DOLPHIN ON FLY
The ocean was an amazing azure blue and flat as liquid glass. The boat was drifting as if suspended between two other worlds of brilliant blue sky and the world of gin clear water below. It is hard to judge depth in ocean water that is so clean and pure – fish just appear from nowhere gliding up to see what you are and if there are morsels good to eat. It was on one of these days when the boat was drifting motionless in the heat and stillness of a Florida summer day when I looked over the side and saw a small school of dolphin circling the boat. I rushed into the cabin and unlimbered my 10 weight fly rod. I was so excited I was shaking trying to on a fly. This was my first and as good a chance as I was ever going to have to hook a dolphin on fly!
I went to the back of the boat ready to cast. A dolphin swam past the transom about 20 yards off- standing in the corner of boat I back cast to my right side parallel and down the side of the boat and towards the bow then out into the blue- as soon as the fly hit the water I slowly stripped back in and on this first cast the dolphin saw the fly and made its move- I couldn’t believe my luck! He gulped down the fly and took off- I held the rod pointed at the fish and jerked back on the line to set the hook- as soon as he felt the hook set he leapt three great jumps and pulled the line tight. I held the line tight against the rod and I reeled in the slack and now I had the fish on rod and real. He made a couple of good runs and I just watched, savoring the moment! I began to reel him in and I called for the gaff- he made a couple of good turns at boat side and he was gaffed and brought on board. I have great memories of the day, the picture you see above, and oh did I tell you, it was not a really BIG dolphin, it was just my first on fly!
Fort Lauderdale Offshore Fishing can provide you with the ultimate fishing experience. You can get out into the Gulf Stream and catch some of the best Mahi-Mahi of your life. Our Fishing Charters here at iOutdoor will amazed you with the endless amounts of fun you can have in the sun. Come Share-a-little sunshine with us and get hooked up on a fishing adventure of a lifetime!
