Confluence Films: Providence Trailer

PROVIDENCE Teaser #2 from CONFLUENCE FILMS on Vimeo.

"Filming for the new “Providence” project took place in the fall of 2015 with the FlyCastaway crew on Providence Atoll in the Seychelles. Confluence’s Jim Klug, Chris Patterson and Colin Witherill, Yellow Dog’s Camille Egdorf, and FlyCastaway’s Gerhard Laubscher and Tim Babich joined forces to create the new project, which is the fifth full-length film from Confluence. The new movie chronicles FlyCastaway’s first trip back to Providence Atoll since the waters were closed to all fishermen and boat access more than six years ago due to the threats and activities of pirates operating out of Somalia. The team returned in October of 2015, spending three weeks exploring the atoll and  fishing for multiple flats species including giant trevally, blue fin trevally, bumphead parrot fish, bonefish, Indo-Pacific permit, trigger fish, milk fish and more. Simms, Costa del Mar, Hatch, YETI and Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures are all sponsors of the new movie."

Gear: Rio Announces New Saltwater Fly Line

Rio products announces another addition to their fly line offerings for 2011. The Saltwater Outbound® Short.

From their press release:

11.29.2010– The new Saltwater OutBound Short from RIO is an incredibly easy loading, fast casting line that gives fly fishers a huge advantage when targeting moving fish. The front-weighted head is slightly heavier than the AFTMA standard, empowering this line to load a rod instantly, and with an overall head length of only 30 feet and a short rear taper, it easily allows anglers to make fast, one-shot casts.

RIO designs lines to give anglers an advantage in every fishing scenario, and the new Saltwater Outbound Short is no exception. It has a 10 ft long clear, intermediate tip that is ideal for spooky fish and for coping with tough winds, and features a hard, tropical coating, manufactured with AgentX, DualTone and XS Technologies for the maximum in slickness and performance. The line is built on an easy-stretching, medium stiff core that ensures the line does not wilt in the heat and includes welded loops on both ends for fast, easy rigging.The RIO Saltwater Outbound Short is ideal for fast moving fish such as tarpon, permit and trevally. They are available between WF8 and WF12, with a MSRP of $79.95, from all authorized RIO dealers. More info is available via the Rio Products website.

What is a saltwater flyfishing guide?

I wrote this screed about saltwater flyfishing guides today. If you feel like reading it you can:
http://captgordon.wordpress.com/2009/08/08/saltwater-flyfishing-guides/

A Lion is loose in the City

Photo: Wikipedia

The Editorial Trophy Wife sends a link to an article in the News and Observer that will either make Carolina coastal anglers watch their step or set off the next big thing in extreme saltwater angling. Beautiful but posion Lionfish are swarming the Carolina coast.

"If you go deeper than 100 feet, they're ubiquitous now," said Paula Whitfield, a researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Beaufort. "They're absolutely everywhere

Unhooking them might be the extreme part of the equation when dealing with the venomous fish. However, they might have a place on the dinner table:

The researchers are joining forces with sport divers and even culinary instructors from Carteret Community College to see if the critters can be kept in check with spears, nets and tartar sauce.
Lionfish, it turns out, have a sweet, white meat similar to the tasty groupers and snappers they are threatening.

Starting to tick us off...

photo courtesy UNC.edu

From an article in the PalmBeachPost.com about anti-pirate training for Captians:

Lang, who travels the world in search of the best fishing spots, took a fly-fishing cruise to the Seychelles Islands off the east coast of Africa last month.

Although his boat returned unscathed after a nine-day excursion, Somalian pirates hijacked a sister boat that left later for the same fishing trip.

Pirates are still holding the African crew of the Indian Ocean Explorer after two weeks.
"We had a very intense safety briefing when we got on ship," Lang said. "They talked about sharks, they talked about how remote we were and how hard it would be to get medical attention, but they never mentioned pirates."

Here at FlyfishMagazine two words come to mind. "Go Seals!"

Fly Tying Video: The "Little Haden"

FlyfishMagazine.com's Saltwater Guru, Capt. Gordon Churchill, interviewed fellow North Carolina fly fishing guide Capt. Gary Dubiel of the Spec Fever Guide Service as he tied an innovative saltwater fly pattern, the "Little Haden."

Chasing Specs and Reds

To quote Jimmy Buffet, "The weather was here..."

That's the plan

Hopping wakes in the Captain's Copperhead Skiff. On the way out it looked like someone was having a parade of million dollar yachts. The Captain's substantial skill at the wheel kept us from being swamped.
Vernon and Gordon checking out the nets of some commercial fishermen who were working the beach. These aren't the gill nets Gordon is fighting against (these were ocean nets) but I did get a dose of the ones in the creeks first hand later in the day.

Some of the by catch that gets tossed in to the sea (too late for this one). Vernon did manage to toss a few drum back in but it was probably too late for them as well.
Either the Captain is camera shy or this is the gang sign for, "I hope to hell you can cast!"

Here are few photos from the weekend trip to the coast to hang out with FlyfishMagazine's saltwater fly fishing Guru, Captain Gordon Chruchill. The speckled trout bite was a bust but Gordon made up for it by loading me up in his skiff to chase reds in the shallow water.

The first fish we sighted withing minutes of arriving in the spartina grass, ate my fly only to find me trout striking it right out of its mouth. We saw tons of fish but, in addition to my casting challenges, the water was just dingy enough that the fish only appeared when they were about 10 feet from the boat. Believe it or not, it seemed easier for me to hit the 40 foot cast than the 10 foot one. I am guessing this was because I only had about a second or two to react to the short shot. The good Captain (kindly) said that I had maybe five good shots at fish and that we saw around 75. He was being generous. I probably had five shots within my marginal skill level but there were many more catchable fish swimming that day.

Anyway, I am off to Wally World to buy some hula hoops and will be enlisting the trophy wife's aid to shout out "10 O'clock 20 feet out" and "30 feet 3 O'clock" over and over again until I get it right.

Salt Advice

Take a good look at these two photos I took last fall. What do you see? I know one thing, I don't tie streamers without pearl flashabou anymore. This is happening now. Bait is coming out the inlets this time of year and fish are chasing them. Mullet runs are almost over around here but bay anchovies and glass minnows (spearing) are starting to make their fall appearances and the fish (spanish mackerel, false albacore, speckled trout) will be chasing them in the surf and offshore. Tie flies with with these pictures in mind and maybe a touch of red somewhere to tempt the trout if that's what you're after.

Ahoy Captain...

We may have alluded the fact that we have been working on a few surprises here at FlyFishMagazine.com. One of the newest is the addition of a Saltwater Editor, Captain Gordon Churchill.

Captain Gordon has made a name for himself as the foremost shallow water fly fishing guide/specialist in the Carolina's. As you can see from the photo his favorite targets are large tailing reds. He has written several articles on the subject and leads the charge on several environmental issues that effect his home waters. Captain Gordon is such a knowledgeable and well liked guy that, save for those pictures we have in the safe deposit box, we can't for the life of us figure out why he would hang out with us. Whatever the reason we are darn lucky to have him around. Keep an eye out for his blog posts and articles in the near future.

Check out his website and blog and take ten seconds to drop him a line and sign up for his email newsletter. If you find yourself headed to the Cape Lookout/Morehead City/ Beaufort/Emerald Isle area book a trip with him. You won't be sorry.

Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting Article

I attended a public hearing of the Marine Fisheries last Wednesday. I said my piece and basically told the attendees what I see on a regular basis. Then got called a liar by people with serious criminal records. Nice. Anyways, there was an article in the local paper today.

Article Link

DVD Review: The Search Tahiti

Ask any dedicated angler and they will most likely tell you that no matter how good the fishing is where they live, they have spent some time pouring over maps looking for new water to try. The Search Tahiti from Gin Clear Media tells this same sort of tale as it chronicles the story of a group of fly anglers who set off from their home waters in trout rich New Zealand on a search for big bonefish on virgin salt flats.

Most fly fishers would take a map or a rumor and venture to drive a few hours in search of promising fishing. However, how many would hop a freighter to French Polynesia's 120 remote islands in search of a new fishery? (if our wives would let us and money wasn't and issue maybe a few more of us.) Throw in razor sharp coral heads, the fact that food and water are almost non-existent, and sharks that have seen so few people that they simply think of them as more food and you begin to get an idea what they are up against.

The scenery is beautiful and the film does a great job of giving you a sense of both the area and the culture of the islands. It also does not pull any punches or allow any illusions that this kind of exploratory fishing does not come with the very real risk that you could travel a great distance only to come up empty in the bonefish department. I like the part where the angler who planned the trip worries what his buddies might do to him if they go all that way only to find no bonefish. I can only think what my fishing com padres might consider.

I won't spoil it for you but they do find the bones and when all the moving parts come together they end up in a pristine lagoon that lends itself to the feeling that these might just be the first anglers to ever cast a line in its waters.

Other highlights not to be missed include fly fishing off of the back of a coconut boat and an excellent look at ongoing research into bonefish genetics. Be sure not to miss the "trout strike" short in the special features. It will ring true with any trout fisher who has tried their hand in the salt.

"The Search Tahiti" from Gin Clear Media runs 63 minutes and is available via their web store for NZ 49.90 (that's around $35 US) including a 28 page photo booklet.

Stop the Redfish Slaughter

North Carolina Redfish guru, Captain Gordon Churchill, is getting tired of seeing the result of unattended gill netting on Carolina inshore waters. He has formed a Facebook group to help the word out about the destruction these nets are causing to the fishery.

We need everybody to get involved and start making some noise because if we don't nothing will get done. Pass this cause along to as many people as you can. I am not collecting money at this point because I have no place for it to go. But it we can just get a lot of people to join it will show the number involved. Then contact your local legislators and tell them how you feel about this. An email may do it but a phone call is better. Go ahead and call NC DMF and pass along your feelings to the director, Dr Louis Daniels. We have to do this so our kids will be able to go out in a skiff and have a chance to actually catch a fish or three.

Take a moment, join up with his group, and help get the word out. Folllow the link below to sign up. It's free and only takes a few seconds.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/104912?m=33584&recruiter_id=16995010

Getting a large group of like minded anglers together in one place is the first step towards making a real difference.

Learn more about Capt. Gordon here.

Photo: Capt. Gordon

NC Salt Water Fishing License Reminder

A recent article posted on the MyrtleBeachOnline.com site reminds North Carolina salt water anglers over the age of 16 of the requirement for a Coastal Recreational Fishing License. Violations will be subject to a $35 fine with $120 in court costs.

For more information on the requirement follow this link to the Division of Marine Fisheries website.

Want to see where the money is going? Check out this PDF file.

My new Bugati is here...

from Albright tackle. It's light weight with a more than adequate disk drag and at under $40 it makes a great addition to my Albright 9 weight travel rod. Now to find a cooperative fish to put it to the test.

That's what she said...

Old School Mahi Via MountThis.com

Gear: The Peekaboo Yak

Via OceanKayak.com comes a sit on top kayak with built in viewing window. The Peekaboo is designed to carry an adult while allowing photo ops through the in deck viewing window. The makers say it will allow anglers to see structure and fish from a cozy vantage point above the waves. MSRP is $899.

Our verdict? Not quite as cool as a woman in a peekaboo dress, but cool none-the-less. An examination of our sick and twisted minds reveals the inevitable picture that we imagine on the roll of film..

Steve Buck: That Darn Cell Phone!

New FlyfishMagazine.com contributor and saltwater fly angler Steve Buck sent us this article that describes one fly fisher's dilemma and how he was rescued from the brink of the abyss by a combination of strong moral fiber and good cell phone reception.

That Darn Cell Phone!

Before I tell this story, you need to know that Grouper is one of the best tasting fish is the sea. So much so, that Florida has gradually increased the legal size limit to ensure the long term survival of the species. Also, juvenile Grouper begin life inshore, then move offshore as adults. I don't keep up with the size limits of Grouper because I seldom fish offshore.

The day was overcast and the breeze was blowing out of the east in anticipation of a cold front. Such conditions are ripe for a productive day fishing. After paddling my kayak out of the bayou, past the mangrove shore line and boat docks, I started fishing at one of my "spots". If I were to tell you the location, I'd have to kill you (insert winking smiley face). On my fist cast an 18" Spotted Sea Trout slammed the jig just as I was pulling it from the water. She gave a good fight and put a big bend in my ultra light spinning rod, but I got her to the boat. But, some fish are just too pretty to keep. Even though the size limit on a Sea Trout is 14", I let go the 18"-er. Later on, I threw back a 15"-er.

Knowing that there were fish in the area, I pulled out the fly rod. For the next couple of hours I caught numerous juvenile Grouper in the 6" to 9" range. This was very unusual, but a very good sign for the species. As I drifted across the grass flats I switched back and forth from fly fishing to spinning rod, both methods were productive in bring fish to the boat; Sea Trout, Grouper, and Mangrove Snapper.

Around 11 AM with fly rod in hand, the line went tight, very tight! Whatever was on the other end pulled harder than anything else that day. I thought it might be a grouper because of the way it fought. When a Grouper is hooked, it heads for the bottom looking for some sort of structure to rub against and break the line. The fish pulled and pulled, and my adrenaline rushed and rushed. Finally, the fish was getting closer to the boat and I could see it through the clear water. Sure enough it was a Grouper, and much bigger than any I've seen before on the inshore grass flats. Still fearing that the line would snap, I gingerly raised it out of the water and into the bilge of my kayak. As it laid between my feet I measured it to be 16".

Remember those cartoons where the two guys stranded on an island would look at each other and see a roasted chicken leg? Well that's what happened to me and that Grouper. All I could see were two wonderful fillets, I could even taste that flaky white meat. But,,, I was sure that a 16" Grouper was too short to keep. The angel on one shoulder said "You know it's too short, better throw it back." The devil on the other shoulder said "Consider all those other fish you threw back. You even threw back two legal size Sea Trout. No one will ever know you kept this undersized Grouper." So, I called my conscience (my wife).

Gotta love cell phones!Of course Leah wouldn't know the legal size of a Grouper, so I asked her to look it up on the Internet. The ensuing minutes were a battle of right and wrong, good and evil, and the integrity of my environmental conservatism. But more than that, the integrity of my spiritual convictions, and realizing of how closely I (perhaps, we) flirt with sin. My desire for my own way, verses obedience to the governing authorities that God has placed me under, Romans 13:1.

The story ends well for the Grouper. After a short period of resuscitation, holding the fish next to the boat until enough water flowed across its gills, it swam away none the worse for wear.

If only I had one of those dropped calls like we see on TV, I might have had a Grouper dinner that night. Darn that cell phone!


Editor's note: When Steve isn't paddling Florida's inshore waters and saving large grouper he runs Steve Buck Consulting. We look forward more articles from him in the future.

New S.C. Saltwater Rules

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has announced new limits on popular saltwater fish. The new regs cover among others, black drum, gray trout and redfish:

Red Drum (spot tailed bass; redfish)
3 per person per day Must be 15 inches Total Length or greater, and equal to or less than 23 inches Total Length maximum.

These new state fisheries laws were adopted primarily to support a proactive and precautionary approach in natural resources management to help deal with increasing fishing pressures and environmental stresses placed on South Carolina’s marine finfish resources associated with coastal growth and development.

Here is a link to the press release via the SCDNR site. Of course you could just put them back.

Florida's Most Valuable Saltwater Fish.

According to this article in Sport Fishing Magazine the Bonefish is Florida's most valuable salt water quarry bringing over one billion dollars into the the state's coffers. It's larger pal the tarpon does its part as well towards the 5.5 billion dollar total that comes into the state each year from sport anglers. They plan on taking good care of the resource:

The Bonefish and Tarpon Research Center will help focus scientific efforts in critical areas of applied research to support management decision making for the sustainability of these magnificent sportfish" said Dr. Jerry Ault, a Rosenstiel School professor of marine biology and fisheries and book editor of Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries. Ault will direct the new research center in collaboration with the various partners.

Review: Redfish On The Fly - Capt. John Kumiski

"Redfish On The Fly" by Capt. John Kumiski found its way into my briefcase before a recent business trip. Before that trip was completed I had devoured its 287 pages and was already plotting a strategy to try to convince my wife that we would soon need to vacation somewhere in Florida known charmingly as "Mosquito Lagoon."

When the subtitle of a fishing book reads, "A Comprehensive Guide," I tend to view it with a healthy dose of skepticism. Often these compendiums are out of date and out of touch with the everyday angler's needs. Saying that "Redfish On The Fly" makes good on its promise of being comprehensive would be an understatement. After reading it I felt that I had gained an excellent head start on my trek to catching a bull red on the fly.

The book is broken down into four basic sections ranging from understanding the fish, a full featured How To section, flies to use, and destinations. Captain Kumiski takes the time to tell us what to do and more importantly, what not to do in order to become a successful fly angler for these "copper coated crab crunchers." His advice on tackle and tactics is both clear and concise and will save the new redfish angler hours of getting up to speed on the water.

The destination section of the book covers the full range of the fish from North Carolina to Texas. A great feature of the book is that each location is described through an interview with a fishing guide local to the waters being discussed.

"Redfish On The Fly" is an excellent reference for anyone considering trying for redfish using the long rod. It is entertaining and full of information that will make you a better saltwater fly fisher no matter what species you stalk. It is available from Argonaut Publishing via Captain Kumiski's website for $27.95. ISBN 978-0-9635118-6-7