The Family Trevally

Terrors of the Pacific, Whatever Their Size

by E. Donnall Thomas Jr.

I was living in Alaska when Christmas Island—once known, if at all, as nothing but a remote speck of land in the mid-Pacific—began to emerge as a saltwater fly rod destination. One of the first lessons one learns upon arrival in Alaska is that going somewhere warm and sunny during the winter is more a matter of necessity than indulgence. For several years running I’d headed to the Caribbean, where I’d learned at least the basics of flats fishing for bonefish and other species. Traveling due south to Christmas by way of Hawaii sounded a lot easier than traversing the continent, and in the wake of glowing preliminary reports, a regular fishing partner and I signed up.

When the great British navigator Captain James Cook arrived at Christmas Island in 1777, he launched a skiff from HMS Resolution and sent it through the leeward gap in the reef to explore the atoll’s inner lagoon. His log reports that the crew returned with tales of abundant “crevallies”  (perhaps a clue to the origins of the name for our Atlantic jack crevalle). This was welcome news to a hungry crew eager for a break from salt pork.

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The post The Family Trevally first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post The Family Trevally appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Our January 2021 issue features TFFM’s Travel Editor, Peter McLeod, writing about one of his longtime passions in “For the Love of GTs.” In this companion video, Peter offers a crash course on where you can find GTs, what tackle you need, favorite fly patterns, where to target them on the flats, how to strip the fly, and how to fight them. If you have any interest in fishing for GTs, you’d do well to listen, as Peter literally wrote the book on the subject. GT: A Fly Fishers’ Guide to Giant Trevally is available through Amazon by clicking here: AMAZON.

Cover spread of Peter’s Article from the January 2021 issue of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

For more information on fly fishing any international destination, you can contact Peter directly at peter@aardvarkmcleod.com or visit his website at www.aardvarkmcleod.com.

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Giant Trevally taken in the Seychelles on fly.

Another Giant Trevally taken in the Seychelles on fly.

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Next Generation Fly Fishing

GT Behavior & Hangouts

Cosmoledo – The GT Capital of the World

The post Saltwater Fly Fishing for GTs first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Saltwater Fly Fishing for GTs appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The Legend of Heartbreak Flat

by Joe Brennan

We were now midway through our second week. Our morning routine unfolded as it did most days: shuffling of feet, stirring of instant coffee, and checking to see if there were any scorpions in the outhouse.

The night before, Mwatanga, head guide at Fanning Island Outfitters, informed us we would be heading northeast from the lodge to Rapa Passage in order to catch the start of the flood tide. It was only a stone’s throw from the lodge to the home-built deep-V wooden skiff. Mounting the gunnel, we joked about being castaways from the S.S. Minnow: It had been more than 50 years since Fanning Atoll served as the backdrop for the opening credits of the TV show Gilligan’s Island.

Tabuaeran’s land mass is about 13 square miles with an inner lagoon of 42 square miles. We thought we had seen every fishable flat when Mwatanga exclaimed, “We have not fished here!”

I looked up from my wooden plank; to my untrained eyes it was just another flat, one of many we would pass on our daily ventures.

“In fact, we have never fished here,” said Mwatanga, as the sheen of the morning sun unfolded a finger flat spanning northeast to southwest.

Often, certain sections of the lagoon’s inner flats are obscured by wave action, discoloring the water and rendering them unfishable–but not this day.

“Do you want to try this spot?” Mwatanga asked matter-of-factly.

Jerry and I agree with a resounding “Yes!” Today, how many people can say they were the first to fish a particular spot…?

Moments later, Jerry and Abrahaim were off, walking northeast. Matt and I opted for the southwest.  Like most flats on the island, this flat was fringed by coral reef. Unlike most flats on the island, this flat’s reef was only on the eastern edge.

Roughly 50 to 75 yards in width, the flat spanned nearly the entire lagoon, a deep blue pool at either end. On the eastern side, the reef’s inner edge crawled about halfway onto the flat, effectively splitting it in half, leaving reef on one side and silky white sand on the other. As we began our patrol, it quickly became evident that we would have a 50/50 chance that a hooked fish would run in a favorable direction.

In the time we had fished the island we had become accustomed to seeing big, healthy fish. The average bonefish on Fanning is 4 to 6 pounds, but Jerry and I had been fortunate to land a number in the 7- to 9-pound range. As we walked the line where reef met sand, it was only minutes before we spotted our first bonefish. This was the fish of every angler’s dreams–a true 10-plus-pound monster. Like most bonefish you see on Fanning, it cruised slowly, deliberately, giving you plenty of time to present the fly. So I took my shot, and with two strips I was connected to my personal best bonefish…. And just like that, the fish opted for the reef. I don’t have to tell you what happen next. The coral was simply too much for my 20-pound tippet.

Reset and retie. Back on the beat, and a mere 30 yards farther down the flat we’re greeted by another double-digit bone. I present my fly and the fish greedily takes and in an instant heads east into the coral. Five seconds later I’ve lost my second personal best bonefish. While we laughed at the first encounter, the look we receive from Mwatanga declares that it’s time to get down to business.

Staying focused, we continue down the line, reef to the east, white silky sand to the west. Sure enough, here comes a third fish. We spot it a little farther out than usual, which will give us more time to get ready.

It’s a single, but something’s off—the speed of the fish, or the movement of its tail…. “I think it’s a reef shark,” I say.

“Wait,” Matt says.

A minute later I’m casting to the largest bonefish I’ve ever seen—maybe 15 pounds. I throw my fly and with barely half a strip it smacks off the sand and into the fish’s mouth.

This is it, my time to be the hero. Visions of celebration and warm beers float before my eyes.

The fish turns west, to silky snag-free sand … runs all of 10 feet before hitting the brakes … turns 180 degrees and runs directly into a patch of fan-leaf coral … sails clean off into the eastern horizon … my fly line limp in the water….

No one utters a word.

Feeling defeated–but not broken–we continue our hike, and within a short time we land two back-to-back bonefish in the 7-pound range. For some reason, these very respectable fish are not scratching the itch.

Suddenly, Matt is frantic. He’s trying to separate my two backup rods. He screams, “G.T.! G.T. 60 feet!”

I scan the horizon and sure enough, here come two packs of G.T. motoring across the flat. We scramble, pushing toward the fish to try to intercept the angle.

Matt frees the rod, hands it to me, and we’re off to the races. Stripping off line as we slosh through the water, I manage to get off an upwind shot … short.

“Recast!”

I pick up the line and muster everything the 12-weight will give me. I present the fly right behind the lead fish’s tail–but right in front of the following fish’s head. I strip line like crazy and the G.T. explodes in pursuit, its head and back pushing water up over its dorsum, its mouth agape. I attempt one more strip and I fumble, leaving the fly motionless in the water–if you didn’t know, a baitfish just doesn’t stop fleeing—and the fish turns off my fly. I’m too slow to take another shot, and just like that another trophy fish is headed east.

“That would have been the biggest G.T. I’ve hooked on the flat,” Mwatanga proclaims solemnly.

With the adrenaline dump, my heart is racing. I know I did my best, but there are many things that have to go right in this game—and very few that can go wrong.

We decide to call it quits and walk back to the boat. Jerry and Abrahaim had beaten us there. In his usual fashion, Jerry asks, “How was it?”

“Heartbreaking,” I utter.

The sun is overhead. I remove my buff to enjoy a Spam sandwich. I share my story with Jerry, who relates a tale of losing two double-digit bones in similar fashion.

And that, my friends, is the legend of Heartbreak Flat–where the big fish roam free.

From the January 2020 issue
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The post Fanning Island Bonefish first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Fanning Island Bonefish appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Don’t get me wrong, I love fishing for bonefish
as much as the next angler.
I just feel a little bit like – been there and done that.
In other words, I’ve spoiled myself.

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The post Giant Trevally on Kiritibati first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Giant Trevally on Kiritibati appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

We pride ourselves on our high quality content and photographs.  In addition to the great stories told by our anglers and sometimes even our readers, we carefully chose content that is informative and could improve your game.  We strive to provide the highest quality content in any fly fishing magazine available.  The subscribers of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine are aware of the quality of our contributors and the magnitude of their presence in the fly fishing industry.  Just in case you didn’t know how talented they are, we thought we would share this blog with a few great books recently released by past and present Tail contributors.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO VISIT THE HOMEPAGE FOR EACH BOOK

Jon Olch
A Passion for Permit – Volume 1 & 2

Jonathan Olch has spent decades passionately chasing permit. He has figured out what makes the elusive species tick and how to catch them. And for afraction of the cost of a single day of guided fishing, you can learn from the vast experience of this world-class angler.

A Passion for Permit by Jonathan Olch is the latest in the “Masters on the Fly” series published by Wild River Press. Olch’s impressive two-volume book runs more than 1,100 pages.

Share in the collective knowledge of more than 20 global permit angling experts. Learn about the fascinating world of the permit—the most sought-after prize of the flats—and eight of its closely related cousin-species you may have never heard about before. Learn about the finicky nuances of the permit through its anatomy, biology, food sources and preferred habitats—highlighted by superb imagery. Indulge in the strategies, techniques, fully illustrated essential casting tips, closeup color photos of 100-plus fly patterns, detailed tying instructions for new innovative flies, and anecdotes of the author and his expert guests as you are escorted around the world’s global tropics in pursuit of permit.

In the tradition of Andy Mill’s famous A Passion for Tarpon and many other Wild River Press sporting titles, the author takes you inside the tackle rooms and aboard the skiffs of many legends of the sport. Sit in on compelling and colorful conversations you simply won’t find anywhere else with:

 

• Aaron Adams
• Bob Branham
• Dustin Huff
• Steve Huff
• Nathaniel Linville
• Chris McCreedy
• Winston Moore
• Peter Morse
• Lincoln Westby

A Passion for Permit is by far the most thoroughly researched and thoughtfully written book ever published on the subject. Even if success with permit is a goal still on your angling horizon, the tips and tactics you will learn within these informative pages about saltwater fishing will immediately make you a better bonefish and tarpon angler. This full and complete book is nothing less than a master class in flats fishing.

Peter McLeod
GT – A Fly Fishers Guide to Giant Trevally

Catching a giant trevally (or ‘GT’) on a fly rod is the pinnacle of flats fishing: highly challenging, requiring skill and preparation. This is the first comprehensive guide to giant trevally fishing on the fly.

The giant trevally is an apex predator, and the way it operates is nothing less than brutal. These ‘gangsters of the flats’ are like packs of hoodlums marauding across the atolls and shallow estuaries. Hunting for trevally in the harsh environment they inhabit needs a certain resolve. The flyfisher’s first encounter with a giant trevally will be an electrifying experience. A GT can destroy tackle and ego, leaving all in its wake.

But once you’ve caught one, GT flyfishing is an experience that any angler will want to repeat.

Gordon Churchill
Fly Fishing the Southeast Coast

Gordon Churchill has been an enthusiastic angler all of his life, ever since he was little and would go fishing with his father in the lakes of upstate New York. Churchill shares his tips, tricks, and passion for fishing in Fly Fishing the Southeast Coast. Learn that you don’t have to travel to the Bahamas or any other far exotic island to find the perfect catch. Many ideal places are right here in the United States, including Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, and St. Augustine, Florida.

In order to fly fish successfully, a fisherman must know what kind of species he or she wants, what rod and line combo works best, what flies to stock, and of course when and where to be.

For each chapter, Churchill gives advice on where to find specific species of fish, from the striped bass in the southeast region of the Roanoke River to mahimahi in the Gulf Stream, forty miles off of Morehead City, North Carolina, as well as specifics on the approach of catching each species, as they’re all quite different. While full of tips and advice, Churchill makes it clear that, if ever fishing on the coast, you must be involved in a conservation effort. The environment and fish are constantly in danger, so make sure to always be aware and put your planet first!

Drew Chicone
Top Saltwater Flies

Top Saltwater Flies is certain take your personal fly tying to a whole new level. Drew Chicone will have you tying like a master. Top Saltwater Flies comes in three extraordinary, handsome volumes:

• Bonefish: 296 pages
• Tarpon: 300 pages
• Permit: 260 pages
• 8.5 x 11 inches on quality coated stock
• Special laminated hardcovers for durability
• Patented Wire-O binding open flat on your tying desk
• Printed in the United States by American craftsmen

“Whether it’s camaraderie, creativity, art—or simply a device to catch more fish—people are passionate about tying flies for a lot of different reasons. For me, it’s all those reasons and more. Tying is an important part of my daily routine. And teaching others the art of fly tying is one of my favorite activities.”

~Drew Chicone

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The post Books by Tail Contributors first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Books by Tail Contributors appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Here’s what an angler should know before embarking on a trip to land a GT…

An incredibly strong, ferocious and aggressive reef fish. It is a large member of the jack family and is also known as the Giant Kingfish, Pacific Jack Fish, Goyan Fish, Lowly Trevally, Barrier Trevally, Ulua in Hawaii, Mamulan in the Marianas, Rōnin-aji in Japan and just plain GT for short. The Giant Trevally is similar in shape and appearance to a number of other large jacks and trevallies, having a large profile secondary to its muscular compressed oval body. GT’s are normally a silvery color with occasional dark spots although males may be black once they mature. The fish grows relatively fast, reaching sexual maturity with a length of approximately 60 cm at three years of age. With a documented maximum length of greater than 5.5 feet (~2 meters) and a weight of 175 lbs. (80kg), fish this big (or even close to this size) are extremely rare, with the species only occasionally seen at lengths greater than 3 feet (~0.8 meters). The Hawaiian Islands seem to have the largest fish, so if you are aiming for a trophy….Aloha, GTs over 100 lbs. (45 kg) are there.

Keep in Mind: Only three GTs over 100 lbs. (45 kg) from non-Hawaiian destinations have been reported to the IGFA.
GT’s Geography: The Giant Trevally is distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. They range southward from South America in the west to Hawaii in the east, as far north as Japan and southern Australia. They range along the coasts of three continents and many hundreds of smaller islands and archipelagos in the Indian Ocean.

GT’s Location Preference: GT’s inhabit a wide range of ocean environments as well as some non-marine environments. They usually start as juveniles in the safety of estuaries, shallow bays and lagoons, as most species do. These juveniles are also well known to live in waters of very low salinity such as coastal lakes and upper reaches of rivers. They tend to prefer brackish waters similar to baby Tarpon and Jack Crevalles. GT’s move to deeper reefs, offshore atolls, large embayment’s, bombora or drop-off channels as they become adults and realize their speed and power.

How to Hunt the Flats King:

Keep in Mind: You have a GT on the line? Prepare yourself, it’s time for battle against the ferocious beast. They know their domain, are incredibly strong and they will do anything to get off your line, except jump.
Most of the time, you will be chasing solitary GT’s on the flats. They are not difficult to locate since they aren’t quiet as they are pushing a lot of water. Solitary hunters have an advantage over pack hunters when you throw a fly at them because they are the only hunter there to attack. They will aggressively assault your fly and you will know that there is a GT at the end of your line. Some larger and bolder GT have been seen eating a lobster head first while it’s in a defensive stance. So you can image what they would do to a fleeing fly.

The name of the game is creating the illusion of distress. If you cast a fly into the range of a GT, strip it effectively making lots of noise thus creating the impression that it is a desperate baitfish fleeing for its life, you will probably be successful. They are there to eat and you should be able to entice one to attack. That being said, they aren’t injudicious so it might take some convincing for them to come on to the flat which is why many anglers will just chum for them..
Once hooked it is absolutely essential to high stick, which means holding your fly rod straight up in the air allowing maximum clearance of line since you have just pissed off one tough fish. The run of a GT is not like the run of a bonefish. They move in a zigzag motion and frequently turn around to come straight toward you which is pretty much the opposite of the blistering straight line sprint of the bonefish away from you.
GT is no doubt the strongest flats fish on the planet. If you get to fish for and land it, reminisce and treasure the experience.

It’s a difficult species on many levels.

Recommended Flies for GT:

Baitfish imitators, but our friends in Australia really like poppers.Depending on size of fish you can tie them on hooks from a 1-0 to a 5-0.

Most Big Poppers (Yellow/green Blue/White & Pink/White)

Trey Comb’s Sea Habit (for almost any big salt water fish)
Enrico Puglisi’s Peanut Butter (Black/White, gray/White)
Any Glass Minnow

Some recommended reading is the latest book from Peter McLeod on fishing for GT.  It is a very well written book and has probably already become “the” book to read on fly fishing for giant Trevally.

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The post Hunting Giant Trevally (GT) on the Fly first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Hunting Giant Trevally (GT) on the Fly appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Be prepared for anything and everything

Unlike other species that are caught on a 12 weight, GT are often caught wading, so everything must be brought with you on the flat. GT fishing is almost always catching other fish on an 8 weight rod, so bringing two rods out on the flat is a must. Fish like Milkfish, triggerfish, bluefin trevally and golden trevally are all caught on smaller rods, so an 8 to 10 weight rod is what you typically step out of the boat holding. Casting to all of these fish almost makes you forget that GT exist, and then you turn around and there is an apex predator swimming behind you and it’s game on. Say “see ya later” to your 8 weight and drop it in the water, grab your big rod and make your shots.

GT fishing is exhausting compared to tarpon fishing. Walking through flats definitely takes it out of you. Water and snacks are a must because of this. Alcoholic drinks are best kept off the boat and left on land. Landing one of these fish requires a lot of energy. Hauling around a big pack and walking for miles just to get the chance to cast at one is worth it though, these fish pull hard.

The bag

I started out with a hip bag, but I found I preferred the size and more even weight distribution that a backpack provides. A backpack also provides easier storage for my 12 weight. My pack of choice is the UMPQUA Tongass 1800 waterproof backpack. The pack has a rod carry system on each side, making it easily accessible. If you do not have this pack, a great way to hold your spare rod is to put the butt of your rod in your pocket and buckle your waist strap around it. Regardless of how you store it, make sure your rod is on the opposite side of your body than your casting arm.

Tackle

Because I have the extra room of a backpack I typically bring two fly boxes with me on the flat. While it is overkill, I enjoy being over prepared. One fly box has GT flies, the other has everything else.

For leaders and tippet I bring everything I need to build a leader from scratch. From 80 pound test down to 40. My backing is 60 pound test, so my leader must have a section weaker than that. I will also bring tapered leaders ranging from 10 pound test to 20 for the other fish on the flats. It is common to go days without touching your GT rod so don’t expect to need a full fly box worth of flies.

GT are known for blowing up rods, reels and fly lines. Because of this I pack an extra fly line.

Tools

I use my pliers for everything. Pulling out flies, tightening knots, cutting line and opening beer bottles. Because of this, my pliers are always on my belt rather than in my bag. I also carry a separate pair of nippers as well as a knot tension tool, just in case.

Other tools people bring out include knot assistant tools such as blood knot and nail knot tools. If you struggle with these knots or simply like assistance with them, find room for them. Don’t let not being able to tie a knot keep you from a day of fishing.

Although I often forget it’s there and forget to use it, I bring a GoPro with me. The cameras are waterproof and durable. Perfect for capturing the perfect underwater release shot.

Hydration and sun protection

I bring a Nalgene with me on every flat. Plastic water bottles will find their way back to a dump, or worse, a beach. I also pack a tube of hydration tablets and put two in each liter of water. Long days in the sun require hydration, don’t forget to drink.

I pack an extra pair of polarized sun glasses in case my primary pair goes overboard as well as a cloth to clean them. A cloth that is specifically for cleaning glasses does a far better job than a t-shirt or a buff.

I also pack and extra hat, a sun gator and sunscreen. 

Not pictured

If there is any chance of rain, I pack a rain jacket. Thin jackets like the Patagonia Houdini jacket work great. I also bring a hook sharpener, it’s an old school piece of gear, but many anglers still swear by them. 

GT are some of the most rewarding fish to target. Landing one is just as rewarding as having your rod explode into pieces after hooking one.

The post Inside the pack: Cole’s GT bag first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Inside the pack: Cole’s GT bag appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

There is so much that goes into casting a fly rod, from how you grip the rod, to the timing of your haul. This blog is breaking down casting and focusing on one aspect of a cast. Similar to our last blog, How to Grip a Fly Rod.

1) Limit yourself to no more than three back casts.

Don’t waste time showing of your beautiful cast, just deliver the fly. Depending on what line you are throwing, the shooting head will be the first 30-50 feet of your fly line. The further the shooting head gets away the easier it is to lose line speed. Once you lose line speed you can pretty much kiss your cast goodbye. Ideally by your third back cast you will be to the end of your shooting head, or a few feet past it, and you can deliver your final cast. If done right, you will be able to throw the line further on the third forward cast than on the fourth or fifth. This is because once there is too much line out, the line will slow down.  This loss of line speed will not allow the line to shoot. The other reason to limit your back cast is because of time. You only have about 30 seconds in most cases to present your fly.  Fish are so unpredictable, so it would be optimal to present your fly to the fish before it leaves the flat.

2) Haul! Right off the bat

So you are sitting on the bow of the boat, not much is happening and someone yells TARPON. You start waving your rod around in a frenzy trying to get your cast started with probably very little success. If you have never made this mistake I admire you, because we have done this. To prevent a situation like this keep around 9 feet ( the length of a typical fly rod) or more of your fly line out. This allows you to keep your fly wet and ready and your shooting head locked and loaded.  It might also be a good idea to hold your fly with your index finger and thumb by the hook (“Keys style”) so your line can yank it out of your hand and minimize noise and potential for tangle.

When you hear someone say “fish” you now have an adequate amount of line out to start your three casts. Think of your cast as a power bank. The more energy that you put into your cast on the first haul, the more energy you will have on the final one. So haul like your life depends on it right away without forgetting your form and technique. Generating line speed will pay off a few seconds later.

3) Last minute prep

Your final back cast can be more important than the final forward one. Hauling the fly line loads the rod and generates speed for the next cast. So give everything you’ve got into the second to last cast. This will load the rod and allow it to shoot line forward towards the fish. As well as your haul, allow for a fair amount of line to shoot behind you to help load the rod. The fly will then rocket forward faster than any 10 second car in the Fast and the Furious.

As you have probably heard a million times, casting is all in the prep work. Practice time in the driveway means more fish landed, well at least jumped in the future. When you are practicing, practice these techniques without forgetting the basics, grip, body posture, your elbow, etc. Hold your fly line and pretend you see a fish. My dog will often chase and bite yarn on the end of a fly line, so I will practice by throwing a ball of yarn at him (no hook obviously). Three back casts, putting maximum effort into the first and last back cast. Then retrieving the fly, trying to get my dog to follow it. I think Vince Lombardi said this, but practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.

Tight lines ya’ll

The post 3 Tips for Making Your First Shot first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post 3 Tips for Making Your First Shot appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

No matter how great of an angler you are, there will come a time where you will struggle to select a fly. It is the ultimate equalizer. And as the old saying goes, you can not catch fish if your line is not in the water. Staring into your fly box as if it is a black hole is not a good place to start. The problem is that if you ask ten different anglers what fly you should use, you are likely to get ten different answers. And this blog will not give you a definitive answers, but it can help to point you in the right direction.

The key to answering this question is done the night before. There are no certainties in fishing, so bring more than the fly you are confident will catch fish. Even the hungriest trevally can snuff the wrong fly. Cover your colors as well as patterns. The first thing I do is start with the pattern and color that I think will work. If blind casting I give myself 15 to 20 minutes of fishing. If this fly does not work I put on a fly with the opposite color. So if I am fishing a white fly, I put on a black fly. Keep in mind, this is what I do when I have no clue what fly to pick. If you see fish feeding on a certain color baitfish, it is probably a good idea to put a fly with similar colors on.

I brought extra orange flies on a trip to Cuba after hearing from reliable sources that the fish like this color. If all else failed, I would put on an orange fly and then cycle through patterns opposed to colors. It worked. I put all of my faith into these orange flies because it was all I had to go off of at times. My boat partner joked about this decision making. I told him I like to put on the fly I am the most confident with because I will cast and retrieve it with confidence. Again he joked about this decision. 

We approached some tarpon crushing baitfish along the beach. We took turns throwing a variety of flies at them. The Cuban guide eventually shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know what they eat.”

My boat partner said I know exactly what they want, and pulled out his favorite fly. I watched his cast improve. He retrieved his fly with joy rather than desperation. The fish did not eat and we moved on. Hours later we encountered the same situation, and my boat partner chose his same white fly. A huge flash of silver came up from the dark. “I told you this was the fly.”

It could have been any fly that day. We had no idea what the fish were feeding on. But if you do not have an educated opinion in what fly to throw, trust your gut. At some point in time we will all end up in this situation. Fishing new places brings us down a few rungs on the ladder for this reason. Trust your gut and tie on what looks and feels good. If that does not work, work your way through the box. At the end of the day, it is just fishing, you have done this before and will likely do it again.

For more resources on fly tying visit:  

239 Flies, Flyfishbonehead, Frankenfly, In the Riffle, DronsWorld

The post The Fly You Are Confident In first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post The Fly You Are Confident In appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Flats Fishing for Giant Trevally, GT Behavior & Hangouts

Catching a Giant Trevally (GT) on a fly rod is the pinnacle of flats fishing: highly challenging, requiring skill and preparation. Peter McLeod of international flyfishing specialists Aardvark McLeod, has now written the first comprehensive book on catching these ‘gangsters of the ocean’.  He covers how to catch them, where to catch them, their behaviour, the equipment, tips and techniques from expert guides all round the world, wherever GTs lurk and sporting anglers pit their skills against this most rewarding of quarry. GT, A Flyfisher’s Guide to Giant Trevally, $45 colour hardback, Merlin Unwin Books Ltd.

So where do we find GTs?  These predators are one of the most opportunistic feeders swimming in the ocean. To catch GTs on a fly you are first going to have to enter their environment and then hunt them in it. There is nothing random about how GTs move. Their movements are dictated by their unique understanding of their environment and the availability of food. And, in a similar way to humans, individual fish have their own characteristics and preferences.

Although their overriding motivation for being in a particular locale is dictated by water temperature, tide levels, available food sources and seasons, an understanding of the areas they frequent is vital. There is no quick and easy fix; it is just a question of understanding what motivates them, covering the ground and putting in the hours on the flats and the other areas they hang out. The more ground you cover and the more of their environment you can visit, the more chance you have of getting a shot. When that shot comes, you need to be ready as the opportunity comes and goes like a match lit in a wind. It can be not only physically but also mentally challenging to maintain that level of concentration for an extended period of time, often while just trying to stay upright on coral or surf.

As these bruisers are so adaptable, their hunting grounds range from offshore rock pinnacles to coral reef edges, channels, flats and estuarine systems. Juveniles tend to be more prevalent in estuaries and river systems where, like baby tarpon, they feel safe from larger predators and in turn can hunt other bait living there for the same reasons. Once they attain a certain size, perhaps 20-40cm, they will begin to group together and move out to deeper water to find structure such as a coral reef, bombies, drop-offs or channels. These locales contain strong currents where schools of bait are buffeted, making them easy targets for the fast and powerful trevally.  As a rule of thumb when on the flats, the larger the group of GTs, the smaller the fish are – with the really big fish tending to remain as singles. The exception to this is a high concentration of food which will draw large concentrations of trevally to an area including the bigger fish which will shoal up again.

As soon as the tide allows, even very large GTs will venture onto flats, headlands and shallow water to hunt, utilising the network of channels or areas of deeper water. GTs can also be found along the reef edge and points where large pounding swells crash on the reef and rock, stirring up food and creating the ideal hunting ground. They will eat pretty much anything that moves or swims and are totally opportunistic. I have seen them charge packs of bait fish, tail on crabs on the flats, and I have even heard of fish along the drop-off ganging up and taking out small sharks. On Goulette island on Farquhar Atoll, the GTs have even figured out the breeding habits of the thousands of Sooty Terns that breed there. In the autumn they will track and eat a whole Sooty Tern – one innovative angler landed a GT on a ‘bird fly’ he had made out of a full-sized black flipflop. The GT ate it whole! For a fly fishermen, these areas of flats and coral drop-offs are the ideal place to hunt them. In an effort to bring them into some kind of order I have decided to follow the ebb and flow of a tidal cycle.

SURFING

Right at the start of the pushing tide, one of the best places to find GTs is in the surf on the reef edge on the incoming tide.  At low tide the front of the reef is the perfect place to start, looking in all the cuts and holes. GTs sit in these holes and wait like a trout in a stream for unsuspecting baitfish to be washed over their heads where they are easily intercepted. As the tide begins to gain momentum, the GTs become more active in their anticipation to come onto the flats. Fishermen can then move back across the coral bars as the surf increases and use the waves as windows into the world of the GT. There is nothing quite like watching a wave lift and seeing three or four GTs surfing down the inside of the wave, using the extra speed and momentum to smash into unsuspecting prey. As the angler is pushed further back from the surf line towards the shore, the GTs will gain access to the flats. It is time for the angler to move and stake out the channels that the GTs use as highways.

CHANNELS OR GT HIGHWAYS are GT Behavior & Hangouts

Channels are the first sections on the flats to become submerged and the last to lose water. All fish will generally swim in the deepest water available to them, and GTs are no exception. If you study a map of the flats you will clearly see the network of channels that resemble the veins in a leaf. Always look for intersection points from deeper water to lagoons or flats. Bonefish behave in the same way, but earlier in the tidal cycle. In lagoon systems such as Christmas Island, the GTs have preferred paths they will use to gain access to the back of the lagoon and the feeding grounds there. The same goes for flats, often large flats with depressions or channels running through them such as Orvis Flat on Christmas Island, Second Island on Farquhar or Little Snake Island in Sudan. These GT highways provide the perfect access points to the flats, just like a motorway connecting towns and cities. It can be worth staking out these highways on an incoming tide and spending a little time to see what comes along heading onto the flats. If you have the patience, you will not be disappointed.

THE FLATS

Whether it be pancake flats, turtle grass flats, coral flats or sand flats, once the water reaches critical height the GTs will slip over the edge and start to prowl like a pack of dogs, or in some cases as a lone wolf. They tend to be attracted to depressions (deeper areas within the flat), white holes and any structure that they can use as an ambush point. The great thing about having such a large fish in such shallow water is that not only can you spot them from a considerable distance if the visibility is good, but they move water, giving away their position. Always be on the lookout for bow waves, nervous water moving against the tide and also smashing of the water surface as they hunt. Keep an eye out for birds which will often track them across the flats, looking for an easy meal as the GTs stun baitfish.

Pancake flats by their very nature are an excellent hangout for GTs. Pancake flats are small hard coral flats, often covered in turtle grass, which have deep water all around them. The pancake flats inside the Christmas Island lagoon for example have long been an ideal bonefish spot, as large fish can scoot off the flat in a hurry if they become alarmed. By the same token deep water right next to shallow flats will encourage GTs to add them to their patrol route.  Pancake flats inside atoll lagoons or estuaries are particularly good on dropping tides, sucking small fish off the flats much like tiger fish zoning in on bulldog baitfish on the Zambezi.

On large open flats with a combination of turtle grass and sand such as the Cosmoledo lagoon or Green Mile on Farquhar, always keep an eye out for stingrays. Like permit and bonefish, GTs like an easy meal so will follow stingrays along the flats as they grub around. Normally going dark and adopting the colour of their host, they can sometimes be hard to pick out, so if you see a stingray it’s always worth a cast in their direction. These ‘Ray-Rider GTs’ will jump on any food item that wanders in their path. Tim Babich believes that this is a two-way relationship and the rays use the GT as an early warning device against sharks and other predators. To this end he has seen rays follow a GT after it was spooked off him, catch up with it and then begin feeding again. Although baitfish patterns remain effective, they can be refused if the GT is totally clued into the feeding of the ray in this situation – they are looking for food stirred up off the bottom by the ray. In this instance a tan Clouser or large crab pattern can be highly effective……….

GT BEHAVIOR AND HANGOUTS

by Peter Mcleod

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Flats and Surf Fishing Offers Great Opportunities

Fishing the flats with a fly rods offer opportunities for several species and global destinations.  Fishing the Northern California surf for Corbina, you had better practice your casting and have a striping basket.  Take a adventure to South Carolina’s Low Land Flats for Redfish to gain more skill.  How about a trip to the Indian Ocean or Pacific for bison of the flats, a true challenge.

The post GT Behavior & Hangouts first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post GT Behavior & Hangouts appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.