Went out with my uncle today on his boat. Rough seas but we putted around the sheltered sides of the islands and found loads of willing kahwai. I think I got 7-8 on the fly casting into the boils. My uncle worked the bottom picking off the bottom scavenging snapper. What turned an awesome day into an epic day was when we spotted kingfish/yellowtail holding at the surface to a bit of structure. My uncle moved me into position and I made cast after cast and just couldn't get them to take. They would follow it, even fight over it, yet they didn't take. My uncle had an idea, he would cast out his rod rigged with a bit of gulp (a synthetic soft bait that's sorta blown up down here) and I'd swing the boat around the structure while he reeled in as fast as he could. Second cast he got nailed, and landed this beauty.
I was up again. Switched flies to this yellow guy my buddy Justin tied for me. Second cast I landed right near the structure as a kingfish was moving around it. He turned around and straight nailed it right in front of our eyes. Seeing the take is what fly fishing is all about. It was flippin' AWESOME. Within seconds I was down to my backing. We chased the fish down and I reckon just under ten minutes later we had it to the boat.
Kingfish/Yellowtail
Auckland Harbor
6wt fly rod
The Tools
when you labeled the picture as "the tools", as i scrolled down I was expecting to see a picture of Ryan
ReplyDeleteNice Fish Shane!!
ReplyDeleteI'm all stoked the flies are getting used and working for you!!I'm also glad you're hitting the salt as well. Good times my friend enjoy 'em while you can!!
Justin
Hey Shane
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome. Looks like the yellowtail we got up here. Very cool to get one on the fly. Wonder if any type of iron would work down there a livejig or a top water iron would slay them I bet. Congrats.
Yeah dude it is a yellowtail. They call em kingfish or kingies down here. I had left my livejigs and swimmies down in Taranaki. They'd kill it for sure dude.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see your Uncle Hector, I recall two phrases that have permanently replaced the words "flashlight" and "barbecue" in my mental lexicon. They are "beeg muthafuckin' torch!" and "beeg muthafuckin' roast!" respectively.
ReplyDeleteVery Very Cool! I bet that fights a tad harder than a San Gabriel trout LOL !!! So seriously, you coming back to California for a visit?
ReplyDeleteI'll be back June 20th. Going fishing ASAP upon arrival! June 30th making the trek up to the GTW to chase high elevation lake goldens, and then off to do the JMT. Let's go fishing!
ReplyDeleteHey Shay-nerd
ReplyDeleteWhat you been up to? You come in on the 20th huh? When we tubin 'guna? Took both my reels in. Shimano fixed my Curado for free right when I was there (changed the roller bearing) Diawa is fixing my Luna for $31.11 changing like 3 bearings, the shaft, and the gears quite cheap since I paid $30 to get the drags changed last month. Anyways looking to rip some lip when you get back.
We're fishing sometime b/w June 21st and June 28th. For sure. No excuses like "work" or "family." Excuses are like sandbass, they don't count for nothin!
ReplyDelete