Fly Fishing For Ladyfish

[Newsman]

"Dan!" I yelled and pointing excitedly down the beach "Blitz!" I had just noticed A hundred yards down the beach, past Dan, the water was being whipped to a frenzy of bait and predator. Known as a "blitz" on the east coast, we carry the term with us south of the border. By the time he is able to whip around to where I am pointing I'm already in full sprint, running down the warm wet sand. The frenzy is often short lived and no time is wasted getting to the action. Adrenaline fuels my body, I move surprisingly fast when the fish are feeding! Dan is only 200 feet from all the commotion and first to the action. We are never quite sure what to expect until we get close. Members of the jack family are the usual suspects, but sometimes we are surprised. As I get close, my bare toes tangle in my fly line. "Ladyfish!" yells Dan. The predators are ID'd as seen streaking through the surface, seconds before the first one grabs a hold of his flashtail clouser, "Whoohoo!" "Sweet!" I call out as I do the dance to free my line. Dan's two-handed beach rod bends deep to cork as his reel is singing out running line. A two foot silver torpedo flings out of the water and springs back towards the beach as the rod unloads. Finally my line is free from my feet. I rush my cast and send the fly 60' out into the frothing water. As I tuck my rod under my arm to strip, my line comes tight, then slack, several more strips and it's tight again. This time I'm able to set the hook and the fight is on. "Double!" I yelled. My rod bends deep as my reel spins off line. The fish zigs, then zags through the surface waves. Jumps and cartwheels punctuate short quick runs. After a winter of trout and steelhead fishing, I am always so surprised at the pound for pound strength and the shear fun these ladyfish are on a fly rod. Both my brother's fish and mine are landed simultaneously, surfed up onto the smooth wet sand. The fish are admired quickly, then gently released back into the water. While not a glamor fish like a dorado, we both agreed we could catch these little guys all week long! More...