Photos from the trip...

[BugChucka]

A friend and I drove down to Key West in the ol' fish truck and scored a ferry to Dry Tortugas some 70 miles out. The crew had never seen anyone attempt to bring the type of boat that we did to the island. They were hesitant to allow us on but the Captain turned out to be from Hampton Beach.

The cuda action was non stop. We burned through two spools of wire I picked up from Stone River in 7 days.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17063.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17038.jpg

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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17034.jpg

The action was constant. There's something about a variety of LARGE fish chasing a streamer ripping through the water that gets my heart beating fast. And then it takes the fly...burns quickly into the backing only to get intercepted by a shark.

We had to bring all our own supplies including water. On the island you're on your own.
Here's some shots of where we were...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17024.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17005.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17040.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17051.jpg

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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17064.jpg

I lost four huge Tarpon off a dock while I was down there. These fish were huge and I couldn't do too much to subdue them where I was, and with all the obstructions involved. Even still, there's nothing like it. The vertical leaps will haunt me for the next year.

Eventually Louis started targeting fish that would eat 20inch carcasses with a spinning rod his dad purchased from Zyla's in 1970 for 15$. The reel was only spooled with 25lb test. He had countless fish far larger than the following hooked but most eventually spit the bait which was on 8/0 Gami. fly hooks that we got after disassembling some of my fly arsenal. Now I can't say I've even picked up a spinning rod in years, but this was something else.

My first attempt... and that's all back:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17046.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17045.jpg

Louis battled this beast for a very long time, to fight a fish like this from a dock on shore is a true test of endurance and stupidity. We had to switch off at times to deal with dock pilings but Louis truly did battle this fish using 25lb test with a wire shock tippet.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17080.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/2007-03-17081.jpg

The "man" got a little freaked out when they saw our craft powered by oars but such is life.

That's me with the fly rod:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/vfsholdover/IMG_0726a.jpg

When he asked us who was the Captain of the vessel I couldn't help but laugh.

Great trip, but we hit the storm on the way back and were already a little out of it because we never slept, and that's a long ride. I wasn't happy to shovel the next day!

Hope this post helps someone out that is hurting for some action. Before I left I was in a lack of fishing kind of mood if you know what I mean.

[alliette]

You guys are hardcore.

[Hegel]

FFinNH,

Apologies for the following, but HOLY ----! Bug, this is fantastic! Thanks so much. You have made my day, my week! I am at home, screaming baby, money is tight, the future is unclear, and WOW, this just did it. I haven't smiled so much in weeks.

Thanks!

I love the photo of "the man" meets Captain Bugchucka! It's a classic! Who took it?

-Hegel- :D :D :D :D :D

[Adam L.]

Awesome post!!!! Laughed like hell when I saw you and the man. Thanks for a great post.

[Plow Jockey]

I love the photo of "the man" meets Captain Bugchucka! It's a classic!

:lol: :lol: Great Post Capt. Bug! Looks like it was a great trip.
And you came back north too.

Hope this post helps someone out that is hurting for some action.

Hell Yes it helped!!!
Tight line and keep those great reports coming

[GOLDNDEMON]

Trip?? That's not a trip, it's an adventure! Here I am tying #18 Haystacks and you're catching fish that could eat my tying desk. Good for you man, good for you.

[lowwall]

Great Report my man! Wish I was there, You must be warmed up for the Bass now!

Keep it up

I would be careful with the John Boat, about the worst boat for stupid fisherman tricks. I know from experience. Started fishing in Boston Harbor with a 14' John and a 2.5 MERC. Was great as long as there was no boat trafic. I caught a ton of fish out of that thing. Used to get allot of looks pulling up to the Yahts in Marina bay to get Breakfast. Finally got swamped though and almost drowned in the CT river , sold it. Went to a 14' Radision square back. With the 2.5 , really handled well in the rough stuff as long as you know it is comming. Best thing for a small boat is a , Square back canoe . In my opinion.

[Cadoda]

Commanding Officer,

Looks like you guys had a hell of a time. Man, that makes me miss Florida.

[BugChucka]

lol... glad it helped guys!

It was hard to head north again but there was plenty to recall on the way home, like our initial mistake of driving through Miami on a friday night. Picture 5 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic. Lamborghinis are pulling up side by side with my rusted old pickup truck which has a ten foot tin boat hanging out of the bed.... NH plates. Not exactly a chick magnet down there.

I knew from the start it wasn't the right kind of boat for the water. Basically we just needed something that floated that we could buy cheap and quickly, and something the ferry might be willing to transport. Louis constantly tried coaxing me into excursions out to the blue water which was only a half mile or so out right over the coral reef. The winds were blowing steady at 20 knots for the majority of our trip so I had to talk him out of it. Trust me, I was nervous enough when we were bailing out water with our hats when a storm moved in. :shock: :shock:

Glad you guys got a kick out of it. One of these days if I ever have the money I may choose to attempt a more relaxed approach to flyfishing where I'm not living on MRE's and "composting" toilets. For the near future though, you can probably expect to see a few more of these cowboy operations.

[Solid]

Great post, I loved it. This sounds like a super low budget trip, and something that I would be up for in the winter, or early spring. I think I am going to start to save just a little bit for next year. Hardcore is right!!

[s2ary]

Glad you guys got a kick out of it. One of these days if I ever have the money I may choose to attempt a more relaxed approach to flyfishing where I'm not living on MRE's and "composting" toilets. For the near future though, you can probably expect to see a few more of these cowboy operations.

Do it while you can, all too soon life will close in on you and you'll be living vicariously through your successors. Another words, like we do through you. :lol: