Salt water reports have been slow, so I thought I would put up some blood and gore porn.
My bro and I got into some Dorado off Elbow Cay, Abaco, Bahamas in early May. Trolling Ballyhoo on gear going about 8 knots, and you would see these guys out of the corner of your eye coming from 100 feet away to the bait, so fast they looked like they were just skimming the tops of the waves 'till they smacked the bait. Quick release on the drag to let the "wounded" bait flutter, shut down the boat, and wait for the return grab, a power hook set, then BAM, off to the races.
The trick was to keep the fish on and not land him, and keep it within a short distance from the boat until his buddies swam back to see what the fuss was about and you could cast a fly to 'em. One back cast and let loose with the biggest flies I've ever had to cast. Looked like half chickens. Two handed strips for speed, and POW, my 10 wt was bowed and the reel singing tropical tunes. Since one guy was on the decoy fish, and the other casting, didn't get any good pics of leaping fish, but they aerialize and somersault like few fish I've ever seen.
After the first few fish were gaffed and in the box, I suggested to the captain that, since we had more than we could eat, we should start C&R 'ing. He laughed, said it was too early for Coke and Rum. Besides he had a lot of mouths to feed. He and his wife run a private care home for mentally handicapped children, the only one on Abaco. So, it was God's work being done to keep fishing till the deck ran red and everything was splattered with Dorado blood. I felt like a freaking pirate; Aarrghh, take no prisoners says the Captain! 15 in the box, half again as many LDR'd.
But dam, fresh grilled Mahi Mahi steaks, ceviche, washed down with rum drinks or Kaliks, I truly felt thrice blessed: stupendous fish to catch, fishing with my bro, and goods eats! The photo on the beach with the smaller fish in the sand is an African Pompano, lesser cousin to the permit but fights well; fun stuff on a 7 wt rod.
My bro and I got into some Dorado off Elbow Cay, Abaco, Bahamas in early May. Trolling Ballyhoo on gear going about 8 knots, and you would see these guys out of the corner of your eye coming from 100 feet away to the bait, so fast they looked like they were just skimming the tops of the waves 'till they smacked the bait. Quick release on the drag to let the "wounded" bait flutter, shut down the boat, and wait for the return grab, a power hook set, then BAM, off to the races.
The trick was to keep the fish on and not land him, and keep it within a short distance from the boat until his buddies swam back to see what the fuss was about and you could cast a fly to 'em. One back cast and let loose with the biggest flies I've ever had to cast. Looked like half chickens. Two handed strips for speed, and POW, my 10 wt was bowed and the reel singing tropical tunes. Since one guy was on the decoy fish, and the other casting, didn't get any good pics of leaping fish, but they aerialize and somersault like few fish I've ever seen.
After the first few fish were gaffed and in the box, I suggested to the captain that, since we had more than we could eat, we should start C&R 'ing. He laughed, said it was too early for Coke and Rum. Besides he had a lot of mouths to feed. He and his wife run a private care home for mentally handicapped children, the only one on Abaco. So, it was God's work being done to keep fishing till the deck ran red and everything was splattered with Dorado blood. I felt like a freaking pirate; Aarrghh, take no prisoners says the Captain! 15 in the box, half again as many LDR'd.
But dam, fresh grilled Mahi Mahi steaks, ceviche, washed down with rum drinks or Kaliks, I truly felt thrice blessed: stupendous fish to catch, fishing with my bro, and goods eats! The photo on the beach with the smaller fish in the sand is an African Pompano, lesser cousin to the permit but fights well; fun stuff on a 7 wt rod.