Mud flats and Oysters

Special thanks to Tim Boothe, who was nice enough to take me fishing for a few hours Sunday afternoon south of St. Augustine. We took his Gheenoe out for a spin in search of backing reds. I had two shots. Neither fish ate, but I wasn't disappointed. It was the first time I had seen a backing redfish up close and in person. In Tampa Bay, they tail and cruise the turtle grass. I haven't figured out why they don't get as skinny as the NE Fla. reds.

Things You Never Expect to See

 You never know what you might find while on the water. The photo on the right is a picture of an old car stashed in the bushes on the banks of Tuckasegee River near Sylva, N.C. I'd like to think the pieces of heavy metal help keep the banks intact, but my guess the previous owner simply needed a place to dump his old car. It's a bit trashy, but nevertheless, the Tuck is a great river. It's got smallmouth in the spring and summer and trout in the fall and winter. There's no better place to spend a day with a fly rod.

Blood in the Water

I've never fished for albies. But that might have to change based on the video below. I've heard they make their way to the Tampa Bay area in the fall. Can't wait to see if that's actually true.

Great video on false albacore

A Great Fly Shop

Brookings is conveniently located in downtown Cashiers.

I stopped by Brookings in Cashiers, N.C. earlier this month. If you ever visit Western N.C., make sure to stop by. It's one of the best fly shops I've ever seen in the Southeast. Well-stocked. Well run. Plenty of space. Great fly tying area. Yes, they even have a dog, a young Brittany, who's pumped up about the upcoming grouse season.
The Cashiers/Highlands area offers good fly fishing --- from no-name small creeks to well-know big water such as the Tuckasegee and the Nantahala. There's trout or smallmouth. Take your pick. In the spring and summer, the weather's usually cool and the fishing, though sproadic at times, can be good. Fall is my favorite time. Can't beat the colors and the air is nice and crisp.

The drift boats arrive every morning.

Bonefish, Tarpon Update

It's official. Bonefish and tarpon are catch-and-release starting next month.

Two premier recreational fisheries will soon have new protections in place, a measure aimed at ensuring that tarpon and bonefish’s economic and fishing value remain for generations to come. Tarpon and bonefish become catch-and-release only fisheries beginning Sept. 1.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved these proactive management measures at its June 12 meeting in Lakeland. The catch-and-release proposal was adopted in recognition of the fact that the economic and fishing values of bonefish and tarpon greatly exceed their value as food fishes.

 FWC

Time For Some Tennis

I played at Cedar Creek Racquet club two weeks ago up in Cashiers, N.C. The courts are pristine and the view is to die for. The nearby pond is stocked with trout and bass, but I didn't fish. Played tennis instead. With the U.S. Open starting this week, I figured I'd post this. My picks to win it: Serena Williams and Rafa Nadal. I'm a Roger Federer fan, but Nadal's forehand against Federer's backhand likely will determine that outcome. Just watched Nadal against Ryan Harrison and Nadal appears in good health, which is not good news for the rest of the men's field.

Praying for the Glades

Good story in the Sun Sentinel recently. Too much water is not necessarily a good thing.

By Steve Waters, Sun Sentinel

There is one hope for the freshwater Everglades as the River of Grass and its inhabitants continue to suffer from the effects of extremely high water levels.

Pray that no storms hit South Florida.
That was the essence of the discussions conducted during an airboat tour Thursday of the waterlogged Everglades, featuring Sen. Bill Nelson and personnel with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior, Everglades National Park and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
FWC Commissioner Ron Bergeron brought together everyone to show them how water levels have submerged 90 percent of the tree islands in Water Conservation Area 3A South, which extends from Alligator Alley to Tamiami Trail.