Sailfish on fly

[Cam Mundy]

Farid, Brandon and I spend an afternoon chasing Sails on fly down in Southern Oman. The sailfish had come and gone a few time throughout the season but when they are around they are generally thick with fish free jumping all over the place! there pattern was also very predictable with the fish sticking to a certain area and starting to feed from 3pm till dark so we had a 3 hour window to play with.

we collected our bait for the teaser and and had a few practice runs to make sure we were ready, Brandon manned the controls and teaser rod with Farid on the 12wt fly rod with Able 12wt reel. While I sat on a bean bag with my camera ready to snap away best seat in the house!

We raised our first sail after trolling past some free jumping fish, the teaser rod bent double and the sail grabbed the teaser and Brandon let the fish have a few tastes to get him riled up before cutting the engines and teasing him into casting range. Farid loaded up the rod and placed the fly like a seasoned veteran and the with one pop the Sail slammed the fly and we where on. The sail took off like a scalded cat tail walking over a 100m with the Able and Farid screaming in union only to throw the hook at the end of the run more fish started jumping within casting distance but we had to retrieve the fly which was now miles away!

We dropped the fish but everyone was stoked Farid had hooked a fish on his first attempt and we where treated to a great show as well, the teaser was put out behind the boat and it was time for round two! The next fish was a hoot with brandon having to fight it on the hookless teaser as the fish jumped behind the boat not wanting to let go, after jerking the teaser out of his mouth he brought the fish into range and Farid put in his cast again it was a goodie and we where rewarded with a solid hook up but tradged struck as the line wrapped around the rod but snapping the leader.

We had run out of light and had to start heading back to the lodge the ocean was boiling with bait and the sails where feeding like crazy but on the odd occasion common sense has to override the fish fever. even though we never managed to boat a fish it was a memorable experience for all of us and something I cant wait to try again

[Cam Mundy]

 

[Cam Mundy]

 

[REEFMAN]

That's so flippin awesome! Pity you didn't land them, but must have been epic fun.

[Cam Mundy]

That's so flippin awesome! Pity you didn't land them, but must have been epic fun.

Yup catching them on normal gear can be tricky adding a fly rod to the mix eish!

[WalkersKiller]

Awesome!!!

[shagnrelease]

That's awesome stuff! Glad to see you guys experimenting in that awesome fishery!!

What Hooks are you Using Cam?

We battled plenty getting the fish to stick when we started on the fly for them. I had brought back the same kit I used for clients in Kenya,  but at Vidal there were just not the numbers of fish to allow you to duff one or two.

I switched to a smaller wider gaped hook,  I think it was a gamagatsu and I think we also got some from grip. Also in a 5/0 and a 6/0.  I the the gamagatsu was a 15 series or something like that.

Also we slowed down the strip strike to more of a slow pull against the fish moving away from us, pretty much allowing the fish to bed the hook while we just hold tension on the line.

Might be completely different in your guys case but it might help.

[Kent]

  ..BRILLIANT!!!....This has always fascinated me!!!.....Well done!!!....

[Seventenths]

WOW!

[Cam Mundy]

That's awesome stuff! Glad to see you guys experimenting in that awesome fishery!!

What Hooks are you Using Cam?

We battled plenty getting the fish to stick when we started on the fly for them. I had brought back the same kit I used for clients in Kenya,  but at Vidal there were just not the numbers of fish to allow you to duff one or two.

I switched to a smaller wider gaped hook,  I think it was a gamagatsu and I think we also got some from grip. Also in a 5/0 and a 6/0.  I the the gamagatsu was a 15 series or something like that.

Also we slowed down the strip strike to more of a slow pull against the fish moving away from us, pretty much allowing the fish to bed the hook while we just hold tension on the line.

Might be completely different in your guys case but it might help.

Hi Shag we where using the Gamagatsu as well its a two hook rig with the first one snelled and the second hooked crimped onto 120lb fluero.
The hook ups where pretty solid as Farid placed the fly well ie behind the fish so he had to turn and eat it, we where just unlucky.
Brandon our new fly fishing guide has caught tons of sailies on fly so I've been learning from him which has been a big help I've even started stomping around the rock shelves with him scaring away all the Parrot fish when I have a bit of free time.

[Homie]

one day when Im big......

[shagnrelease]

That's awesome stuff! Glad to see you guys experimenting in that awesome fishery!!

What Hooks are you Using Cam?

We battled plenty getting the fish to stick when we started on the fly for them. I had brought back the same kit I used for clients in Kenya,  but at Vidal there were just not the numbers of fish to allow you to duff one or two.

I switched to a smaller wider gaped hook,  I think it was a gamagatsu and I think we also got some from grip. Also in a 5/0 and a 6/0.  I the the gamagatsu was a 15 series or something like that.

Also we slowed down the strip strike to more of a slow pull against the fish moving away from us, pretty much allowing the fish to bed the hook while we just hold tension on the line.

Might be completely different in your guys case but it might help.

Hi Shag we where using the Gamagatsu as well its a two hook rig with the first one snelled and the second hooked crimped onto 120lb fluero.
The hook ups where pretty solid as Farid placed the fly well ie behind the fish so he had to turn and eat it, we where just unlucky.
Brandon our new fly fishing guide has caught tons of sailies on fly so I've been learning from him which has been a big help I've even started stomping around the rock shelves with him scaring away all the Parrot fish when I have a bit of free time.

Awesome stuff it's a bloody great way to target fish, we will have to get you a tweed hat soon bud.

[carll]

Thats awesome stuff   

[colin]

Hell that looks like fun  .

[Prego]

Awesome stuff Cam. Having Brandon there must of opened a whole new avenue for Ocean Active.

[Big B]

Bliksem, some okes have all the fun...............