Running up the Padre – Part 2
blogadmin on September 30, 2009 in Events, Fishing Reports, On The Road, Texas Gulf Coast 1 Comment »
What a way to start any day! Casting from the shore along the National Seashore on South Padre Island, Texas.
About the time all the introductions were done, the mosquitoes were thinking about breakfast. It was pitch dark, and all I knew was there were a significant number of vehicles, and the number of people meant I would have to drive as well. Sometimes the numbers just add up that way.
One of the guys had to leave his Dodge Sprinter ( a sweet ride) at the Convention Center, he got in my passenger seat, and another character, Shane Wilson, was looking for a lift to the end of the road where we would again play musical chairs with passengers. Trouble was, the Cruiser was now a two seater since the back seat was folded down to hold all my gear. Shane stepped onto the running board, locked on to the roof rack with a kung-fu grip, and was ready to go.
Mind you, Shane is no younger than myself, and we were going a few miles up the road. He grabs a hold of the roof rack and off we go, screaming down the road at 55 with a guy hanging off the truck. By the second time I checked on him, we were turning off the road and onto the sand that signals the beginning of the South Padre Island National Seashore. No telling how many bugs he ate along the way.
We rearranged seating, and I ended up with no passenger, and at the back of convoy. Before I could consider any other options, we were off and running. The sand and beach, at first, were well packed, well traveled and well trashed. The snake-like caravan instantly became disjointed as the lead decided it was time to go.
Less than two miles we slid to a stop, and the car in front of me, carrying David and his crew fell out, grabbed rods and packs, and started for the water. In a classic dance, they were assembling rods, lining, dealing with leaders and flies – all while on the move. It’s something I practice all the time, much like the way I practice switching lenses, CF cards and other pieces and parts on my camera – all while on the move.
The water looked stunning. It was a calm day, the sun had yet to show in our faces, the tide was low and that left a trough between the beach and the first sandbar teaming with activity. It seemed pretty obvious we had some jack crevalle and ladyfish moving through, as well as occasional larger fish that were impossible to identify because it was still dark.
In a matter of three or less casts, fish were on the fly of everyone with a wet line.
I started taking pictures and found it easy to resist fishing as the submerged sun offered up wonderful silhouettes of fly fishermen going through the traditional surf casting motions. None of the three fishers spent more than three casts before having fish on and stripping in small jacks or ladyfish.
It occurred to me that there would be some pressure to produce some “fish porn” in order to make a more marketable story / photo package pitch. The heart quickened a bit. Pleasure becomes work, but then we all know the whims of the fish gods and how powerless we are to control them – fishermen understand.
Suddenly down the way, at about fifty yards, a little more noise from the fishers indicated a special fish was on line. I could tell it was not one of the small fish they had been catching when I saw the deep bend in his rod and a couple of runs that forced a give back of line. By the time I trudged through the calf deep water to get closer, the fish was in hand – a beautiful, healthy speckled trout. I have caught (low) thousands of specks, but none this large, fat and strong.
Local fly fisher Mark Becerra was having a little trouble handling the fish in the typical over the top thumb and index at the top of the gill plates, and the fish was strong. The trout was unhooked, and before I could say anything the fish had slipped back into about four inches of water at his feet, and he’s flailing for the monster. I’m running, screaming “Get ‘em! Geet ‘em!”, as he’s high stepping after this fish slithering off into sweet salty freedom. Gone.
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Technical Transitions mean Part 3 may not be out until early next week. Stay tuned.
