By Steve Krystiniak

Digging around through my computer files, I found this short story that I wrote shortly after catching my first Florida Keys bonefish on fly and I thought I'd share the experience.  I had caught bonefish before (my first was with Capt Geoff many years ago), and I had caught numerous bones on fly in the Bahamas, but this was my first true Florida Keys bone, on a fly!

Ah yes friends and neighbors, hoist your boat drinks high  (clink!)  and let me share with you the story of my first FL Keys bonefish on fly…

I almost didn't venture out today....the winds had been blowing at least 20mph for the past 2 days and they were calling for pretty much the same weather patterns again today.  So, I was quite surprised to see that the wind had settled down early this morning, and I hurried to the flats before it picked up.  It turns out that I didn't need to hurry....the wind laid down and the water was smooth as glass all morning long.  Although it started out cloudy and overcast, later in the morning the sun came out and it turned out to be a beautiful Keys day.

After an unproductive drift over one of the flats near Shell Key I headed out deeper into the backcountry in search of tarpon.  Upon my arrival in a 6’-8’ deep basin behind a Key known to frequently hold tarpon, I shut down my motor and sat quietly for a few minutes.  Sure enough, the tarpon where there....not in big numbers, but 1 rolled about 50 yards in front of me and then another, about 40 yards off to my right.  I spent nearly 2 hours there....mostly just watching them roll and of course, just out of casting distance.  I fired off a few casts with my 10 wt but it was difficult to see due to overcast conditions. I'd see one roll and cast just ahead of it, but apparently nobody got a good look at my fly.  Time to move on...

I headed to one of my favorite bonefish flats near Peterson Bank.  The tide was starting to fall and the sun was finally out.  I positioned my skiff on the east edge of the flat so the fish would be swimming towards me, into the current, and I'd have the sun behind me for good visibility.  I had spooked a small pod of bonefish upon my arrival at the flat, so that was a good sign.  After about 10 minutes, I started seeing tails!  A small group of 3-4 fish were headed my way.  I patiently waited as they slowly made their way within casting distance and I fired off a shot....busted!   The lead barbell eyes on my fly must've made quite a "ker-plop" on the water and the entire group of fish sped back across the flat from where they came.   A few minutes later, another fish....another cast....busted again!   Hmmm....time to change flies.  I went with a green & tan merkin with bead chain eyes rather than lead.  I made a few practice casts to be sure, and I watched the fly land much quieter....yep, this is the one I want!

There were a few more tailers and a few more casts....most of the fish spooked but one chased my fly and went nose down on it, but I must've moved it too quickly and he spooked too.  But let's cut to the chase....

I saw a single tailer coming towards me from the left side and I waited for him to get within range.  When he was about 40' from the boat (I know, I know, but I was anxious!) I fired off a cast.  I was a little short and off to the right, so I just let it sit.  He was approaching the spot where my fly was sitting and I gave it a little twitch.  All of a sudden I saw his tail glint in the sun and make a splash.  He was on it!  I felt the tension on the line and I gave it a sharp tug to set the hook as he inhaled the crab fly.  The next 5 to 8 seconds were a blur as I wanted to watch the fish, but instead I focused on making sure I cleared my line.  By the time I looked up, my fly line was gone and he was already into the backing, streaking back down the flat at what seemed like 100mph!  And I knew that this was no teeny-tiny little Bahamas bonefish either....I saw that this bad boy had Monroe County plates as he sped away!!!   After a few more nano-seconds I started to worry.....my backing was being pulled off the reel quicker than I've ever seen it before, and he wasn't stopping either.  Oh shit, I thought....he's gonna pull all the backing off this reel and snap the tippet if I can't stop him, or at least somehow get my skiff unstaked and figure out a way to follow him!  With what appeared to be just a few wraps of the backing left on my reel (I could see metal under the wraps!!) he finally stopped and I managed to crank some backing back before he took off again.  Inch by inch, I slowly put the string back on the reel and amid a couple more short runs, I was finally able to see flyline about 50' away.  Sweating now, I kept pressure on the fish but took my hand of the reel for a quick rest and then resumed cranking.  After about a 10-15 minute fight (it seemed like a half hour!) I had him boatside and finally got a good look at him.....holy shit, he was BIG!  After a brief struggle (me, not the fish), I managed to land him and get him on the scale for a quick measurement....11 lbs!  My biggest bonefish ever and my first FL Keys bonefish on a fly!   Solo, no less.

Both the fish and I were worn out from the battle, but I managed to quickly get a photo before getting him back in the water so I could revive him.  The fish slowly swam away and I collapsed into the seat....a cold bottle of water helped to revive me.

Comments (1)

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Steve,
You wrote "a cold bottle of water helped to revive me." I was thinking you probably chased that with a few cold beers as well.

Geoff W. Colmes , January 22, 2009

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