ULTIMATE ANGLING - the Ultimate SA Fishing website
FRESHWATER ANGLING => Fly fishing => Topic started by: Tommo on February 07, 2012, 02:55:14 PM
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I am very stoked, having just caught a fish that has long been on my bucket list! I was fly fishing at St Francois Island in the Seychelles last week. My main target was a milkfish (Chanos chanos) on fly. They are quite tricky beasts to hook and even more tricky to land, so I was giving it a full effort. I lost two, before finally landing a beautiful specimen that we estimated at about 35lb's. What a magnificent creature. It fought me for a full 45 minutes, doing long runs of up to 300m. It jumped right out of the water a few times, creating a massive spray of white water when it did.
I was using a 10 weight GLoomis IMX fly rod, with a floating line and 30lb leader. The fly was a algae pattern tied on a size 2 Gamakatsu hook. These fish feed near the surface on certain tides and can be sight cast to when they do so. They will not deviate to eat the fly, so presentation needs to be very accurate and it has to be drifted right in front of the fish. Quite a feat when the wind is blowing, as it did all of last week!
The power and endurance of these fish is exceptional, and I have the utmost respect for them asa quarry. You just have to look at the size of the tail to see where that power comes from.
I will attach a few pics so that you can see the fish. It is very streamlined, and powerfully built. Catching one was one of my top fishing experiences!!!
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Amazing stuff Tommo, well done! I am :envy :udman:
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Wow nice fshg :envy
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I saw on last nights show how difficult it can be to land one of those. :cgrts: on yours!
BTW you lucky baas ted :lolo: :envy
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Thanks guys. I was as excited as a kid! I had a good week previously on Neptune Warrior, doing some popping and stickbaiting, and will do a full report once I can get all my pics downloaded and sorted out.
The Milkfish is something I have wanted to catch since I was a kid and saw them in Kozi Bay. Unfortunately I never managed to get one before now. It was like a dream come true for me to finally get my hands on one!
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:cgrts: Tommo :resp:
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Congrats on a spectacular catch Tommo! On a size 2 hook??? Jeepers, takes some serious skill to accomplish that... :resp:
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:cgrts: Tommo! It must be an awesome feeling getting one ticked off from the bucket list. It is a beautiful fish. (clap) :resp:
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Lekker Tommo
Those things are monsters on a fly rod
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Well done Tommo!! Definitely 1 species I am itching to catch!! Super jealous!
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Great fish! they've been keeping me awake at night as well congrats
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congrats on the catch...and for making your bucket list shorter
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Awesome milkfish there Tommo. (clap)
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(clap)
Well done Tommo !
Awesome fish !
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(clap) I can imagine you are stoked.
Beautifull specimen!
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Tommo, a man with your vast experience can't have a very long bucket list. :hehe: :envy
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Tommo that is a great catch..well done
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(clap) .. great catch Tommo and stunning fish as well.
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Brilliant fish Tommo, (clap)
And on a 10# :shk .
Very , very well done. :happ:
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Awesome Tommo, still a species I want on fly.
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What a beauty! :cgrts: Tommo.
What else do you have on your bucket list? Like Hermann said I can't see that you have too many species left on your list?
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Awesome catch Craig!!! (clap)
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:envy :win:
what a catch congrats still on my bucket list..
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Thanks guys! Hmmm, you would be surprised, still a few notable items on the bucket list to tick off. One of the main ones being a Yellowtail from the shore. Another is a really decent cracker from the rocks.
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Another is a really decent cracker from the rocks.
I think you need to get together with Adam, he seems to know how, where and when.