open fire. We recount our experience from the evening and strategize ourselves into a stupor while we dance around the fire with Clutch for our evening tunes.
When we awoke the following morning we notice that the Winter Storm had not arrived and we begin preparing our gear to go knock on Mr. Tarpon’s door again. But just minutes later, gale force winds with gusts over 30+ knots set down on us hard and we move the truck into what little lee can be found on the beach and watch the sandstorm ensue. “There goes our morning fishing session” we say to each other.
By the afternoon we couldn’t stand to watch any longer with hopes of diminishing winds, we reluctantly venture out into the granite city of rocks and hope for the best even though the winds have not dropped below 20mph. Low and behold we find some tarpon still feeding and are able to land three more teenage tarpon and jump just as many more. Time to retire, day 2 seemed to take forever but ended so fast. The third day conditions had not improved and no sign of weather change coming in the future for day 4, we decide to fish the morning and head home late afternoon with little fuel and a luckily low tide to lick our wounds, regroup and try to target some other species a little more local to my house where fresh water showers and dry clothes await.
In retrospect it is always good to break a personal fish record and to do it on foot brings such enjoyment in our sport and why we do it regardless of the weather. We claw our way around exposed to elements regardless of how horrible the conditions are. Bearing our teeth and with true grit setting ourselves up for a single moment of excellence, or pure accidental catch, it is truly the fish themselves that makes our efforts worthwhile however invaluable the experiences are priceless. In any other case, our determination would be unnecessary and futile if the fish were not a more determined individual than we.
Early Morning Colors
As we head back to the airport to bid my fishing buddy farewell, comrades reflect, and we realize that our concrete passions are shared. Not only as mere mortals, hard-core sportsmen, personal conservationists and obsessive about the next time Mother Nature deals us some brutal fun but also filling us with vibrancy for life as we know it.
I’d rather not be in any other place than where my mind lives, my body resides and where flies are eaten eagerly by the next awesome creature that fills our thoughts by day and dreams by night.
Keeping the hooks sharp, Captain Ken Jones USCG OUPV-6 Licensed 361-500-2552 Port Aransas, Texas
In the last week and a half you have endured many rigorous and high-stress challenges. I can only imagine what it is like to be there right now.
Like most hard-core outdoor enthusiasts, New Yorkers are just as hard-core as the rest! Considering the conditions you all have experienced in the concrete jungle recently such as no power, no transportation, loss of communications with little fresh food, water supplies low and no lights. Hopefully at least you can see the stars in the sky!
Over these last two weeks, many wonderful memories of all of you that I have fished with or worked with during our time in the Big Apple have been in mind. I wish you all warmth during these next few weeks as the weather continues to disrupt the flows!
Here are a few favorite pics from the last few years in good ‘ole NYC! And if you want to get out of there come on down to Port Aransas. We’re stocked up with redfish, trout, and yetis!
Nothing is colder than Yeti cold!
Hooked’em good in Jamaica Bay, but let’em swim their way home.
Jamaica Bay Demo
Good thing I took the GPS coordinates for this spot!
How to really rock Jersey
Already miss this sonuva beach (Breezy Point NY)
The story behind how and on what this fish was caught will surprise you all. This fish has got nice color too!
1x Bass + 2x Bluefish
Hilarity ensued on this day. Great to have them onboard and inboard!
Sandy did much more
this is just a small problem compared to what Hurricane Sandy did to Breezy Point.
We set sail one day this week at 4:15am and pointed the bow of a beautiful 35 ft Contender Southeast. She ate up the chop taking on an Eastern swell and a sturdy Southern wind wave. Steady as she goes, we made it to our first location at 6:45am to setup on the troll for Bluefin Tuna offshore New York City. With only two boats within sight on the horizon we put out an 8 rod spread. A good mix of lures in the water initially helped us fine tune spread as small bluefin tuna (avg 30-40lbs) began to show us their preferences. As the day wore on we shuffled the rig over to another location just 10-15 miles further ESE and into deeper water and sure enough the fish got a little bigger weighing in around 60-lbs. All in all, we went 7 for 10, releasing 6 fish to swim again.
a hefty 60# BFT
Reports of eyeless creatures caught in fisherman’s nets, fish with tumors you can visibly see from the outside and crabs with no claws found in Gulf Of Mexico near popular shrimping grounds which also happened to be one of the highest impacted zones of the BP oil spill. What NEXT???
BP Oil Spill mutating sea life???
There were notable days, and single notable catches. Each were spectacular in their own way due to the uniqueness of how the catch was made. What I find most intriguing about these mentionable catches is that it was what the FISH did that made it most exciting. Other times a particular catch stood out among the rest because of how much effort which can require not only a high physical level of endurance but also a mental endurance of epic proportions… Thus why the catch took the “blue ribbon”. The striped bass shown below blessed my father by giving him the privilege to battle this glorious specimen and it brings me pride knowing that my Pops had a chance to catch, battle, admire and release such a marvelous creature…
The striped bass pictured above was caught and released on live menhaden during late June in the NY Bight vicinity. Because this fish bottomed-out a 30lb Boga, we only took her measurements (length & girth) and after using several different online calculators the estimated weight for all the calculators (including the online, IGFA calculator) came in at over 40lbs. I am so happy to know that this fish was released very lively, because returning the freedom of life that it had earned by surviving the ocean long enough to grow this big shows how life is resilient. This valiant effort that took place between fish and man can teach us all important lessons and the lesson is that any fish that is killed just so it can be “certified” as a record is a true waste! Letting a fish like this live so it can continue to contribute to the resource is most invaluable! I am certain that our future generations of children and their children would agree!
Keeping the hooks sharp Captain Ken Jones ken@kenjofly.com 361-500-2552
The Fly Fishing Show is coming to Somerset NJ and it couldn’t have come at a better time!!! Luckily, it really hasn’t been all that cold. Nonetheless, the winter-time blues are here for sure because it has been at least three weeks since I last wet a hook…
One thing that makes this event so great is because of the venue. All under a single roof one could expect to run into many prominent names in the industry. My personal favorites are the kind folks at TroutHunter, Hatch Outdoors, Yellow Dog & Turneffe Flats
The grizzly guys at Bear’s Den have such an abundance of fly tying materials, it is completely overwhelming. If you find something you like, buy it immediately because if you set it down it is certain that the person behind you is going to snatch it right up the second you let go!
Another fantastic aspect of this event is that there are so many great journalists there such as Phil Shook, and conservation authors such as Carl Safina, you are certain to hear about some great fishing adventures! There is nothing like hanging out with fellow fly-fisherman telling each other outrageous and exagerated fish stories! It is truly entertaining and amazing at how many truths are stretched during an event like this! But of course, that is part of the thrill and excitement of fly fishing!
But most of all, I look forward to seeing the people that I have had the pleasure to meet, and those that I have had the good fortune to fish with. If you haven’t visited this event before, don’t let anything stand in your way, this year is a special one because of how many great deals these vendors are offering to customers! See you there!
Keeping the hooks sharp, Captain Ken Jones Kenjo Fly Fishing
Rockaway Striper caught in July
As the weather warms the water and the gulf stream continues to push its warm currents closer to shore, the fishing is heating up more than ever! Any given day, there have been opportunities to head out early and get on some really big bass, which are hanging around the remaining schools of bunker that are still present in NY Bight and Lower NY Harbor. This particular activity seems to be winding down as the water temperature begins to rise past the 70 degree mark.
These dolphinfish were very aggressive!
These Mahi-mahi came into the spread completely covered in solid blue neon colors! She hit the shotgun rigger and she put on a spectacular show! These fish are aggressive and travel in packs…
We will be hunting these beauties through the summer along with some school bluefin… Plan to use some hookless teasers to get’em on the fly!
With over 7 species of baitfish in the water and more on the way, there are great chances to have a fantastic summer run of spanish mackerel, bonito, skipjack tunas and certainly the false albacore.
Give me a call asap if you want to get out on the water!
It is never too early!
Should have been there yesterday! Better be there tomorrow!
It is never easy to coordinate a NY lifestyle to accommodate a little fish action, but with a little bit of effort and spontaneity you can find yourself in a situation like this.
Have fun out there this Memorial Day weekend and remember to thank a serviceman or servicewoman for their dedication in keeping our country safe!