Byron
05-19-2010, 08:20 AM
Flats fished with Pat Bracher in Cudjoe key Fl. Last Sat. 05/15/10.
It was my first time in the keys and my first time for tarpon, bonefish and permit and it was a blast. I caught all three species for a grand slam.
I’m sure a lot of you know Pat from when he mates for his Brother Arch on the Pelican out of OIFC. If you have ever had the pleasure fishing with him when he mates on the Pelican you already know what an awesome mate he is and he is equally talented on the flats.
We, myself and my Father in law, Jack Gibson of Poquoson Va./ Marathon fl., met Pat at a small marina in Cudjoe at 05:30. We load up and are under way and it’s still very dark, headed to channel on the Atlantic side, I’m glad he knows the way.
We run a few miles and stop where pat sticks his push pole in the bottom and we tie up. Pat then explains that we will first be targeting tarpon with live crabs on circle hooks on 20 pound class tackle. We fish 3 rods, Pat tells to hold the line and if we feel a tap or pull reel fast.
Jack gets the fist pull but it’s a small shark. Then I get bit but fail to hook up. An hour goes by without any action when Pat tells Jack to crank. He does and he jumps off a large tarpon, at least 100 #. Wow, that’s a big fish. I’m ready now. After another 30 min. Pat say he sees a couple rolling, he gets bit but doesn’t hook up, then Jack and I both get bit and we are hooked up to large tarpon. Both fish jump a couple and Pat says they are big tarpon. After more than an hour of fighting these fish and maneuvering around and over channel markers we release Jack’s fish, around 125-130 Pat says, then it’s on to mine which we release, around 140 according to Pat. We get set up again and Jack catches one more around 100 #. It was kind if like cat fishing till you get hooked up and then it’s like catching a small blue marlin on a TLD 15.
Now we run the Gulf of Mexico side and anchor next to an Island targeting Bonefish and possibly permit. Pat would normally be up on the platform poling looking for fish for us to cast to but there is too much wind to see the fish. We are using light spinning reels baited with a live shrimp that is impaled on kale hook. Pat says he can’t control what bites but there should be some Bonefish here along with sharks and rays. Doesn’t take long and the bites start but they aren’t the bones or permit we want. After 30 minutes or so we get our first bonefish on and I get the rod. After a great fight we land it, Pats says it’s very nice fish around 10 #.
I have seen a lot of bonefish being caught on TV and thought, what’s the big deal, just another hard fighting fish. Needless to say I get it now. These are amazing, fast and strong fish. I can see how people get consumed by them know. We end up catching 4 more bones which were 5-8 pounds.
We move to another spot looking for Permit. Pat takes us to an area that has been holding permits where we anchor up. We are using a little heavier spinning tackle for the permit for they can get up to 50 # and more. Small live crab is the bait. Pat says if you feel a tap set the hook. We miss a few mystery bites when I see a few tarpon curies by. Not long after that I’m hooked up to 60 # tarpon which breaks me off. Re-rigged and hooked up to another tarpon. We chase the fish down hoping for a release but it breaks me off. No problem, I got to see it jump a few time. Get set back up and feel the tap, set the hook and it’s a Permit, not a big one but the fish I need for the Grand Slam.
It’s late and I’m very pleased with the day we have had and tell Pat the same. He says the permit are biting now lets stay a bit longer. No argument from us. We fish another 15 minute and Pat tells us to crank them in. As I start to crank I feel pressure and set the hook on another Permit. This time a bit bigger. These fish are great fighter as well, fast as a bone but with more power. We get the release and call it a day.
Pat gave us a very full day and worked very hard and the results showed that.
If you are ever in the keys during this time of year I highly recommend spending a day with Pat on the Flats. It was a great experience. A link to his web site is attached.
Sorry, no picture now but hopefully I will post some later.
Byron
http://fishovertime.com/boat.php?ghy=4
It was my first time in the keys and my first time for tarpon, bonefish and permit and it was a blast. I caught all three species for a grand slam.
I’m sure a lot of you know Pat from when he mates for his Brother Arch on the Pelican out of OIFC. If you have ever had the pleasure fishing with him when he mates on the Pelican you already know what an awesome mate he is and he is equally talented on the flats.
We, myself and my Father in law, Jack Gibson of Poquoson Va./ Marathon fl., met Pat at a small marina in Cudjoe at 05:30. We load up and are under way and it’s still very dark, headed to channel on the Atlantic side, I’m glad he knows the way.
We run a few miles and stop where pat sticks his push pole in the bottom and we tie up. Pat then explains that we will first be targeting tarpon with live crabs on circle hooks on 20 pound class tackle. We fish 3 rods, Pat tells to hold the line and if we feel a tap or pull reel fast.
Jack gets the fist pull but it’s a small shark. Then I get bit but fail to hook up. An hour goes by without any action when Pat tells Jack to crank. He does and he jumps off a large tarpon, at least 100 #. Wow, that’s a big fish. I’m ready now. After another 30 min. Pat say he sees a couple rolling, he gets bit but doesn’t hook up, then Jack and I both get bit and we are hooked up to large tarpon. Both fish jump a couple and Pat says they are big tarpon. After more than an hour of fighting these fish and maneuvering around and over channel markers we release Jack’s fish, around 125-130 Pat says, then it’s on to mine which we release, around 140 according to Pat. We get set up again and Jack catches one more around 100 #. It was kind if like cat fishing till you get hooked up and then it’s like catching a small blue marlin on a TLD 15.
Now we run the Gulf of Mexico side and anchor next to an Island targeting Bonefish and possibly permit. Pat would normally be up on the platform poling looking for fish for us to cast to but there is too much wind to see the fish. We are using light spinning reels baited with a live shrimp that is impaled on kale hook. Pat says he can’t control what bites but there should be some Bonefish here along with sharks and rays. Doesn’t take long and the bites start but they aren’t the bones or permit we want. After 30 minutes or so we get our first bonefish on and I get the rod. After a great fight we land it, Pats says it’s very nice fish around 10 #.
I have seen a lot of bonefish being caught on TV and thought, what’s the big deal, just another hard fighting fish. Needless to say I get it now. These are amazing, fast and strong fish. I can see how people get consumed by them know. We end up catching 4 more bones which were 5-8 pounds.
We move to another spot looking for Permit. Pat takes us to an area that has been holding permits where we anchor up. We are using a little heavier spinning tackle for the permit for they can get up to 50 # and more. Small live crab is the bait. Pat says if you feel a tap set the hook. We miss a few mystery bites when I see a few tarpon curies by. Not long after that I’m hooked up to 60 # tarpon which breaks me off. Re-rigged and hooked up to another tarpon. We chase the fish down hoping for a release but it breaks me off. No problem, I got to see it jump a few time. Get set back up and feel the tap, set the hook and it’s a Permit, not a big one but the fish I need for the Grand Slam.
It’s late and I’m very pleased with the day we have had and tell Pat the same. He says the permit are biting now lets stay a bit longer. No argument from us. We fish another 15 minute and Pat tells us to crank them in. As I start to crank I feel pressure and set the hook on another Permit. This time a bit bigger. These fish are great fighter as well, fast as a bone but with more power. We get the release and call it a day.
Pat gave us a very full day and worked very hard and the results showed that.
If you are ever in the keys during this time of year I highly recommend spending a day with Pat on the Flats. It was a great experience. A link to his web site is attached.
Sorry, no picture now but hopefully I will post some later.
Byron
http://fishovertime.com/boat.php?ghy=4