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5The Big

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Great fishing can be had in each saltwater region of the United States, but there are a few fisheries in the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Northeast, West Coast and mid-Atlantic that really stand out. These five spots prove anglers don’t always have to travel far to find opportunistic waters.

Cover story byFFSW ContribUtorS

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the Keys p.52CATCh BoNefiSh, PermiT ANd TArPoN uNder The floridA SuN.

Louisiana p.54exPlore The mArSheS ANd exPerieNCe ePiC redfiShiNG.

montauk p.56fiSh The BoiliNG BliTzeS of STriPed BASS ANd BluefiSh.

San diego p.58Go Toe-To-Toe WiTh ACroBATiC mAko ShArkS.

Cape Lookout p.59GeT iN oN The NeArShore feediNG freNzieS of SPeedy fAlSe AlBACore.

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5The Big

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the Keys

F lorida’s expansive coastline is chock full of unbelievable fisheries, but out of all of them, it’s hard to find any that are as diverse as south Florida and, more specifically, the everglades

and the Florida Keys. It’s just one of those des-tinations that offer days during certain times of the year when it becomes a challenge to decide what game fish to target. bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook and redfish are just a handful of options to be found in the skinny water, while offshore, anglers can chase myriad species including blackfin tuna, dolphin, sailfish, king mackerel and more. It’s almost impossible to list all the available options enjoyed by fly-anglers in this region. these waters have become iconic

due to the legendary guides that have poled and continue to pole them. Guiding in the Glades and the Keys separates the men from the boys, mean-ing, in order to make it, you can’t fake your way through. the fish here are said to be the most educated fish in the world, which means they aren’t very forgiving.

anglers traveling the southern end of the Sunshine State can absolutely have great fish-ing 365 days of the year (as long as the weather

cooperates), but nothing can rival the intensity of tarpon season in the Glades and the Keys. It’s a time of year that many wait on much like children wait on christmas. come may, when the tarpon start swimming strong, by and large that’s what practically every guide is chasing. as far as tarpon fishing goes, the Glades and the Keys are textbook examples of everything you read about: Laying up fish, cruising fish, rolling fish and daisy-chaining fish are all scenarios that take place in these waters. If you come to land a silver king, book early — no joke — guides get booked solid very early.

Fishing the flats for permit is yet another opportunity in south Florida, and it can be quite good, if you bring your a-game, that is. permit will always be permit in the sense that they will

always be a challenge, no matter what, but using a quality guide will certainly increase your odds and will provide you with ample shots at quality fish. Spring is a great time to target these wily, blunt-face, finicky fish — when you go, book several days to ensure you get the full experience.

as far as bonefishing goes, well, many feel that the Florida Keys have the largest bones in the world, but just as many feel they are the most challenging bones to be found anywhere. In some places in the bahamas and the caribbean, bonefish practically go

out of their way to eat flies. this is not the case in the Keys at all. You’ve got to sweet-talk

each one. to boot, this part of Florida is the only place in the country where anglers can have the chance at achieving a grand slam (catching a bonefish, permit and tarpon in a single day).

In addition to great fishing, the Florida Keys are, plain and simple, a cool place to be. Interestingly, each island that makes up the

“Keys” seemingly has its own unique culture, and the same is true for the everglades. that being said, these two legendary hot spots have at least one thing in common, and that’s a laid-back atmosphere that’s incredibly hard to find. From the Glades, to Islamorada, to marathon and down to Key West, there’s something for everyone. this is a place where all you need to bring is a will to fish, a thirst for a cocktail or two and the desire to kick back and relax.

Where to ...Drink

� Enjoy the water and a cold cocktail at the Lorelei, one of Islamorada’s most iconic watering holes. In addition to its great atmo-sphere, it also has great food. 305-664-2692 loreleicabana bar.com

� While it may be a bit touristy, no trip to Key West would be complete without a stop at Sloppy Joe’s, located right on Duval Street. 305-294-5717 sloppyjoes.com

Eat

� Another popular eat-ing spot in Islamorada is the Green Turtle Inn. This iconic restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. 305-664-2006 greenturtle keys.com

Stay

� Get some rest after fishing at Chica Lodge, located on Islamorada. This resort and spa manages to offer everything in an upscale fashion without losing that Keys feel. 800-327-2888 cheeca.com

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Come AS you Are. fiSh for PreTTy muCh ANyThiNG you’d like.

“the magic of tarpon is that they appear in a window of time when conditions are perfect.” — Capt. Will benson

Crystal-clear water and blue skies are an angler’s dream, especially in the Florida Keys. This destination offers it all: quiet beaches, great night life, fresh seafood and an endless supply of fly-fishing.

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tarpon Weight Average 60 to 90 pounds season Late spring through July time Can happen any time of day

bonefish Weight Average 4 to 7 pounds season Year-round time Early morning and early evening

Permit Weight Average 5 to 15 pounds season Spring and summertime Any time of day

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5The Big

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Louisiana

After seeing just how good the redfishing can be off coastal Louisiana, it’s quite easy to see why it’s also known as the Sportsman’s paradise. of course, just like at any destination, the

quality of fishing highly depends on the condi-tions, but when it’s on — it’s really on.

It’s hard to pinpoint a specific “Louisiana hot spot” because, in truth, various parts of the marsh can be going off at any given time. because of that, many of the guides encourage their guests to fly into New orleans and lodge there. this gives them flexibility when it comes to where exactly they will be fishing. the good and bad news about this is the same — staying in New orleans can be a lot of fun, and it can also mean late nights. even if you do hit the town a little too late, though, when your guide picks you up or it comes time to meet him at the dock, keep in mind that any given day in the marsh has the potential to be unforget-table. While the fall and winter months seem to be

popular times to fish these waters, great redfish-ing can be had pretty much any time of the year. be mindful that, if you choose to go during the winter months, it can get much colder than you’d think. bring plenty of layers and be ready for wind and rain. If you go in the summer, well, just be prepared for some serious heat. as cold as it can get, it can get equally hot and humid. but again, anglers fishing anywhere in Louisiana should know that any given day and any given flat could hold a monster of a redfish. this fishery is one that every self-respecting, sight-fishing fly-angler needs to experience. the fish in these cajun waters are plentiful and have the potential to grow to trophy proportions, and for the most part, they pounce on flies with authority.

leT The Good TimeS roll iN A SPorTSmAN’S PArAdiSe.

Sight-fishing in Louisiana waters takes a little bit of getting used to. The water isn’t exactly gin clear, so anglers should focus heavily on color and shape.

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Where to ...Drink

� Grab a cocktail at the Blue Nile, which is also a great live-music spot for New Orleans-based anglers. 504-948-2583 bluenilelive.com

Eat

� You can’t visit Louisiana and not eat fresh seafood. Get the real deal at Deanie’s Seafood, which is a French Quarter favorite. Fishing all day takes it out of you, and the portions here are authentic and will fill the largest of appetites. 504-581-1316 deanies.com

Stay

� After fish-ing, rest at the Hotel St. Marie, which is quite modestly priced and located in the renowned French Quarter. It also has a great bar and restaurant, if you choose to go. 504-561-8951 hotelstmarie.com

tHe CatCH

redfish Weight Average 6 to 12 pounds season Year-round time Early morning, late afternoon

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5The Big

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montauk

If you were to ask striper experts what they felt to be the top three striper destinations in the country, montauk would likely be on each one of their lists. It’s such a diverse fishery that offers

angling advantages that other spots just don’t. Sitting at the very tip of Long Island and

only about 2½ hours away from New York city, montauk is known as “the end” by locals. While most people don’t always think of striper fishing as at a sight-fishery, stalking bass on shallow-water flats has become more and more popu-lar. the north side of montauk going into the Gardiner’s Island area is where many consider the origin of Northeast sight-fishing to be. the

flats in this region are world class in terms of the numbers and size of fish that are available when the bite is on.

one reason why fish congregate along montauk’s north side is because all the baitfish leaving both Long Island Sound and peconic bay have to pass by on their way south. What this literally means is that all the young-of-the-year baitfish from both estuaries collide with all the striped bass migrating past montauk point. Not a bad place to be if you are a striper nut.

the other great part of montauk is its south side. Here, you have the superclean, clear, cold oceanic water of the atlantic crashing up against numerous rocky points. these points provide residences for loads of baitfish, which are what obviously attract the bass. also, because this cold

water is more oxygenated and big fish in turn need more oxygen, it’s a great place to target trophy-size fish during the summer and fall months.

as far as the time of year to be in this region, there are two runs. You have the spring run that basically goes from may through the end of June. then, you have the fall run that typically starts after the first cold front in late august or early September. If the weather holds, this run can last all the way through December.

there’s also a great fishery of blitzing fish that starts around the beginning of September and will go through october. this fishery hinges on the bay anchovies. these small, transparent baitfish barely have a tail and therefore aren’t strong swimmers. When they get flushed out of the bays and spill into the ocean, they use the defense-in-numbers strategy and are basically left to the mercy of the current. these gigantic

brown clouds (baitballs) give striper, blue-fish and false albacore the opportunity to

gorge themselves by the mouthful. When it’s going off, this is one of the more visual fisheries you can find. the bait are thick, and you can practically smell the carnage

caused by the game fish below and birds from above. Keep in mind that, because this

is an inshore situation, surf fishermen have the ability to take full advantage of it. For this reason, montauk is often referred to as the surf fishing capital of the United States. In fact, montauk could be one of the finest places in the world to land a trophy on fly tackle while stand-ing on land.

the town of montauk is literally based around the fishing community, and while it has changed a bit, it hasn’t as much as other nearby coastal areas. In montauk, it’s still all about fishing. During the season, fishermen take over. Fishing is what keeps montauk in business, and in a sense, it’s lawless. For example, officials know that if there are vans parked on the beach, it’s because somebody is sleeping in it waiting to go fish; officials know and accept that these beach buggies are there for one reason and realize they don’t mean any harm. So if you mind your p’s and q’s and don’t bother anybody, fish all night and sleep all day or vice versa.

Where to ...Drink

� One of the best places to grab a drink after a successful day on the water in Montauk is The Hideaway, an establishment that prides itself on a passion for entertaining. While it has a great atmosphere for post-fishing cocktails, it also offers food made with the freshest ingredients. 631-668-6592 thehideaway montauk.com

Eat� Fill your belly at Shagwong. No, it’s not an Asian-inspired restau-rant. It’s a clam chowda house that also offers plenty of other excellent local seafood dishes. The Shagwong Restaurant lives and dies by its motto: “Great Food and Fun Times.” 631-668-3050 shagwong.com

Stay

� Relax at the Snug Harbor Hotel, which offers space to keep your trailered boat as well as offering boat slips. 631-668-2860 montauksnug harbor.com

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tHe CatCH

fiNd eNdleSS ANGliNG iN A PlACe loCAlS refer To AS “The eNd.”

“ i love stripers, but don’t forget about bluefish. Last year, i saw fish that could eat a small child. ” — Craig Cantelmo

Striper Weight Average 5 to 15 pounds season Spring, summer and fall time Late afternoon, early evening

bluefish Weight Average 5 to 15 pounds season Spring, summer and fall time Late afternoon, early evening

Few places offer such a picturesque backdrop for anglers hunting striped bass and bluefish. Even when seas are big and skies are gray, there’s something about Montauk that attracts the most hard-core anglers around.

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Many angling circles foolishly consider false albacore bycatch, trash fish or bait. this is not the case among the fly-fishing community

— especially for those in the cape Lookout area. really, what’s not to like? albies are voracious eat-ers, they are plentiful, and pound for pound they pull like you wouldn’t believe. this area could easily be called the false albacore capital of the world, and when they are in, the fleet is out. While some fishing communities frown upon loads of boats on the fishing grounds and argue boat-to-boat about whose fish are whose, this is a rare occurrence in this region. the small-town vibe typically carries over from land to water.

Visiting anglers who travel here to cash in on the albie run are primarily looking for giant baitballs of silversides or bay anchovies. When you find the baitballs, look for “boiling” water caused by fish gorging themselves on these small minnows. one aspect about some of the beaches in this area is how fast they drop off. What this affords us fly-anglers with is a real opportunity to catch these fish while standing on land. It can sometimes require a lot of blind-casting and walking, but it is certainly doable and worth the effort. While locals have known about this fishery for who knows how many years, it really blew up after Flip pallot hosted an episode of The Walker’s Cay Chronicles with area local tom earnhardt. once the show aired, the secret was out. It became so popular that, with help from Donnie Jones of Jones brothers marine, earnhardt now hosts a massive picnic during the first week of November each year. Donnie and tom open the event to the public and require only a good attitude, a big appetite and a passion for false albacore as the price of admission.

The CrySTAl CoAST GiveS WAy To AWeSome NeArShore ANd BeAChSide ACTioN.

Left: When you approach a baitball with birds diving on it, the odds are in your favor to find feeding false albacore beneath. Small flies and a fast retrieve will do.

Cape Lookout

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Where to ...Drink

� Grab a cold beer at the Ruddy Duck Tavern, located in Morehead City. In addition to having an awesome bar, it serves great food. 252-726-7500 ruddyduck tavern.com

Eat

� Experience some of the local seafood at the Captain’s Choice Restaurant on Harker’s Island. This is a laid-back place with great food and no dress code — flip-flops encouraged. 252-728-7122

Stay � Get some rest at the Harker’s Island Fishing Center. It offers clean, comfortable, no-frills rooms at a rate you can’t beat. 252-728-3907 Harkers marina.com

tHe CatCH

False albacore Weight Average 8 to 12 pounds

season Late September to mid-Novembertime Could happen any time of day

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5The Big

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San diego

Everyone who visits San Diego always seems to come back raving about how great the place is. the weather is perfect, the people are friendly, the beaches are beautiful, and the fish tacos are amazing. that’s the usual commentary, and perhaps that’s how it received the title of “america’s Finest city.”

because it is one of the largest cities in the country, automatically there’s going to be tons to do. that especially goes for the summer months, which conveniently are the peak season to chase mako sharks, a species that has rapidly become one of the area’s most sought after fly-rod game fish.

one of the many beautiful parts of San Diego, its downtown area offers countless things to do for the nonangling members of your family, and best of all, these attractions are very close to the water. because there are dozens upon dozens of great hotels in the vicinity, it’s very easy to base your family-friendly fly-fishing vacation in the heart of the city.

mako sharks have so many favorable qualities that it’s hard to mention all of the characteristics fly-anglers look for in the species. these fish can get very big, they are willing eaters, they jump extremely high out of the water, they’re fast, they’re strong — the list goes on. on top of all that, with the right guide, they are a fantastic fish for beginner fly-anglers to chase. While you can make long casts for these fish, most of the time it’s not at all necessary. most skip-

pers use chumming tactics to attract the sharks into

range, and at times you can coax them close

enough to make yourself uncom-fortable. at this

point, it really just becomes a matter of

picking out the one you want to cast to.

the makos of San Diego are also very accessible. oftentimes you can find great fishing less than 5 miles offshore and sometimes as close as a half-mile off the beach. Under normal circumstances, the waters are calm, which means you can target these fish in a variety of smaller bay or center-console type ves-sels, and once they are around the boat, get ready for an unforgettable fight.

Where to ...Drink

� Grab a cold one after a full day of mako fishing at Island Prime and C Level, which also serves great food. 619-298-6802

Eat

� Get a giant burger or a fish taco at the Harbor Town Pub after you get off the water. 619-224-1321 Harbortown pub.com

Stay

� Kick back at the Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn, which is also an awesome place to watch live music on site. 800-542-7400 halfmooninn.com

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GeT BiT By The mAko ShArk BuG iN AmeriCA’S fiNeST CiTy.

Top: In addition to mako sharks, the nearshore waters of San Diego offer plenty of other angling options.

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tHe CatCH

mako Shark Weight Average 40 to 200-plus pounds season May through October time Late afternoon, early evening

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