46 SeriousFun@JFFC SEPT 2018
Jaco got a nice Blue fin on the tease, that kept him busy for a while. Daniel and I landed a few small Emerald snappers. The guides told us, at some of these drop-offs there is usually schools of 200 – 300 kingies patrolling the edges looking for some snacks, sadly we didn’t see them.
Then finally it happened after 3 days of casting 12 # a 110cm GT came in on the tease like the devil on the run, chased Daniel’s fly (tied by Warren) all the way to his rod tip, showed us the middle fin turned away and vanished in to the deep blue water, leaving us all speechless for a few moments. Now knowing that they are there lifted the spirits and we all casted with a new energy, that only a fly fisherman who has seen the fish of a lifetime can explain.
The next afternoon, after lunch, we found ourselves standing on one of those bommies casting at the teaser again. We had just moved to a new position as the first few casts only teased in a few small fish.
Feddi, the Italian guide and owner of the mother ship asked if we are ready to start. As I said yes, I saw a movement to my right and I had a quick cast in that direction about 10 m in front of me, before I could get the first strip in all hell broke loose, a big swirl where my fly was supposed to be and something was taking the loose fly line drifting in the water next to me at the speed of lightning. Lock your drag, lock it, came the order from Feddi! I locked the drag got a good grip on the rod and held on for dear life; water was splashing all over as the GT tried to take me to the edge to cut me off. After circling me twice I could slowly start retrieving line, these guys are dirty fighters and he tried to cut me off on every piece of rock and coral in the area. I managed to pull him into shallower water with fewer obstacles, after giving him the best I had to offer Feddi grabbed it by the tail. WOW, my first GT! What a relief to land this beauty between all the sharp edges and after all the casting, this is what I came all this way for! After a few pics and lots of high fives, we released the beauty back into his watery home, so he can make someone else’s dream come true. Wow, what a privilege to land one of these beasts.
The very next afternoon Jaco and I were fishing alone on a sand bank. I saw a swirl to Jaco’s left and told him to cast there, two casts later and he was onto something big. Sadly the fight lasted for a few minutes and the hook came out. Jip you guessed it, the big one got away!