Happenings & Things Relevant to Fishing the Treasure Coast

What's in the River and off the Inlet?

The fall mullet run is upon us. Generally the ocean is still easy going with mornings calmer than the afternoons.Water temperatures in the ocean are generally in the high 70's to low 80's. Estuary temperatures vary but are always warm to hot, from as low as the mid 80's up to almost 90 degrees. Look for better fishing either very early in the morning or in the evening. There are plenty of trout, mackerel, redfish,ladyfish and tarponare still in the river and on the beach.. . Snook season opened l September first. . With the large die off in January 2009 we need mature fish available for spawining in order to repenish the diminished populations. If caught, PLEASE handle them gently and leave them in the water .

Plenty (all the game fish are fat and happy!) of bait fish both inside the inlet and off the beach are available to our game fish. One can fish either the beach, off the inlet, or in the estuary, looking for Spanish mackerel. blue fish, false albacore, jacks, snook, and tarpon working bait fish. Off the beach look for fish in the first through off the beach or on the sides of reefs or working schools of bait fish in deeper water.

As always, play the fish quickly and get them back into the water. A good rule of thumb is that fish cannot be expected to survive if they are not returned to the water in about the time that you can hold your breath. With wet hands, hold them horizontal to the water or lift them only if you need a quick picture.

Set the steel!

Roy

Fishing Calendar

What's on the Menu?

Bluefish Cafe Pate

Bluefish may take a bad rap when it comes to taste. Like most game, bluefish taste like what they eat. In the Chesapeake bay region bluefish feed largely on menhaden which are strong and oily. As the story goes, "you are what you eat". In our area, while still oily, bluefish are much more palatable. This recipe, uses smoked bluefish. With a good glass of white wine, this pate served as an appetizer is a winner.

Bluefish Pate:

8 oz. chopped smoked bluefish or Spanish Mackerel

1 1/2 tb sp. lemon juice

1 tb sp. horseradish

1 tb sp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

7 oz. softened cream cheese

Combine the ingredients, with the exception of the cream cheese in a bowl. Lightly mix to preserve the texture of the fish. Blend with the soft cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a good strong cracker.

There you have it.

About the Director:

In the 50's my family lived in Flint, Michigan.  Dad was the quintessential outdoors man.  As a kid he joined the CCC and worked in the upper peninsula of Michigan.  After marrying my mother, his dream was to have a home in the country.  When I was still very young, my parents purchased a small tract of land in the middle of a cow pasture on a 120-acre lake south of the city. Like my father, if something lived outdoors, I hunted, trapped or fished it.  Dad especially loved to fish and was happy doing so on about any type of tackle.  But he especially loved the fly rod.  Dad used to say that he could almost communicate with the fish when casting  a fly.  I knew my dad loved me when he finally allowed me to use his beloved Granger bamboo rod to fish for bass and bluegills.  He worked long hours but he fished with me as much as he could and always  encouraged me  to work on fly-casting skills. 

Dad was a self-taught fly caster.  Much of what he learned probably came from reading Field and Stream.  Like father like son. Years passed before I ever took a formal lesson.  When I finally did, I was amazed at how much more there was to learn.  My instructor patiently explained how to undo a couple bad habits I had developed and taught me some valuable new techniques.  I was thrilled with the improvements in my casting ability.

Back to my story. Time went on and during my middle teens, Dad took back the bamboo rod and for Christmas  bought me a Wright Mc Gill fiberglass rod.  That rod, plus scores of others are still in my possession. 

I grew up, went to college and became an Audiologist and served as an Army officer for 28 years.  Throughout my professional life I continued to fly fish from mountain streams in the Pacific Northwest, to Montana and Wyoming, to the Great Lakes and on streams, ponds and freshwater lakes across the country.  What saltwater fly fishing I did do, was for steelhead, sea run cutthroat trout or shad.  I had no experience in saltwater fly fishing in Florida until my wife came along.

For years I came to Florida with my wife to visit friends and relatives.  My wife had to drag me.  When we arrived I know I made life miserable for everyone.  The beach was hot.  The idea of throwing three ounces of lead with a 12-foot pole to catch small shore fish while standing around in that heat had no appeal to me at all.  I wanted to go home the minute I arrived.

Finally, when yet another trip to Florida to visit my mother-in-law was looming ahead of us, my wife said, "Look, either come and try to have a good time, or stay home."  She started to walk away then turned back.  I could almost see the light bulb pop up in her brain. "Pack your fly rod," she said.  I started to protest that I knew nothing about fly-fishing in Florida but she brushed me off, "So learn!  Pack your fly rod or stay home." I packed my rod.  

I was not quite sure what to do and had little luck finding anyone with experience with a fly rod in saltwater.  After a little exploring and some trial and error, I found out that if I waded the same areas where the guys go to drown shrimp and I cast a streamer-type fly I could actually catch fish. 

I remember my first catch.  After the take, the fish stripped out line to the backing. I was afraid he was going to break my 10-lb. tippet  and was firmly convinced I had hooked a  tarpon.  Where were the cameras from ESPN?  Only after landing a 2-lb ladyfish did I finally I understand the true strength of saltwater fish and the exhilaration of catching them.  I was hooked!   

I retired from the Army after the Gulf War and my wife and I moved to the Virginia mountains.  I raised cattle and did some guiding for trout in the Allegheny mountain streams.  Before I knew it, I found myself running   the Orvis Fly fishing Schools at the Homestead Hotel, a resort in historic Bath County, Virginia.  I loved and still love teaching.  We started spending the off season in Florida.   I purchased a kayak and fished the Indian River.  To this day, people ask me what am I doing.  When I tell them I'm fly fishing, they seem amazed.  People simply do not associate fly fishing and saltwater.

Over the past few years I found I was making more and more comparisons between freshwater and saltwater fly fishing in my classes.  I realized I was more and more disappointed when it was time to leave Florida.  As we drove back to Virginia after our last "off-season" stay, I laughed as I told my wife I couldn't believe I had come full circle - from hating to come to Florida to hating to leave.  She had been dozing on and off but I saw her smile.  A minute later I added, "But I would really miss my classes."  Again, she smiled. After a long time I said, "I suppose I could start a school in Florida."  This time she opened her eyes, turned her head and said, "I was wondering when you'd figure that out!"   And so, I realized it was time to move on.  With encouragement from family, friends, and students, I decided to start .

As well as a certified Fly Casting Instructor of FFF, I am an avid supporter of the Florida conclave and a member of the council. As a member of the Coastal Conservation Association, I actively support the scientific management of water flow into the Indian River Estuary in order to preserve the shellfish, river grasses and brood stocks of our wonderful game fish. I am a life member of Trout Unlimited and actively worked in Virginia to preserve clean, cool, and healthy rivers to preserve cold water species of game fish.

My goal is to share with you the collected wisdom of our fine staff with the hope that you too will soon be hooked on saltwater fly fishing in or out of boat.